INDEX OF ARABIC MUSIC: Middle East

Showing posts with label Middle East. Show all posts

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

RIM BANNA

Rim Banna the Palestinian singer, lyricist and composer, born in Nazareth in The Galilee. She has loved music and singing since her childhood and was active in school activities. She has also participated in “The Land’s Day Festivals” and other National and political celebrations.She started her artistic life since she was ten years old.
Rim Banna studied music and singing in the High Institute for Music “GNESINS” in Moscow (USSR), and she specialized in modern singing and conducting singing ensembles, under the tutorship of the famous artist and composer Vladimer Karobka, where she graduated in 1991 with excellent mark, after six years of academic studies.
At that period she produced two albums of her live recorded concerts:
“Jafra” in 1985.
“Your Tears, Mother” in 1986.
In 1991, Rim Banna got married to Leonid Alexeienko from Ukraine who is an artist. He studied music with her in the same institute in Moscow.Both of them are working together in the music field and compose their own music.
Rim Banna and Leonid live in Nazareth, the Capital of The Galilee, and they have a daughter her name is Baylasan. Rim Banna and Leonid participated in different Palestinian, Arabic and International concerts and Festivals, where she presented the Palestinian Voice and the Palestinian song in all her participation which was received with popular success and admiration.http://www.rimbanna.com/biog_e.htm

Monday, November 23, 2009

Assi Al-Hellani

Assi was born in Baalbeck, Lebanon and was the third youngest among his 13 brothers and sisters. Assi's musical talent became evident very early, when as a child he was performing Lebanese songs in circle of his friends and family. Assi studied for approximately five years (1985-1990) at the Higher Institute of Music in Lebanon concentrating on the Oud performance and Arab vocal techniques.WIKIPEDIA

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Ehab Tawfik

Image by Tab59 via Flickr

Ehab Tawfik is an outstanding Egyptian singer, who is endowed with a wonderful and unique voice, as well as refined artistic taste. Since the early beginnings of his career in 1990, he has captivated the different streams of Arab and international audiences with the remarkable beauty of his singing technique and picturesque songs, which portray the authentic Egyptian culture. Ehab Tawfik sings poems about love, personal relationships and human experiences in the Egyptian dialect, which is understood everywhere in the Middle-East. Those who watch the Arabic music scene do not only consider Ehab Tawfik to be an icon and exceptionally talented singer, but also an accomplished artist who has reconciled the Arab youth and the more composed audience to their heritage of songs – which had become mummified in rigid forms and burdened with badly integrated foreign elements. It is actually Ehab Tawfik´s choice of original themes of lyrics, as well as the introduction of exquisite additions to the arrangement of music compositions which has enriched the contemporary Arabic song. Furthermore, it is the merit of this outstanding artist, that the traditional classic music styles of Tarab – and even Egyptian folklore – have been enabled to break-out of the captivity of their regional boundaries and been made available to Non-Arabs, while preserving their cultural authenticity. Rest on http://www.ehab-tawfik.net/en/biography.htm

Sunday, November 8, 2009

Amal Murkus

Murkus was born and raised in the Arab town of Kafr Yasif in the Galilee, and has devoted her career to promoting Palestinian music and culture in Israel and abroad. Murkus has been performing since she was five years old. In 1979, she won first prize in the national Arab children's song festival, and went on to graduate from the Institute for Stage Art in Tel Aviv in 1990.Wikipedia

Sunday, October 25, 2009

Ilham Al Madfai

Image by Jeff_Werner via Flickr

Born in Baghdad early 40’s. Picked up his Guitar when he was 12. Created one of the first bands in Iraq known as Twisters. Later on moved to England to study Architecture. Played with a group and performed at Bayt Al Baghdadi in London. Returned to Baghdad in 1967. In Baghdad he formed his band, 13 ½ where he introduced the Andalusic style to the Iraqi folklore song. Left iraq in 1979 from there he toured the world with his musical style. Returned back to Iraq in 1991 and later on started his own band known as (Elham Band).Left Iraq in 1994 after 4 Challenging years, where his music reached millions of Iraqis in exile , as well as millions of Arabs especially in Lebanon and Amman.After Great success of His CD Khuttar, Elham Left the US to live in Amman where he would be close to his fans .

