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

The Media Loves To Pick On Menna Fadali

She is an Egyptian entertainer who seems to do nothing right according to the males in the media. She is only 30 years old, but Egyptian press loves to bash her. She is like their own version of Lindsey Lohan. Lately, she has been dubbed as Mena and Her Five Scandals. Let's get dirty, shall we?

• Her birthday and the leaked photos of her having fun--she is not the first girl to have birthday party and things get out of control. She is no responsible for people with ill intentions who leaked those private photos.
• She wears "Hot" clothes and has a tattoo? c'mon people! You mean to tell me all those Lebanese celebrities you celebrate in Egypt are all hookers? They bring them to Egypt for their hot clothes and their tats.
• Again, leaked pictures of her wearing a bikini on the beach! Why are you not locking up the people who took those pictures? Do you want people taking pictures of your sister on the beach--even people not wearing bikinis get picked on.
• She was assaulted while on a car with a famous dancer--she accused them of stealing her stuff and valuables. She accused people from the Sinai of doing that. This is stupid and I cannot defend that. If it was true, then she has every right to be pissed. This is hardly a scandal. Women go with guys all the time and it's legal.  
• Supposedly her erratic behavior lead to her third breakup--we now know his family did not approve of her. She pledged to not fall in love again and focus on her work instead. 

So give Menna a break, she is hardly a saint, but can we see something good about her. I have also seen a number of comments describing Menna is a Palestinian--maybe she has a parent who is one. The term is used as an insult.

منة فضالى أغنية ان راح منك يا عين

Elissa Cancels Disorganized Turkey Concert

Lebanese songstress called of a plan to hold a concert in Turkey. She made that call once she has learned the planning for the concert and the promotes are so disorganized.

Some people are trying to make a big deal out of this, but via Twitter Elissa is telling people, she has no regrets and she made that decision to honor her fans who deserve great concerts. Some other ladies of pop are making a big deal out of this and spreading rumors that the concert did not sell.

I do not know much, but I respect Elissa for making that call, a concert has to be top notch, a disorganized appearance leaves a bad taste. She has apologized to her fans in Turkey and promised to be reunited with them soon.

elissa sa3at 2012 with lyrics

WATCH: Sugar Pop And Oral Fixation Music Video

I know guys are idiots, otherwise we won't have to see music video like the one below. Something about women and candy makes guys lose their minds. We had Maria start up the fad in 2005, but in 2010 another young lady used lollipops as props for her music video. Neither of those ladies is seven years old.

Michaella is her name and there's about a mile between her and being called talented. That does not make her a bad person. Her song is about a guy who tells her buddies she is all over him and she is crazy about him. She has to put him on his place.

Trouble, the dude looks like a turd bag and he seems older than Michaella. Not sure where the songstress career stands at the moment and it remains a mystery if she regrets this music video. One thing Michaella did here, she went for cute and not sexy. She has to be given credit for that at least.  

Michaella - Aal Leshaboh / ميكايلا - قال لأصحابه

Good Arabic Sport Songs Vs. Really Terrible Ones

I like spot songs, they are supposed to cheer you up, super charge you and make you want to punch the guy so bad--do not do that. Hamada Hilal had a good sport song few years ago. There are not too many of the sport songs in Arabic pop. Good ones anyway.

Here's an example of a really bad sport song, that puts you to sleep, not wake you up. The song was made for a sport movie about a local soccer talent from Egypt who makes it big in the major league in Europe. The song that I do not like--noe even one bit is by the funky singer Abdel Fatah Girni, it's a terrible song for the movie--a good song for high schol graduation maybe, but not for sports.

The same movie had a hit song that pumps the hell out of you up, the singer who voiced the song is Loai, the song about the homeland--a touching song that does what a good sport song supposed to do--excite you.

The movie was a really good sport film, it does make you hope, believe, cry and cheer too. It was well filmed and that means they had to spend real money on it. It's romance, drama and sport all packed in one flick. The actors also took the film seriously, they were not trying to be cool, instead they just let the movie make them cool.

 طول الشمس بإيدك - عبد الفتاح جريني -


Loai - Baladna / لؤى - بلدنا

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

Shakira Lost Me When She Went To Israel

The Colombian songstress and global music force Shakira made a lot of enemies when she visited Israel, and met with the president of that country--the same man who slaughtered hundred of Lebanese children in Qana Shakira gave the country of the birth of her father the middle finger when she visited Israel.

She is releasing a new scent and for the promo she seems to have gone to some Arab desert to shoot the promo. Elixir, the new fragrance by Shakira, a powerful blend of all her dreams, inspired by her most sensual and exotic moves. While, I do admit the music of Shakira is catchy and inspiring, I have lost faith in her intellect and her politics.

