Johnny "Metro" Keep On Making Them Hits

The guy sounds like an indie heart who cares about what he sees around him. His latest is a duet with a young lady where they are asking their listeners to befriend their trouble and sadness. This is a song that might be weird outside the Middle East--but in Arabic and in poetry they likes images, they pretend that anything that bothers them or pleases them is a person and then they can talk to that person.

I know this is strange, but it works and if done right it conveys great messages, and yes sometimes it can be cheesy. His label placed a huge investment in him and hope it translates to sales

His upcoming album Metro will feature a number of songs that sounds like they speak to the ones that has not been spoken to before. Johnny is a guy I am ready to like and have already wrote about few times on this blog.

Johnny - Edrab Sohobeya / جوني - إضرب صحوبية

Introducing George Zghaib, "Miracle Child" Of Arabic Music

He is a little Lebanese boy who has been rocking Arabic music news with his talent. He plays a mean lute "oud" and does a great job covering classics of the Arabic songs. Pretty much all the legends he has memorized songs for them and can perform them life. People go wild for this boy and I have been burried in stories about him.

They call me the "miracle child" he is like a magician with that lute, I am speechless! This guy is getting people excited. Young people like him who have such talent have a bright future for them--they just need to be children. Lebanon continues to impress me with surprises liked boy George. Reports have confirmed George  residing in the Lebanese home of Syrian singer George Wassouf.

Not sure what the future holds for George but we have had stars start at a young age do songs like those. Singers like George Wassouf, Wael Jassar, Asalah and Angham started at a young age--they seem to have done well for themselves.

Georges Zgheib akhadou al ri7


الطفل الموهبة جورج زغيب يعزف و يغني ...أنا بعشقك


Al Jaras - الجرس - الطفل جورج زغيب يغني لعبدالحليم حافظ

WATCH: Najwa Karam Sings At Ragheb Alama's Wedding

This is an old video from the Lebanese TV archive, Ragheb was on top of his career and he was the cool kid who knows what the ladies want to say. Everyone tried to copy his style, but he copied nobody and decided to have an open wedding where he invited his friend to sing for him and for his bride.

See this vintage video for the queen of Lebanese music Najwa Karam at an earlier time and simpler times. She looked different, but she sounded a 100 percent like she sounds now. Najwa rocked the party and Raghb looked so funny dancing to Najwa's song. His dance moves are funny and can only come from a  guy who has never danced or someone who is under a great deal of stress.

Ragheb Alama is now dubbed Mr. GQ and a super star, he dresses well and now has launched his line of men cologne. I hope he can look at this video and laugh about it, not feel embarrassed. Love can make us do and say goofy stuff.

نجوى كرم تغني حفل زفاف المطرب راغب علامة

Laila Nazmi, The Ditsy Egyptian Songstress

Laila Nazmi is a little known Egyptian singer who did a number of light and catchy songs in the the late 60s and 70s. She did the cute songs played the ditsy personality so well. Her songs were humorous and supposed to be a fun dance songs. One more thing not to forget about her, she is from the great city of Alexandria. She did go to music school and graduated in 1968, so she got her education, but her music appealed to those who less education.

I am sure during her time, critics have spoke ill of her (how dare she?) But time has shown them wrong, she is a legend now and her music has been remade by just about every girl who wants to be that ditsy girl who just wants to have fun. Laila's songs are now part of the Egyptian folklore

Laila did small town songs about the girl who falls for the guy next door and tries to win him over by winning over his mother. Her second most famous song is about her not liking tea as she likes a pop instead. I know it sounds lame, but we all grew listening to those songs, and they seem to be favorites at weddings. Laila has starred in  number of movies

 ليلى نظمي أمّا نعيمة


ليلى نظمي - ماشربش الشاي

The Egyptian Opera Warda Tribute With Khaled Selim

In a wonderful tribute night for the late Algerian diva Warda, the Algerian embassy and Egyptian singers planned this night to walk us through memory lane as the late singer's music came to life with the voices of a host of Arab singers who have nothing but love and respect for this diva.

One of the stars of the evening was Egyptian singer Khaled Selim who has actually appeared with Warda on a TV show few years back when they acted. Khaled spoke for a minute about what Warda means for him and then chose one of her songs to cover.

Khaled has one of the most flexible and capable voices in Egypt nowadays. He transitions from pop to classics in a heartbeat and pull a stunning act each time. This why he is one of the youngest singers to frequent the Egyptian opera--they know he won't disappoint.

Khaled Selm Layalina/ خالد سليم ليالينا

A Composer, A Manly Man And The Lady Known As The Sun

Najwa Karam and Melhim Barakat might be linked romantically, but their collaboration goes deep in history. They both have so much love and passion to give, and they both adore every inch of their home, Lebanon. So they got together with another Lebanese dude who has sang fro everything and everyone in Lebanon.

Together they performed this song live and the fans went crazy as those three legends know how to fire up the crowds best. This an older clip when we barely knew some of the people in it, but looking back at it, it was one of the most memorable live experiences in Lebanon.

