mardi 30 novembre 2010
Fayroz Fairoz is invincible!
The album was made available in two countries, Lebanon and later in Egypt through High Quality, the mid size record distributor. That is a huge number in Arab music market....I do not recall an Arab star having sold more than that in recent history (it's also the most pirated album of the year so far) It was a really good album, even if it was not good we will love it, but this album is really good and everyone agreed to celebrate it.
Obviously young and old have a lot of respect for Fayroz and her legendary status. The album came out in October this year where Ziad Rahbani took charge of the entire production of the album. Wait till the album hits shelves in the Gulf region where Fayroz is much celebrated and shoppers still buy physical albums.
Fairuz in Concert 2010 - فيروز في حفلي بيروت 2010
L3arbé Strikes Again
Chohada2e L3youn, the much anticipated rap about issues of the day in French and in Arabic,
he raps and channels his anger
L3arbé - Chohada2e L3youn L3arbe 2011 Album Dem W Flous
lundi 29 novembre 2010
Suzan Ghazal Blows Stuff Up
To be honest Suzan Ghazal has a nice voice, but in all fairness, I did not listen to what she had to say, I only wanted to watch the music video. The music video makers have incorporated a number of techniques and actions sequences that are often reserved from cinema. I come to enjoy such music videos and hope to see a a second from the new star, but often this is not the case, as the Arab world is full of singers and one hit wonders who cannot translate their fame into commercial success.
With that, I won't be surprised if Suzan was offered to star in a movie. After all it seems the only way Arab entertainers nowadays make money is either by making a movie, singing at weddings or headlining a concert.
Suzan Ghazal - Meen Addy / سوزان غزال - مين قدي
Marwa Nasr, the Egypitan Artillary
I enjoy watching interviews with Marwa as she is as gracious as she is pretty. She does not fear what many other female singers from Egypt fear....she just does what she enjoys doing and seems to have managed to build up a name for herself. She has two albums under her belt and one coming soon. from that album comes this tease Mesh Marta7lo, the next big song from Marwa and her creative team. Check out her latest music video Habeit which won her some praises
I like the sound of the short tease for the upcoming song and hope Marwa fans go out and purchase her record not just download it becasue she needs to establish her marketing chops and the best way to do that is sell records. If we do not buy her records, she won't make any more music. By the way she has the coolest website I have seen for an Arabic star...check it out here
Marwa Nasr - Mesh Marta7lo / مروة نصر - مش مرتحالو
Nelly Makdessy the girl next door
There are scores of Arab stars that can do what Nelly has done, but in all fairness none of them have her sense of fashion which seems to be few years ahead of her peers and her charisma which she applies to serve her music videos.
Here are three recent pictures where the work of a good photographer, the work of someone with a good fashion sense, and a gifted makeup artist collaborate to show the best attributes Nelly has.
With Demagh Ara'eish Arabia Is doomed
When one talks about drugs, alcohol, sex and other mature subjects on film, the rating of the film became more restrict. In other words, there are age proper material in film and music. Certain movies cannot be viewed by minors under the age of 13 and sometimes 18. So there is a lot of freedom to explore any subject one wishes.....as long as they announce that this will be a mature subject and this way the America and Europe makes things work. Of course in prime time TV before 10 PM when kids are awake, certain words, subjects cannot be aired until later at night.
But not in Arabia, here is a music video that airs in prime time on channel popular with minors, you can see drugs, sex and joints while listening to a song about drinking beer 'Stella', smoking hash, and an expose of what types of drugs one should use. This is drug and alcohol indoctrination to the young soul. All this is part of an effort to market a movie about a sleazy bachelor with a good heart.
You know what's more dangerous? the fact there are using an adorable little girl in the movie as prop to help attract the young ones to watch this movie. If this is a movie for grown ups as it seems from the song and clips, why are they pushing this little girl in marketing? Is there nothing wrong with that? I am not comfortable with this movie, the plot and the langauge. Do not get me wrong, I have seen worse movies and movies that deals with more mature subjects....I just do not like sleazy material to be thrown at the little ones in this fashion. Yes, I still hate censors, because they do more damage than good, good taste is in order...so that we are not making Arabic TV programming into the Wild West.
Mahmoud El Husseiny - Demagh Ara'eish / محمود الحسيني - دماغ قراقيش
dimanche 28 novembre 2010
Ramy Ayach: The Big Guy is BACK
I absolutely love the music and the beat, they do not make music like this anymore...Rami manged to find away to make good music that appeals to both men and women, to old and young....Ramy refuses to age, and refuses to settle for anything less perfection and that's what you will get in this music video which keeps simple, no distraction or boring stuff you came to to accept from Arabic pop music video, it keeps you moving.
And it doe snot hurt to incorporate few of the traditional Lebanese musical instruments. Here is the song, with passion Ramy you are pulled off one more time.....keep up the good work. Beautiful music video and landscape...worthy of this hit that will be playing around for a while. When you speak of using your feeling as an ink to draw hearts in the sun, and ask your loved one to more than love you....you deliver both lines as a master of the craft.
Ramy Ayach - Efrah Fiki / رامي عياش - إفرح فيكي
Where has This Madeleine Matar Been Hiding?
