This April 26, One Iraqi Hit-Maker محمد السالم - قلب قلب In A Virginia Concert

He will be accompanied by the Iraqi pop band UTN1 (Unknown To No One) This is the one concert that will bring all the 50 shades of Iraqis and appreciators of the rich Iraqi music scene  living in the Mid-Atlantic region for a fun night of music that the autnicity of the land it draws its inspirations form. This is a popular hit song that took Iraqi by storm "Qalib Qalib" by the lovable Mohammad ElSalem who has toured the world with this song and other Iraqi songs.

He is a hot commodity and this time, the music will be upped as the Iraqi rock band will be to his side warming up the crowd and doing what the love doing best, live music that brings home to those who long for it. The band walks onstage and look like your there to play through your songs and to have a good time as well. They tend to do their rituals and let the audience let you know you're there.

The interesting thing about the band is that they play through each song until you know whats happening each second. They have mastered each song by playing them off by heart and concentrate on what everyone else is playing. Thus, the band members are a good live musician is one that can feel the pulse of the crowd and become fueled by their energy. It takes more than practice practice practice to be a good musician. Some things can't be taught. UTN1 Band-mates were born with the chops for those live gigs.

As for AlSalem, he is the kind of entertainer who talks to the crowd and allows them to be apart of the show. He knows how to just relax and have fun. He is not a a show-off, but he knows that he is the attraction and the audience appreciate that.

Tickets are here

محمد السالم - قلب قلب وين وين فيديو كليب الاصلي HD 2011


يا رايح وين مسافر - UTN1 حفلة (تراث جزاىري) ya rayeh

Would You Wear This Shatha Hassoun Outfit?

Shatha Hassoun knows a thing or two about fashion, she lives in Beirut  but works in Dubai, her hearts beats Iraq and her mind is always on Morocco. She makes good music and her online brand is one of the strongest among her peers. Her fans live all over the world and she often speaks to them via a number of media outlets.

She is often in Lebanon doing media interviews on A list shows, and in Beirut for concerts and events. She also records there. But I feel one of her most recent outfits feels little bit not her own. It looks like the sylist of Myriam Faris has finally got Shatha to wear his clothes. Fashion hits and misses are nothing new. You are a star and you wear something you think looks good one you...sometimes you are right and sometimes you are very wrong.

It's just a dress meant to cover your privates and make a statement. So no big deal, I have seen worse and a lot more revealing. Shatha is on her Turkey for a big project she is not talking about so far. From there she will head to Kuwait for a big wedding where she ha been hired to sing.

Shatha Hassoun "Menou Li Ma 3endou Madi"

Rest In Pease Salah Abdel Ghafour, Iraqi Legendary Singer And Intellectual

He sang in Arabic and Kurdish, this way he is very Iraqi. Not too many Iraqi singers have this kind of appeal, not only does both Arabic and Kurd love this talented and popular iconic singer, they have come to enjoy his singing in any language without regard to politics. His last album was recorded three years ago, and he has a number of unreleased tracks he has been working on. On his final days he spoke about the toxic mode in Arabia and the many tragedies that make it very hard to release new music.

Salah Abdel Ghafour is the folkloric Iraqi voice that gave Iraq one of its most hit songs that have come to define Iraqi music for decades, "Shlonak" This song of his is one of half a dozen songs the entire Iraqi nation knows like they know the back of their hands. He passed away in a tragic car accident in the Kurdish city of Erbil. One thing you need about him, even the Americans and other nationals have come to appreciate his music and his songs. Shlonak was later released in Turkey by a pop-folk singer ibrahim tatlises.

He has released 30 albums, he excelled in doing Iraqi styled songs as well as Folkloric dance songs. His first singing gig was when he was eight years old on the Iraqi TV and radio corporation he chose to perform songs of the mega Iraqi legend Nithem Al Ghazaly in 1961 "Rokin El Howa" Amateur Corner.

