Hamaki Getting Clever About Fighting Internet Piracy

Hamaki's album was fun and dance inducing, but it was not earth shattering. An average pop album for a star we like. But he realized, some of the songs needed to be improved, thus, he is re-releasing the album with new musical arrangements. He had to do a focus group over the title song, which he changed last minute as he talked it over with his team.

I like Hamaki and I liked his 2011 album too, but his old stuff might have been better. Or to be accurate  he just has one style and keeps changing the lyrics. This demo music and club mixes is his thing, but he is hardly the only one. Now internet pirates who upload the album on the net for everyone to share are no volunteers, they make serious money each time anyone downloads the album.

Hamaki released a new album, with a new track and new arrangements  he has also included a pass for few of his concerts. Anyone who purchases the album can attend some of his concerts. Now if people buy the album and do not get in those concerts, Hamaki is in trouble and the model will fail. He might have started something new, but for it to work, he has to keep his promise.

حماقي يمنع سرقة أغاني ألبومه الجديد

Arab Men Now Seek Plastic Surgeries For Themselves

You have heard the rumors that men seek to make their wives more gorgeous than the next guy's so the put them under the knife in pursuit of perfection. Nip Tuck is also a popular procedure in places like Lebanon--a pioneer country in anything freaky. But the City of Dubai the one upper is refusing to let go and claiming something for themselves in the plastic business.

Dubai is the capital of fun in its part of the world, it's the place like Vegas of sort. But now they have entered the plastic and cosmetic surgery business with force. Only to find out that most of their clients now are actually men seeking to look younger and maybe with a smaller nose and more hair.

Foreigners are flocking Dubai along with locals seeking the thrill of surgeries. A local newpaper has reported that 68 K person have visited with a plastic surgeon. 15 k of those 68 k are visits by locals who have actually gong under the knife. The city has appointed a commissioner to promote this business for tourism. The report have interviewed a little girl who wanted her ears smaller, and another lady who wanted to add fat to her face.

تزايد إقبال الرجال على عمليات التجميل في الإمارات

Ehab Tawfik Allegedly Threatens Bodily Harm To A Store Owner

Egyptian 90s pop star is not having a good year, and this story if true indicates that he has finally hit rock bottom.  A local Cairo fashion store owner reported to the police that Egyptian singer Ehab Tawfik has threatened him and sated that he will harm that individual.

Ahmed Abdallah Said, a store owner in Al Agooza bosh Cairo pocket claims the star has purchased clothes form his store. Then the pop star attempted to return the clothes and get a refund. The store owner declined, an argument broke out which allegedly caused Ehab to lose his cool.

The incident is being investigated. The story has been reported in Al-Ahram, a reputable newspaper.

If this story is true, once again we find out that stars are just like us, they get pissed off if they are unable to return merchandise the you longer care for. This is a bad news for both the store owner--who will lose some of his more affluent customers out of fear. And it's bad for the star as it shows him as a erratic and violent individual.

Ehab had a concert in Virginia here few weeks ago, maybe he should have hit the mall in Georgetown while he was in town.

Ehab Tawfik - Tetraga Fia / إيهاب توفيق - تترجى فيا

Divorced Sherine The Blues Ladies Found Her Blues

Sherine got divorced really out of the blue--she seemed to have a happy marriage with two children. But then it all ended. She seems to have moved on as she takes part of the Arab version "The Voice". Some of her older songs were really sad. A sad song from a women whose dignity is everything for her. She refuses to take a backseat. I feel she might be taken a page from another Egyptian diva with a sad personal life--Angham.

She got the voice to do pretty much any song from the happy and catchy pop song that blazes one's summer. To the sad song about separation, she delivers sober and mellow songs straight from the heart. She is one of the most successful female voices commercially and artistically.

She did transition from the girl who wants to dance--first three hits of hers into the serious singer whose fans come from all over Arabia. She did well and has enriched Arabic with her songs and her concerts. Not so much her interviews though, but she is a likable entertainer and wish her well.  

