He sang in Egyptian, Lebanese, Palestinian, Gulf dialects but not until this week has the Arab Idol contender has sang in A Libyan or Algerian dialect. The ever-charming, Palestinian wonder boy is sealing the title each time he performs. He is the golden boy and the judges and viewers seem to know he is the next title winner.
This way he has sang for pretty much every Arabic major dialect, and this is great news for him, I think more votes will be coming in from him from that part of Arabia, he was ready with a cover of a beloved and well known Algerian song, and he topped it with a little known Libyan song--it must be a big deal in Libya.
He came a long way from being a Gaza boy to showering the Arab World with songs that captures their attention. I do not think there is any one who follows the show that hate him. He has no haters it seems, and even people from places with Arab Idol participants can see him as the next big thing. Again, they may want their home singer to win, but they know that Assaf is their second choice, if not the first.
See him answer a fan question and smile his way as he performs some new songs to him that will advance his career.
I love to see some Diana Haddad, and I love to her her authentic voice doing the songs we love from her. She just had a streak of bad luck lately and she is far too talented to let her career tank. I know she is working on reviving her own career, she has gave us a good album more than a year ago. But it lacked the flavor. I am in love with her new single she released few months ago "Albi Wafi", or "My Heart Is Loyal", I thought seeing the old Diana Haddad back in action.
She has the loyal fan base, she is a huge draw in Dubai, and the Beirut. She is one of the few Arab entertainers who can call both those places home. She is a citizen in both of those countries and she has paid her dues. Furthermore, she grew up in Kuwait, so she knows the lingo very well. Her album of 2011, tanked in terms of sales. Her business manager should not have a job in this business.
But, she needs to reflect on her career, she cannot just go back to her old ways, doing Khaliji songs that no one loves but most tolerate. She needs to reconnect with her her past and reconstruct her image. She has tried to venture into new territory like doing in Iraqi song last year in her album. Then she talked about doing a Moroccan track and a song for kids. But this sounds not like Diana Haddad, she is following other pop stars on a game she will lose.
Diana is doing too many things, I think the right thing for her to do is do an album with no song for the Gulf--just the same good old Egyptian and Lebanese songs. She is a star because of those songs, and she lead on those fronts. For the past five years, I have been watching Diana make one mistake after another, she needs to stop and call her old crew back. I am certain they love working with her.
She has not done any Bedouin style songs in five years, and no Egyptian songs for six years. She cannot do everything, she is talented but we only like one side of her and certainly not a mediocre children song. She needs a new music projects free of Gulf music, this album will sell and will bring sexy back
She does not need any household names and she should not talk about the project, make it a surprise for all of us. She is overexposed, there are many media outlets who love to talk to her. She should step back and record some new songs, and not talk about them, till she is reach out to them. Stick in Lebanon for a little bit, do not just travel there on business trip. Let the people inspire you let the dialect sink in. Trust me, the Gulf loves non Khaliji music, they will come around. She has already manged to get some of the wasted respect with her single "Albi Wafi"
The cooler that ice romance hit-maker, the man of the blues Wael Jassar has a new album out, and it has nine tracks. This is the album from this gifted Lebanese hit-maker whose fan base are far reaching. He is not the me, me star, but rather the kind that makes good music and come across as a down to earth guy.
He is also a coveted guest for TV shows and concerts, he is a big name that comes with little dram, virtually no gossips and no haters either. His formula is truly impressive, not too many entertainers can do it, but Wael has manged to capture the spotlight without trying too hard, and without stepping on his family.
While his songs tend to be sad and riven from the heart, some of his songs are about more about life and people. romance can be painful sometimes. He does have a song that orders the listener to be happy, so that's a start. He chose the Egyptian song for that track, and it's unlike something he made in the past. el, ths might be the first dance song from the man of blues himself.
He switches from Lebanese to Egyptian dialects and styles and no one notices the difference. Another great thing about him, the people who record music with him, seem to give him something interesting as you are never bored with any of the songs.