In 1973 he would join the national theater group and make his own path. In 1977 he want back to school to study music and composition where he learned to play the violin. He stayed in the music institute for six years perfecting his talent. He would become on of Iraq's finest voices for generations and would inspire droves of young Iraqis to make better music. He was the go to guy of Iraqi Maqam music 

To me, he was one of those artists who refused to objectify women and he spoke about it for a long time--he was very critical of sexualized music videos by many half baked Iraqi talents (for more about his opinions read here). He also released many sport songs for the national teams, and has sang for Palestine. A singer, an intellectual and patriot passes away in an accident, what's not an accident is his talent.


Shlonak - Salah Abdel Ghafour


صلاح عبد الغفور حلوة يالبغدادية.

What's With Arabs Singing French?

The Voice is making a killing in ratings and advertisers money. One of the mentors is Kathem Al Saher, the classy voice form Iraq who has managed to largely keep his public image. He wanted to test one of the voices on the show, a young Moroccan with the name Youssra. Kathem kindly requested from the presenter and the young songstress to give him a taste of doing a song in a foreign language.

Youssra did not shy away, she picked a French song "S'il Suffisait D'aimer" by the French Canadian Celine Dion and did she blow it out of water? It feels like she did. I am looking at Lebanese and peoples of the West side of the Arab world who have adopted the French tongue. I like educated people and learning a new language should be rewarded.

But let's not sit here and pretend that speaking a foreign language make you a classy person. Class is something you learn form your family--namely your mother.


فريد غنام "عايشة" - #احلى_صوت #MBCTheVoice

Rotana, Contracts and Young Artists.

Shatha Hassoun renews her contracts with Saudi Rotana and expresses her love and admiration for the company and what it does. Shatha was pleased with the level of response she had for her debut album with the company. Rotana is pleased to be in the Hassoun business, she has shown herself as one of the most prolific names in pop music.

One of the most exciting voices in the Gulf belongs to Mansour Zayd from the United Arab Emirates. The company has produced her debut album and the young artists was impressed by the level of support his album has gotten. The new contract is singed and statements of mutual understanding and appreciation has been made. Mansour is working on his big album and has already worked with a dozen of artists.

La 7es Wala 5abar Mansour Zayed

The Most Intellectual Rap Album "Khat Thaleth", A Tour Through Arabia In The Wake Of The Revolutions

Link To Download Album 
If you wanted to hear a smart and sophisticated political analyses delivered via touching rap songs, then this is the album you cannot miss on. This is the mature album where buyer's remorse are loudly expressed on the Arab Spring and the politicians who are making a killing off it. Palestine is in the center stage but other Arab countries where revolutions are brewing are featured.

While the political weight of hip-hop may have waned and become overrun by commercialization in many parts of the world, over the past two years certain areas throughout the Arab world have witnessed a new wave of politically committed rap. This album is about goring up so much since 2011, the demands of Arab street has not changed much, but politicians have. They have learned that dictators recycle themselves through the revolving door. Luckily, the album is for those who have had enough and are just pure cynical about anything they hear.

With diverse and technical lyricism, eclectic productions and an active listenership, artists have aptly assimilated the art-form and made it their own; picking up microphones as their weapons of choice, supporting, criticizing and, in some cases, actively participating in the Arab revolutions. This a curated album by some of the most prolific artists in this genre.

Following last year’s critically-acclaimed release of Stronghold Sound’s, Sembeh Ma Fa Fe, a landmark compilation of Guinean hip-hop and reggae, the San Francisco-based label continued on to Beirut, Lebanon, where Syrian-American producer, dub Snakkr (Munaqresh) has been based for the past 2 years. With the objective of putting together a new compilation, dub Snakkr connected with some of the most interesting and representative acts in the Arab hip-hop underground.

Khat Thaleth, Third Line: Initiative for the Elevation of Public Awareness is a comprehensive 23-track compilation that covers a wide spectrum of this new wave of conscious rap and features artists from diverse scenes like Palestine, Tunisia, Jordan, Syria, Egypt and Lebanon. The title, “Khat Thaleth”, refers to a third train rail or track, a metaphor for a third way of looking at the polarized political context in the region, as well as a reference to the "hijaz" railroad that used to connect much of the Arab world. Artists team-up, in most cases from different regions and countries, to deliver critical blows to the various political systems in place, and offer sharp social commentary as well as sober realities currently being faced on the ground.

