The Brightest Star Among Them All Is Balqees Fathi

Being a Yemeni woman, a gorgeous one too but waiting to sing is not a very conventional path. It's certainly not the path of least resistance. The daughter of a beloved composer did her first singing in her school, then a radio executive asked her to do a radio show Tarab style songs. She did and then things started to come her way when she met contemporary composer Fayez Al Said.

Her voice might be the most colorful among so many stars, she feels authentic, and her emotions seem sincere. You really cannot bluff your way through the songs she chooses to perform  she has the artistic chops to bring complex musical experiences.

She is a refined soul who doe snot fake her personality, if she has something to add, she does it. If not she doesn't try to be something she is really not. Now she she is a beloved star in the Gulf region, she has set sight on Lebanon--where she shoots music videos and has few friends.

Her youth and lean figure do wonders, but her first asset is her voice and her temperament  In few short years, she has organically claimed her spot in the pop scene. I love the poetic songs she gets to perform  And she is engaged and soon to be married Nayef Hazazy to one of the Saudi Arabia' finest soccer stars. She does confess to rotting for the UAE soccer team though.       

Balqees Fathi - Ya Hawa بلقيس احمد فتحي يا هوى

Video: Rola Saad Sabah Tribute Song رولا سعد في كليب ساعات ساعات

Sabah has moved mountains to entertain the masses across the Arab world. This time Sabah gets a tribute song done by one of her young friends and protegee Rola Saad. A classy cover for a classy song about a women who feels lonely or abandoned.

I did not think this is the best cover for the song, but I know one thing Rola is loyal to Sabah and her legacy. A walk on the beach is all what the Lebanese golden girl wanted to do. I love the mixing of the Rola Saad footage with that of Sabah from the original song.  

The song closes with Rola Saad sitting along on empty theater house watching a Sabah picture, and then a quote about the life of the living legend Sabah. I think the song will bring some joy unto the lives of those fans. As for Rola, I think the song could have been a little better production. But the low production value make you think you are hearing the original recording.

My general  rule is don't mess with the classics, you may get burned in the face by the purists and the loyalists. Unless you know you can add something, do not even think about it.

رولا سعد في كليب ساعات ساعات

Listen: PSY - New Song GENTLEMAN Pop, Dance And Viral?

That's South Korea, Dennis Rodman. "Gangnam Style" rapper PSY has released his new song "Gentleman," and while its fast and familiar beat isn't quite as catchy as his mega-hit, be forewarned: He's unveiling the song and a dance affiliated with it live on YouTube Saturday at Seoul World Cup Stadium. So we ain't seen nothin' yet. But here's the song:

The odds are stacked against an artist hoping to achieve success in pop, but if success does come, then building it into a lengthy career rests on recreating the series of happy accidents, coincidences and right-tune-right-time-right factors that secured the initial burst of interest. That is why pop history is strewn with decent but disastrous second albums. But for novelty hits, and internet memes, and collisions of the two like Gangnam Style, the theory is condensed and accelerated. Psy does have a secret weapon, of course. Amazing as it may seem Gangnam Style did not succeed on musical merit alone and was as much a meme as it was a pop hit, helped by a video that was so strong that it even worked without any music.

I could see this song   being picked up around the world just because PSY is the cool thing he has become. DJs and clubs around the world will cheer this hit-maker and wish he would never go away. But the question is will those short-attention span generation stick with PSY. "I can't tell you about the dance but all Koreans will know this dance," the rapper told a local TV station. "But [those in] other countries haven't seen it." The release of a creative and appealing music video by PSY might prompt the fans to fall in line.

PSY - Gentleman [OFFICIAL] + LYRICS!!

PSY - GENTLEMAN(싸이-젠틀맨)

Video: I Double Dare You To Find A Cuter Duet Than This One

they are a couple that has been matched by a number of random elements. He is a music composer with a dreamy voice. She is a young talent from Syria by the way of the United Arab Emirates. She just finished recording voice over songs for a popular TV drama about the life and death of Syrian icon Asmahan. Then she made this cute music video.

The sweet and super sensitive lyrics aside, the music video is just CUTE. While those two are not actors, they pulled the in love looks so convincingly. It's only natural for the music video to be uploaded by countless users. Waad released a good album where her vocal were put to a great use. Diaa keeps busy making melodies for the finest Arab pop stars.  This song was recorded in 2010, but got a wider release in 2011.

The director did a great job making this music video so cute, it makes you want to be part of the story as you watch ans see the games those in love must play. Filmed inside an upscale villa and you can feel the love from the eyes of those two. Furthermore, the saxophone player who worked on the song is worth his weight gold--thanks to Omran!

