Video: Nariman Mansour Is The Egypt's Iron Woman

Nariman Mansour might as well be a super hero. At the time of crisis in her country, she and her team manged to make a sci-fi filled music video with Iron Man Suit and an amazing Aerial shot of Cairo. I like the outfits and styles she chose to sport.

This is most certainly a dance track for people who like Red Bull. I love the mastering and the computer affect on the track, but I had to say it I am not sure if this is her natural vice or some computer affects, but in both cases, she might need more vocal coaching.

Nariman Mansour - Bab'a Btabe'ty / ناريمان منصور - ببقى بطبيعتي

Video: Hip Song, Cool Music Video Effects

Dude can sing and he seems to have made a song in the tradition of Amr Diab. The young and charismatic singer Bassem Abd El Wahab has released a music video for one of his catchy songs. I am loving the computer effects on his video. It's really exciting and has taken some serious work and talent. And yes, he posses a sense of style worthy of the finest rapper.

The song does not disappoint, I do like the nerdy looking model that appeared alongside Bassem. Some might have opinions about the FBI tee and the shades he is wearing. The song is pretty hot and it's not the summer yet. I think the electronic and funky music is something we do not hear much of in Arab pop, but it's making a comeback.


Bassem Abd El Wahab - Kalamy Annak / باسم عبد الوهاب - كلامي عنك

Watch 80,000 Koreans Lose It To "Gangnam Style" Live

South Korea is hardly known for its pop stars and cultural icons. But this Fall, it all changed when a littl known Korean pop singer PSY released his catchy "Ganagam Style", a song that went viral and traveled the world and back. The singer expressed his amazement of his new fame and his global hit.

The song is about living it rich people style, but for reasons unknown the song caught fire and have transformed the career of PSY for a little known singer into a cultural icon across the globe. For all we know Aliens might be watching him too doing it Gangnam Style.

To thank his fans, he half a concert where 80 million people turned out and the massive crowd seemed to go bunkers for their homeboy singer as he moved on the stage, backed by his dancers. What other star can turnd out 80 thousand concert goers?  

PSY Gangnam Style, 싸이 강남 스타일 Seoul Concert for Fans. Seoul City Hall Korea

Video: The Coolest Arabic Music Video Animation ‫كليب جوني‬‎ - مترو | Jonny - Metro

I like Egypt and I love public transportation, I wish I can say the same about the Metro, it seems to scary people off. But one indie Egyptian singer wanted to make the metro cool while singing about real issues with this overworked system.

He made a cool animation--it's no Hollywood production, but it's still awesome to watch. It has some bright and Arab looking folks in animation. I happen to like the song and the subject it brings up. I love the virtual tour of the city that never sleeps.

To find a place for my leg, I need to maneuver, and to find a place I need to start a revolution--the song goes. This about how a person feels taking the crowded metro for the first time. Johnny's song makes it look like a worth while adventure. 

 ‫كليب جوني‬‎ - مترو | Gony - Metro

Watch People Walk Away From Haifa Wahbe's Concert

In a recent concert appearance in a Beirut Sport Club, Haifa had to deal with some unhappy concert attendees. The story goes she the Lebanese diva was more than one hour late for her concert at the Club. It goes that some people are busier than others. And as she walked unto the stage, some people started leaving the hall. Supposedly from the video, she started kicking her leg and asking them to go.

Then she greeted everyone who chose to stay and promised them to party with them till the morning. She also said that who have left her show are missing out the good times. I would question the story, had the video below did not reveal that there were many empty seats in this private function.

This must be a humbling experience for the unstoppable diva with with global fandome.  

هيفاء وهبي مستاءة من مغادرة الجمهور حفلها

Watch Waad Albahri's Breakout Music Video تجربه - وعد البحرى

She is Syrian and she is awesome. Syria never runs out of great female vocalists, they seem to grow them and nurture them on appreciating the classical music of Arabia. The latest voice to breakout of Syria is a young artist that lives in the Gulf and works in Egypt, she goes by the name Waad Albahri. Waad's first brush with fame is voicing Asmahan songs for a TV drama about the tragic life and death of that Diva.

Years later she released her debut album and it had a number of entertaining songs. Mostly sad songs, but it seems that dramatic female voices do well in this genre. That's why she made a music video for one of those songs...a breakup song where you will die if he leaves you but also die if you stay with them. I love how the story ends and how Waad could no longer stands on her own.