Sunday, October 18, 2009

Ala`a Zalzali

Alaa was born in Sour, a city in South lebanon (18.10.1969), his real name is Ali Ahmad Zalzali, and we know him as Alaa Zalzali, he liked music since he was a child and he always dreamed to be a famous person and to let the whole world sing with him. Alaa has one brother Nader and two sisters Joumana and Chat El Rym, her nick name Chato. His brother Nader married Layal and they had two children: a boy Abada and a girl. Nader is the music group leader, his sister Joumana, also married, has one boy Houssein, his nick name (Sonna), and a girl mariam like her mother's name, his young sister Chat El Rym is still single.

Saturday, October 10, 2009

Hisham Abbas

Image via Wikipedia

Mohammad Hisham Mahmoud Mohammad Abbas (Arabic: محمد هشام محمود محمد عباس‎) was born on September 13, 1963 in Cairo, Egypt. He is commonly known as just Hisham Abbas (Arabic: هشام عباس). He is an Egyptian pop singer best known for his hit song Nari Narain.He had his primary education in Dar El Tefl school. He was home-schooled for his secondary education & GCE. Later on he enrolled in American University in Cairo as he graduated with a major in Mechanical Engineering. He decided to pursue art as his profession rather than Engineering.Abbas took his first step as a professional singer being a member of Pats Band band with his partner in the band Aliaa Saleh and other friends. They covered a number of Egyptian and Arabic classing songs, such as "Halawet Shamsena", "Ala Remesh Oyonha", "El Wala Dah" and more. Then he met up with widely-known producer and singer Hameed El Shaery. They collaborated to produce successful songs that highlighted Abbas' position in the music scene. Songs like "Halal Aleik", "Allah Yesalem Halak", "Habetah", and "Saea Albak".Abbas' career bloomed later on to release several songs. He rose in the early 1990s with successful hits like "Wana Wana Wana", "Eineha El Sood", "Ta'ala", "Ya Leila", "Shoofi" and his most successful hit, "Habibi Dah (Nari Narain)". Up to this day, he has 10 solo studio albums in his account. He received a number of awards, the most notable one was Orbit's Arabic Song Award in 1997.
He collaborated later on with Hamid El Shaery several times. As Hamid featured him in the hit "Einy" which featured Lebanese model, now singer, Nicole Saba. The song became a huge success, and it was extremely popular in the mid 1990's.A few years later Abbas got married and had two children Ali and Yasmina in 2007 he had another baby called Tamara. WIKIPEDIA

Friday, August 21, 2009

Samo Zaen

Samo Zaen was born on 10th of November in Kuwait, He is Scorpio, He is from a Syrian family and from time to time he was visiting them in Syria and other European Countries till he finished his Secondary school. After graduation, he traveled to London to study sound engineering.

He worked as a sound engineer in London for several years but eventually returned to Kuwait and started his own business in audio equipments under the name Twitter for Audio Equipments”. After his quick fame in the world of sound engineering, all distinguished Arab singers dealt with him. After his great success, he decided to open another branch in London but chance played the greatest role in Samo’s entry to the world of art and fame.Once he got his first offer to sing at one of London’s famous restaurant, he received warm applause from the audience, his relatives and his friends who were attracted to his way and style in singing. He decided after that to release his first album “Mili ya helwa”with “El-Kheyol Company”. He did not expect this reaction from audience as he gained their admiration and he won their hearts quickly. Moreover, he topped the list of singers in the satellite channels. He began preparing for the second album with new ideas for a whole year under the name “Ana leek “with “ Rotana Company”.This album was his real chance for stability and progress in the world of stardom He won for this album 11 Arab and international awards. Media has described this album as one of the best albums all over the world.Rest on http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=68893782715&ref=mf

