Lamitta Frangieh "I Haven't Been Raped On Camera"

Lebanese model turned actress Lamitta Frangieh is the gal most Egyptian producers and directors call on if they wanted a girl to bear it all, a girl that can tell raunchy jokes, play with the boys and look good in a bikini.  For Lamitta Frangieh, it's all business and all is for a paycheck. Nothing is wrong with that. For most Arab viewers, she has no standards as she seems to do more roles without her clothes than with.

But in one interview for Al-Ain newspaper, the model has shared with her criteria. "I have yet to appear in a role where I get raped," "Most of my roles have been light and humor filled" "If I do film a rape scene, then I have boundaries I won't cross," "at the end, I am a girl form the East"

She added, "those scenes have to be part of the plot and not feel forced" Lamitta's latest movie is a romantic comedy about Facebook about an Egyptian man who lives in Jordan and gets in trouble due to the social network site. The film will be dreicted by Jordanian American director Mohy Qandoor

النجمة اللبنانية لاميتا فرنجيه في مشهد ساخن ومثير


P.S. Rape is a serious issue and I do not take it lightly. I just think the comments were insensitive. 

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

Do Songstresses Really Like To Dance On Stage?

Watching a clip from Iraqi singer Shatha Hassoun concert in Beirut, I could not help but see how she is trying to force the dance to get along with the song--a cover song beloved by the Lebanese audience. Some other stars in Arabia does not dance---I name Elissa, Diana Haddad, Amal Maher, Latifa...and few others.

And there are those who would not stop dancing, Nancy Ajram for starter, Myriam Fares is another. Haifa wins the gold. Now in this biz you cannot take yourself seriously if you want to appeal to a broader fan base. If you want to sing, you better learn how to dance, this is no longer the 40s when people had no TVs.

I do not recall Shatha Hassoun being known for her dance moves--she was a really good singer, but the rule at her concerts....you cannot be the star of a party singing songs asking people to dance, when you yourself do not shake something something. Granted a lot of women enjoy dancing and excel at it, but some women do it for different reasons.

Guy entertainer cannot really fake a dance, you can either dance or just get out of the way. Pop music is all about the movement on the stage. People want to see a show, not just a guy with a microphone who is standing idle.

 يابا لا - شذى حسون - حفل بيروت 2012 - Shatha Hassoun

سامى يوسف - تبعوه لما عرفوا Video: Sami Yusuf "It's A Game"

Muslims Rocker Sami Yusef is back with force and I am so happy to see him walk into the spotlight again with a song worthy of this talented musician. This time he is back with a song about the prophet and the film they made about him. Sami is a very sober voice among many Muslims.

His comeback song is animated this time, and offers plenty of martial for the young an old. Sami is looking cool even in cartoonish look. It seems he has found his zen to challenge his vocals one more time and produce such a lovely song in at least three languages. In under two hours, the song has already packed so many views online.

His advise, let them say what they wish....it's a game. The artist finally crafted a song that will reboot his career and bring him back to his earlier successes. This time he is teaching Muslims to be cool under pressure without sounding patronizing. Anger is not a strategy....

سامى يوسف - تبعوه لما عرفوا Sami Yusuf - It's a Game

Jad Rahme Is An Old School Man From The Old Country

Behind the publicity and the live shows, Jad Rahme is Lebanon’s next big voice.  He is already being compared to some of the worlds biggest international Arabic stars and now is ready to show the world what Lebanon knows already~ His talent is undeniable. This Montreal based Lebanese singer is the go to star if you want to fire up your party attendees. Jad's music packs so much of the old world flavors, it's uncanny who he managed to preserve the Lebanese style so well.

Jad has toured and performed in countless clubs, restaurants, private, special events, festivals and celebrations within every major city in North America.  He is now looking forward to be touring at an international level. When asked why his new single is called Ana Rijal(which, in Arabic means “I'm a man”), he had this to say, “I want every man out there to listen to my song, sing along and feel proud to be a real man, not because of what he owns, but because of who he is.”

Now, this is something I can stand behind, men need to man up and stop trying to be so girly in pursuit of popularity. Jad found a good subject to sing about and bring a little bit of joy in the lives of those who get to listen to his songs. And yes you will most likely want to dance, women like a man who is confident and who brings something to the relationship that they do not already have. No female will even want a guy who cries more than she does.

After receiving enthusiastic reviews online, the recording is gaining international attention. Ana Rijal is available on iTunes, Amazon mp3, Emusic, Rhapsody and  Soundcloud. “I'm pumped to be releasing new music”, says Jad.  As an independent artist, Jad is currently considering offers with record labels. Ana Rijal has been his break through hit.  The song itself is “not only is it catchy, it's melody addictive. It's entwined with an old-school beat, making it a modern mix of that traditional “dabke” we all love so much!”

“The whole process has been amazing and I hope that this new track will please my fans.”  Jad was happy to receive such great feedback from fans and friends through his Facebook page before releasing the hard copy. The page has been flooded with encouraging comments and congratulations from many established musicians and artists such as George Dfouni and Koko Balkorkian.

Jad recorded the vocals for Ana Rijal in Toronto, Ontario with world famous composer/producer/singer Salah Kurdi, who is the artist responsible for the lyrics and music of the single.  Instrumentals were recorded in Studio Joe Baroutjian in Beirut and then the recording was returned to Toronto where Ali Ramadan mixed mastered it.

For a really love time, good Arabic singers have almost always came form the old country to the States for concerts  With Jad, I am feeling he might be the first North American grown singer to be able to go back to the motherland and stand his own ground musically.

Ana Rijal - Jad Rahme (Arabic, Lebanon) أنا رجال جاد رحمه - عربي لبنان

Jad Choueiri Directs Diana Haddad's Next Video

The hip and bold music video director Jad Choueiri is taking up a new challenge. His assignment is to make traditional conservative Lebanese singer and mother of two cute girls Diana Haddad look hot. Together they filmed the music video in Beirut and in London.

Diana Haddad has those natural looks, she is non threatening and most people tend to like her. She has never gotten herself in a side fight or a controversy. This is why it's so surprising to hear the news about her next music video for a new single will be directed by none by bad boy Jad Choueiri. Jad seems to really have wanted the gig and Diana needed a fresh take as her last music videos have failed to bring her in a good light.

To her credit, Diana said, she went to the guy for his recent work, not the bold music videos he directed in 2004 to 2008. The guy seems to want to get creative without all that over the top sexy themes. The good news, the lyrcis for the new song "My heart is Loyal" has been written by the lyricists who seems never to make a bad a song, Faris Iskander.  

Diana Haddad Ya 3aibo

Elissa Gets The Indian Treatment

Musicians steal--borrow from one another and hope not to be noticed. When they get caught, they say they are paying homage to another artist. Fine. Elissa had a song six years ago that sounded fresh. A romantic song Bastanak, which she filmed into a music video. I have found the song has been remixed or remade into an Indian song. It's not uncommon for Indians to rip off some Arabic music and vice verse--though Turkish music seems to be more popular with the Arabic musicians 

It seems that Hamid El Shari has put this video together.

اغنية اليسا - بستناك - بالهندي -توزيع حميد الشاعري


Elissa - Bastanak / إليسا - بستناك