1- Nefsy A3trflk 2 - Ana Bnse7b 3 - 3la Ma Ansa 4- 3ozobya 5 - Ana Bytab3te 6 - Gbal Ma Bytla2o 7- Wya B3d 8 - Hare2 Damohm 9- Efra7
You can listen and download the album here وائل جســار افرح wael jassar efra7 2013 HQ
Rabee' Alkoholi quit the show business, but he has never stopped singing, now he sings at his church where he is a priest. Rabee was the golden boy of pop romance in the 1980s and he was wroth his weight gold. Then all of a sudden he wanted to do something more. He cold the music business cold and joined a perish.
Many of Rabee's friends continue to visit with him at the church where he serves. Among them pop star Ramy Ayach who credits Rabee for helping him through some personal struggle. But now during his new year concert on LBC1 Ramy Ayach performed one of the most beloved classics by Rabee.
Ramy dedicated the song to his new fiance and the net took the song and ran with it. It's hard to come close to the original song, but Ramy has given it his best shot. Yarait Ebterdhi Yarait, I hope she would say yes! is how the song would be titled in English. a romantic song with a dreamy melody, I grew up listening to it. I think one of the reasons Ramy Ayach started his career because he had that shade of romance, very similar to those songs by Rabee.
This is a throwback to one of the most beloved love songs, a guy can perfrom. LBCI - NYE - Ramy Ayach رامي عياش - يا ريت بترضي ياريت
Don't Forget To Vote, there are 32 talents who await your support. They hope to be on the third phase, the more you watch, the more you learn. If you did not qualify, keep going, it might be a good thing to be redirected some place else. As for the viewers, there are some videos one has to watch, make sure the ones whom he approve of get your vote.
Fact #1: YouTube Views:
More than 1,500,000 views to submitted videos/playlists.
By end of contest @ July, we expect reaching more than 3 Million views since the newly uploaded top 32 videos are about to receive total 250,000 views this week:
We received 120 videos for female applicants (15.9%)
We received 635 videos for male applicants (84.1%)
Fact #3: Countries:
We received videos from 66 countries (from all the continents) including South Korea, Singapore, Bolivia, Austria, Netherlands, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Oman, Mauritius, Turkmenistan and Australia:
Afghanistan
Algeria
Arakan
Australia
Austria
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Belgium
Bolivia
Bosnia and Herzegovnia
Brunei
Burma
Canada
Denmark
Egypt
Eritrea
Ethiopia
France
Germany
Ghana
India
Indonesia
Iraq
Italy
Ivory Coast
Jordan
Kenya
Kosovo
KSA
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan
Lebanon
Libya
Malaysia
Mauritius
Mecedonia
Morocco
Netherlands
New Zealand
Nigeria
Oman
Pakistan
Palestine
Philippines
Qatar
Romania
Russia
Singapore
Somalia
South Africa
South Korea
Spain
Sri Lanka
Sudan
Sweden
Syria
Tajikistan
Trinidad and Tobago
Tunisia
Turkey
Turkmenistan
UAE
UK
USA
Uzbekestan
Yemen
Percentage and Video Count
UK 45 videos (5.9%)
USA 52 videos (6.9%)
Canada 25 videos (3.4%)
Other EU 44 videos (5.8%) including NZ & AU
Turkey 14 videos (1.9%)
Egypt 166 videos (21.9%) Go Egypt
Morocco 85 videos (11.3%)
Algeria 17 videos (2.3%)
Gulf 29 videos (3.8%) excluding Yemen & Iraq
Other Arabs 85 videos (11.3%)
Malaysia 39 videos (5.2%)
Indonesia 68 videos (9%)
Fact #4: Jobs:
We received videos from people working for 102 different jobs including truck driver, air traffic controller, Ph.D student, lecturer, Master student, civil engineer, banker, barber, university student, housekeeper, dentist, vocalist, draftsman, painter, photographer, business owner, economist, etc.