Youm We Etnin - Mohamed Diaa يوم واتنين - محمد ضياء ووعد

WATCH: Haifa Wehbe New Hot Music Video MJK \ هيفا وهبي ملكة جمال الكون ريمكس فيديو كليب 2013

Call her an old lady, but this older lady (compared to her peers) knows how to look fresh, rock the scene and get news stories out. She is the diva made for this age and her army of followers do the distance to make her number one each time. She give them her A game and they give her their hearts, tweets and likes.

MJK as filmed in a studio in New York days after she broke the news of her divorce. She moved beyond her divorce and now back to making waves being a single lady that has ruled the pop scenes and made few enemies. She is doing her thin on camera, wearing dazzling outfits and showing off her bud.

Hearing the song over and over again, time after time, I find it never grows over-familiar. It plays like a favorite album; the more I know it, the more I like it. Haifa has that kind of appeal, while she is grownup her fan base has the young and the old, the energized and the tried. She offers something interesting for everyone and she has done so for the past decade.

She does not age she just looks good. Astounding makeup, captivating shoots and not a dull moment. They have done wonders to use some affects with colors and motion caption techniques. I think the mirror dress is something new. I like how comfortable Haifa with the camera bring up in her face.

Haifa Wehbe - MJK (Heartbeats Remix) By Lenz Garcia & Noor Q هيفاء وهبي - ملكة جمال الكون

Video: Capella With Alaa Wardi Live In BAB

Alaa Wardi, the dude who looks like an orthodox Muslim, but rocks like super star on an energy drink. Alaa has moved form the viral video screen to the live concert venue where droves of fans cheer him on as he does his thing.

He now plays the guitar on stage as he performs one of his better known songs. He also plays a big screen of him making varies musical instruments and beats. He keeps a busy program and he joins other rock stars who hold similar events in Jordan and Beirut.

Not sure what will be the net step for Alaa, but he has held firmly unto his fan base. The toxic political mode across the Arab world makes it hard for entertainers to perform in public or yet make much money.

BAB - Alaa Wardi - Ela El Ex | Roya علاء وردي - الى الـ اكس | رؤيا

Video: Chafik Nibou Is The Most Bizarre Audition On Arab Idol 2

He is Moroccan and he thinks he can sing. He did a number in Arabic and another song in Spanish--according to the judges he has better luck in Spanish. But this is nothing, the cast of Arab Idol were not ready for this guy. Chafik Nibou  made a number of bizarre  claims that are if true are shocking. See when he walked into the Arab Idol on camera audition, he was really pissed off, you see it in his eyes.

1. You guys are not important, I can make it on my own
2. I produced my own stuff in Egypt and moved to Lebanon for more work
3. Nasr Mahrous used to work for me
4. Hassna Abu El Soud wrote me a song, but then changed his mind. 
5. Sherine, the Egyptian diva used to be a backup singer in my band.

Chafik Nibou is a very confident man, and it was so fresh and so funny to see the judges try to handle that. I do not think he is all that great, he does have something in his Spanish singing--he says he is from Northern Morocco. When he walked away from the show, he spilled the beans, mockery is all I got. People drinking?  They made fun of my clothes...etc.

This is so funny, and I respect Chafik Nibou for holding his ground and bragging about his past. boy does he hate Sherine? He seems to have made another enemy, Ahlam. He also might be upset for not being treated well. He hates Arab Idol--why did he take part of it? He is talking about Beirut, and the executives are mean and rude to the participants.  I could see that and I agree with him for the lack of class.

 Arab Idol - تجارب الاداء - شفيق نيبو

شفيق نيبو يكشف المستور و يفضح ارب ايدول Arab Idol

WATCH: This Saudi Music Video By Rakan - Shelmatloub | راكان - شالمطلوب

He might as well be Saudi Arabia's most exciting young pop star, he might be the coolest one too. But inside the Kingdom he is a hero to too many youngsters  While at home, you would never guess this is the cool guy you see in the music video below, but step outside that place and the cool kid is out of the bag.

Rakan everyone and he has a music video for you, I am loving it. He has the Afro and the retro look it looks so natural to him. Enjoy the urban sitting for this fairy tail of a song. Where the hell did he find all these young people for his music video? I love the dangerous elements in the music video, the dancers and the performers do a wonderful job.

This is one heck of a stylish music video...Rakan knows how to look good. Guns and actions he can do that too.


Rakan - Shelmatloub | راكان - شالمطلوب

Will The Real Lara Scandar Stop Faking It

Lara Scandar likes to think she bridges the gap between Egyptian and Lebanese styles. In between Western and Eastern music. She has done some work to show she she is a well-rounded pop star for the Facebook generation. She has a mentor in Beirut so she visits often.