Each of those singers brings something to this song, they personal and the voices are about even. Lebanese are proud people and they have done their country proud in every corner of the world. It's time to watch this clip and think how beautiful life can be.

عاصي الحلاني و نجوي كرم و ملحم بركات - لبنان يا بلدنا

Best Of Walid Tawfik البوم افضل ما غنا وليد توفيق

 Turn back the clock to the 80s, 90s and the early 00s and you will find a legend for those times. Lebanese singer and composer Walid Tawfik is that legend. Few can hardly remember why they liked him, but most know him and know that he is a has been. This is not accurate entirely. Walid made Lebanese songs popular in both Egypt and the Gulf--Egypt has always been is a tough market to break into.

I like Walid Tawfik, he was the cool kid who acted in movies but also made good music that we all remember well. It's enough for him to be the guy who has the classic birthday song with his voice. But he has also other hits, and he has let us know by remixing them and doing covers of his own songs with a new twist. But Walid also was one of the first Lebanese singers to sing in three Arabic Dialects--Lebanese, Egyptian and Gulf.    

In fairness, the album doe snot have all of his hits, just the hits Rotana has produced for him. Which means you got none of the old good stuff like "Tiggy Ni'esim Al Amar", "Ya Leel"...etc. I would say the album has at least three decent songs by Walid, but none of the good stuff that you and your mom have come to love.

So, we do not forget, here's an album that has his best hits to date. Buy the album where you can. One thing to remember....Walid was the guy who made old school musit a bit hip and a bit faster. He does have Tarab talent, but his pop also lives on in our collective memory.

 01.Badry
02.Mehtajak Habibi
03.El Qessa Kelha
04.A'an El Raheel
05.Akbar Garh
06.Lamm El Shaml
07.Es-har
08.A'beer Al Ward
09.El Hal El Waheed
10.Ehtemal

 اجمل اغاني وليد توفيق The Best Of Walid Tawfik

My Dad Used To Jam To Syrian Fahad Blan

When it comes to Arabic Tarab, Syria does not kid around! Syria is the place where legends of this style of music has been made for centuries. Look no further than on of those underrated Syrian legends Fahad Blan. One of Fahad's most famous hits was a song where he is explaining his condition to his loved one.

Fahd passed away in 1997 not before he has made a huge name from hims and his family that comes from a little Syrian town where they used to do menial jobs. Fahad started his career doing odd jobs one of which a bus operator assistant. The bus used to travel to Damascus a lot where he would take part of a competition doing a cover of Syrian icon Farid Al Atrach.... needless to say he made a good impression.

The atis would join the Syrian radio and sing there, then he has his won songs and the rest is history. Fahad had many marriages including Lebanese diva Sabah. Fahabd used to open and present other legends of his time. He was considered one of the top ten artists in the Arab world in his time.


فهد بلان - واشرح لها

Tony Qattan 2012 Song About Stupid Old Arabs

The cool thing, if a group or a delegation of old Arab men comes to any given home, and refuse to drink the coffee served until their request has been honored. Most if not all people accept such offer because of the hospitality tradition rooted in the desert culture. So when a family wants to ask the hand of a woman in marriage they send the old and respectable men in the family to do the asking.

This is cool, but what if the woman says no? Will those old men go back and eat their word? so here's a scenario....they host family says, sure whatever you ask we will give you. These guests ask for the girl's hand in marriage. She might say no! While most will honor her wish, and go back on their word--this is something Islam is keen on by the way. But then the families might want to get the girl to change her mind.

Lecture aside, here's a song about the very same story, but Jordanian Palestinian singer Tony Qattan where he says "your coffee will be drunk!" And the girl will be your girl now, so congratulation. This is a happy song and shows that the singer is well raised and knows the tradition well. My thing is this, old men do not always know the right things....they are only assumed to have such knowledge.

As for this song I like the beat and the energy is brings. And yes the cool old school instruments incorporated.
 جديد طوني قطان - قهوتكو مشروبة 2012

Remember Helmy Abdelbaky? You Weren't On Facebook Then!

We have a guy from the 90s who is coming back to entertain us at those difficult times. He did have about three great songs about heartbreaks and breakups. He does have that really heart broken voice which allowed him to do what some might call lame songs.

Say what you say, you have a new dose for Helmy Abdelbaky, the tall guy who seems to always find the wrong girl to love. In his music video he does the same story about a hundred other Arabic music video have already done. He is a photographer whose work builds up a star and then when she makes it, she leaves him to his sorrow in a dark room.

And then things change and she wants him back....he walks away....what a gentleman. But wait, there's a twist, he did give his eyes to save her eyesight. She needed to see after the surgery...and he gave his eyes. But then she loves another guy...until she sees him and learns the tale. I do like the end that might be cheesy, but it's original.

Helmy Abdelbaky - Asa'ab Tariq / حلمي عبدالباقي - أصعب طريق