Accountant
Administrator
Aeronautics specialist
Agricultural Engineer
Air Traffic Controller
Airplances Technician
Architect
Assistant Engineer
Banker
Barber
Biologist
Biomedical Engineer
Business Director
Businessman
Civil Engineer
Composer
Computer Engineer
Truck Driver
Contractor
Copywriter
Creative Director
Data processing specialist
Decor artist
Dentist
Doctor
Draftsman
Economist
Electrical Engineer
Electrician
Electronics & Communications Engineer
employee
Entrepreneur
Event Manager
Financial Clerk
Financial Service Consultant
Football player
Foreign Service Officer
Geograpghics Technician
Graphic Designer
Guitar player
Health specialist
Housekeeper
HR specialist
Industrial Engineer
Inspector
Interior designer
IT Analyst
IT Consultant
IT engineer
IT Manager
IT specialist
Lawyer
Lecturer
Marketing Manager
Master student
Mechanical Engineer
Media specialist
Merchant
Mother
Music teacher
Musician
Network specialist
NGO employee
NGO voulanteer
Nurse
Optics specialist
Painter
Ph.D Student
Pharmacist
Photographer
Power station operator
Psychologist
Purchasing Manager
Quran Recitor
Research assistant
Researcher
Sales Manager
Sales rep
School student
Secretary
Security Guard
Self employed
Singer
Software developer
Software engineer
Songwriter
Stylist
System Engineer
Teacher
Technical support specialist
Technician
Traffic Engineer
Trainer
TV Director
Unemployed
University Student
Video producer
Vocalist
Web developer
Worker
Writer
Fact #5: Applicants were singing for:
Awakening Records' Artists = 348 videos (46.1%)
Applicants with self-composed/written songs: 63 videos (8.3%)
Remaining contestants were singing for other artists
Fact #6: Applicants that their YouTube channels have only their submitted video (New YouTube Users):
There are those one hit wonders in Arabic classics, and there is Aziza Jalal, the Moroccan chick who came to Egypt to make music. She did do that, rocked the scene performed many concerts and gave us at least one classic that we are all fond of Mistanyak or I await you.
Then she got married to some dude from the Gulf and she sings no more I would listen to this song with my mother on TV and enjoy her company. Years later, I am all grown up and I get to know to a lady from afar, and I go home to meet her for the first time. But before then I send her the song below...my soon to be my fiance and her mother adore my gesture and appreciate the song.
The song is about a lover who is waiting for their loved one to return and they are sturrgling with each passing second. You know how those long distance relationship are really hard. This makes the romance more worth it. I could see how difficult such relationships would be. Aziza had a song just for that. The lyrics are those of Abdel wahab Mohammed and the music is for Baligh Hamid--the duo who made many hits and classics.
Life is interesting how Aziza's story and my own come together is for someone else to fifgure out. I am trying to say that we are all connected. One question, name one more song by Aziza Jala that you think is as famous as the song below. عزيزة جلال - مستنياك - كاملة
Ellie Shweiri is the son of Beirut, he was born and came to sing in the era of Oum Kalthoum and Mohammed Abdel Wahab and other legends, he is one of the shaper of Lebanese song early on. He is a beloved hit maker of Lebanese song with amazing Arabic melodies that he crafted.
Ellie has also sang many songs for Lebanon and its beauty. As his mom was dressing him up to go to school, they would listen to the old songs on the record player. His home was surrounded by olive trees and natural scenes. His career took off in Kuwait when he was visiting and ended up in the radio playing his songs with the help of other Egyptian and Kuwaiti composers.
In 1963 he would be on a music festival with his band at home. Then he met the beloved Lebanses composer Romeo Lahoud who promised to give him a role in one of his plays, then he would meet the house of Rahabni who will help him get his name out there as he honed his talent. He would act and sing in 25 plays with the production of the Rahbani brothers.
Years later he would go it alone and record his own work and express his frustrations with the 1975 civil war in Lebanon. He would meet Sabah and he would collaborate with her. Then the Syrian government calls on him for concerts. He had so many of them and his fame and lifestyle improves.
He has a sweet voice made for flirty romantic songs, he would also give songs to Magda El Roumi, Sabah and Samira Tawfik seek him. His best pal is composer Melhim Barakat as they share a lot in common. He is a legend among his peers, and his true talent lives one shaping young minds. He has more than 1500 works, addressed issues of romance, humanity, and patriotism.