وحدة بوحدة - شيرين 2012

All My Arabs Song Salutes The UAE Leaders

The term Arab is loosely defined by so many people. For some it means the Bedouin, for others it's anyone who lives in those 21 Arab countries. Some even argue that anyone who speaks Arabic is Arab, but when it comes to music all bets are off.

Check out this song by the coolest pop singer from the Gulf namely the UAE, Hussein Al Jassmy. He has made Gulf music popular and has done that for at least 10 years now. While most Gulf based singers stopped catering for other markets than the ones at home, Hussein took the gold as he is a mega star in Morocco, Egypt, Lebanon and all the nation on the Gulf

So he did a suck up job for the ruler of Dubai--one of the best Arab leaders to walk on earth. He is a business guy and a real Arab which means he is generous. His people adore him and he gets respect anywhere he goes. As someone who grew up in Dubai, I have come to appreciate the leaders of that world class city.

The difference between this song and other songs made for other leaders--the singer did not have to do it and he was not paid a penny.

حسين الجسمي - كل العرب

Nancy Ajram And Ahmed Fahmy Join Arab Idol

I did not think it was a good business decision for Nancy Ajram to join the panel of judges for the popular show Arab Idol. But regardless of what I think, it seems that Nancy Ajram wanted the gig, so she has singed the contract to be part of the show. We will see how this will play for Nancy Ajram--the smartest and most popular Arab songstress for the past decade. Ajram singed the contract on October 5th in her Beirut home.

Other changes to the Arab Idol show is the new host or presenter. Egyptian singer turned actor Ahmed Fahmy has singed a contract to host the show. I love to see Ahmed take this role, he has an extensive resume, the good looks and the nice demeanor to make him a hit. Ahmed would be replacing the Kuwaiti actor Abdallah Tulehi. Model Anabella Hilal will return for the second season 

Ragheb Alama, Ahlam and Hassan Al Shafei will remain judges and so will Arab Idol and broadcast worldwide on MBC 1, a Pan Arab television station. The first season aired in December 2011. 

News On Sick Arab Stars and Hospital Bills

There are few Arab stars who lay in hospital beds at the moment

1. Sha'aban Abdel Rahim was sick and smoking is to blame. And I am sure his weight and diet have something to do it it. The folksy "Sha'abi" style singer is no stranger to health scares and he is making a full recover. 
2. George Wassouf have left his hospital in Sweden after staying day for few weeks in rehabilitation post his health scare. His fans are worried for this iconic Syrian singer, but in fairness we have almost lost him a year ago.
3. Diana Karazon had trouble breathing, seeing and fatigue. The doctors concluded it's some issue you with her nose, she had a surgery and recovering just now. Once fully recovering, she will be touring the States for concerts. 
4. The mighty legend of Lebanese song Wadie El Safy was submitted to a hospital for few days in his home Lebanon. A leaked picture of Wadei surfaced and he looks really good and I love him for it. I know Wadie loves those Syrian doctors, they are on the reasons he has a spacial place in his heart of Syria.   
5. The legendary Egyptian composer Ammar El Sharie awaits government approval to get treatment on the government dime. Ammar has age issues and have suffered a health scare. Ammar helped shaped Egyptian music for the past 40 years, he is a talented composer.
6. Al Mogy Jr., an Egyptian composer and the song of a legendary one with the same name has been caught in a exchange with the Artists guild who has not approved funding his treatment. He too needed medical attention.

Aside note: Arab press knows no limits to privacy really. If an entertainer is in the hospital  they all need tom know why and certainly they want a picture--something not cool to do here.

I love how Arab stars or some of them, make lots of money and try not to pay taxes. Then when they get sick, they ask the governments to pay their bill because they are somehow national treasures. 

Who Makes Better Music? Egypt Or Lebanon

Egypt has always been there as the home of Arabic music, anyone who is anybody must make a stop in Egypt in order to be on the radar. Because most TV networks have traditionally been based there, Egypt is a huge market and they tend to have an industry going in there full time. To Egypt, entertainment is their black gold. A cash cow of sort that keeps many families afloat.