Monday, August 10, 2009

Nancy Zaabalawi

Nancy Zaabalawi was born in Damascus, Syria; her father is a musician who used to play the guitar and he was a member of the Artists Syndicate in Syria. In a musical family, Nancy Zaabalawi was born and with no doubt she inherited the singing talent from her father. Since she was small Nancy Zaabalawi used to memorize songs quickly, and she participated in many musical programs for children in the Syrian television and in other Arab TV stations. Nancy Zaabalawi studied Arabic literature at Damascus University before studying English literature and computer at the Faculty of America. But despite her work as an executive secretary at the Syrian International School, singing remained her number one hobby and used to sing in a hotel, where she used to spend the holiday every year with her family in Alladekieh and in many restaurants and hotels in Damascus. Nancy Zaabalawi participated in the program Super Star in Beirut, though she did not win first place, but her participation in the program was sufficient to make her start in the musical career and to rise to the world of fame. ancy has worked hard on her first 7 songs: Ouridouka, inta w bass, Khoz ra7tak, Si7it min el nom, law laket, mousta7il, shou zakkarak.

Saturday, August 8, 2009

Mai Hariri

May Hariri was described as the most beautiful woman in Lebanon; known for her jovial and witty spirit, she radiates a constant positive energy with her cheerful personality. Equipped with a unique vocal ability, a team of professionals, lots of support from many in the music industry and her natural charm, May has finally launched her career as a Lebanese Pop Artist.May has been an achiever all her life and always attained what she sought for. Like most teenagers, May at a young age was attracted to the arts, and especially to becoming a pop star. While life had a different road set for her, May kept her dream in mind and at the right time, she ventured with all her strength to achieve her lifetime goal.With the release of May Hariri’s first Music Video, she unleashed to the Arab world a combination of wild, sensual and enchanting concepts with the clip of her debut single “Ha Sahhar Ouyounou”. The Music Video was filmed at the Grand Hills Village and was filled with surprising and courageous ideas that flabbergasted the fans and media alike. Many of Lebanon’s leading opinions in the music industry like the esteemed Melhem Barakat and Simon Asmar expressed their support and trust in May‘s work. Melhem Barakat even added his own vocal effects to one of the tracks on her album entitled “Amma Alek Kalam”. May’s Album slated for Release in May 2004, also entitled “Hasahhar Ouyounou” contains a variety of tracks with different moods, and all filled with strong beats pumping over Arabic and Oriental melodies which vary from the soft to the dance. Walking the brick road of fame, and already capturing the audience with her beauty, sensuality and wildness, May Hariri will give her fans a sweet voice and super performance.At the moment and a year after launching her first album, May has made 8 music videos and 3 singles: “Habibi Enta”, “Ya Btaa’ Elgaram” and "Habibi, Ta’ala". To honor the memory of the martyr president Rafique Hariri, May, crowned the end of her first year as a singer, with an emotional and heart breaking performance, for the national song and video clip “La Ma Koulset Lehkayeh”. In 2007 May Hariri started her first line of jewelry in Kuwait. With the much awaited line being held off until January of 2008 the new addition to her career was well received.The stardom, which May achieved in an unprecedented short period of time, was reflected through the vast number of all the successful festivals and tours she performed in her first year.WIKIPEDIA