Ellie comments on issues of the day like he did in January 2012 when he blamed Gulf money for ruining Arabic music heritage. He strikes me as an Arab nationalist, he is a dreamer who belived Arabs Muslims and Christians can create a wonderful world together.
The number one Lebanese diva who counts among her fan base, the young and old. the home boy and the pretty boy, the guy and the gal, Najwa Karam has a new music video out and no surprise she looks at her finest. And the music video follows a sold out concert in Morocco's largest music festival.
You cannot really overlook her fashion and her style, she always knows how to rock the boat and her outfits are often classy and stunning at the same time. She is the diva Lebanon loves so much, yet she does not get up on one's face about her stature. A great comeback music video that will cheer up her fan base.
This is a love song where passion and innocent love meet, I love some of the sets in the music video, they have so much colors and go well with her red dress. Najwa is one of those pop stars whom the camera fears not the other way around. Did you see that white dress and gorgeous makeup work she sports? Not to skip the fun dances that keep the music video energizing.
And at the end, she lives up to her name, the sun of the Arabic song. I think this is the best work I have seen for Lebanese director Fadi Haddad who has hits and misses.
The underrated romance hit-maker Wael Jassar is the sort of entertainer who works in silence, records a solid album and gives it to the producing company to do the magic. He does not talk too much about his work, even through he could if he wanted to. Instead he allows us to first enjoy the music he made. And yes he makes heartwarming songs that come from the deep.
This is the first thought when I gave his new album teaser listen. The lead song that has been making the rounds is "ayyam" or days. Your hear and mine have become like mountains that are never meet to cross paths. This song touches your soul pats your heart gently as it lets reflects on those super sweet yet heartbreaking lyrics. Those loving lyrics are made to perfection with the convincing voice of the helpless romantic Wael Jassar has always been able to exhibit.
The Egyptian House of Opera is the big league for Arab entertainers, most would give a leg to perform there, because of its history. Many awesome Arabic names have stood there toe to toe next to Egyptians legends of music.
I feel mediocre Egyptian names can stand on its stage, but for Arab ones they have to do something out of this world. Assi Hallani was one of those names who stood on that stage, and see her do a cover of a beloved Egyptian patriotic classic about Arab unity.
Assi Hallani is a dreamer about Arab unity and he has sang for it on his own terms, he is a proud Lebanese but he has always talked about the aspiration of the Arab people. See him channel his innter Abdel Halim in this classic about swearing by the sky and the soil of the land.
عاصي الحلاني - أغنية أحلف بسماها و بترابها - دار الأوبرا Assi El Hallani
The UAE's most serious music talent Fayez Al Said tries to be too many things at the time time. He may be good at wearing too many hate, but the reality is far too complex. He is a busy composer--his melodies are the best thing to come out of the UAE's music scene. 6 out of 10 songs made in the Gulf, he has put his golden touches on.
With his new album out, he is pushing a new music video for that album. A lackluster pop song that falls flat and feels bland. It may be popular with some of his fans in the Gulf region, but a good song should not be limited to one region and not the other--there are many good Khaliji songs that make it out West. In the local scene they have to come across as the conservative and traditional homeboy, but for the ones viewing them for the outside they want to be hip and relevant.This kind of bipolar attitude complicate the marketing.
Fayez is a cool guy and he tries too hard to come across as one, but he does not really need to try that hard. We get it, he likes the club, scene he likes to dance and look good. Something about males in that part of the world, they would rather be goofy than be good. He has had better songs, but this song might be made for merely his fans.
Amr Diab is the one pop star from a different breed. Here's a video that chronicles his past success for the last 3 decades. Since he was a young man, how you wanted to be big times, and how he pulled it off. I love hte interview portion with the people who knew him back when he was a skinny guy who had a dream.
Amr Dian is Mr. untouchable. We can agree or disagree on his last two albums, but love him or hate him, he knows how to sell an album, a concert and promote products. He has not aged, and he looks ripped like hell, whatever he is doing he has been doing it very well. Egypt loves him along with them hundreds of millions around the world know and respect him.