Shakira chose to go to Israel, chose to hold a press conference and choose to talk up that country.

 Making Of / Así se hizo - Elixir by Shakira

Video: When Justin Bieber Pukes On Stage

It's really hard to see this video and want to share it. Justin is a good guy and like all of us has the occasional upset stomach. Trouble is, he is always on someone's camera. You may not like his music, but at the end of the day he has his fans out there and they care for him. I did not appreciate the many comments on I found reacting this video.

The video below is from a performance in Arizona — while his backing track continued to play. According to Digital Spy, the brief clip captures the pop star turning his back to the audience in the middle of the song “Out Of Town Girl” as he vomited, then for few seconds he exited the stage before returning shortly after to resume the show. Way to be a stand up guy, he is a grownup man already. Most would have canceled on the fans, but not Justin.

Once again the Bieb is a class act, he apologize about the audience  “It’s hard for me, you know, not feeling great and throwing up in front of a bunch of people,” he told the audience. He is a solid entertainer and this is not a big deal--it happens to the best of us.

Justin Bieber throws up on stage

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

Bashar Assad One Malek Jandali Zero

I have no special love or appreciation for Assad--he is not my president and has little influence on my life. But the man seems to be a survivor and he might as well have beat a handful of countries that bet on his fall. Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the West in one side with their Syrians sidekicks.

They all have failed to bring down the leader of Syria. They are not crying and telling folks that Assad's days are numbed. They have been saying for more than a year now. Yet he is still there largely enact while the people who want to topple him are seeing dying support and dwindling funds. I think the people who wanted to bring an ed to the regime, chose the wrong way and thus took the wrong actions. You cannot ask other armies to come in and free you from another one, this is a perfect prescription for civil war.

There's a right way to bring down the Assad regime, and a wrong one... lining yourself with Iranian opposition like composer Malek Jandali just did in his speech protesting the UN summit. Do not complicate things for yourself. Syrians should have freedom, they will ultimately have it, but I think such actions make it harder. Malek is a singer who should not be calling to wage wars and spill more blood that what has already been spilled at least this is what I think.

The UN ain't going to do anything, the Americans do not want another war, the Europeans do not have the money or the political will and the Arabs are wary. Sure, the Russians and Chinese are helping Assad. But this was never a fair fight.

Malek Jandali Speech at the UN - New York City

Video: Snoop The Soccer Player Takes Penalty Kicks

Snoop Dogg is an icon of American music, a world celerity and a notorious bad boy. What he is not is a soccer player. He was given too shots at scoring, and he never made it. He did talk about his style and his Salsa dance moves. Snoop Dogg, also known as Snoop Lion, joins SportsCenter and takes his shot at penalty kicks. ESPN was there to document the moment.

If soccer ever becomes an American sport, it's not because of Snoop. Despite shooting from only 10 yards, Snoop hit the goal twice, but he has given as high entertainment. And had he scored, we might not be talking about him. As you might be aware, this is only the latest example of Snoop-soccer synergy. Snoop is a FIFA 13 enthusiast, and he's been spotted promoting the new video game in New York.
  
Snoop Takes Penalty Kicks

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.  

Director Bassam AlTurk Creepy Arab Lovers Music Video Due Soon

Stalking is never cool, breaking into someone's home is not a good idea. But for Arab music videos anything goes. So here's the plot for a new romantic and supposed to be humorous music videos. Boy and girl spot one another and fall in love from afar. They are both interested in knowing one another, but instead of talking to one another, they both engage in creepy and illegal activities.

The girl takes a group of her friends, break into that good looking guys home to learn things about him. As they search around the apartment, she finds pictures of herself--the guy has been photographing her all along. Instead of freaking out, she laughs and thinks it's cute.

He goes home and finds his house a mess, trips over and breaks his leg. This is what passes for romance according to one Lebanese music video director, Bassam Al Turk. They hired Mr. Lebanon 2012 to be the model who stalks people and breaks his leg. This is the plot for Mashael's new music video. Mashael is a Lebanese singer who grew up in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

This is a dangerous music video, it violates people's rights. Both of those lovers are wrong and I hope people do not copy their style and start talking, spying on people. It's not cool to take pictures of people without their permission. Bassma, you are a good man, do you want strangers (good looking or bad looking taking pictures of your sister of your daughter?)   

I am almost certain as far as art direction and colors this music video will be amazing. I love how Bassam works with color themes and brings the best in any given star. The pictures and outfits from the music video are brilliant.

I do think they should add a warning before the music videos plays.   

Picture: Jamal Suliman Is Full Of Shit جمال سليمان يرقص مع راقصة شرقية

Jamal Suliman was cool for about five years, then he is now in hot water. The famous Syrian actor made a good career in acting and starring in Syrian and Egyptian dramas, he is a good actor in fairness. But then he started talking politics and criticizing what is going on in his country. He asked Bashar to step down and told folks that he has not being eating or drinking because he is upset with what he sees in Syria.