But she is also part Italian--she sings in Italian too, and she is partial a Californian, so she is all about the party. Lara Scandar is like the star companies want us to fall in love with, she can sell stuff. Her songs are the kind of empty songs about let's sing together, enjoy the sunshine. That's fine if this feels organic, you cannot really force

Now, she is with Herbal Essence selling shampoo, she sat with Elaph to talk about her songs, concerts and the products she endorses. She is also ready to talk about Christmas, the white kind.
لارا اسكندر تجول في شوراع بيروت مع صديقاتها

SubeeTube Finds Comedy At Arabic Weddings Songs

Arabic weddings are a blast, too many random elements come together to create one odd party that has so much politics. I have poked fun of Arabic weddings before, but no one does a better job lampooning different wedding songs and dancing styles, like the kid in the video below

Khaliji songs are meant for shoulder dancing, Egyptian sha'abi songs are meant for the dudes, old ladies dance with hands and shoulders, young women do the hip thing. You really need to see this video and ejoy the jokes as the comedian tells them. He makes one find dancer.

The on camera person is Subhi Taha from SubeeTube, an American Palestinian from Texas, the land of natural humor. Spot on Subhi!

Arabic Weddings

This Video Just Made Me Cry--With Tears And Everything

Ayman is the Palestinian political prisoner who refused food for 260 days, and finally the Israelis agreed to send him on exile to Gaza, away form his home in Hebron. He has been in Gaza for three days and his family had to walk through hell to get to the hell called Gaza.

See the moment he got to see his mother and see the real emotions caught on camera. Keep on mind, this is Mother's day, and this mother has not seen her song for a long time--he served 10 years in jail where he was sentenced to thirty.

The mother could not hold back, after all this hero to so many Palestinian is the one she gave birth to and fed. He is her little son is grateful to her and there is so much love. This video will touch your soul and send your eyes to tears. Mother, we love them, and they love us unconditionally.

عائلة الشراونة تُعانق أيمن في غزة

How Nancy Ajram Is Becoming Increasingly Fake

If you ask most Arabs, they will agree Nancy Ajram is a huge star. Why? I would say she has manged to sell cute, by posing as the girl next door. The spunky girl that looks exotic and has and exotic name yet still act as if she is some some small village in Lebanon or Egypt. For her music video from (2003-to 2007). We all remember that poor girl's dress she wore while she was doing laundry as her boy tries to win her affection.

But then she changed her image from that to the girl that wears tons of jewelry, promotes fancy and glamorous life. Nothing wrong with that, no one says anything wrong with making lots of easy money. But that's not we have all come Nancy Ajram. We loved her on camera antics and who she is, not the girl that is a walking billboard.

Just look no further than her latest music video...it's full of glamour and gold. Her millions of fan base around the Arab World won't connect with that. Those kind of music video has gotten really old now. She is now joining those reality TVs as a judge, so once again she is further turning people's love into her personal ATM machine.

Nancy Ajram has always been a trend sitter since 2009, I think she is no longer doing that. Would that mean much? I do not know, but Nancy could be looking at a bigger house and more vacations.


Nancy Ajram - Aah W Noss


Nancy Ajram - Badak Teb'a Fik / نانسي عجرم - بدك تبقى فيك

WATCH: Harlem Shake - Gaza Style #Palestine

Too much time, and unemployment can drive young people to the edge of madness. But some young guys in Gaza with lenty of time to spend on YouTube  have came up with their own version of the Harlem Shake, not the first in the Arab world, but one of the best editions I have seen for this random music video of odd elements doing a twisted dances.

The Tunisians and the Egyptian may have done earlier versions, but I am biased to the one from Gaza.
This is a group of young Gaza artists who want to be heard they call themselves Gangnam Gaza Style....enjoy this fun video.

Harlem Shake - Gaza style

WATCH: Asala Nasri - Ela Mata (Cover by Alaa Wardi & Sultan Al-Jameel)

Saudi Alaa Wardi is out with a new  cover song where a cappella meets the beat box. Alaa is his very own singing group but this tme he brings a similar minded artists who takes care of the vocals as Alaa handles the music so beautifully with his mouth.

Alaa has made so many incredible videos, and he has done so well himself where he performed in indie concerts with other young artists. He shot to fame when he did an amazing cover by one of Nancy Ajram's best songs of 2010. Released few more followup  but the new Asala Nasri is his serious effort to stage a viral comeback.

Sultan Jameel does an amazing job with this share of the, they both sport the Saudi style outfits and it goes well with the Gulf dialect song.

Asala Nasri - Ela Mata (Cover by Alaa Wardi & Sultan Al-Jameel)

Video: The Goofiest Chubby Kid Dancer In Arabia

This is cute, a kid from Jordan likes this song on TV very much and now the entire population of the internet is finding out about his secret and private moment when he goofed off to his favorite kiddie song along with his cute little sister.