Amr Diab did well for the musicians who work with him, but as for introducing new talents he has done little. Do you know any singers whom he has helped make it? No, but I know tend of musicians whose work with Amr Diab made them sexy. He is also a sharp dresser, he know his way around the camera--directors hate that, but he knows his business.
Throughout his career he is the pharmacy that we go to to cure some of our ills or preserve some of our joys. He is a dealer of whatever emotional state we are experiencing. There are other talents out there, but so far the only next Amr Diab is the one and the only Amr Diab who is about to released his final album with Rotana.
Amr Diab - 30 Years of Success"English Subtitle" عمرو دياب - 30 عاماً من النجاح
A real princess wrote this song for the most respected Saudi star. Mohammed Abdu is the artist of all Arabs, he has been making music for four decades and each time he sings he tells a great love story unlike no other. The UAE native poet and Sheikha Fatima Bint Rashid Bint Said Al Maktoom (commonly known as Ghayahib الشيخه فاطمة بنت راشد ال مكتوم غياهيب) wrote a poem for the Saudi legend.
Their song is about the new year and it sounds like something we have heard before. Ghayahib has given other songs for Abdu before, as well as Abdel Majid Abdallah, Rashid Al Majid, Mansour Zayed, Hussein Al Jassmi as well as others.
A song about what to come this year, as time passes love either grows or dies. The song shuts up all those people who have said Abdu is quitting or not feeling up to new songs. His song is about loyalty and commitment. I have always been a loyal fan of Abdu's he sings his heart out and connects with his listeners in a unique fashion.
Saad Ramadan is a clever young singer with a lot of talent, he has no albums to his name, but he is a hit-maker in the traditional sense. He does singles and those singles do wonders to his fans. The guy put on a good show, and what's better than an incredibly handsome man who can carry a romantic song.
Look o further than his new single which is meant for the superstitious people of the Arab world. Arabs fear the evil eye and they blame all their troubles and woes on them. And this is why Saad Ramadan is talking about the evil eye that ruined their seemingly perfect life with tons of equally good looking friends riches and an awesome villa.
I have come to learn Saad is no stuck up person and he has a great sense of humor--he often tells jokes on his Facebook page. I really believe in Saad, I think he is one classy young man whose style is made perfect for him. I hope he keeps going in those tough times for every Arab.
Sa'd Ramadan - Ein W Sabet / سعد رمضان - عين وصابت
The composer who has become a rockstar is coming back with a new album of seven tracks. Ramy Sabry was on my mind as the next Amr Diab...he was Mr. cool going on Mr. Emotions, his fifth album will release this summer--it has been delayed a number of times. But the teaser and samples are out.
Mazzika is pushing this album for good reasons, Ramy's albums are well made and well produced. They are never rushed and always bring me joy and high qaulity entertainment, real lyrcis rom the heart--nothing silly and upbeat fresh music that pleases the soul
1 - 2rabny Leek 2 - Ahla Men El2awel 3 - Barta7 4 - Bets2al 3liya 5 - Law Kan 3lik 6 - Wana M3ah 7 - Sadaa 3nek
The Iraqi city of Erbil has placeditself as the alternative capital of Iraq. Dozens of Arab stars go there forconcerts, this time they had a great time with MJK, Haifa Wehbe. Her concert was an appearance with Hatem El Iraqi who rocked the night next to the pop lady of Lebanon. This was a funconcrt and it was not cheap.
They held a press confrence and spoke about being there, and how much they love the city, its people and the dialect. Haifa said she may release an Iraqi song if she has the right material. Haifa promised to put forth a good show, not just a concert.
He may as well be the Morgan Freeman of Egyptian entertainment. His voice has been telling the Egyptian narrative for more than three decades. He breaths Egypt and has pretty much performed in every venue in that country. He has ruled the radio airwaves, the cassette market and then the movie soundtracks and dozens of highly rated TV dramas.