Look this is how vocal satisfaction sounds like, now we have a music video to go with it. The song is the star of this clip, there are no dancers and light shows, just the songstress with a background story that fades with her might voice. I hope people like this music video, Waad seems to be doing all the right things. Her voice is  the envy of so many of her female peers. According to a story, few songstress work behind the scenes to keep her form taking part of music festivals especially in the Gulf region.

This is how a calling card should look like...enjoy.

Tagrebah - Waad Albahri تجربه - وعد البحرى

Spanish Guitar With John H. Clarke

Something about Arab/Muslim rule over Spain for almost 800 years tells me about our limitless love and admiration to that Spanish guitar--an instruments some argue was invented or at least improved by Muslims musician with the name Zoriab, history aside, they make good music over in that country, it reminds us of the relaxing times--maybe by the seaside.

American guitar music is much different that the one in Spain but thanks to an increased wave of Latin American musicians, the Spanish guitar is finding its way all the way to North America. Many people adore this instrument and many pretend to play it too. But nothing beats the acoustics guitar, it's the dreamy instrument that for long has seduced men and women into falling in love.

Thanks to John H. Clarke who made this lovely piece below. Keep in mind, most Arab composers launch their career the moment someone gives them a guitar.

عزف جيتار اسباني رائعة رمانسيه

Honey Boo Boo And Nancy Ajram Music Video

Just like Honey Boo Boo, America's latest celebrity child, Arab girls can also have fun and be in music video. The new reality TV show stars "Toddlers in Tiaras" breakout star Alana Thompson, better known as Honey Boo Boo, and her Georgia family. Checkout this very recent music video by the Lebanese pop starlet Nancy Ajram--a song she dedicated to little girls all over the world. Titled, "Oh, Little Girls" a song about how cool it would be to father a daughter. Nancy and her girls live in Beirut and just like Honey boo boo, they like to have themselves a grand time.

Nancy has two little girls of her won, and she made a music video with all girls cast--and a female director as well. There are many happy little girls in the music video-I do take notice of the stereotypical character little girls are pushed toward. Girls are supposed to want to get married since they are so little. Aside form that, this is a really good music video for a sweet song about being a girl or better yet being a father to one.


Nancy Ajram - Ya Banat | نانسي عجرم - يا بنات

Piano Unfiltered By Some Persian Guy

I know some piano players can be crazy, some make crazy part of their show. One guy does piano a little faster that most can muster. I do not know how does the ultra-conservatives feel about the piano, but this guy needs no permission to dance his way to your heart .

Samir playing the famous Persian song and also sang by Afghan legend Ahmad Zahir "Sultan e Qalbha." This clip stood out to me and I thought to share it with my blog readers. This is a really soothing piece with some amazing key strokes.

Sultan e Qalbha (سلطان قلبها)

Thanks To Ahmed Elshobokshy, Arabia Gets A Real Rap Battle Diss

Ahmed Elshobokshy most famous Arab rappers do their thing, they wear stuff and act like they are thugs. Some of them could fake it well, but it takes no time to tell that the underdog Egyptian rapper Ahmed Elshobokshy is the real rapper. He is like one of those East coast rappers. He does not focus on the show, instead of the powers of his lyrics and the stories that move him to rap.

While Ahmed Elshobokshy is a good looking guy, he is no hottie. His image is not what he is selling but his style and his lyrics makeup the  rapper.  The guy lives on the streets and it shows in his rap songs. The guy is the right shade of anger  the right shade of smart. I like him and I think he compares with Eminem in terms of his personal story and his lyrical power.

He raps about Egypt in the wake of the revolution, more than a year later he is telling people to give up and keep up the good fight. The rapper shocked me to the core when he battled with the Algerian rappers. He took them to take, he spared no effort in trashing the angry Algerian--my wife was born there. I understand his rage, but Algeria have good people too.

The Algerians responded in vengeful rap, and the war goes on. Egypt and Algeria do not have to be foes, they get along just fine. Soccer however drives them apart. Both sides had reasons to be upset. We get to enjoy a taste of some real rap. Welcome the real world.

The Anti-Egypt Algerian Rap
احمد الشبكشي - سامحني يا يبه - The LeGeND راب Rap


Ahmed Elshobokshy sticks to them

The LEGEND كس ام الجزائر احمد الشبكشي


   احمد الشبكشي انا مصريِ(Ahmed Elshobokshy( Official Music Video HD


عز الشباب - المطرب : احمد الشبكشي

Video: Drunk Melhem Barakat Loses It Insults His Drummer On Stage

We all love the black horse of Lebanese music Melhem Barakat, he is a talented musician and a gifted singer. I love his compositions, but I am sure no one loves Melhem more than he loves himself. He is very eccentric and his ego is as big as Lebanon.