But in the early 2000,  the power has started to shift, Lebanon has stabilized, and has been made the home of many TV networks and cool cafes. More and more Lebanese venture into music--movies are only coming from Egypt, but in music the Egyptian pop has been losing traction to generations of Lebanese stars who have returned home to make good music. The ones in Lebanon has also taken advantage of internet marketing, they no longer have to go to Egypt to be famous, they can have their own show on the internet and make money form home--in theory.

Also Lebanon tends to be a lot more liberal than the entertainment industry in Egypt--less censorship and more investments form wealth business men from the Arab Gulf who seem to have bet their money in Lebanon. Combined with a zombie phase most Egyptian composers have gone under--they were not making hot records from 2002--to 2008. What was the last Amr Diab hit? In that phase Tamer Hosny has prospered and good hard working entertainers were left in the dark.

But then again the Gulf started buying out all those big names, they would hire the top entertainers from Egypt and Lebanon, give their amazing lyrics--mostly poems and invite them to record the songs free of charge. Sometimes the Arab entertainer would make a bank from one hit song. The Gulf still buys music--they can afford to. And they tend to be more generous with their concerts and private events--no star would turn them down.

Yes, Egypt has kept its place, they were down for few years, but starting 2010 and better songs are coming out from that country, better albums and bigger stars. Sure, the Arab Spring did not help, but everyone was done for a while. Egypt will always be there, it's a sure thing. They have an industry that's a 100 year old--no other Arab country come even close. Sure, some might hate the Egyptian dominance, but at ultimately, they are 90 million strong.

I would put my money on Egypt any-day, but that does not mean that Lebanon cannot compete, in face I think competition is great for everyone. 

Nancy Ajram Should Keep Away From Arab Idol

To be on TV on weekly audience is not a job for the weak in heart, nor is it for those who are busy with a lovely family and a super impressive music career. Nancy is a successful lady, a lovable person and a sweet spirit. She will most certainly be a great addition to the show and she will get the flocks of viewers too.  

Ragheb Alama

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@raghebalama

سلام للحبايب.قالت لي العصفورة انه في إحتمال ان تنضم نانسي عجرم إلينا في لجنة تحكيم آراب أيدول 2. هذا خبر جميل بالنسبة لي ولكم أكيد😄 انشالله

30 Sep 12

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It will started with a tweet from super star and classy singer Ragheb Alama who has tweeted in Arabic the following "A little birdie told me, there's a possibly Nancy Ajram might be one of the judges on Arab Idol Season 2, this is good news for me and certainly for you too" Nancy did not comment but she re-tweeted the Ragheb tweet.

Let's look at this, Nancy is already over stretched with her music career bringing her media appearances in Lebanon, Egypt and the Gulf. She has two little girls who love their mommy and a committed husband. Together they make and they are sweet family, the Arab Idol will require too much time, and it will over expose the songstress on TV. She will be in every house for the duration of the season.

She will get the media coverage, and she will always be on the news as long as she is on this show, so there might be an overload for Nancy Ajram from the listener point of view. I would check with the other singers and see how has this affected their careers and their lives as well.

It might rub some people the wrong way and it might allow people to stare at her soul in the face as every comment and gesture she makes will be recorded and analyzed at home. I do not know if Nancy Ajram is up to that. She is one of those talented singers who have done literary everything right. She has the career many around the world can only dream of; the family that one prays for and the love of the masses--young and old.

I would like to see her on TV, but as a business decision it might be a risky one. Either way the audience wins.  
Nancy Ajram - Enta Eih / نانسى عجرم - إنت إيه