It seems Ali is ready for more music as he has been signed by Pyramedia to produce music for him. His son is also signed for the same label for a music project as well.I know this when it comes to a mannly voice with a strong vocal showing, Ali is the name to come up.
See his song below where he does a romantic song with an incredible warmth and an Egyptian beat. El Haggar may have never been a bankable name but he has two things most two stars dream of. He has the respect for the audience and the businesses. And he has the name recognition that crosses age groups and countries.
06 Ali el Haggar - Mn Gheer Matetklmy / على الحجار - من غير ماتتكلمي
Bollywood king Shah Rukh Khan visited Dubai one more time for the film festival this time. He does own a house in that city where thousands of Indians live and work. He is India's leading bankable star whose name is as good in America and it's at home. He dances, he romances and when needed he blows stuff up.
At his press conference he spoke about arrogance of love. Dubai celebrated Indian cinema for a 100 year of magic, for that event dozens of filmmakers and starts from India showered the city with their love. He is a Muslim whose wife is Hindu and somehow they find a way to raise their children with love and respect for both faiths. He makes more movies than other mega star anywhere in the world. I would say he shoots at least four films a year or so it seems.
"I love Shahrukh Khan from the bottom of my heart," said the Dubai socialite Meena Ramchandani. "My friend called me and said she had a spare ticket so I rushed here in 15 minutes.
"I wanted to get a blow-dry but I thought forget it. I just have to get here and see him."
Dressed casually in jeans, trainers and a black jacket, and with his hair swept back in a ponytail, Khan was in town to promote his coming action thriller Don 2, which is set for release on December 23. His last visit was with his costars Katrina Kaif and Anushka Sharma on November 13 for the world premiere of his romance directed by Yash Chopra.
Sabah has moved mountains to entertain the masses across the Arab world. This time Sabah gets a tribute song done by one of her young friends and protegee Rola Saad. A classy cover for a classy song about a women who feels lonely or abandoned.
I did not think this is the best cover for the song, but I know one thing Rola is loyal to Sabah and her legacy. A walk on the beach is all what the Lebanese golden girl wanted to do. I love the mixing of the Rola Saad footage with that of Sabah from the original song.
The song closes with Rola Saad sitting along on empty theater house watching a Sabah picture, and then a quote about the life of the living legend Sabah. I think the song will bring some joy unto the lives of those fans. As for Rola, I think the song could have been a little better production. But the low production value make you think you are hearing the original recording.
My general rule is don't mess with the classics, you may get burned in the face by the purists and the loyalists. Unless you know you can add something, do not even think about it.
Funny how life works, Kareim Mohsen had a boy crush on then hot record artist Tamer Hosny, he chased him down and hoped to work with him one day. Tamer gave Karim a shot and listed to his amazing melodies. Tamer would become one of closest friends in the business. Tamer would work with Kareim Mohsen and get his best and finest melodies. Karim would even appear in a number of films for Tamer Hosny.
Karim becomes one of Tamer Hosny's entourage member. Karim branches out and gives some of his melodies to other names in the pop business. Karim would go on and make his own album, months before Egypt starts a historic revolt. Tamer Hosny's stocks drop, and he is no longer the mega star he once was.
Karim Mohsen would keep quiet and tried to push his own record, he does many concerts in universities and malls around Egypt, and he would press on as a composer for the young voices striving for something fresh and dancey.
His first hit came in 2006, after the release of his hit single Yalla Maa El Salama with singer Shady. But Karim wanted something more so he began by composing many hit songs for various Arab singers such as: Waeid Aalia for the Egyptian singer Zizi Adel, He also composed Kan Feen Min Bardy for Khaled Selim. Karim became more prominent as a singer, actor and composer after his collaboration with singer Tamer Hosny. In 2008, Karim worked with Tamer on his "Haeesh Hayati Album". Karim composed four songs: Kol Ely Fat, Taaba Kol El Nass, Haeesh Hayati and Beyhsedoni Aaleek. He also composed the English song "Come back to me".
Karim Mohsen - Ehlawet El Donia / كريم محسن - احلوت الدنيا
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