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

WATCH: Rakan "Shelmatloub" - Soon | راكان "شالمطلوب" - قريباً

The coolest and happiest Saudi strikes again, and he returns with a new teaser for an upcoming music video for his hit song "Shelmatloub" It's all about looking hip, sounding happy and dancing your bum off in the world of Saudi pop star Rakan.

He is the youngest and perhaps the freshest music video star in the conservative kingdom  It's no surprise that most of his music videos are filmed in Dubai. The teaser is rue to spread joy everywhere it goes. I love the urban and graffiti rich music video. The cool drums and the dancers all over the music video.

As for the outfits, they may have been purchased from some mall in downtown Philadelphia. This is how trendy kids in the Gulf are, and they only wear the best brands. Rakan is rocking the Arab fro look and he seems to have survived all the critics.

Rakan "Shelmatloub" - Soon | راكان "شالمطلوب" - قريباً

Egyptian Celebrities Shamelessly Chase The American Citizenship

Since the dawn of time and mankind wanted the best for himself and for his family. So it's no surprise more and more celebrities are seeking to give birth to their own babies in places that can be safe and protect them.  Some American celebrities have given birth to their kids outside America, now I am learning of half a dozen Egyptian entertainers who are chasing the American citizenship through their babies.

This is a totally legal process, you only need to afford the cost of giving birth in America, and not be part of a coordinated effort. More and more of them are lining up at American hospitals to have their babies delivered on American soil. Some Egyptians might not like this practice, it does not seem very patriotic. However, the same people if they could, they would do the exact same thing.

America is changing, and it might not always be the place people around the world idealize so very much. It's a wonderful place to life and have a family--just do not get sick.

Here's the most recent celebrities who have their kids delivered in American hospitals in the United States.

1. Tamer Hosny: His wife and himself have been in the States for work, and she is along for the trip. Of course work is scheduled around the time of her delivery. In fairness the two got hitched in the Egyptian embassy in Washington DC.  The baby girl will be delivered somewhere in the area
2. Ghada Abdel Razik: the biggest Mubarak supporter on the planet, took those steps prior to Tamer Hosny. She is not having a baby--she has passed that time but her daughter Rotana is pregnant and the two have landed in the States. Ghada spend ten days out here, Rotana has been around for four months waiting to pop up. Keep on mind, the father is a police officer in Egypt.  
3. Khalid Selim: the original beef cake singer/ actor spend some time in California along with his wife--they just got married last year. The baby girl was delivered there and has an American birth certificate.  After that, the couple has returned to Cairo. 
4. Nashwa Mostafa: made a statement on Facebook declraging that she has never thought about getting her kids to become Americans--their father is. She frimely belives Egypt is the best place on earth with all the trumoil. However, she regretted those belifes as she now she wants her kids to be protected and resepcted in the event of a problem.

FBI Adds ‘rapping jihadi’ To Terror Wanted Lafrist

America has ran out of terrorists to hunt, so they are zooming in another threat, the 'rapping jihadi" Rappers might not have friends everywhere, but now among their foes is none other than the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The Somali rap group is now running for safety as uncle same guns for them.

The FBI said Wednesday it had added to its list of most wanted terrorists the American “rapping jihadi,” an operative for Somalia’s Al-Qaeda linked Shebab insurgents who uses rap as a propaganda tool.

Omar Shafik Hammami, who was born in Alabama but is now thought to live in Somalia, is believed to be a senior leader of the Shebab rebels, who were placed on the US State Department’s terror blacklist in 2008. The group has “repeatedly threatened terrorist actions against America and American interests,” the Federal Bureau of Investigations said in a statement.

Also known as Abu Mansour al-Amriki, Hammami has been releasing rap songs in English on the Internet since 2009 as a recruitment tool, although music is forbidden in Al-Qaeda’s strict interpretation of Islam. In the songs, Hammami says he hopes to be killed by a drone strike or in a cruise missile attack so he can achieve martyrdom.