To be fair, the boy stole the show with his unique blend of dance movies and yes some air guitar moves as well. Kids have always tried to play along their TV set, but this guy took it to the next level with all the animal and party noises he makes. He even incorporated some local folkloric and rap dance moves I do not know where he came up with them. Did he just try to do the moon walk too?

boys just want to have fun, and this guy should be singed up to promote something  he is a hero and celebrity around the Arab world

The Amazing Native Indian Music

Not sure what region this music comes form, but I have known it to be from the South American nation of Peru. It's very common to hear them live in big cities selling their records while putting on a great show for the bystanders. But something tell me, this guy on the video is from North American Indians, not the southern nations.

The dresses and the face paint patterns tell me, they are from around the States or Canada, before it was the States as we know it. Regardless of the place, this kind of music has managed to captivate minds and hearts around the world. These guys do wonders with the flute, a very basic music instrument that makes me think of the mountains, waterfalls and eagles. .
 موسيقى خياليه ( هنود الحمر) Indian Music

Breakdancing Like Six-year-old Girl In France

A 6-year-old break dance prodigy named "B-girl Terra" is putting all adult dancers to shame in a new video posted to YouTube.

The girl, identified as “Bgirl Terra,” was filmed competing in the “Baby Battle” division of theChelles Battle Pro tournament in Paris against an unidentified older boy. The footage of their battle has already drawn more than 250,000 views in just two days.

Last weekend, the miniature competitor took part in the Chelles Battle Procompetition in Paris, blowing away the rest of the contestants with her unbelievable windmills and headspins. Though she didn't walk away with the final prize in the Baby Battle. Her tiny track suit and killer moves have certainly won the hearts of everyone who's watched her since then.

CHELLES BATTLE Pro 2013 Baby Battle 1vs1

WATCH: Divanessa - Aman, The Amazing (and beautiful) Lebanese Violinist

Lebanese violinist Divanessa is busy making Arabic music more universal by adding a touch of class and violin on everything she does. Among her early supporter is Lebanese pop star Ragheb Alama whose brother's label has singed her. The two have performed together in a sold out concert in Tunis. She also has a A Nigeria concert as well.

Cannot deny how hard working she seems as she plays her instrument of choice. It's like she is writing magic straight out of her violin. I love the fantasies her music creates as highlighted by her most recent music video. There's so much tension, conflict and peace in her strokes. Aside from her wonderful look and impressive choice of wardrobe, Divanessa seems to have it all figures out.

Divanessa has an rare and an incredible talent not available to too many men or women in our part of the world. She is a master and it shows as in her short years she has manged to get her name out there and perform around the world. She is Canadian by birth and Lebanese by the events helped shape her life. She picked the violin at age 9 and it seems that was the best decision she has ever taken.

This is the kind of music that comes form the world, and travels the world- but first it stops in Lebanon. Her music goes where words, fail. I am happy to see a star contribute to universally themed music like Divanessa has in her short years. And something tells me, she has a lot more to give.

Divanessa - Aman / ديفينيسا - آمان

Funny Video: Diana Karazon Imitates Asalah

Big egos do not like others playing them on camera. They hate to see someone--anyone trying to imitate or take up their mannerisms. Every time I see a star talking like another one or singing like her/her, I wonder how soon will they have to call the artist and apologize.

Take the video below where Jordanian pop sensation Diana Karazon was on an interview, where they asked her to sing like she was Asalah. Diana played along and did one heck of a job making Asalah impression down to all the hand movements and the way she conducts herself on stage.

You can see the people in the studio enjoyed that very much. Diana also made sure to declare her love and affection for the iconic Syrian songstress. This is a fun video and Diana showed her fun loving side too. This is one all too fun sport one tribute for one iconic pop diva.

ديانا كرزون تقلد اصالة نصري

Ramy Gamal, The Education Of A Pop Star

Egyptian composer Ramy Gamal chose the worst time to launch his solo album, 2010, days before the Arab Spring gained momentum. Music did not die, it just had to take a break as new kind of music has emerged.  Ramy did not whine, he cut his losses and went on to make singles.

He kept his singing career going in a tough time, and he has manged not to do a real damage to his music composing business. I do happen to like the guy's work. He is a creative musician who listens to a lot of different styles. He plays few instruments himself.

It takes good looks to launch a pop career, Ramy is blessing in that department. and his on camera charisma connects with his fans. As for his debut music video he kept is catchy and told a love story where love triangle takes hold. In Ramy Gamal's world women do not seem to have a voice, they just smile to any guy who comes along.

Love is not cool rides and nice bikes, this is the kind of love you have in high school and in freshman years. As for his composing career, Ramy still works with the A list pop stars form both Lebanon and Egypt.

Oddamy - Ramy Gamal قدامي - رامي جمال