The Arab Idol Trio's New Classy Hit Song #كارمن سليمان , #دنيا_بطمة, #يوسف_عرفات - عظمة على عظمة

They are talented, and they are young. They won Arab Idol, and their names are Yousef Arfat, Dounya Batema, Carmin Suliman and they want to give us a history lesson on Arabic music and the figures who made it the thing we love--or hate.

They have a pan Arab list of names most Arabs know and resepct. This song has been in the works for close to six months, but it released few days ago. It has a fun feel, the young folks will love seing their celebrties, but the older ones will like the walking down the memory lane.

It's nice to see the three young artists come together for this song, I am certain the producers at MBC's music arm paid some serious cash toproduce this song and it has already been showered with Youtube love.



#كارمن سليمان , #دنيا_بطمة, #يوسف_عرفات - عظمة على عظمة

Why Arab Idol Needs Mohammed Assaf (محمد عساف) To Win

There's a skinny Palestinian guy from Gaza on Arab Idol, and he is making all the news. The judges love this very talented guy. He is a super star and no one can take this from him. His voice is so strong yet so tender. The question is, will he take the title back to Palestine?

He seems to be the best voices on the program, and I have heard and seen a lot of other talents who are very talented, but none of them has the back-story like Assaf does. He is not supposed to be on the show, but he made it and did he dazzle the fans?

Tell you what while he was on the show, he gave many people around the Arab World a reason to smile at those dark times. While far too many Arab states are seeing murder and fear upon them, None has seen it for as long as Gaza has. All suffering is painful, that does not make it easier. But Assaf is a rare talent, he is from a different bread. You give him a song and this guy brings it back to live and puts so much effort to entertain and stay loyal.

He clearly has blown away many Egyptian when he first performed that Abdel Halim song, he was the bomb. He got four yeses from the critical judges. Then he moved on to Lebanon where he did some of their better known songs....and you can see the Lebanese judges were speechless and handed him all the yeses they have.

I will watch him and will speak-up if he had a bad day, but so far out of the three songs he has covered, he won fair and square. There are 27 other talent on the show, I can see him being a finalist and a contender for the title. See him take on the stage and do his bit--it was the toughest part of the song and he did the high and low notes so well--it was a riot.

Arab Idol - مرحلة بيروت - انا يللي عليكي مشتاق


الفنان محمد عساف اليوم مقطع من الاغنية المشتركة انا يلي عليكي مشتاق arab idol


الفنان محمد عساف اليوم arab idol مقاطع أغنية على بابي واقف قمرين

If You Have An Hour To Kill Listen to This Song وردة الجزائرية - رائعة : أكذب عليك | حفلة " كاملة

Who among has an hour nowadays to spend watching (listening really) to a great song? I love you Warda, but it seems the time is not right anymore for us to set and listen to one of your most celebrated songs "Akbib 'Aleek", while it;s a great song by all accounts, the song will live on long after we all have gone away.

But for ease sake, I have both versions, the full 56 minutes long original song and the quickie version under 10 minutes. The remains one the most remade songs by young talents--namely women who find their voices made for this beloved hit. The late Warda had so many wonderful songs, that live in our collective memory. She is the voice of our emotions and sentiments when we are in love and when the passion is there.

It's no breaking news, that Warda is one of the few things Egypt and Algeria agree on--sadly. No better person Algeria has the kind of love Egypt has for Warda and her art.

 وردة الجزائرية - رائعة : أكذب عليك | حفلة " كاملة "


وردة الجزائرية - أكذب عليك

Diab Mashour And His Prison Inmate Song

The sixties and seventies were very kind to one folksy Syrian singer, Diab Mashour who has appeared on a Syrian play/TV show playing the role of the prison's singer. He is connected to Iraq by the river where they share common cultural antidotes. He is an image known for his nice and sweet voice recounting stories from the village. Diab plays the flute, the oud, and the violin 

He visited Damascus and played his song to then comedian Duraid Laham who loved his song so very much and asked him to appear on his show. He recorded his song sin Beirut and Jordan and remain classics to this day. Simple songs, the kinds your grandmother would sing you as she puts you to sleep

Diab traveled to the States to do concerts for Arabs there, he has even made it all the way to the Philippians. He composes his songs and performs them, and refuses to represent his older songs to fit with today's tastes.

