The Very Strong Case For Fadwa Almalki

Fadwa Almalki is a strong voice from Morocco who is hungry for your attention. I think she deserves your full attention. For a strong female voice to do a pop song in Egyptian is so much not fair, she can do more complex songs, but Egypt is always a lovely place to sing to.

She won a singing title across the Kingdom and has been dazzling the audience for a decade now. In 1999 Egypt called her and gave her an ward for her performance of those Oum Kaltoum oldies. Her debut album came in 2002 and she filmed one music video in Istanbul  She followed it with a 2006 album. Since then she has been working on singles that keep her in the loop.

She is a fixture of Moroccan music festivals and she in demand. She has also sang for Palestine in Doha. She is one of the very few ladies to perform in Saudi Arabia's biggest music festival Al Jandarya. She has recorded many Moroccan songs, she has recorded in Amman Jordan as well as other Arab capitals.

She is a strong voice that the Khalij has called her to do songs for their TV dramas. She does a great job singing in the local dialects since she grew up listening to old songs for that region. She is an award-wiing songstress with all the makings of a diva. She has already performed alongside Mohamed Abdu's Arabia's biggest living Saudi legend  She is well known among other artists who appreciate her voice and her style. Fadwa is well traveled and so is her songs.

 فدوى المالكي - فكرة غلط / فيديو كليب 2013

Malak El Nasser Gets Serious and Dramatic

How many Tattooed and bold young Jordanians songstresses do you know? Chances are not many, but Malak El Nasser is the only name that comes to mind. I have come to known her for her dance songs, she has at least four hits out there, cute dance songs really.

This time, she wants something different, dramatic songs with the blues and that's her new song for usher in 2013. Yalla Ya Habibi is a plea song, a cry for help asking the one who has been ignoring you to take your call. What a pity really!

Malak has ruffled some feathers with the censoring authority, but they might be too intimidate by her good looks and body type. I happen to really dig her style ever since she did that duet with Jad. That song was dope. The new music video is no different than the oen she made last year, in both she plays tourists walking around nice places. However  she is not singing for a man she loves, but for her own son who has been away from here

Malak El Nasser - Yalla Ya Habiby / ملك الناصر - يالا يا حبيبي

Listen: To Ameer Salah 2013 Single امير صلاح شو في ما في 2013

Most people who are young and living in Jordan will greet you with this phrase, "Shu Fi Ma Fi" it's a combination of what's up and what's happening. But for one young Jordanian singer trying to make it in the world of pop music, he took that phrase and turned into a song. a song that was written by Mohamed Bouchnaq.

The young voice is Ameer Salah, he recorded his song in a local studio and released for the public. Ameer has been doing local concerts in Amman with old covers, this is his debut song. It's a happy dance song that will fire up the crowd, a good career starter.

 امير صلاح شو في ما في 2013

Video: Capella With Alaa Wardi Live In BAB

Alaa Wardi, the dude who looks like an orthodox Muslim, but rocks like super star on an energy drink. Alaa has moved form the viral video screen to the live concert venue where droves of fans cheer him on as he does his thing.

He now plays the guitar on stage as he performs one of his better known songs. He also plays a big screen of him making varies musical instruments and beats. He keeps a busy program and he joins other rock stars who hold similar events in Jordan and Beirut.

Not sure what will be the net step for Alaa, but he has held firmly unto his fan base. The toxic political mode across the Arab world makes it hard for entertainers to perform in public or yet make much money.

BAB - Alaa Wardi - Ela El Ex | Roya علاء وردي - الى الـ اكس | رؤيا

Watch: ليان بزلميط - بحبك يا فلسطين / Lian Bazlamit "B7ebik Ya Falastine"

The Ramallah native, the 23 year old up and coming pop star Lian Bazlamit has been thinking of bigger things than herself. Palestine, her love and her home. She has a new song that touches your heart and wamrs your soul. Something about the topic, brought the best we have heard Lian be. This is a personal song with a lot of heartache as one listens.