In a recent Beirut concert, the legendary singer lost his cool and insulted his drummer using profane language where both the drummer and his mother were insulted. Since the audience laughed, Melhem tried to make it a joke, but he was not joking. He was drunk and senile.  

Not very classy. Melhem has gotten himself in hot water once again, two months after he has picked a fight with diva Magida El Roumi over a song he composed for her.

The video has an edited version of the insult, but you will tell what he is saying. Not classy, not something you would want your kids to hear. I think Melhem owes the drummer and the fans a sincere apology.  

Ghida Nouri's Upcoming Video Blog Jokes and Looks

Ghida Nouri is an Egyptian blonde that gives her an advantage over other entertainers. She is also funny that can make her career. She was a frequent guest at the popular news satire show by Dr. Bassem Yousef where she told joked and sometimes, thy joked about her exotic look and her being from a ghetto part of Egypt. I am familiar with some male mentality in Egypt who tend to give females a hard time.

There's a promo for her upcoming show she gets her own show and she is trying to tell people she has what it takes. It seems that she has many fans out there and other celebrities also endorse her. The promo's weirdness and lacks focus does not tell you much. I think it's refreshing to see a female in that role--there has been one before her that has a really cool show (Mona Toof anyone?)

So watch the video and let us know what you think. I do not see the video doing Ghida Nouri a favor, I am certain she is more than a pretty face. But I think a lot of people like her just for the looks. I do not connect with her jokes yet, but good looking girls are usually funnier. I hope her video blog or vlog offer a lot of jokes but purpose. I know I admire Ghaida's effort to highlight the struggle of some Egyptian  women during the latest revolution.

Ghida Nouri welcome to prime time!


غيدا نوري: الحلقة زيرو :Ghida Nouri #Zero
   

Watch This Music Video Rocks, Ana Satreen - أنا سطرين

I love a good rap song, and I love it more when it has a good beat, and funky mixing. In "Ana Satreen", a song about freedom of expression. Thanks to Asfalt who features Ameer Yossef to make this awesome track. I love how they made the music video.

This kind of songs are not made in 2012, it seems most of them were made last year, but these guys have brought the activist rock back to the forefront. Per their own words,  Asfalt strives through their songs to reach out to average arab men/women about everyday life issues, culture, values etc.. Mix some feel good music with some egyptian pop culture and there you have Asfalt.

I think this just did that with their latest music video and track. They are Cairo based and draw inspirations form the stories they live everyday in this ever evolving city. Asfalt received a shout out from another hot indie band Cairokee, shared the song and wished them well.

@AxeerStudio| Ana Satreen - أنا سطرين - Asfalt Ft. Ameer Yossef

Guitars For Islam By Mohammed Rahim

I know him as the slickest composer for Arabic romantic songs, in addition to him having his own brand and a great voice where he uses to release singles on timely matters. Like the one below where he is celebrating Islam.  This shows the guys true colors, he makes romantic songs for the likes of Elissa, but at the end of the day he also believes.

I like the kids in the background studying and playing, I like the young people who are doing the right thing and getting married while surrounded by family and friends who are cheering them on. I love the old man, he has that face each of us sees in his grandfather and his elders. The song is about love and how it completes all things. The song is about having a faith, but also not losing site of the love in the process.

The song is dreamy, even it's about Islam and the prophet. I like the guitar bit right next to the mosque site. It's a nice touch where the originality an faith join in with an art form without being disrespectful. The best way to sum Rahim,s voice is this way, he is like a breath of cool breeze that sweeps your soul in a hot summer day.

محمد رحيم - بالحب تكتمل الأشياء
Mohamed Rahim- Bel Hob Taktamel El Ashya2 محمد رحيم - بالحب تكتمل الأشياء

The Fascinating Choir Project Keeps It Fresh مشروع كورال

They might be one of the coolest things to happen to Cairo's music scene in a really long time. They are The Choir Project The team behind this amazing choir project does things a bit differently. For starter, they invite people from all walks of life to put their aspirations and concerns, their feelings and thoughts, their jokes and woes into song.

The Choir Project started in 2010. It began as an offshoot of the international Complaints Choir, the brainchild of two Finnish artists with the aim of “transforming the huge energy people put into complaining into something else.” In Cairo, Egypt, 25 young men and women — many of whom have no background of training in music or live performance  joined forces for this project.