The immense relevance of the unprecedented Khat Thaleth compilation in the Middle East is not only limited to the politically charged content of the verses (full English translations of the lyrics are available online). Artistically, the album also provides us with a glimpse into the avant-garde of some of the most musically adventurous artists and producers in current Arab rap, who smoothly mix their lessons learned from American golden age rap luminaries with their very own folk traditions creating a completely new school of lyricism and production.

I cheer on this album that brings out some of the finest musical styles form all over the world to celebrate a universal message of freedom. I love the very Syrian rap, about the revolution and murder in that country, there are no wrong or right when it comes to Syria--there are only chaos for all involved. The 23 tracks are a delightful tour of all what's hip and relevant in Arab rap. I adore the mixing and layering of the tracks, this is an album made on the highest professional standards by people who take their rap and their messages seriously.

Sometimes I think political science professors would make intellectual rappers, this is how their work would sound had they wrote this album. Frankly, the album captures the pulse of the Arab street to the best one could. America has at least one rapper who make such songs here, Lupe Fiasco. Now we can boast about artists from Arabs with similar political and musical chops.

As for the substance, the album is never too shy from discussing any controversial or polarizing policies or groups--they are an equal-opportunity critics.

Link To Download Album On iTunes!

Diab Mashour And His Prison Inmate Song

The sixties and seventies were very kind to one folksy Syrian singer, Diab Mashour who has appeared on a Syrian play/TV show playing the role of the prison's singer. He is connected to Iraq by the river where they share common cultural antidotes. He is an image known for his nice and sweet voice recounting stories from the village. Diab plays the flute, the oud, and the violin 

He visited Damascus and played his song to then comedian Duraid Laham who loved his song so very much and asked him to appear on his show. He recorded his song sin Beirut and Jordan and remain classics to this day. Simple songs, the kinds your grandmother would sing you as she puts you to sleep

Diab traveled to the States to do concerts for Arabs there, he has even made it all the way to the Philippians. He composes his songs and performs them, and refuses to represent his older songs to fit with today's tastes.

ذياب مشهور ـ يابو ردين يا بوردانه

Iraqi Folklore (فولكلور عراقي ) Gets Serious With Shatha Hassoun

We always seek advise from older people, thus making assumptions that they must know better. It makes us feel better when recount our trouble to someone who at least looks wiser. Many folklore songs do just that, a singer tells what's troubling him to a mother, an uncle, a grandpa, but almost never a father notice.

Checkout Shatha Hassoun a young women from Iraq/Morocco performs an old Iraqi song in one of his concerts. Her vocals are the only thing that matter, but also her stage presence is the one most people would not miss. She sounds very mature as this sobering song requires a certain level of zen and calm to do it justice.

I love those intimate concert formats, but the number of the backup singers tells me this is a serious performance. I love the live orchestra with men wearing their traditional dresses. There' no playback and lip syncing here.
Shatha Hassoun فولكلور عراقي - شذى حسون - ياعمه

Akram Al Rahal Left Iraq To Promote Its Music

All Iraqi pop stars have the same look...dark shirts, open chests, fancy eye shades and greasy hair. But when they sing, each has his/her own style. They do wonders singing the blues, just checkout Akram Al Rahal, an Iraqi import who lives and performs in Syria and in any place where Iraqi music fans live..

I must admit it's very hard to find info on many of those young Iraqi singers, they do not seem to focus on building their online brands. I try in Arabic/English and little comes. Akram is a Baghdad native who attended a local Iraqi music institute. But he also played soccer in a local club. But in 1999 he left for Jordan. His first TV appearance on in 1993.

Akram works with local Iraqi poets who give him some of their best work, which he turns into pop songs.

 Akram Al Rahal - Rouh Nam / اكرم الرحال - روح نام

Iraqi Mohamed Al Fares Delivers Sorrow And Heartache

You Like The One That Hurts You...goes the new song by Iraqi singer Mohamed Al Fares. Dozens and dozens of Iraqi singers keep releasing songs some talk romance, others mention the motherland, they all through talk about love and hurt.