We still sing to Palestine since 1948, and will continue to do so. Lian is shaping up her career to be the best entertainer to come out of Palestine and continue to claim it as a homeland. Lian lives in Jordan at the moment where she goes to school.

I must show some respect to the lyricist and the composer, they have created a good thing here, something that Lian turned into a special song that will live on and be a credit to this young entertainers' career. She came a long way form her early days on Star Academy two years ago. She chose the right moment to release this song, land day in Palestine....every March 31, we are there.


ليان بزلميط - بحبك يا فلسطين / Lian Bazlamit "B7ebik Ya Falastine"

Listen: Cute! Zain Awad Mother Song ست الكل - زين عوض-عيد الأم

She won so many awards at home for being a gifted Jordanian songstress, but her grandest award seems having the greatest mother. For that great mother of hers she just released a mommy the greatest song. A love song about the connection mothers have their own daughters. Zain has attended music school where she specialized in piano and vocals, also she has a B.A. in physical education.

Zain Awad has picked a winner, and it's a lovely song where the lyrics triumph the beat. A personal song from a young artist who has yet to peak. I love the back story the music video brings out. This is a winner collaboration between a new comer Wael Al Sharqawy who wrote the song and composed the music.

ست الكل - زين عوض-عيد الأ

Listen: ديانا كرزون - ٢٠١٣ - شهرين Diana Karazon - New- Shahrein 2013

This is a largely forgettable song from a pop star who continues to fail in defining herself musically. Diana Karazon is one talented songstress  but tell me what has she done lately? When she started she had her songs that we loved. But then she now obsess over her image and disappoints in reminding us why we should listen to her.

She has even went to great length to make the news, not by making better songs--those are not easy to make, but by wearing outlandish outfits. This is the lazy trick, her new single has been tattled "Two Months" About the failed romantic relationship and jumping ship. I am not blown away,  she does not sounds like Diana Karazon no more  She is copying someone else's style. Still she sounds good and she offers an emotional weepy song.

ديانا كرزون - ٢٠١٣ - شهرين Diana Karazon - New- Shahrein 2013

Video: The Goofiest Chubby Kid Dancer In Arabia

This is cute, a kid from Jordan likes this song on TV very much and now the entire population of the internet is finding out about his secret and private moment when he goofed off to his favorite kiddie song along with his cute little sister.

To be fair, the boy stole the show with his unique blend of dance movies and yes some air guitar moves as well. Kids have always tried to play along their TV set, but this guy took it to the next level with all the animal and party noises he makes. He even incorporated some local folkloric and rap dance moves I do not know where he came up with them. Did he just try to do the moon walk too?

boys just want to have fun, and this guy should be singed up to promote something  he is a hero and celebrity around the Arab world

Toni Qattan Sends #Palestine His Heartfelt Song

Toni Qattan has made a lot of music videos, but the one he has made and will always be a relevant track is his songs for Palestine. Each time Israeli feels testy and bombs the hell out of Gaza, songs like those seem hot once again.

While not romancing on camera some models, Tony  shows his true colors and sing to where his heart. This socially responsible star has been taking the Jordanian farther than most of he peers have in years.

To his credit, Toni has always been close to Palestine, not only does he perform there often, he visits often and some of his family is from there. This song talks about the fallen and the children who find ways to resist a brutal occupation. Nothing screams Palestine like a good looking man in khakis and an all Palestinian Kufyah

Toni Qattan - Rah Terja' Falastin / طوني قطان - رح ترجع فلسطين

WATCH: Youssef Arafat "Wala Leila" | يوسف عرفات "ولا ليلة"

Yousef Arafat is leading the pack in 2013, with the first official music video for the year, he is going places this young talent. The once Arab Idol runner up is striking back with charm, good looks and romance. The young Jordanian native channels his inner lover boy in this Lebanese sounding song.