A week-long workshop of communal improvisation, lyric-writing, and composition culminates in a short performance — with often surprising results. Then fruit of their labor is put forward in a music video that seems to have a lot of fans out there. While they do have accomplished vocalists on the ticket, those people are often in supporting role, as they star is the man on the street who has a talent that has gone unnoticed by many.

Take for example, their latest songs, they tackle the topic of the day, electricity in Egypt, there has been issues with that most recently, and naturally people are pissed.

 مين طفا النور - مشروع كورال Meen Taffa ennour - The Choir Project

Video: Asking Random Arab People To Sing Is Fun

I love people who when put on the spot, can come up with a rendition of their favorite song on camera. This is what one Arab TV attempted to do so well. They walked in the streets of Jordan, Egypt and Lebanon and asked people around the streets and in their cars to give them a sample of the songs they like to listen to.

I was amazing by how many people agreed and did a version of of their songs. To be frank, some of these people have impressive voice, but all of them seem to be like fun people. This is a simple formula, I could tell about 80 percent of the songs.

What song would you perform?

   من ذاكرة الموسيقى و الغناء - برنامج مزازيك حلقة ٥ جزء ٢

This Music Video Got 14 People Fired Gangnam Style

A group of the pool manager and 13 lifeguards who were dismissed from the local aquatic center for posting “Lifeguard Style,” a parody of the Korean pop hit “Gangnam Style.”The city had fired them for “a clear unauthorized use of city property” in making the video at the El Monte Aquatic Center in their lifeguard uniforms. Do you see a problem?

I think this is not a new problem, people do not understand how the internet works, and people who fired them do not understand that the world have changed. It's not an easy decision. People made a fun video and it went viral. I do take issue with them using the pool--but these things are meant all people to use. The mayor who fired them is now in hot water--he does not have the power to fire people as it turns out.

I think these people should be given their jobs, and they may get a slap in the wrist.

Lifeguard Style (Gangnam Style Remake)


PSY - GANGNAM STYLE (강남스타일) M/V

This Weightless Music Track Can Heal You

I do not know how this video ended up in my video queue, but it's a relaxing video, a weightless experience. It's for sunset, clouds, and the beach.

I's a track by Marconi Union which came together in 2002 when Talbot and Crossley met while working in a record shop. Their self-produced debut album, Under Wires and Searchlights, appeared in 2003 on the small British independent label Ochre Records.

Their last album came in July 2011, a new album, Beautifully Falling Apart (Ambient Transmissions Vol:1) was released on Just Music.

The track below is from Weightless, a collaboration with the British Academy of Sound Therapy. Per Wikipedia, according to scientists at the Mindlab institution (a commercial 'neuromarketing' company) it induced a 65% reduction in overall anxiety and brought test subjects' resting pulse rates to 35% of their usual resting rates.

Marconi Union - Weightless (Radox) HighQuality Audio (most relaxing tune)

Shawkat Sayyd, The Oud Player With Humor

Your average Oud player are a dime a dozen in the States and in Europe. You can find them in lounges, weddings, events, and hookah places. But nevertheless, it's still fun to see those oud players break character. Most listeners of oud Music take themselves way too seriously.

One guy who plays the Oud is not most players, he is a riot. Master oudist/vocalist Shawkat Sayyad and his wife, Nazira, perform Middle Eastern music every weekend at the Pasha Lounge in Gaithersburg, Maryland. Jensuya of TarabRaqs and other diners joined in the fun. See his toast bit, the guy is a natural.

I have seen Shawkat perform before in Virginia at the Jerusalem Restaurant when they opend up their Diwan lounge. He is an older gentleman who does not have to pretend or to act all uppity. I love the man not because he plays good classical Arabic music, but because he reminds me of my grandfather who is a free sprit and likes to say whatever he wants to say.

Jensuya Raqs with Shawkat Sayyad at Pasha Lounge

The London Olympics And Those Funny Egyptians

Egypt has won itself a silver medal so far, and their soccer team is qualifying for the next round. But it's also the holy month of Ramadan, and there are too many shows on TV. Thus very few people are actually watching the events. Which means the Egyptians in the Olympics have few fans at home.

I must admit I heart Egypt's soccer team, they really make me and the rest of the Arab world and Africa happy.

Qabila TV came up with a cool idea to out the attention back at the Olympics, they took on a busy Egyptian Square of Roxy and re-enacted some of the key sports played in the tournament. While the majority of onlookers seemed confused, this was a fun idea that has some funny moments.

While the Egyptians might not be on the lead, when it comes to creativity, and humor they will always lead.

@QabilaTv l اولمبياد لندن في ميدان روكسي