The Latest Arabic Entertinament News Roundup

1. Moroccan songstress Laila Ghofran invested in an Egyptian restaurant in Morocco. She flew from Egypt to launch the restaurant in a first non music activity. The idea came to her as she was looking into starting up a business. She does not find Egyptian food in Morocco  so she hired two Egyptian chefs to bring the authentic flavors to the Maghreb. In other news, Laila has a new album that should be released in time for Eid- Al Adha.   
2. Rumors that Nancy Ajram will be the next judge on Arab Idol Season 2. Ragheb Alama tweeted the rumor which Nancy Ajram re-tweeted to her followers. Not sure if Nancy will be replacing on of the four judges and if so who would it be?
3. X-Factor is looking for a judge and it seems Iraqi songstress Shatha Hassoun has thrown her hat in the race for the post. X-Factor is the only Western show that has not been adapted in Arabia. Shatha has not confirmed or denied the news, but she is getting a new manger whose former clients included Rashid Al Majid. 
4. Fayrouz Karawya will be headline a concert in the Egyptian House of Opera on October 19, 2012. The concert will be held in the open air pavilion. The songstress will perform her new songs from "Baram Menny", the delightful album that took six years to make.  
5. The Arab legend and master of Lebanese song Wadih Al Safy is recovering in a Beirut hospital. He is out of the ICU and has been receiving droves of visitors in his hospital suite. Wadih is a survivor who meants a lot to different people. We wish him well. 

Pictures: Orange Arab Celebrities Tan Screw-ups

Egyptian songstress Soma had a recent concert in one of Egypt's hottest shopping malls--Sun City. The concert was part of the the shopping festival where big Arab names appear and sing for the thousands of mall goers who only have to be there--it's up to the mall then to sell them something.

Enough with that, Soma has a very exciting voice and a talent that helps her shape her voice to do happy and sad songs with the proper emotional strength. Take it from me, she can rock. But I am taking issue with is her tan that make her look like an orange. Soma performed for about an hour and the fans wanted more.

Not sure where Soma got the orange spray or a tanning bed. It's also possible that she has been on the beach for ages, but knowing my Arabs--we fear the freaking sun. I think it was a makeup misstep that left the songstress looking like an orange with a face.


الحرفنة ليها ناسها فى صن سيتى مول | Football Stylers at SunCity

Cyrine Abdelnour Gets Into The Lingerie Business

I give credit to the Gulf based Arab lingerie company for doing something people wanted. Start a bosh lingerie and sleepwear company, built its brand and always be on the media by hiring new stars to promote your brand. Among the Arab ladies who have singed up and endorsed the products are Diana Haddad, Yara, Razan Al Moghraby, and now Cyrine Abdelnour.

This is how you build a brand, you make a good product, you put on a show and pick beloved entertainers to make your product seem high end. The Dubai based company is doing something right, I think picking Cyrine Abdelnour is a clever move, she is on top of her game her TV drama "Ruby" was a massive hit. Her music career is about to see a surge. She is likable.

Nayomi is thriving in a conservative society that has a guilty pleasure of all things intimate. The CEO is doing his job by increasing the brand awareness without getting in fights with conservative voices. They only showcases the sleepwear not that other stuff. The brand has expanded into selling perfumes and lotions.

Nayomi Summer 2012 Collections Fashion Show with Yara

The Voice Is A Stink Bomb! Where Are Those Viewers

The Arab edition of The Voice has the star power, and has the backing of the big network. What they do not have is the audience. I am a follower of Arab media on entertainment and have neither found stories about the show--they aired about three episodes and no one is talking. The social networks are not abuzz about this supposedly hot show. 

Here's why, there seems to be saturation of such shows. We have already Star Academy, Arabs Got Talent, And Arab Idol and now comes the Voice the latest additions in such singing competition. Plus one of the lead mentors is a guy who does not talk much about himself and does not speak to the media. the two others come with expiration date, and one lady has a lot of personal drama.

I like them as singers, but I am not sensing there is enough drama to get people to tune in. I think people might tune in later, but not now. something big has to happen for vierwrs to watch, the more viewers, the more the cash for the advertisers.

ريم عز الدين "الورد جميل" - #فريق_شيرين #احلى_صوت #MBCTheVoice


كريس جر "At Last" - #فريق_كاظم #احلى_صوت #MBCTheVoice

أمجد رحال "عز الحبايب" - #فريق_عاصي #احلى_صوت #MBCTheVoice

Video: Myraim Faris Makes Love To Saudi Arabia

The good people of Saudi Arabia loves all things Lebanon. Nothing they love more than a Lebanese girl who wants to celebrate a Saudi Holiday with them. Lebanese songstress Myraim Faris knows that and she realizes she must have millions of fans in Saudi Arabia, so she wanted to make them feel special.