The music video was filmed in Beirut and this is the first music video Yousef makes. I say, he was lucky to have worked with a good team that he picked. The lyrics are those of Jordanian poet Ehab Gaith who has given some of his work to top names in Arabic entertainment.

A cute and a dreamy song comes from a guy who seems to be like a really nice guy with a heart warming smile. This is a love story between the cool top gun and a pretty and smart college girl. This is a wise song and it will remind most of us why we go to college in the first place.

I do not say this often enough, but this is a music video I really wanted to watch. I have enjoyed the dance battle scene and the moment with the camera affects zooming in on Yousef and the model.

يوسف عرفات ولا ليلة Yousef Arafat Wala Laily

Rand Rostom Pop Music Meets Plastic

Rand Rostom is young, good looking pop songstress whose roots can be traced back to Palestine and Jordan. But she sounds like an Egyptian and looks like a Lebanese. Rand has yet to go mainstream, but her breakout song is a catchy hit. Not sure what it will take to bring this playful pop song to a bigger audience, but this song rocks your socks off.

Haifa Wahbe got nothing on Rand, Rand can also top Mai Hariri's famous looks. This is an independently funded song with a lot of indie feel, if we are talking pop, and only pop, I like Rand's character and style in this single. She is also considering getting into acting--Egypt is the place to look for acting gigs.

There has been a lot of talk about this new comer, a lot of people are intimidated by her sexy appeal. Her photos are all over the internet and might be shocking for some. You might glad to know Rand lives in Turkey at the moment. She plans to sing for Palestine, I hope she would focus on her pop songs before getting into some serious topics.

 مسافة السكة - Rand New Pictures 2012 رند رستم

Listen: Mais Hamdan New Single ميس حمدان ماريده 2013 نسخة اصلية

When in Egypt, Mais Hamdan tries to be Egyptian, when she wants some cash, she pretends to be from the Guy by doing a song in the Khalij dialect. I feel she has been already rejected in both places. She has a talent in lampooning and impersonating other celebrities.

Aside from that, I do not think can act, I do not think she can sing, and her TV hosing skills are just alright. With that on mind, here's her new single where she mimics, the khaliji songs and tries to sing "Ma Rida", or "I Do Not Desire Him". The music and beat are tired and outdated  the lyrics are dull and flat at best.

I think Mais is a good person, who has not done one thing well. She has too many pans on the fire and that might help reduce her value. She is from Jordan, not Lebanon where she would have us believe. The place of your birth should not matter, we are all Arabs after all. But when you are an entertainers, you mean different things to different people.     

ميس حمدان ماريده 2013 نسخة اصلية

Listen: Yousef Arafat 2013 Single يوسف عرفات - ولا ليلة حصريا

Yousef Arfat has found his heart in a new romance single he is pushing for 2013. It's a Lebanese pop song with a catchy melody. Yousef, released few singles once he left Arab Idol where he came a third runner up and left the stage with the judges batting hi on the back. Yousef Arab Idol exit was sudden, but he made the most of it as such the young artist has been celebrated among his fans.

I feel he is starting 2013 on a high note, he has finally stumbled one a song that serves him well and offers his fans something that like from this charming young entertainer. I believe this might as well be the first hit in this new year. I dig the Greek instruments. Yousef is cementing his relatively new comer status with a golden pop song that will carry him through Valentine day concerts.  


Listen:  يوسف عرفات - ولا ليلة 2013


حصريا النجم الأردني | يوسف عرفات - ولا ليلة | جديد 2013

Hear This: Mai Selim Is Divorced Now

The Jordanian pop songstress is reported to have divorced form her husband of two years--businessman Ali El Refaei. If you recall, Mai had planned to have a big wedding in Cairo during the protests, but that never happend. So the couple moved the ceremony to Amman Jordan.