Mohamed sounds like a broken bird--a bird that can fly no more. And now comes his song after he has consumed all options to come to terms with the past. I respect a man who makes music without dozens of dancing ladies and blondes. Mohamed stands out with his sorrow filled tone, heartbreaking melodies and soul reckoning perforanc.

Mohamed Al Fares - Twasal Ba'd / محمد الفارس - توسل بعد

Eastern European Music Arabs Dig

I have no idea why, but it seems more and more Arabs are tuning in to European music videos from the East side. Maybe because the language sounds for close to the Arabic one. It might be that there are so many Arabs living in this part of the world or the fact that Eastern Europe is very close to the Arab world culturally.

I do know this, clubs in Eastern Europe are crazy, and many Arabs attend universities and colleges in those countries so they bring back that music with them. I am impressed by the quality of the music videos they make. Sex is no taboo in those places, so you get a mixed bag of such entertainment.

I just wanted to bring your attention to a song where an actual Arab singer did a song with one of those stars Reda Al Abdallah & Cvetelina Aneva Romania and gypsy culture are hot all over Europe


Neblagodaren - Andrea (Costi Ft Sahara) - HD


Djena - Ne stavash


Azis 2012 - MMA / Азис 2012 - MMA


Marina Tadic - Ljubi, ljubi [OFFICIAL HD VIDEO]


Reda Al Abdallah & Cvetelina Aneva - Habiby Laa

Listen To Alaa Zalzali's Finest Song To Date

He is no Iraqi, but Lebanese Alaa Zalzali may have just released the best Iraqi song in the year. The father of three little boys who sounds like a voice of reason if asked about the political reality in Lebanon is also the same guy who likes to party live. The balance of the romance, pop, blues, and funk elements in the song are done in harmony

The new song is a perfect dance companion, made just right for that unique Iraqi group dance known as Chobi dance. She warns him her family might beat him up, her dad is related be the president of an Arab republic, to keep him away, he won't go away. He wants to fight for his lady and form the words she chose  she seems not to mind this romantic tale. It's the most romantic exchange where passion meets cultural defiance. She lets him know that her brother might stab him with a knife if he comes asking for her in marriage at home. She says, nothing will keep me away. 

Alaa should be excited about his new hit he has under his belt, it's a total concert magnet. The Lebanese party singer is back after months of mourning for the loss of his new born little girl. I am certain the appreciation of this song goes beyond Iraq and Lebanon it's a trans Arab hit.

 علاء زلزلي عشقت الصبية Alaa Zalzali 3echegt el sabiya


عشقت الصبية اغنية جديدة وحصرية علاء زلزلي

Elissa, The Street Beggars Favorite Artist

Elaph is out with a news story about a street beggar in Iraq who considers himself the biggest fan for Lebanese romance hit maker Elissa. In a small city southwest of the Iraqi capital that goes by the name Sayed Salah who begs for money on the street.

He takes that money and uses it to buy radios which he uses to listen to Elissa's songs. He also purchases her albums and only asks about her music. People like to tease him about this, so the say the name Elissa. Once he hears the say the name he walks away from them and gives them disapproving looks. Some think he might be jealous. Other have shared that he does not know how she looks, he only likes her voice.

Another interesting thing about Sayed, he goes through many radios, not sure why, but every few weeks he comes back to purchase a new radio. Some link that to him breaking the radios if they do not play his favorite songs by none other than Elissa. Street merchants and cassette sellers, play her songs once they spot him, something pleases the old man.

X-Factor مصر - مؤتمر لإطلاق ال

Alif Ensemble Spices Up Arabic Music

Good bands start out by being the fruit of the labor of many friends who think they are good enough to entertain. Hence, comes Alef Ensemble, a band that emerged from a broad spectrum of talent from all around the Arab world. The namesake draws inspiration from the Arabic Alphabet and team up talents from from Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, Egypt and Iraq.


Oud-centered music by Khyam Allami, in partnership with two of the most resourceful and independent Arabic musicians of today, Palestinian composer and vocalist Tamer Abu Ghazaleh and Egyptian electronica musician Maurice Louca, the Alif Ensemble is a pan-Arabic collaboration. Many are the bands that take credit for brining varying musical styles. But in the core of Alif Ensemble one finds both traditional and contemporary Arabic music disciplines, including percussionist Khaled Yassine (Lebanon) and bassist Khaled Omran (Syria).