She wore the colors of their flag and wished them a happy Independence Day via her Facebook account. She also added a button where she says "I Love KSA", that's short for Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.  Myraim Faris had already made them an all Gulf dialect album. This is a video for one of her private concerts in Saudi Arabia where she seems to have unleashed her dance.

I do know that the good people of Saudi Arabia have special place in their hearts for Myraim, her dance moves and her exotic outfits. While I admire the gesture, would Myraim do the same thing for Somalia, Sudan or any other county that does not have cash?


هكذا ترقص ميريام فارس في الحفلات الخاصة


Myriam Fares - Ana Wel Shou' / ميريام فارس - أنا و الشوق
  

Hookah Lounges: Girls, Arabic Music, And Shisha

Hookah lounges are becoming popular in North America, they took off in the early to mid 2000 and were all over the place. Thanks to the Iraq war, more Americans would come home searching for that flavor of hookah and aroma. Kids from Saudi Arabia are regulars, the owners of the establishment tend to treat them like they are some royals.

Luckily, more and more Arab Americans started opening up such places around American cities. It became hip to be smooking hookahs at those lounges. And thus Arab students and expats in America would bring their freinds along for a visit. Mint tea, music videos, and hookah. Food is also an option. But music played a big part in those businesses.

In 2005 more music videos has been made than any year before. That means who ladies with less clothes and more pop songs to play in your store. American would look at those clips and shatter their ideas of conservative Arabs. Ruby and her bike, Marwa and her horse were punchlines. All of sudden, you could not miss Arabic music videoes. Then came in YouTube and it has become easy for everyone to access music videos from home. Lounges used to bring CDs/DVD from home with those videos. The more recent your music videos the more Arab Americans turn out to your lounge.

At 20 bucks a pop for Hookah, business was amazing. A hookah costs less than 2 bucks to serve, fetches 20 bucks, that's pure cash gold. Tea is three bucks, and yes they may have a minimum charge. Hookah lounges are not known for their dance floors, but if you want to dance, you can. Sometimes, they would bring in a professional belly dancer to make the boys and the ladies happy.

I love the Moroccan style seating where you sit on the floor, not a chair. This way you get cozy, spend more time, and hopefully more dollars. I never liked hookah, but I would go for a hot drink and some music videos. I never was your stereotypical Arab I never liked coffee and do not like the hookah and I only watch the World Cup. But music videos are my thing.

Paymon's Hookah Lounge

A Good Idea! Tamer Hosny Reunites Nasr Mahrous

It him three years to do the smartest thing in his career, but it's better late than never. You know all those Tamer Hosny songs you have come to love, they all have been produced prior to 2009. And they have been produced by the same guy who launched the young Egyptian pop star's career. Nasr Mahrous. Nasr comes from a family of music appreciators who have mad  a career in distributing cassettes.

Nasr the the producer who made the career of half a dozen singers, he only works with pop stars that you can count on one hand. He works on one album at any given moment. He oversees all the stages and also films the music video too. He writes music, makes good beats, helps make songs better, and oversees the marketing and distributions. Nasr Mahrous has a good team made up of his family and his friends.

Among his greatest protegees, Tamer Hosny and Sherine. Tamer Hosny was the first guy to conquer the world of Arabic pop from the East to the West, from the North to the South. But then in 2009 Tamer Hosny left him for another guy who offered him more money and a TV network just for him and his work--Mohsen Jaber. What happened? Tamer Hosny did not make one amazing record with his new producer. The producer lost many of his other protegees because Tamer was hogging his time and his resources.

Nasr Mahrous kept going, and kept making solid albums for names like Diab, Baha Sultan, and Some. All great albums and all stars in their own ways. But now just this week, Tamer Hosny announced he is ready to go back work with Nasr whom he has always called my older brother. There are looking certain to collaborate. They are finalizing the business side of the contract and I am really excited about this future. Free Music- Nasr's label will have a lot to add.

Tamer knows how to own his songs and make them dazzling. Naser knows all about making a good party record, catch and dancey. He knows how to mix many musical elements to make any good song, a sexy adventure. I dubb him, the man with the diamond touch.  