Friday, August 7, 2009

Wadih Mrad

Wadih Mrad´s real name is Garo Mrad Seferian. He was born in Kameshli, north of Syria, on the 15th of June 1974.He is Armenian in religion and his sign is Gemini.Wadih started his music life at the age of five. His first instrument was a piano. During his studies, he participated in many events and competitions between schools. In 1984, he was sent to Armenia as a tourist for one month through a scholarship. In 1989, he organized an orchestra for his school to participate in events with other schools. The majority of these events were for charity.In 1992, Wadih went to the military service for two years and a half. During this period, he met an Oriental orchestra where he discovered all the oriental instruments (Kanoun, Violin, Nay) and started practicing Arabic bitrates. After one year, in 1993, he organized his own Oriental orchestra of fourteen professional musicians. During his military period, Wadih got introduced to many people where he started singing in weddings, birthdays, engagement events and others.During the summer of 1995, Wadih´s military service was over and his fans were growing larger and larger.Many people started loving and adoring his voice all around the city. He went back to his village where he made his first concert. The concert was great deemed very successful and everybody was encouraging him to go further in his musical career.Wadih realized that his duties started growing as well, and that he had to proceed to create a better future, so he went studying Solfege in his village with a special private teacher who taught him the basics of "Al Makamat el Arabiyya" as well as how to play Oud.In summer 1996, he signed his first contract in a very
beautiful tourist green area known as "Mashta al Houlou" in Syria. The contract was with a restaurant called "Nabee el Aarous" that was a strategic touristic place for both Arab and European tourists. His fame started spreading in the Middle East region starting from Beirut, Egypt, Jordan, and Dubai in the Arab Emirates.In winter 1996, Wadih went to Sweden for two months where he found large number of fans mostly from the Syriac and Armenian religions (Al Jaliya). He made many concerts there and they were all another success to tell about. Winters and summers of 1997 and 1998 were a repetition of 1996.Winters were in Sweden and summers were in "Mashta el Helou".At the end of 1998, Wadih moved to Beirut where all the doors of fame were opened. He suffered for one year and a half in Beirut because he thought it was easy to start his career there. This was very difficult, on the other hand, because Lebanese people are very good listeners and the market was witnessing the birth of many singers and it was hard for one to prove himself quickly in the midst of such a mess.Finally, Wadih signed a contract with a Lebanese radio station and agreed that they will manage his business.He started singing in a night club called "Blue Velvet" in Kaslik in the Jounieh area under the name of "Garo" and the contract lasted for four months. The result of this hard work was that they offered him a song and supported it exclusively on air and he was obliged to change his name to "Wadih Mrad" to fit with his style of songs.Later on, the radio station produced an album of seven songs that included the single "Helweh el Denyeh" that lead him to the top charts. The album was entitled "Saket" and was produced by Music Master.
His contract with the radio station ended with lots of problems mainly related to money that is, till now, still to be settled still in court of law.Wadih signed his next contract with Rotana through a company based in Los Angeles named "Take 5 Music". The contract was for five years with Rotana but was broken after one album which is "Aashek Majnoun". The problem was related to the failure launching the album due to marketing reasons. The contract was ended on a friendly basis and Wadih realized that he must take full responsibility for managing his life and work by choosing the songs that fit his style because everybody was underestimating him. He felt that following the advice of others was ruining his life, dreams, future, and career that he believed in.In Christmas 2003, Wadih went to the United States where he had a tour in many states like Los Angeles, New Jersey, Detroit, Boston, etc. and every concert there was a success. The fans were singing his songs that they memorized, and Wadih realized that his songs were almost everywhere. This put more pressure and more duties on him with respect his fans, friends, and family.Later on, Wadih met a friend in New Jersey and they agreed to start a company to release a new album. The system was that the company will finance new albums which Wadih prepares with a lot of care and the result of this was a new album of eight songs under the name of "Waddaani el Habib". This new album promises to be a success because it has already spread all over the world including the Middle East, USA, Canada, Europe, etc. source http://wadihmrad.tv/biography/

Sunday, July 26, 2009

Assi El Hillani

Mohammed Al Hellany better known as Assi Al Hellany, was born on the 28th of November in Baalbeck, Lebanon in 1970. Assi grew up in a large family with 13 brothers and sisters, of whom he was the third youngest.Assi El Halani started his music career by singing Lebanese songs at an early age among his family and friends. Assi had a big interest in singing which soon grew stronger. At the age of 17, that is around 1987 he started his life as a singer officially when he participated in the “Art Studio” TV program for young artists, and was the winner in the popular Lebanese song category.Assi studied music for almost five years at the Higher Institute of Music in Lebanon from 1985 until 1990. El Halani specialized in playing the Ood (oriental guitar) and in arab singing techniques.Assi Al Halani had performances in many concerts and festivals including the Jarash festival, the Carthage festival, and in a number of concerts around the Arab world, Europe and America.Assi has released over a dozen albums and is firmly established as a major star in the Region. His most popular songs include “Wani Mareq Mareet”, “Ahebbak Gedan”, “Amshi Lihali”, “Mali Saber”, “Ahla Al Oyounv”, “Shoag El Sahara” and “Kayed Ozzalak”, all of which are included on his new ‘Best of’ compilation which spans his entire career to date.Source - Facebook.com