Their strong suits include contemporary Arabic poetry by writers including the late Iraqi-Assyrian poet Sargon Boulus (the first time his words have been set to music in Arabic) and late Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish. Young people appreciate poetry, but they love it if music accompanied it.

Their efforts have already caught the eyes of the global press, the UK's The Wire magazine witnessed their first ever performance and came to described the Alif Ensemble as: "a vehicle for original composition, attuned to the traditions of Arabic music, but applying a rock dynamic to their delivery."

Something that allowed the band to perform in the  summer 2012 at many UK based music festivals. The Wire went on, “The dominant Alif character is one of a collective sound, each member working at the service of the compositions, rarely stepping forward to solo, and usually sounding equally balanced,"

Few things can motivate musicians like good press, but a great audience always helps. This is a band that offers two different things, the Western listener can appreciate the dealing musical instruments and Arabic twists. The Arab listener will enjoy the poetry and the the throwback music


Alif Ensemble - Intadhirha (Wait for Her) Live / فرقة الألف - إنتظرها

The Iraqi Music Riot Known As Waleed El Shamy

Iraq's most prolific composer singer Waleed El Shamy is reaping the success of his music career from his home base Dubai. I did not think he is the guy to do romance songs, as most of his better known songs are dance hits with that unmistakable Iraqi beat. He has made a lot of beats to Arabs stars who like to shop around from his flavor filled melodies.

But now Waleed El Shamy is dipping his toes in the romantic song, with the release of his "Magnouny" track. It's like he searched within his soul for a romantic version of himself and then placed it in the center stage. He has always been the party guy from Iraq with the upbeat tunes, now he is moving into the territory of the likes of Majid Al Monhadis, a fellow Iraqi singer.

I love the back story the music video features. Also the slow melody fits the lyrics just right.

 Waleed El Shamy - Magnouny / وليد الشامي - مجنوني

Syrian Revolutionaries Try To Embarrass Kathem And Amr Diab

Those violent and unreasonable Syrian rebels are a bunch of losers and their friends are becoming fewer with every passing days. They have failed to accomplish anything, no, they did bring some chaos and mayhem upon their people and country. Those rebels, are starving their own people to feed them and burning their own homes to rebuild them.

No one says Assad is a saint, accompanied by his military they have wronged so many people, and murdered some too. But as far as I can tell, the people have not abandoned him. And those who have stood against him are on a payroll of some questionable entities and individuals.

But this is a music blog, so let's talk about the the subject matter, the rebels and their online supporters have been circulating a song by a singer whom they call Kathem Al Saher, the Iraqi legend. The song is praising Assad and the singer sounds  a lot like the iconic Iraqi singer. This turned out to be a fiction, the singer behind that song is Jordanian and his name is Ayman Al Saher--no relation to Kathem.

The bullshit does not stop here, the activists have also circulated a fake duet for two voices that sound like Amr Diab and George Wassouf. Two legends who have nothing to do with the reported song. A good fake is meant to impress two one Syrian and one Egyptian fixtures of Arab pop. This is a shameful attempt to try to link singers who have said nothing about the conflict. They want them to come out and condemn the regime so the activists can dance at the graves of their own families.

كاظم الساهر يغني لقائد سوريا الرئيس بشار الأسد


جورج وسوف وعمر دياب في اغنية لبشار الاسد

WATCH: Hossam Kamel - Obama / حسام كامل - أوباما

This has to be one of the funniest songs I have seen. Hossam Kamel has a song about his Iraqi loved one, she left for America. This is a timely song as President Obama is being sworn in this week and this song has been titled with his name.

American asylum, passport, visa and such. Hossam Kamel is pleading with the American president to bring back his loved one. Hossam has that Iraqi look and his song is pretty dancey. It feels happy and heartbreaking all at once. I know tens of thousand Iraqis have landed in America hoping for a new beginning. I would need a visa and a ticket to board the airplane goes the song.

Rap is all over this track, and various American icons and outfits can be seen in this music video, they even gave us the American diner experience. And there is the American muscles car. I like this song, it feels like we have not seen something like this before. I love the attention to details. Tattoos and wall clocks look very familiar.