ذياب مشهور ـ يابو ردين يا بوردانه

Listen: Ommi - Mother. [Full translation And Vivian Mrad's Version فيفيان مراد أمي

The most surprising mother song of the year has to be the one with Vivian Mrad playing a Marcel Khalife song. You cannot relive the oldies, but you can breath a new air into them and bring in new fans to enjoy the classics.

Marcel's original song is timeless, I miss my mother's bread and her coffee. Most Arabs memorize this song from the activist singer and gifted musician who has traveled the world and performed at the most prestigious music venues.

Vivian Mrad is a pop diva with a warm voice, and this song shows she has some real talent. Aside form her dance songs, and gorgeous Photo-shoots, she can rock. I love the lute bit in both versions. Vivan's lasts for under three minutes, the original goes for more than nine.

Vivian really outdoes herself her and goes the length to show how much she loves two things, the first is her mother and the second this song which is for mothers.

فيفيان مراد أمي


Marcel Khalife - Ommi - Mother. [Full translation/

Listen: Stuff Of The Legends, Najat Al Saghira

You do not make a song for over 20 minutes, if you know you have something incredible to show for it. You need the classical music parade, and the warm voice that will perform the best poetic lyrics money can buy. Whatever the occasion, Najat doesn't care, there are plenty of good excuses to sit down and perform a sappy—er, heartfelt—love song to her special man.

 But if you don't know the first thing about how to begin expressing those "emotions" you seem to keep feeling, fear not—you've come to the right place. She always got the lowdown on how to spill her guts into a melody and make you swoon. Or at least laugh out loud. Najat's songs tend to excel in telling details which she captured with her very own style.

Najat Al Saghira may have the Junior as her last name, she is second to none in the type of songs she chooses to perform. She is about romantic song, her personal warmth, dreamy eyes and soulful honey dripping lyrics have stood the test of time


عيش معايا - اررروع ماغنت بصوتها الدافئ - نجاة الصغيرة

Video: Japanese Beautifully Cover Classic Arabic Songs

They have nailed the song on its head, and the music is so close to the real thing. I have never thought Egyptian music would be something that the people of japan care for, but things you learn. This is an ensemble of four ladies including the vocalist.

The Arabs is pretty decent. I think so far the have performed Oum Kalthoum songs. For a long time, bands and artists have performed songs in languages they do not speak as natives. The band behind the songs take the name "Le Club Bachraf" playing oud, nay and darboukka. Japanese singer Nao Koyasu sings Arabic songs "Inta Omri" and "Lissa fakir" of great Oum Kalsoum. These videos are from their concert in Cairo, Egypt, country of origin.

Le Club Bachraf ft. Nao Koyasu - Inta Omri : Japanese singer Nao Koyasu sings "Inta Omri" composed by Muhammad Abdelwahab / Le Club Bachraf Concert in Cairo 2012 at Beit el Umma(Saad Zaghloul Cultural Center), Cairo, Egypt, August 11th 2012 / Yoshiko Matsuda(Oud), June Chikuma(Nay), Chisato Yagi(Derboukka), Nao Koyasu(Vocal) / Presented by JSPS(Japan Society for the Promotion of Science) Cairo Research Station(Director: Dr So Hasegawa)

 / 子安菜穂、カイロでインタオムリを熱唱(ロングバージョン15'59") / ウンム・カルスームの名曲インタ・オムリ(ムハンマド・アブドゥルワハーブ作曲) / ル・クラブ・バシュラフ・エジプト公演2012 カイロ・サアド・ザグルール文化センター 2012年8月11日(土) / Le Club Bachraf：竹間ジュン(ナイ), 松田嘉子(ウード), やぎちさと(ダルブッカ), 子安菜穂(ボーカル) / Enta Omri / 日本学術振興会カイロ研究連絡センター主催(長谷川奏センター長)


(more info)

أنت عمري الفرقة اليابانية Le Club Bachraf - Japanese ensemble - Inta Omri



لسه فاكر الفرقة اليابانية Le Club Bachraf - Japanese ensemble - Lissa Fakir

"I Love Her" Where Her Is Egypt By Abdel Halim

Do not even get me started on all the awesome hits Egyptian singer Abdel Halim Hafiz has given us. It's like he has never passed away, every time a song of his plays, it feels like we have not heard it before. We cannot help but listen and listen well.