Saturday, July 11, 2009

Dolly Shahine

Dolly Joseph Abu Shahine commonly known as Dolly Shahine (born July 2, 1985 in Sebney, Lebanon) is a Lebanese singer and actress. She rose to fame in 2005 with her role in the Egyptian movie Wija as the femme fatale. In 2008 speculated by rumours she drew controversy and criticism that she had converted to Islam in order to obtain a divorce from her Catholic husband, Lebanese businessman Sami Qalib. In late 2008 an Egyptian court ruled in her favor for divorce.The daughter of Joseph Chahine and a Brazilian mother, Shahine's surname can be spelled Shaheen, Chahine, or Shahin. She currently she lives in Egypt.WIKIPEDIA

Monday, July 6, 2009

Fady Andraos

Fady Andraos (born October 21, 1981) is a Lebanese singer and actor born and raised in Lebanon to a Christian Lebanese father of Palestinian descent and a native Lebanese mother.His first television appearance was on the Lebanese reality show Star Academy in 2005. During the academy, Fady's talent in acting drew the attention of the Lebanese actor/writer George Khabbaz, who offered him the lead role in a Lebanese sitcom called Fady & Rady, starring with Khabbaz and Wissam Sabbagh. His first single "B Alby Dally"; a mix of rock music and eastern music ,was released on July 9, 2007,and hit the Arabic music charts. His first album will be released in the beginning of 2008, and he's now shooting another sitcom called Jeeran along with other starac fellows.Wikipedia

Sunday, July 5, 2009

Julia Boutros

When she began her singing career at the age of 12, Julia could already sense the need to use her talent on behalf of others. Her first song, a French tune titled 'A Maman", was dedicated to all mothers on mother's day. It proved to be the first step in a lifelong journey of dedication: her gift to others.

By the age of 14, she had released her first album, titled ‘C’est La Vie’ (This is Life), written and composed by Elias Rahbani.
It was also around this time that the civil war in Lebanon broke out, playing a central role in Julia's life and bringing into sharp focus her desire to commit herself and her singing to humanity and civilization in the Lebanese community in particular and the world in general.

Early on, unlike other artists her age, Julia dedicated her career to a cause. This burning desire to be a voice for others led directly in 1985 to her recording “Ghabet Shams Al Haq”. Composed by Julia’s brother Ziad Boutros, who composes most of her work today, the song expresses their anger at the continued killing of the innocents: children, women, men and the elderly civilians.
"The only thing we were able to do at the time was to raise our voices and send a message to the world, and that was achieved by my first song" says Julia.

She wanted to send a message and she did so, forcefully. One week after this song was released; Julia's voice entered every house in the Arab world. Her voice had become their voice, with millions of people singing her songs. Even schools began teaching the children the real meanings of Julia's words.
After “Ghabet Shams Al Haq”, Julia would say, "I felt that I had a responsibility and that it is to speak on behalf of my people whose voice goes unheard".
Today, Julia’s fans range from children to elderly, as she became a national symbol for Nationalism, Patriotism, Resistance and even Romance.Julia received several national and international awards, including The Lebanese President's Award which was presented to Julia for her contribution, through her voice, to the Lebanese Resistance against the Israeli occupation of Lebanon, shortly after the liberation of the South in May 2000.Recently, and during the latest Lebanese - Israeli conflict, Julia Boutros was featured on Al Jazeera TV Station in a special program; she talked about the Politics in the Arab world, daring to say the least. She has today developed a fundraising project for the families of all Lebanese Martyrs who perished during the 33 day war. http://juliaboutros.net

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Malikah

Lebanese Queen of Rap Lynn Fattouh, known as Malikah. Born in Marseille, France in 1986, Malikah is a Lebanese Algerian raised in Beirut. What makes her a unique Arab rapper, singer, and MC, that stands out in the industry, is that she is not only a female but she also raps fluently in Arabic, English, and French. “I have a collaboration track on Aks’seir’ album, that was released a couple of years ago where I rap in French and Arabic (Algerian accent),” she said. This track was the retake of the famous Abdel Kader for Algerian Singer Cheb Khaled.
Malikah describes her “2 personalities” when it comes to music. “Malikah is the rough, serious, hardcore, Arabic woman who raps about politics, religion, and social issues; and MC Lix is my alter-ego, the feminine, sexy lady who is more commercial and talks about love, friendship and so on,” she added.Malikah first hit the Lebanese hip hop scene in 2003 when she performed in front of a number of Lebanese Male rappers at the “Peak Hall,” Lebanon. “Back then, I had to cover my face because my parents were against me rapping,” she said. She secretly continued doing her thing until she was asked to perform on Lebanon’s Future Television show “Zaven” in 2003. “This is where I had to face my parents. Eventually we spoke and made a deal that they would let me do my music as long as I keep up with school,” she explained. Three years later Malikah started MC’ing.