I am not sure what to make of those lollipops,

Hossam Kamel - Obama / حسام كامل - أوباما

The Big Star Of Nova Emad, And The Small Sky

Nova Emad should be so proud, she has done something for all a long time we all have been longing for. The classical Iraqi song with the right touches of Jazz. I thought only Palestinian and Lebanese vocalists were doing this style, but Nova showed me, that musicians from all over the Arab world, can rock it. Her Iraqi dialect makes me think I am back a thousand years and loving every bit of it.

You bring a melody from the folklore and tell an indie feeling story through lyrics and saintly vocal expression. This bears appropriate to Nova Emad, a young Armenian-Iraqi, who’s voice has seized the global podium. She is the second act with Armenian and Arab bringing to excel in this style--the other one is Syrian Lena Chamamyan

Needless to say the conflict riddled roots have contributed to Nova's artistic abilities, allowing her to address and mesmerize a steadfast world audience. Nova have benefited from being the daughter of a well known Iraqi vocalist, Seta Hagopian, and her mothers warm voice and kind manners. This is the kind of music that will draw minds and hearts to Iraq. What a breath of fresh air that makes us forget all about this computer monkey pop noise. Good music does not have to be loud to make us all so giddy.
Soon enough Nova took on the sounds of the 'golden age' such as Abdel Halim Hafez, Fairuz and, of course, Oum Kalthoum. Her voice is very close to be in the ranks of Norah Jones where same soft, sensual cadences she uses when she sings — that graceful blend of sun, elegance, and rhythm. Such combinations turns the familiar into something exotic and the exotic into something intimate.

Her Ghurbah track captivates the heart and tangles the senses of those living away form home--including many Iraqis and Arabs. The music of Beahar Hussam Al Azzawi serves as a vehicle to this gorgeous and intimate voice. The music video is similar to something NASA would air of the outer space worlds, it's magical, mysterious and remind us of how small we all are.

;نوفا عماد - غربة Nova Emad - Ghurbah Nova

The National Iraqi Soccer Team Is The Kingmaker هذا العراقي - ديو حاتم العراقي وشذى حسون

Iraqis are lead to believe that they only agree on very few things at this moment. Soccer is one of the things that brings the country together, and the national team seems to be doing very well in the Asia and Arab Cups and beyond. I celebrate the winning of the Iraqi team, and wish them the best.

They have to deal with harsh political reality and grim situation on the ground, yet the players do their best to bring some joy into the Iraqi life. So, one of the Iraqi most original voices is Hatem El Iraqi, whose name is as good as gold. See the images that accompany this rushed song music video landing in time as the Iraqi team revives its old glory. The song just landed and it has already traveled the world and back, Iraqis always love their motherland.

Shatta Hassou has done sport songs in the past, this one is new and this one puts her in a new light. she is willing to learn form those who came before her, like the icon she shares the Microphone with.

He teams up with someone who brings cool into the equation  Shatha Hassoun and together the perform a song for the Iraqi soccer team built on pride. I give my respect to the team, they have been one heck of a ride to watch. As for the song, it's a good song made for Iraqis, it does give some of them goose bumps. The melody is simple are so are the lyrics. I love the pat where it say will not not be left out.


 هذا العراقي - ديو حاتم العراقي وشذى حسون - Hatha el iraqi

Majid Dethrones Nancy Ajram

Iraqi pop and romance singer Majid El Mohandis has another achievement on his record, his album is outselling that of Nancy Ajram--something major in Arabic music industry. The romance gem album "Ana Weyak" has manged to capture the number one spot on record sales and placing "Super Nancy" album second. According to Virgin Mega-store Dubai.

Majid's album is four weeks old and Nancy's is about the same. Wael Kfoury has taken the third spot with his well received album. Wael's album has been on top of the charts for weeks now. Elissa's four month old album is on the fourth spot, and Egyptian pop dude Hamaki is resting on the fifth place. Those are all good albums, and the stars vary in appeal in various different Arab countries.


Majed Al Mohandes Ana Wayak فيديو كليب ماجد المهندس انا وياك