This time, you do not get dancing girls and a lady with golden hair, just a dude happy to be in love, he gives free hugs, and embraces his cat too. But he is giddy because he has finally gotten it that butterfly in his stomach feeling. and he is out to tell the one he loves how much he loves her. I love the classy melody of the song, it does make you relate to this moment of time.

He will tell her tomorrow all that, but for now he is singing to himself building up the courage. He does not say, whom he loves, but it might be a woman, it might be Egypt. I wanted it to be Egypt. God knows Egypt can use a love song at the moment.

بحبهــا - عبد الحليم حافظ

Unearthing Medhat Saleh First Music Video

Medhat Saleh has been making music videos since 1989, and here's the clip for the first music video he made when he was a young man...25 years later, he is still making music, and his name is a household name.

My path, is the title of the song and the artist can been seen walking around some of Cairo's most famous markets and narrow streets. I dreamy song from an idealist young soul who refuses to lie as the lyrics of the songs go.

This is not his finest song, but I am certain he had to start somewhere, and that introduced him to thousands of fans--the one who had TVs at that time.

مدحت صالح كليب- خطي

This Saudi Prince Gets A Song By Zein Chaker الوليد بن طلال - ملك ٌ كريمٌ -غناء زين شاكر

I love the music for this new song, it's very classy and reminds us of the fine Arabic compositions that no body is making right no. Lebanese singer Zein Chaker is out with a new song for the Saudi Prince Al Waleed, the mogul and business man who also owns Rotana entertainment network

Prince Al Waleed can be seen cool and a fun person, he is a different kind of leader in Saudi Arabia and the world sort of adores him. Chaker's last song was about someone who used to be a guy, and his followup song is a flattery song for the Saudi prince. I must be a fan of the prince because he was the inspiration for this song that feels authentic.

He composed the song on top of writing the lyrics. The artists seems to admire the prince and call him noble king not a mere human. "Because He deserves it" is how Chaker replied to the prince inquiries. I respect this song if it came from the heart. It's an old habit where the old Arabs would shower those who compliment them, tell tales about them with gifts, and rewards.

الوليد بن طلال - ملك ٌ كريمٌ -غناء زين شاكر

Eighties Pop With Egyptain Mona Abd El Ghany

Arabic pop was born on the late eighties of the last century. Unlike the more class songs that ruled up to that point, pop music was not trying to impress listeners with fancy lyrics and creative poetry. At its start, the rule was use everyday words, simple and direct to describe a moment in time.

And the music will carry your song where people will dance and move along with your music. Among those pop pioneers is none other than the now retried Mona Abd el Ghany. She was making early songs with the help of Ammar El Sharei. And she made a solo or two albums under this lable. Her music videos might be silly now but they were hot then. I know my sisters were dazzled by those and the outfits Mona sported.

Also listen to 03 track and tell me that you are not hearing Fayros Karawya--the lead female voice of Egyptian music at this moment. It's scary how similar those two voices are as revealed by this song.


02 2alby Ydo2 - Mona Abd el Ghany / قلبي بيدق - منى عبدالغنى


08 E7na Meen - Mona Abd el Ghany / احنا مين - منى عبدالغنى


03 Been Delo3ak - Mona Abd el Ghany / بين ضلوعك - منى عبدالغنى

Music From When Assala Cared More For Her Music Than Her Look

We all like good looks, but when Assala made her big dent on Arabic music she did it through her music and radio voice. But then the rule of the game changed with network TV, the internet and reality TV. Assala is a pioneer on all those. She made music videos when the times asked for them, she made a website and then a Facebook/YouTube channel followed. And now she has her own TV show where she hosts on her home groups of performers together.