I hope he gets his wish met, and I hope his wish of dying will be delivering by a drone dressed like Santa.  He invites young people to join the jihad to and he encourages strikes against the US military in Afghanistan and Somalia. Hammami, who has been indicted in the United States on various terrorism charges, has been the subject of an international arrest warrant since 2007.

I do not get it, if those ultra-Orthodox Muslims outlaw singing, why is he still singing? And if he hates America so much, why does he take a different role than singing? And to the folks in the United States, rapping ain't no crime. Justtmake sure you get him for the other stuff not for making terrible rap songs. 

Mila Kunis Vs. Haifa Wahbe Separated At Birth?

One is one of Hollywood sexiest women, the other is one of Arabia's sexists and most notorious pop personality. They look a lot a like, the eyes and the dark features, so I put together a collage of their picture  to make my point.

Haifa Wahbe and Mila Kunis share that exotic look, they certainly have met a lot of success working ion the entertainment industry. Guys seem to be helpless against those women, they cannot look away. They have a lot of pictures out there for both the actress and the singer out there, I picked few...

Do you see the similarities? Or am I the only one?

Mila Kunis Has A Badass Stare Of Doom - CONAN on TBS


Haifa MJK - Bokra Bfarjik Official Teaser

Examples Of Shameful Things Arab Celebrities Do

1. They like to use English and French words in their interviews--you like in Arabic speaking country, you are speaking to Arabic speaking folks, drop the act please.
2. They go to record a duet with non-Arab stars that no one has ever heard of and then come and tell us you are huge outside that country. First, with all due respect  nobody cares you have done a song with a Romanian, Filipino or some random rapper. Flukes do not often make a solid career. 
3. They do not spend real money on their songs, but when it comes to the music video they pay up top dollar for that. If  your song sucks, ain't nothing going to compensate for that--not even a music video shot in London.   
4. Filmmakers, hire unassuming tourists on the streets in places like Egypt an ask them to be in their movies. If you do not take your movie seriously, why should I?
5. They record, mix, edit their music and movies in a foreign country, when top-notch studios and editing rooms are just as good next door. This does nothing and shows we still suffer from the complex where we prefer foreign talents to equally capable ones. 
6. Wearing clothes with big gigantic global brands on them, some of them are even embarrassing or say idiotic things. I have yet to see someone wearing a cool outfit with Arabic brand of calligraphy on it.  
7. They want to become stars outside their native countries. Not a bad idea, just make sure the art you make represents your country and you will be going overseas. You can make it out there by being you, singing in English is embarrassing do not try. 
8. They have to brag about their awesome phones, nice shoes, fancy car and gadgets. Sure, not a bad thing, but keep on mind your fans do not like you because of these things. If they do not like you, you cannot buy these things no more. 
9. They gave birth to their kids in foreign countries and give them random names. How can I believe your songs' about how much you love the motherland if you do not raise your children in it?
10. They celebrate having a husband who is not from the same place. Like that singer who married a girl from the UK or that Egyptian soccer player who is dating a German lady. The second plays in the  national soccer team. Or that famous Lebanese singer who is singing about being an Arab knight when his own daughter boasts about being a Canadian. It's cool they like diversity, but just because you are diverse it doe snot make you superior.
11. Anything else?

Haifa Wehbe kids songs "Baba Fen" ~ ENGLISH subtitles هيفاء وهبى بابا فين

The Pride Of Iraq's Opera Singers Baider Albesry

Iraq has many commercially successful singers and songstresses, what they do not have is many Opera caliber singers, you would think a war torn place like Iraq would not have opera capable voice, but they do have many. Among those strong voices is a female with the name Baider Albasry whose talent and Iraqi pride send her around the world in dazzling performance.

Baider just had taken part of an European opera in German alongside many celebrated musicians from around the world to perform for peace. She is the daughter of two artists who have given her their best genes. Her European debut included collaborating with British composers whose composition including Arabic, English and Aramaic lyrics.

Baider studied music in Damascus for three years, then in the Netherlands at the royal institute. She and her music group have performed in Holland, Austria, Belgium, Denmark and France. She has two songs in Dutch. She often performs in Baghdad and Syria to promote peace, and harmony.