Sunday, June 21, 2009

Diana Haddad

Diana Haddad - Azab El Hawa
Załadowane przez: ihyana - Obejrzyj ostatnio promowane klipy wideo.

Lebanese Artist Diana Joseph Fouad Haddad (born 1 October 1976) is a Lebanese Arab pop folk singer and model with Emirati citizenship. Mainly known as Diana Haddad, she is one of the most popular and successful singers in the Arab World and has been so since the start. Lebanese Singer Diana Haddad was a record-breaker since her first song Saken in 1996, and she is still considered one of the most successful Arab female singers and one of the best selling singers in the Arab World. Lebanese Singer Diana Haddad does not limit herself to one music style, she knows how to present a very wide range, moving from the most rhythmic songs to the slow romantic ones. Lebanese Singer Diana Haddad first came to fame in 1993 when she just 16. While she was recording her first album she appeared on the Arabic talent show Studio El Fan in Beirut performing the traditional Lebanese folk song written by Elias Abou Azala Tayr El Yammameh which would be included on her first album Saken.

Three years later, the release of her debut album Saken, which featured her single Saken, Lagaitek, a cover of Issam Rajje's old hit, and Al-Sahra. Soon, after Lebanese Artist Diana Haddad became a mother to her first child, a daughter Sofi. In 1997 Lebanese Artist Diana Haddad released one of the most successful albums in her discography, Ahl Al Esheg, which included the hit single Ahl Al Esheg. Diana Haddad released the most popular pop album of the 1990s Ammanih. In 2000s Diana Haddad released the more critically acclaimed and successful albums Awel Marrah and Diana 2006. In 2007 Diana Haddad gave birth to her second daughter Mira in Dubai. On 30 October 2008, Diana Haddad released her second long waited Khaliji (Gulf Arabic) album Men Diana Illa. Rest on http://www.lebanonatlas.com/content/magazine/DianaHaddad.asp

Friday, June 19, 2009

SaidaFikri

Saida Fikri
( سعيدة فكري ) is a Moroccan singer-songwriter well known in North Africa and Western Europe for expressing powerful personal and social themes in an original, cosmopolitan style of music.

Saida’s eclectic songs combine elements of rock, blues, jazz, folk, pop, country and reggae, but all with a subtle Middle Eastern touch. The ‘eastern’ traces in Saida’s music include gnawi, rai, chaabi, Andalusian, Berber and classical Arabic rhythms. Her lyrics are written in the Moroccan dialect of Arabic, French, and English.

The result of this global fusion is one of a kind : Saida has taken in the best of the world’s musical traditions, yet she doesn’t sound like anyone else in the world.

In terms of orchestration, Saida’s repertory can be divided into two kinds. On the one hand, ‘big’ songs like “Zmane Naga” and “Ait Mankhabbi” are supported by numerous instruments and backup singers. Their ‘fast’ and exciting rhythms always inspire the audience to sway and dance along.

On the other hand, Saida is also a master of the ‘small’ and ‘quiet’ song in the style of Joan Baez or Joni Mitchell, performed solo with a guitar, or sometimes as a duet with another acoustique instrument. The best example of this genre is the much loved “Misiria” , a blistering attack on the indifference and hypocrisies of fatcats and corrupt officials. Or in the words of Mohamed Lotfi, a journalist for Radio Canada, "One voice, one guitar and words which bluntly portray a society where injustice, inequality and patriarchical abuse of power are still the rule".

Saida’s music is thus not just music. It is also something serious, conveying complex emotions and social statements. Her music displays a special concern for the hardships, struggles and suffering of the ordinary people of Morocco. There are nostalgic meditations on the experiences of emigrants. There are elegies to the forgotten people of society. There are cries for justice. There is social criticism. In other words, Saida is a principled artist whose principles are justice, truth, and honesty. Asked "what does Saida sing?", a young man of 18 at a Saida Fikri concert in Rabat replied, "She sings about our problems".