Just like that sudden wedding, now we learn of the sudden and secretive divorce between the odd couple. According to sources close to the couple the divorce took place last week and it was not a public event. The couple are getting along and seem to be to have resolved all their differences. The news has not been confirmed or denied by either party.

Together they have a little girl (Lily) whom they gave a huge first year birthday bash just months ago. 2012 has been a tough year and it seems we have seen a lot more divorces in this year than previous years. Looking through the Facebook pictures, you really cannot find many or any with her husband Ali. Many of those pictures are with celebrities or with Mai's own sisters.

Mai is busy with her show on MBC Sisters Soup.

Mai Selim - Sam3ah / مى سليم - سمعاه

Tamer Abu Ghazaleh's Music Revolution

If you are to draw a map where the story of Tamer Abu Ghazaleh music journey, you would have to include Amman, Beirut, Cairo, Tunisia, and Ramallah on such a map. As for his music is reached more people and touches more cities. I have heard him perform before along with Huda Asfour years ago. The beard fits well with the new song that sticks it to the bearded political men of Islam.
 
This is a composer of alternative Arabic music, and an Oud, Buzuq, and vocal performer. The lyrics in his compositions are in formal (fus-ha), Palestinian, or Egyptian dialect, written either by himself or by a celebrated Arab poets. His lyrics tend to be broader and a lot more sarcastic that one can process. His music is about love, challenge, insecurity, boredom, thrill, frustration, etc He certainly aims for making music that are not defined by time and place.

He has shown time and time again to be a restless and inventive performer and promoter of a wide range of music and artistic activity, Tamer Abu Ghazaleh is a leading figure in modern Arabic culture. He comes across as a pan Arab and his latest song mocks the Islamist and their politics. I love his many zingers geard toward Orthodox Muslims.

Tamer Abu Ghazaleh's debut album Mir'ah (Mirror) was released in 2008. Recorded with a group of Palestinian and Egyptian performers, the record’s seven turbulent, entrancing and sometimes frenzied songs were written during a turbulent period of demonstrations, bombardment and invasion of Palestinian cities. He has lead the way of the indie music platform and has shown an amusing learning curve  Like the track below it feels like an Algerian track, but sounds very Egyptian and Palestinians at the same time.

Per his Facebook page:

Tamer has sold-out concerts in Beirut, Alexandria, Cairo, Amman and Tunis, Tamer Abu Ghazaleh has been an active musical collaborator for many years. Projects include: starting the cross-genre group Kazamada (2010); working with Palestinian & Egyptian artists on Jehar (with Huda Asfour), Duo Buzuq (with Rabea Jubran) and Kalam Mazzika (with Salam Yousry); and performing on Khaled Jubran's Psalms (2005). In 2008, Tamer released Thawret Ala (Revolution of Worry), a collaborative piece of musical theatre that was performed by the Al-Tamye Theatre Group. Tamer Abu Ghazaleh was born in Cairo 1986 to an exiled Palestinian family. 

He started singing and performing at the age of two, and composing at the age of nine. In 1998 Tamer and his family managed to return to their homeland to live in Ramallah, where he started his academic music education at the National Conservatory of Music (now Edward Said Conservatory). I have come to appreciate his music and the sense of humor and purpose his songs often sport.

This feels like a cynical song made for those cynical times of ours. Not sure is some folks in Egypt may take issue with Tamer lampooning the leaders of the land. Politics aside, this is a great song with many amusing attributes.

Ah Mel Ekhwan - Tamer Abu Ghazaleh اه مالاخوان - تامر أبوغزالة

Toni Qattan Wants To Serve You Some Cheese!

In my book Jordanian pop star, Toni Qattan makes very few mistakes. Here's a recent one. Making a romantic and cheesy song that makes little sense and adds absolutely nothing to his career to the entertainment of his listeners.