All is fine so far, we believe him. But then a new picture has been making the rounds on the internet, Facebook and Twitter. The dude is dancing with a young belly dancer and with a stick. He seems to be in the groove. So he does not eat nor drink, but he still can party hard. Those behind the picture says it was taken two days ago in Cairo, Egypt.

I think people do not mind he is having a good time, what they mind is that he is doing it when in public he is pretending to be saddened over the Syrian crisis.

 Jamal Suliman has denied that the picture is new. He says it's five years old and was taken in Damascus in a local restaurant. He sees this is a conspiracy to embarrass him. All things are possible. I know there are mean people out there, but when you stand up and take a stand, you are a public figure and all is a fair game. He is not and was not a private citizen.

 

If You Want To Market Watches, Please Come On Time

Egyptian diva Sherine singed up to promote a watch brand along with Lebanese super star Ragheb Alamah. There were many celebrities present there. Most celebrities came on time for the event and mingled with the attendees who shelled serious cash for those overpriced watches.

Sherine did it differently, she came two and a half hours late to the event. When she arrived, it was reported no one was still in the event, but a handful people. No one was there to received Sherine who expected a big and a warm reception. According to reports, she seemed annoyed, irritated. She left the event ten minutes later.

If this story is true then Sherine might have to work hard on her classy side. Sure she is busy with the Voice, but all the other celebrities have places to be. Plus, you are promoting a brand of watches, watches people buy to keep track of time. Aren't you saying that the brand sucks? If this very pricey watch did not help you to be on time, then people should look somewhere else.  


في حفل كارتييه: شيرين تحضر دون استقبال وتغادر بعد دقائق


Sherine Abdel Wahab - Da mosh Habibi 2012.wmv

Maya Diab Tattoo Is Going Lady Gaga Weird

Maya Diab is a popular chick, a singer, a product promoter, and a TV hostess. She is a celebrity not non for anything in particular. But she seems to have seen a surge in popularity the past three years. She has been around for more than a decade now, but her time is now.

Her latest weirdness is a whole body tattoo done by an artist where it took him hours to do. This was a marketing stuns for makeup lines, more than 120 makeup artists took part of this show. Together they draw up/worked on more than 30 models. Maya Diab was the guest of honor as she is the sportsperson for that brand. Thanks the now infamous tattoo, the entire Arab world now knows of the brand--which I won't name here.

This is insane to see such events in the Arab world, such events are weird around the globe, they were received with mixed feedback. No wonder they chose the city of Beirut where tolerance is high as long as you can is art. Tattoo is a popular art from around the world, yet the religious communities in the Middle East and some here in the states continue to shun it.

I am happy they had the freedom to hold such bizarre show in downtown Beirut, still I think it;s weird what they are doing        

مايا دياب تغطّي جسدها بالوشم

Beirut International Film Festival Missing The Red Carpets and The Stars

There's no reason why a global city like Beirut should not have a world class film festival. They have the sophisticated people to pull off, they have the businesses to back it up and put up the money to bring A list celebrities. Cities like Dubai got nothing on Beirut.

Why are the stars missing from the film festivals? Where is the red carpet? In fairness, this is not the sole blame for the organizers, it might be frightening for many celebrities to come to the Middle East at the money due to the Anti-Islam film demonstrations and the Arab Spring in Syria.

The organizers had to battle on many fronts to hold the film festival, their selection reflected a complex reality.  They said so in their press conference. I am hoping the next year the film festival will be held in better conditions.

   مهرجان بيروت السينمائي الدولي بلا نجوم ولا سجادة حمراء

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

Zein Chaker, A Lebanese Song About Transgenders

In most cultures, including the Arabic one, this is not just a taboo, it's a toxic topic to bring up in mainstream media because we either lack education about the subject of transsexuals/transgenders or as some know them the gender benders. I do not know how real is the song from Zein Chaker, but for certain he has picked a lot of press--most of it is bad. But now we know who he is at least.

The song goes like this, boy meets girl, loves her, takes her home and introduces her to his family and circles. Then after the engagement comes the wedding, then here comes the boom, the lady is actually a dude. I do not know how people in this situation feel about the song.

The singer walks a fine line, he says this has become normal, but yet he loses his mind. The song is a poor qulity in terms of the production and even worse in terms of the demo music. The singer goes on to say this was a shock. I loved a woman who has turned out to be a male.

Zein Chaker will hold a press conference after the month of Ramadan to talk about the song and survey the press. The singer has actually shot a music video for this song which would be kinda of interesting to watch.
Zein Chaker - Tol3it Rejal NEW 2012