Saida Fikri is also a social pioneer in the Middle East and North Africa. Normally, a female singer in this part of the world performs the songs written for her by men. But Saida not only sings, but also writes her own outspoken lyrics, composes her own music and performs with the guitar. In fact, Saida was the first Moroccan woman to appear in public holding a guitar.

This troublemaker, a native of Casablanca, grew up listening to the songs of Joan Baez, Dolly Parton and Bob Dylan. She started playing the guitar at age of 8 and wrote her first song at 12. She soon found herself in the formal study of music at the Conservatory of Casablanca. Her musical career of tackling her country's biggest taboos took off in 1994 with her debut album “Nadmana”, at a time when the freedom of expression was still limited, well before the political liberalisation started by the current king.Her music being an immediate commercial success, it was not long before Saida was touring all over Morocco and Europe. The government of Belgium invited her to sing as the representative of the modern North African woman, a performance before tens of thousands in Brussels’s Great Square. Saida has also performed at the prestigious Paradiso club in Amsterdam, a presitigous venue reserved for big international stars. In April of 2008, Saida and her group of 5 musicians went on her first North American tour, performing on stage in New York, Boston, Washington DC (the Rosslyn Spectrum Theatre) and Montreal (Kola Note).
At the concert held on 20 May 2008 in Morocco’s capital city of Rabat for the Mawazine International Music Festival, Saida performed before a cheering crowd of over 30,000 who sang along with her and recited her repertory word for word.http://www.saidafikri.net/

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Angham

Angham (born January 19, 1966) is an Egyptian singer, record producer and actress. Her debut was in 1987 under the guidance of her father, Mohammad Suleiman. She is the most successful vocal female artist in Egypt starting from the 1980s till nowadays. Following her divorce from Magdy Aref in 2000, Angham took much more control over her image and musical style after that “Leih Sebtaha” (Why Did You Leave Her) record established her into a strong position amid the constant emerge of new voices in the Middle East music scene. After a highly publicized feud between Alam elPhan Music Records’ president Mohsen Gaber and the artist , Angham moved to another record company, Rotana. In 2005, she released "Bahibbik Wahashteeny" (I Love You, I Miss You) record . The record was critically acclaimed, but commercially was not as expected. After a three years, Angham return to the forefront of Arabic pop music in 2007 with her hit record “Kolma N’arrab” (Whenever We Come Closer) which sold more than half a million CD across the Middle East in less than three months and was awarded a platinum certification.
Angham was named the best selling female pop artist in Middle East for the years 2000, 2001 , 2003, and 2007 . She is well-known for her vocal range, simplicity, melismatic style, and use of the whistle register. However, some critics have said Angham's efforts to showcase her vocal talents have been at the expense of communicating true emotion through song rather than showing her full vocal capacities. WIKIPEDIA

Saturday, June 6, 2009

Asalah Nasri

Asala was born in Damascus, Syria to a middle class couple. Mostafa Nasri, Asala's father, was a revered Syrian composer and singer who recognized her singing talent early on and launched her singing career. She was very attached to her father who taught her to love music. Her infatuation with music entertained her through her childhood, she was much more content with the radio than a doll. Asala began her musical career by performing patriotic, religious, and children's songs when she was four years old. She sang the theme song, Qessas Al Sho'oub (Arabic: قصص الشعوب), of the cartoon show, Hekayat Alamiyah (Arabic: حكايات عالمية). In 1986, Mostafa Nasri died after suffering from internal bleeding caused by a car accident. The untimely passing of Asala's father caused her great grief and she left singing and took up her duties as the eldest child. At the young age of seventeen, she took care of her siblings, Reem, Amani, Ayman and Ayham with her mother.Asala's commercial musical career debuted in 1991 with Law Ta'rafou (Arabic: لو تعرفو). The album had 4 songs in the oriental operatic tarab style. The album was an instant hit with heartbreaking songs like Ya Sabra Yana and Samehtak Ketir. She quickly cemented her presence in a growing industry brimming with new, young talent like Najwa Karam, Saber Rebai, Angham, and Abdelmajeed Abdullah.WIKIPEDIA

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