Dated piano melody, over consumed romantic lyrics and weak (certainly not sweet) vocal showing from this singer who is capable of so much more. Why did he do this song? I have no idea, but I feel I am not the only one who resents this lame song of his. Let's hope he goes back to making happy and let's dance songs.

Toni Qattan - Habibi Ta'ala / طوني قطان - حبيبي تعال

Jordan Awards Is A Big Farce Says Tony Khalifa

Someone in Jordan thought it would be a great idea to hold an award ceremony for Arab entertainers from all walks to life. They did a good job at first  but then it seems that have been doing nothing right. At first they denied the local press from entering the big gala. They allowed anyone from any Arab countries, the local press were told to go home. There's video of the bickering and we have posted it on the blog.

Now comes celebrity and TV personality Tony Khalifa, he spilled the beans on the organizers  At first they called me last year and told me, I am getting an award. I told them I accept. Then they never called me back to give me more details and all of sudden I read the award ceremony took place and I was not notified.

Then they called me again this year and he accepts their award, but asks them to call him back to give him the travel plans. He thought they might have made a mistake last year. Surprise, they never call the TV host again, and instead the give the award to some other nobody. Tony and a number of media outlets are now wondering if they organizers take their event seriously and their awards seriously.
"اليسا افضل مطربة عربية فى حفل "جوردن اوورد 2010

Watch: Omar Al Abdallat #Gaza Victory Song النصر لكم يا ابطال غزه قادم عمر العبداللات

When Jordan's biggest singer makes a song it goes around. This time he did not sing for Jordan instead, he sang for Gaza. A touching song form this popular folklore centered singer. This time he sings about the upcoming victory for Gaza from all around the Arab World. While talk is cheap, the only thing that will help Gaza is in that land..

While we love our Arab and Muslims people--when we are being bombed, we are on our own. When the ward ends, they come in braining aide and support. I know for once, I do not mind a good song that comes at this time offering support to the people under war--you are not alone.

There are many great songs for Palesitne out there, this Omar Al Abdallat song is pretty special it comes as a statement to tell certain people in Jordan--we are one people.
النصر لكم يا ابطال غزه قادم عمر العبداللات

Eyad Nassar Doesn't Support Protesting In Jordan

Jordanian actor Eyad Nassar wants you to know he does not support the protests in Jordan. As the people of Jordan protest the prices of gas and food, the actor is busy finding acting gigs from Cairo. Eyad Nassar made the big times few years ago and he has yet to leave them. Eyad is working extra time to sell himself in Egypt as he took the Egyptian dialect.

As protests broke out at his home, the actors took to Twitter claiming someone took his identity and offered support for the protest. The actor might be afraid of his country's ruthless intelligence community, so he makes sure no one mistakes him for someone who supports anything.

هناك من ينتحل شخصيتي على تويتر ويصرح حول مايحدث في الاردن..الرجاء مساعدتي في ايقاف هذا التهريج..
— Eyad Nassar (@EyadNassar2) November 14, 2012

In his message he said, "There's some who stole my identity and making statements about what's going on in Jordan, please help me stop this clowning." Eyad might not be making his politics public, but I am sure if anything happens, he would come out and pretend to be some kind of hero.

اياد نصار في برنامج - قول حاجه

The Comeback Of Waleed Samarah With "Ansak"

I do not know much about Waleed Samarah, but I know the song he chose to cover is a delightful song that makes any singer sound really good. I first heard this song by the voice of its composer Ramy Gamal, I remember liking the song by Ramy. So when I heard the song by Waleed's voice, I felt I have been there before.

I do not know who had song the song first, but I think Waleed has. Regardless Ansak is a heart warming song, it comes from a romantic who can forget being wronged. Waleed appeared on Star Academy Season 3, years ago.

Why did he have to fall in love with a lady that does not even look Arab? He is Jordanian by the way of Kwuit, and has a degree in engineering from Canada. He is a charmer and he knows it.

Waleed Samarah - Ansak / وليد سمارة - أنساك