But before this era, she worked with names like Hilmi Baker who kept her original and not pop-centered. The music they have given her were a bridge in time lining the Syrian Diva with the golden classical days. But there's little money in that. Money is in pop and in Gulf music so Assala as any business woman made the transition.

I do not see her doing gigs in houses of opera--it's not because of Syria no matter what she says. She still sings around the world. I loved her 2012 album, I thought it has some fresh ideas, but only a song or two have lasting powers  unlike the two songs below from the late 90s, they are the kind of songs everyone wants to copy.

Assala - Ya Sabra Yana / أصالة - يا صابره يانا


Assala - Sam7tak / اصاله - سامحتك

List Of Youngest Arab Singers By Names

1. Natasha, Lebanese a combination between Nancy Ajram and Warda! She is young, talented and under 20 years of age. Her father is a musician by training and her brother runs the business side. I love her many characters she is able to produce. She can be pop and fun, but when needed she can be classy and deliver heavy doze of mellow pure Arabic hits with the oldie flavor. She has two albums, but I think Rotana is not helping her career. Video
2. Carmin Solimna, Egyptian who finished high school this year, she shot to fame by winning the Arab Idol contest. She comes from a loving family and has yet to release one single original song. But the tracks she has left behind cover the classics. She has an astonishing voice that can move water and breaks glasses. She can convey complex emotions with few vocal notes. With Carmin the sky is the limit. She is a free agent, but she is often contracted for nights of music in big galas and cultural events. Video  
3. George Zogheb, the youngest on the list. He is a preteen, but his music is not for the young ones, but rather who those who have lived in the 60s and 70s. He also loves Lebanon and his first original song is made for the motherland. He appears in concerts around Lebanon and slowly but surely he is making a big splash every where he goes. On the list, he knows the most about making music as he is well trained on the Oud.      

جورج زغيب - قارئة الفنجان

Country Music Super Star #Egypt Hegazy Met'al Delivers Much Need Wisdom

Country music is about so many things but in its essence its about celebrating home, friends, the food and the landscape of the motherland. That means you do not have to try too hard to impress folks, you need not to change your speech patterns, you only need to speak common words like you would talk to your grandfather. If you come across as an uneducated, then be it.

One of the voices of this art form is Hegazy Met'al, the guy who has the word country spelled all over his body, he wears country and rides horses. And his music is all about simplicity. And now he has a reconciliation song out there. About being the bigger man and asking for starting over. Not sure if the time is about Egypt's political difference of the moment, but it feels like more of those decision makers need to borrow Hegazy Met'al's tone and approach to conflict resolution.

I love the simplistic music, the artist has his fans, they are the ones who have built Egypt and did not care to stick around, instead they went home once the job was done. And those well-dressed and over-educated bunch came in and took credit for it.

Hegazy Met'al - Mategy Ya Sa7by / حجازي متقال - ماتيجى ياصاحبى نتصالح


اغنية حجازى متقال متيجي يا صحبى نتصالح من شعبى استايل

Mehad Hamad, The Traditional Arabic Music Purist

If you want a purist singer who does Gulf style Arabic songs, then you have landed in the right place. His name is Mehad Hamad, a local singer from the United Arab Emirates who does nothing new or invented. He just works with melodies and instruments that has been available for decades.

While most new singers and composers in the region rush to incorporate Latin and Indian melodies unto the local Gulf music scene. Mehad goes back in time and brings back some of the old themes with a fresh twist.

Mehad is not an A list outside the local music scene  but those who know him, love and cherish his songs. I have come to like his voice and old Bedouin style, I love the old Arabic he uses, it makes me think I am living in another time. His chorus keeps the song relevant and exciting while he preserves the traditional both musically stylishly.

This is his Eid song where he states he is in need for the Eid--time of celebration. You will appreciate the lute   
أغنية محتاج للعيد - ميحد حمد

Chevrolet's Beautiful Assault On Arabic Music

Business would stop at nothing to promote their products, nothing beats a good song that everyone can relate to. I do drive a Chevrolet and I do like Arabic music. I may not follow Arab Idol, but I know what;s going on. The idea behind this commercial is simple, bring all those young--and popular singers who are competing on Arab Idol, put them together and have them drive your awesome cars.