This week was a good day for the fans of Madline Matar, as she is making her back to the foray of Arabic music with a smashing good song....it's so good that it's making comparative Arab female singers envious of this hit. I like the mature voice that Madeleine exhibits here.....it's naturally to expect that a singer can make good songs, but with nowadays changing of talent and marketing, it seems to be especially hard
تعالا على نفسك شوية واسال عليا
وإن كنت زعلتك في حاجة إنساها ليا
متغيبش يوم عني ... متشيلش يوم مني
فهمني غلطي وقلي بس عملت ايه
تعالا شوف بعنيك في بعدك ايه بيجرى
بموت بدال المرة في اليوم الف مرة
حاسة إني مش عايشة ... وبجد ليك وحشة
أيامي وانتة بعيد أعيشها لمين وليه .....
كلمني أسمعلك ... إندهلي ارجعلك
تجرحني مش خايفة... ده انا خايفة على زعلك
لو خدتني بذنبي.... وتقسى على قلبي
ديه قسوتك أحن من بعدك عليه
بهرب أنا من الناس وأخبي دموعي فيا
مش عايزة حد يشوفني يتصعب عليا
الوقت أهو بيجري... إرجع عشان خاطري
واللي غلطت فيه.... ياريت تسامحني فيه
Madeleine Matar مادلين مطر - كلمني اسمعلك
Bee Gees Sell Big in Lebanon
Bee Gees were once popular in the 60s and 70s the trio of brothers sold many records when they were into soft rock, and later disco I do not hear much about anymore in the Western Media, but it seems they are still popular in Arabia at least in Lebanon where Robin Gibb just headlined a concert. So it came no surprise to notice that most of the concert goers are old timers who remember the good ole' times. Lebanon is unique that way because at some point of their lives everyone from that country have lived or worked in some foreign country so you know they got culture.
The Elissa Appeal Affect
Elissa Masdouma 2010 NEW VIDEO SPANISH AND ENGLISH SUBTITLES اليسا
So Long Nawal Al Zoghbi
Nawal al Zoghbi - Bieinak نوال الزغبي-بعينك
samedi 27 novembre 2010
Rememeber These Guys?
If you are a Palestinian or have been close to the Palestinian cause, then you know these guys. You do not even have to like music, you can be anti-music person, but you still know of these guys and memorize a score of their songs.
Al-Ashqeen, Al 'ashqeenالعاشقين came to live in 1977 from the heart of Syria Damascus, it came together when a number of talented young Palestinian men came together. They kicked of their career by singing the famous works of notable Palestinian poets of the likes of Mahmoud Darwish and Sameeh Alqassim, but their most famous and timeless song was the work of little known Palestinian poet Noah Ibrahim to commemorate the execution of thee Palestinian leaders in Akko prisons.
Al-Ashqeen group's work came in handy during the Israeli invasion of Lebanon of 1982 and the death of countless Palestinians and Lebanese. They have many records and songs that chronicle the Palestinian journey and struggle and resistance toward self determination
They just reunited by executive order from the Palestinian president and have put a shows in various Palestinian cities in the West Bank, of course politicians flocked to take part of this historical event.
فرقة العاشقين ... من سجن عكا
فرقة العاشقين ... من سجن عكا
Maya Nehme, the Arab Kisha Dazzles
Maya Nehme Habibi LIVE
vendredi 26 novembre 2010
Big Arab Celebrity Gala @ BIAF
All rolled up in one joint in an celebration where stars, courtesy of Elaph who managed to interview a dozen of stars attending the gala. I am guessing in few years Arab celebrities and entertainers will be able to pull something like OSCAR and Golden Globe Awards, they are already close to those events, as they fashion designers tend to exhibit their work using the bodies of the stars as live mannequins.
Rolla Saad Banned From Singing in Egypt
Rola Saad New 2010 "Eih Da Eih Da" / " فيديو كليب رولا سعد "ايه ده ايه ده
jeudi 25 novembre 2010
Khaled Selim Stares @ Your Soul
Khaled Selim - Mawhoum / خالد سليم - موهوم
This Man Puts Fireworks on Steroid
Ahmed Essam was not always a huge act, he got his early start by adding fireworks affects to Egyptian concert which helped take concerts to the next level as before his work, concerts were just a mic, a star and a band...nothing else. Ahmed comes in he adds the lights and engineers the fireworks shows adding them to the stage. Mohammad Mounir has been one of his biggest fans, in a way helping him launch his fired up career.
Ahmed Essam 2010
"Bon Swareeh" The All Female Cast
ادة عبد الرازق الهانص فى الدانص
May Hariri Latest Misses
May Hariri might as well be the most naturally beautiful female singer to come from Lebanon in ages. She is also a mother which makes her a hot mommy. Her career has been a journey of successes and setbacks. Her most famous story was her ill fated marriage to the popular Lebanese legend Milhim Zain.
Timeless Gospel By Oum kalthoum
Toni Qattan is ill, Wish Him Well
Toni has been somehow missing from the scenes for about a year and his fans started to ask the inevitable question about his whereabouts. Well, Khabar 3ajil reports that Toni is actually sick and has been staying home or in the hospital to get treatment. The revelation states that Toni has some liver dysfunction that might be due to his family history. The news were made public on the popular talk show of Mazin Diab whose friendship with Toni allowed him to break the news. Fans and Jordanian stars were shocked and wished him well and a speedy recovery. few even donated blood units (O+) to Toni.
for more of his music videos and songs click here
Toni Qattan - Rah Terja' Falastin / طوني قطان - رح ترجع فلسطين
Whatever Happend to My Asalah?
Asalah Nasri might not have the best personality among Arab singers, but she does have the best voice, a gift of almighty and the special attention paid to it by her father. I have liked all of her songs and so did my older cousins and my sisters. My parents also enjoyed her cover of the oldies.