Baider's voice and style resonate well with those who like classical music with an Oriental twist. While Baider has a great voice, and she performs with grace, she has yet to get her name out there toward a mainstream commercial success that does not have to come at the expense of her superb quality.

 بيدر البصري - أيام مشغول 2012


بيدر البصري - يا نسيم الريح

Ragheb Alama In American Tour, Ladies Cheer

The Lebanese super star and hit make of 30 years is bringing his show to the United States next month. The super star is currently scheduled for two concerts in the US. The First will be on November 3, 2012 in Las Vegas in the Paris Casino on the strip. This will be packed with fans from the American West.

The second venue will be on the 10th of November in New Jersey's Atlantic City at the Resort Casino. Alama1 is coming to meet with his fans and perform his most beloved songs--he does not come out often out here. He is one busy guy, music producer, a judge on Arab Idol and a business guy who has just released a new cologne "Notes D'amour"

No question about it Ragheb is a legend who knows how to perform live and rock the house., He has making a go back into live concerts

Notes D'amour by Ragheb Alama - TV AD


Saharouny El Leil - Ragheb Alama سهروني الليل - راغب علامة

My Trip To Nashville, Music City USA

I took a trip to Nashville TN, the birthplace of country music and the place where rock star and other musicians go to get inspired. Country music is a lifestyle in this city and most of their bars feature country music live bands every night. Tennessee is an interesting state--a very long state to drive in. But through it all, the trip is worth taking. The music is something you do not see or hear in places like New York. Country music still tried to find better stories to tell about us.

You walk down Broadway in downtown Nashville, and you will feel it right away. People dig this music thing, the Western life and the hat and boots. Stores in that area also can sell you an awesome guitar and cross the street you can pick up a pair of boots. The city has a great feel and tourists from around the world visit.

To be candid, I felt place gets a bad name from the civil war era and various stereotypes about people down there. I was astonishing how graceful the people are and how mixed and diverse the cities are. The North preaches getting along, but in reality they do not practice it--maybe they do not have too. In the American South, I felt people people get along just fine and it looks beautiful. There people out there who believe in America and cherish it. I know, I was always pleased to see sings made in the USA next to a product I want or love.  

The best thing about the trip is the people of the South, they are nice courteous and fun loving. Big portion is the way to go. Big trucks, big parking spaces, big dinner briskets. Elvis is King of that land, people know his history and his must by heart. I did also mange to go to Memphis, I felt Nashville did a better job claiming the music scene. Memphis is where Graceland is and great BBQ. I do not think, we have a city like Nashville in the Middle East. I feel Iraq in its glory days (1920s to 1950s) had that kind of vibe. Beirut may come close.

good music, good people and great food, take me to Nashville place.   

Stream: Fatima Al Qadiri: The Oasis In Desert Strike

The Sengal native Fatima Al Qadiri is no stranger to war, she is one of a kind musician that always seems to be in a contact search for a better way to express war musically. Gunshots, and the whole nine yards. In a way she is so perfect to make music for our world in the virtual world of games where wars are popular. She is a video gamer herself.


Among the wars that have inspired Fatima to put into music is The First Gulf War "is a subject I've wanted to address for years," Al Qadiri writes over email. "I'm not a writer," she says, and couldn't write a memoir about her "experience as a child during the occupation of Kuwait and First Gulf War." But Desert Strike is a memoir nonetheless — "a sort of abstract audio memoir," she says. The music she creates is driven form her childhood memories yet geared toward those who like intercultural background music that stands form something.

The Desert Strike as her very own way of paying "homage to grime," but it's also a response: a masterful piece of work exploring the links between war and violence and representation and growing up. I know many speak about being citizens of the world, Fatima should be the president of that club. She lives and worked in New York City. Berlin, Dubai, Doha, London, Marrakesh, Kuwait City, Seoul, Milan, and other have seen her exhibitions and performances.

Fatima may rub some people the wrong way, she may even provoke some criticism for her work or the issues she chooses to highlight. I am unable to find much resources on her biography. something tells me that side of her life is off limits. All we have is her music which offers a lot of complexity on its own.      