The product a lot of young people who like music are looking like they are having fun. Three boys and three girls together in the wilderness playing music, having a picnic and surrounded by their Chevy's. Since this is a singing competition, have them do a remixed version of an Arab classic the late Algerian Warda performed.

This is how you make a commercial, you explore a new concept, keep it interesting and do not take the same shot twice. And yes, it helps to have a good product to promote.

I love their time on the seaport. I think the drive in theater is also a fresh concept. This will surely make your Chevrolet Sonic seem event hotter. And on another note, what is with the scarves  why do all the dudes wear them? Am I missing something?

شڤروليه سونِك Arab Idol ريميكس - بتونس بيك

Syrian Iconic "Maqamat" Singer Edib Daykh

Some people in the Arab world--mostly older people like a singing style that is called "Maqamat" an antiquate singing form from Andalusia, Damascus when those two countries were under one leadership centuries ago. The beauty of this singing form is that is does not necessitate music, they words are the music, the story and the show. There are many people who try to get into this genre, but one man has his own place in this school.

One of those Syrian voices that has kept this traditional singing alive is Edib Al Daykh, a legend among singers known for a solid voice, and a unique delivery methods for those poetic passionate lyrics he often sings. Aside form his singing, he has come to be a walking encyclopedia for this art from . He has traveled the world performing his unique style of singing, the Syrians living away form Syria cheer him in places like Australian and Venezuela.

اديب الدايخ - ما شبه الوجنات بالتفاح إلا جهول.

The Song Will Bring Egypt Your Doorsteps على قد ما حبينا- على الحجار

Be cool, chill, love folks around you and dream big those are the words of this classic Ali Al Hajjar song whose voice has been telling the Egyptian story for at least three decades. The song is about pure in heart. Man, those songs remind me of being a kid in the back of my father's Mazda station wagon and doing my homework as the radio plays this song.

The song is about family and about our collective live journeys. I love the live performance and the chorus. This song came in the eighties, a cassette tape that lunched then young and skinny Ali's career. As you listen to this song, count your blessings, enjoy this track and live the moment.   

على قد ما حبينا- على الحجار

Mourad Bouriki Post The Voice Interview And Reception At Home

The Saudi news network caught up with Mourad Bouriki the Moroccan winner of the Voice, he chatted with them about his singing style, the show and how it feels. We learn that his mom prayed for him and asked him to win the title for Morocco--a country that does not tend to do well in such shows.

The young winner did not think he would win the title, he knew he had three strong rivals--two of them scared him. But it seems that his Andalusia style of singing and Arabic Tarab have rubbed people the right way, and they have voted for him. He can do high and low pitch songs and people appreciate that. He is one of those original flavored that connect listeners with the past. I think with the help of Red One, the world class music producer, Mourad can be a true star.

The Voice 2012 / لقاء مع مراد بوريقي بعد فوزه بلقب احلى صوت


مراكش تستقبل نجم The Voice بحرارة في ليلة باردة جداً

WATCH: Zay Elasal - Marawan Khoury Ft. Kareen زى العسل - مروان خورى وكارين

Kareen is getting a lot of help from a super star and talented across the board Marwan Khoury. It might be that he is a fan of hers or that he is looking forward to help her in the hopes she makes it big. This time they met on the popular show Celebrity duet--that comes with a noble cause.

The performance won two "yes" votes and one harsh "no" Kareen Riziq Allah. I feel the performance was missing that elegance and strong voice that express emotions and that fire within. Kareen does have a sweet voice, but I do not think she is ready to do those covers--they do not work for her as of right now. Plus the outfit might not be perfect for a song that takes us back in time.

Marwan has a lot more experiences that Kareen and he felt comfortable, Kareen was out of depth. But compared to the people on the show she is a rare gem.


Zay Elasal - Marawan Khoury Ft. Kareen زى العسل - مروان خورى وكارين