Tamer Hosny : 3enaya Bet7ebbak تامر حسني - عينيه بتحبك

Why Do I Don't Like Super Nancy Music Video But Love The Songs

Nancy Ajram is making one gigantic music video more than 8 minutes long where she mushes a number of songs that she included in her kiddie album "Super Nancy" I love the songs, they are cute, fun and help cheer both grownups and kids alike. A colorful music video with a lot of computer generated affects, graphics and cool animation too. Leila Kanaan did a super awesome job creating this rich music video.

The music video and the animation create a place that resembles the Swiss landscape. Kids are shown drinking chocolate milk and baking sweets. Keep on mind this is not Nancy Ajram's first product endorsement. She had voiced songs for Nesquik and A water park in Egypt. She is a business lady and that's nothing to be ashamed of.

I have one problem though, why is she using a fun and good music video to promote brand? Is it really worth it to sell milk /juice to kids? I feel cheated as Nancy is starting an issue for many parents who will not be able to purchase/find such drinks. The lalbe clearly says Nada I disapprove for many reasons. Nancy does not need the money so bad to turn her music video into a long commercial targeting kids. The company she is promoting is based in Saudi Arabia and has presence through out the Middle East.

It's one thing to get a sponsor, it's another to target kids at such a young age. Here's the message, Nancy is making a product cool--not a bad thing if you are the company making that product. But kids are being taking for a ride. Nancy Ajram is a world class songstress and like all of us she makes mistakes, turning a fun music video into a commercial targeting kids is not cool--even in the States they have rules against that.

   كليب نانسى عجرم - سوبر نانسى 2012 | كليب يابنات 2012

Egyptian Celebrities And Funny Phone Companies Ads

It might be a sign of the times, but more and more entertainers are doing ads for mega companies. I like a funny ad just like everyone else.  Checkout this mega ad from a phone company in Egypt, they hired 5 actors/actresses and one king of a singer.

You see Farouk El Fishawy, his song Ahmed, Susan Bader, Durra, Samir Ghanem, and Mohammed Mounir--the king. It's an ad about the behind the scenes for them filming an ad, so the ad is about those celebrities filming an ad. This will air in the Eid, urging people to call one another one their mobile phones for really cheap.

If anything Arabs are suckers for is talk, and now it's official talk is cheap.

محمد منير في إعلان فودافون 12 قرش

Swarovski Middle Ages Fashion Show In Lebanon

Lebanon draws all kinds of tourists, and many of those like fashion. So Beirut makes one hack of a place for fashion shows. One company had a show over there and it was their annual show. Swarovski knows a thing or two about accessories and women jewelries. They are hard to miss in any of their malls and they seem to have consumers all over the world who appreciate their gems.

I know my friend Tony, a young Lebanese American always gives his mom on of the Swarovski gifts each Christmas.


سواروفسكي تطلق مجموعتها بروح العصور الوسطى

Jwail Hatim "Joelle Hatem" Nude Lebanese Model

Jwail Hatim, some know her as a model the internet knows her as the girl who wears bikinis. She is Lebanese model with a foreign name. The dudes on the show where she appeared are encouraging her to pose for playboy. She has their full support or as they said, "this is the demonstration that we will join"  Jwail is pron in America to a Lebanese father and a Brazilian mother--she is a South Carolina native.

I have been doing some reading about her and she claims to have worked in Europe and in America, so she has nothing to hide. Among her statements, I do not mind posing for Playboy if it's an artistic shot. Jwail think the folks in Lebanon are not cultured enough to tell the difference between porn and artistic nudity. "I don't feel ashamed, I love my body" she has said in an interview here

She has been known for being bold and doing jobs other models won't do, she has been popular with magazine covers. She likes sports and avoids carbs and fat. I do not know what to think of her, she seems to have a good career out of what she is doing. If people did not like her, she would stop doing what she is doing.

Mtv- Joelle - lebanese international TOP MODEL


جويل حاتم تبدي استعدادها للظهور بمجلة بلاي بوي