Young Emrati singer Rakan is due for a comeback and he is not taking and chances. His comeback video has a promo and the affects are captivating! There are the ladies too, who are looking fine. The art direction loos good too! While we don't know what the song is about (take a guess, wink wink!)
This writer, composer, and director is a one man show check it out, he is a one stop shop for all those Gulf music and he made Iraqi tracks too. His music video should be coming out soon in time for the Eid.
It's no secret that some Islamists have issues with women, they do not want to seem them in public, and they wanted so covered up that their own mother's won't recognize them. But the good news those are very few and often disliked by their communities.
So when we see a prayer video released by a female performer we welcome that. They have capable voices and they can put it to a good use. Trust me, I am not one of those liberal all about choice and being free and misusing and abusing such personal= liberties. I am utilitarian in that sense.
Shaza from Egypt and Shima Saied have recorded tracks for this Ramadan and so did Samira Said, the Moroccan super star. Laial Ghofran has her own track too about redemption and a music video to go with it.
Shaza -Ya Waheb Al Eman / شذا - يا واهب الإيمان
Samira Sa'eid - Ya Rab / سميرة سعيد - يارب
Shaimaa Saied - Been Eideek / شيماء سعيد - بين إيديك
Here's an Egyptian composer who is known for his romantic melodies and recently for his romantic songs. But he has also recorded some of the finest songs for Egypt and the Arab world recently after being touched by the Arab spring.
So he is putting his voice for yet another cause, he is recording a short prayer this Ramadan. This one is not about him, but rather about something bigger. Thinking about the creations of God this holy month is timely.
Mohamed Raheem - Sobhan Allah / محمد رحيم - سبحان الله
Hassan El Shafie (composer) and Wael Mansour (vocalist) are not celebrities in my textbook, but they can both sing and they shine in this track. Where they are calling on God with his 99 names to have mercy on them. This is a timely song that blends worship with Tahrir Square darkest hour.
But the song doesn't stop there, it takes a detour to Palestine and young stone throwing boys. There were some worship moments in the history of the Egyptian revolution like when those protesters felt threatened by the security forces, they would call it a prayer and start praying.
This is not about religion it's about what gives people peace, the video featured a variety of famous religious scholars beloved in Egypt and across the Arab world like Sheik Shaarawi.
Update: As now we know the people of Egypt are upset with Israel, as of this moment they just have taken off the Israeli flag from the building where the embassy's offices are. It looks like we will have an interesting twist of events after Egyptian troops were killed by Israeli fire.
Hassan El Shafie & Wael Mansour - Allah / حسن الشافعى و وائل منصور - الل
So many singers in 2011 Egypt have been placed on the black list due to their support of the ousted dictator Hosny Mubarak. Those entertainers on the list have seen some trouble getting new contracts or recording new material.
But to those on such lists, they may find some comfort in knowing they are not the first to be at odds with new political reality. Om Kolthoum, the number one selling Arab artist and legendary singer has seen what they are now seeing.
Om Kolthoum had many songs phrasing the king of Egypt king Farouk. She performed for him, and she has celebrated his birthday with song, I include one below from 1937. But then the revolution happened and there she was at odds with the new government ruling Egypt. But she came out fine, maybe becasue she was such a talented singer. An icon of sort.
But Om Kalthoum wasn't the only big name to sing for King Farouk, legendary composer/singer Mohammad Abdel Wahab performed a song to the King about how nice he is to the artists. Calling the king the proctor of art and artists. The song was later edited and that part was taking out. I also include the audio clip from that particular song.
However, unlike in the 50s, there crowded entertainment scene, there are too many artists doing the same thing and no one is irreplaceable. So some of those pro regime entertainers might never make a comeback.
We know the Turkish people follow Arabic music and sometimes borrow from it as well. But I have been seeing an increased traffic on this blog from Indonesia as they translate some of my blog posts. But now I am reading that this is an old thing not a recent tradition.
When Islam reached Indonesia, it was brought to them by Muslims Sufi traders who enjoy poetry and music. Those traders brought the religion to that land and used their art to draw people closer to the religion. You will be surprised to know that the songs that are popular with Indonesians are the old school Arabic songs or religious nature.
Such songs are played at weddings, and sometimes after/before prayer service. the mosques speakers play such music right before or after the Muslim call to prayer. Oum Kalthoum song "Nahj Al Bordah" is a popular hit. Asmahan, the Syrian diva's song about prophet Mohammad are on the playlist.
This is kind of cool to see a large country as Indonesia with such a vast culture finds some value in classical Arabic entertainment or religious nature. Indonesia is a fascinating example where culture, peaceful ways and leading by example brought Islam to millions of people in that land without having to swing a sword.
She might be the oldest unmarred female Arab singer, she has the love of the people and she has rarely disappointed them with her art and her good heart. Some Tunisans are unhappy with her, due to her lack of support for the new change in her country. While she has tried to make amends, it seems that Latifa has to wait a bit longer.
In a recent interview for her on a popular Ramadan show,, she gave this candid interview where she spoke about a number of personal issues and she gave few zingers here and there."I have no secret relationships", "I have never been in love with a celebrity", "I was never in love with children of Arab dictators."
She denied the rumors that Alla, the younger son of Mubarak has proposed to her for marriage. She also said she was banned form entering Egypt in sometimes in the 80s, and 90s (I personalty do not believe that), she wouldn't elaborate on this mater. I do also believe her when he spoke about how of her work was censored from Egypt's TV.