Amir ElSaffar: Trumpeter, Santur player, and Vocalist

When your father comes form Iraq, you cannot really escape the great traditional music that comes form that land. That's why Amir ElSaffar embarked on a journey to learn this tradition. In 2002 he began studying the maqam tradition in Baghdad and London where he studied with the best in this traditional singing form.

ElSaffar has created new techniques to play microtones and ornaments that are idiomatic to Arab music but are not typically heard on the trumpet. As a composer, ElSaffar has used the microtones found in maqam music to create a unique approach to harmony and melody. He has been hailed by the NPR for his work on bringing the Iraqi Jazz blues into the States. The blues are the finest in Arabia, as no one tells a tear jerking story as well as Iraqi musicians has.

Among the places whre Amir took his show is the Jazz Institute of Chicago, and Chamber Music America. Amir contuines to develop a singular approach to integrating Middle Eastern tonalities and rhythms into an American jazz context, releasing three albums; Two Rivers (2006), Radif Suite (2010), and Inana (2011) to critical acclaim.

He tours with Alwan for the Arts, New York’s premiere center for Middle Eastern arts and culture. Amir's to appear next in Washington, DC for a concert.

Amir ElSaffar Iraqi Santour Solo: Maqam Rast

Music Brings Life Back To The Dead Sea

The dead sea is a tourist attraction in Palestine and Jordan. The Jordanian side has hotels, and a lot of fancy restaurants people like to visit on this sea. The latest attraction is music....The Nights Of The Dead Sea music festival was organized on the Jordanian side. The Minister of Tourism sponsored the event and tok charge of booking the talents and marketing the music event on the beach.

Music breaths life into the Dead Sea bring him back to life. Local singers were invited to bring their acts to the festival. Pop and romance star Tony Qattan seemed to have the biggest night there. Other stars who were invited to perform include, Makady Nahas, Ziad Saah both of whom brought their A games and performed songs cherished by the locals. Many national and patriotic songs were also included in the acts of many of the Jordanian performers.

 مقطع من حفل طوني قطان في ليالي البحر الميت 29-10-2012

Rotana And Sony 2012 "IMIX" Volume 1 Album Sucks

Rotana has just curated an album with both Arabic and English tracks, the Arabic part sees Elissa, Amr Diab and Majid Al Mohnadis, Faris Karam, Rabeh on the American side, they have picked J Lo, Chris Brown, Pitbul, and Usher. There are other singers too.

I do not know what promoted this mix of Arabic and English pop, but something tell ms this is an effort put forth by Rotana to be relevant. A whopping 18 tracks of songs to meet all your dance needs. Some of those tracks do not really belong there, what's with Rabeh, a good singer but not a dance track.

The album is one of the first collaboration between Rotana and Sony who owns the rights for those American songs, you will hear. Who buys this stuff anyway  I am started to hate mixed tapes and random music glued together to make a buck in exchange for little entertainment.

Ayman Zbib - Bahebak Wallah

While In Dubai 50 Cents Minds His Business

Curtis Jackson or 50 cents the 37-year-old Grammy  landed in Dubai to promote and market his new headphones--something he was able to work on form the get go till the end. They look like cool headphones. But I thought Dubai might be ready for his energy drink. SMS headphones is the 50 cent brand, and the local partner is a company with the name Shift. 50 cents was not in town for a concert, but for a promotional press conference.

50 cents he does not listen to Arabic music, but he could sample some stuff for his albums. The event was held as part of the consumer electronics showcase GITEX Shopper. "Dubai is the perfect springboard to launch SMS Audio because the emirate is famous for its pursuit of high standards in everything it does," he said. I like the man's honesty. He feels real to me and tries to always be the same person.

But 50 cents also wants to do good be doing well, the rapper has teamed up with the Dubai Autism Center so that 2 percent of the proceeds from the sales of the headphones, which are available in Virgin Megastore outlets for between Dh 449 and Dh 1,499, will go to helping children with autism. I am sure his headphones will be well received.

50 cent يطلق علامته التجارية الجديدة في دبي