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

List Of Youngest Arab Singers By Names

1. Natasha, Lebanese a combination between Nancy Ajram and Warda! She is young, talented and under 20 years of age. Her father is a musician by training and her brother runs the business side. I love her many characters she is able to produce. She can be pop and fun, but when needed she can be classy and deliver heavy doze of mellow pure Arabic hits with the oldie flavor. She has two albums, but I think Rotana is not helping her career. Video
2. Carmin Solimna, Egyptian who finished high school this year, she shot to fame by winning the Arab Idol contest. She comes from a loving family and has yet to release one single original song. But the tracks she has left behind cover the classics. She has an astonishing voice that can move water and breaks glasses. She can convey complex emotions with few vocal notes. With Carmin the sky is the limit. She is a free agent, but she is often contracted for nights of music in big galas and cultural events. Video  
3. George Zogheb, the youngest on the list. He is a preteen, but his music is not for the young ones, but rather who those who have lived in the 60s and 70s. He also loves Lebanon and his first original song is made for the motherland. He appears in concerts around Lebanon and slowly but surely he is making a big splash every where he goes. On the list, he knows the most about making music as he is well trained on the Oud.      

جورج زغيب - قارئة الفنجان

Sam Zayan Can Do Better Than Lebanese Pop

The fresh face of Lebanese pop has a name Sam Zayan, the Beirut native is seeking commercial success with a new pop song. The young singer seems like a fun person who enjoys his life and wants to make a go at pop fame.

It's your typical boy likes music story, Sam began singing oriental and traditional songs from his tender years as a student who carried his Oud instrument around and was always encouraged by his peers to sing in class, especially in the absence of teachers. Then from the Oud his voice and his warm personality set his sight at a music career.

With time, his singing talent developed and progressed to higher grounds with several singing performances which helped him gain knowledge and build confidence. His skills later paved the way to approaching singing as a profession and soon opened up new opportunities.

Finally the journey of a talented singer reached its first intended destination as the sound of sweet music heralded the birth of a new artist. This time he is collaborating with Salim Assaf, one of Lebanon's hottest composers who is always scouting for new talents to experiment new things with.

 Sam Zayan - Sho Na2isni- سام زيان - شو ناقصني

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

Video: The Boy Who Cried Lebanon طفل المعجزة جورج زغيب يُغني وجعك يا وطني

In a posh Lebanese restaurant where a night of classy music was promised, more than that was delivered  The boy wonder of Lebanon the kid who can rock generations with his covers of old classics took the spotlight by storm when he performed for the first time his new single. The name is George Zgheib and he means business. His young voice can shock you as his voice is so deep it might confuse some doctors.

The single is for Lebanon and its pains it sees at the moment. The song is about the motherland, teaching the kids to love it and it comes with a strong beat. The attendance loved the song and the performance by George Zgheib who will be recording this song in a studio soon and possible music video will come. The guy plays the oud (lute) so well. And one thing he does with his voice tells him he has what it takes, he makes his voice dance from one note to another note. Manipulating the artists voice takes a lot of training.

I wish George and his team well, they see a real talent and they work with him to evolve and take his act to a bigger audience.

طفل المعجزة جورج زغيب يُغني وجعك يا وطني

LISTEN: جو اشقر - كنتي بالسهرة Joe Ashkar Transcend In Kounti B'sahra

Joe Ashkar knows how to party and how to be a top tier socialite. The handsome and well dressed Lebanese singer owns a posh club in downtown Beirut, and has friendships to envy. But most of us know him for his music and his music video.

Joe Ashkar seems to live on his own terms, he never copies other singers. He does not chase what's popular and always come across as confident romantic. Just like he is doing with his latest single, telling the love tale when he was stuck by love from the first sight.

This radio hit of his, feels different, the music has not been generated by some fancy computer affect. I appreciate the lute and the more intimate vibe the song gives. It feels like very warm in there, and that warmth is reflected on Joe's performance  He is able to speak to the women that has put a spell on him. The lyrics are very sweet and believable at the same time.

I think Joe breaks new ground with this new single, he is reaching intro a territory of fans he has not addressed before--the grownups who want something real.

جو اشقر - كنتي بالسهرة ( حصريا ) Joe Ashkar kounti B'sahra

Marwan Abado Rocking The Palestinians Music Scene From Austria

If you call Palestinians composer/singer Marwan Abado Mr. Alternative music and Mr. Independent scene, he will be a happy man. Based in Austria, a world class lute player who is beloved by his countrymen and those who appreciate originality around the world. He sings poems and changes hearts with every stroke on his instrument of choice.   

He left the Palestine refugee camp on Beirut at age 18, he joined his older brother in Austria. In Beirut he heard his grandfather singing old Arabic songs, and he was drawn to the music boy scouts play at every turn.   He has become philosophical about his music and his appear to those who do not speak Arabic. Aside from his bleeding Palestinians heart, he is a musician with a message. He writes most of his music after midnight when people go to rest, he goes to work on his art. 

Here's a kicker, he has co-authored a book about Palestinian seasonal cooking. I do appreciate his stand on performing on Palestine he urges all those who can travel to Palestine and perform to do so as a token of support. His style has always been more fitting for slow music, but slow can be fast. Marwan continues to tour Europe performing on its concert halls reaffirming his believe in a better tomorrow. 

مروان عبادو - القمر كنو 

Iraqi Iconic Singer Qahtan Al Attar Rejects Fame And Quits

He was loved form the first song, and his fame kept on growing for four decades. He decided to quit the music business 20 years ago, he shuns the spotlight and rejects going back to his earlier career. He turned it all down, the fame, the popularity and the money to live alone in seclusion.

Qahtan Al Attar immigrated to Denmark and made a home there where he has a beard and took a picture in a bakery shop near an oven. some say the store is his, others says it belongs to a friend of his. Qahtan does have a oud and he often performs in private settings.

Qahtan rose to fame in the 70s and according to friends he never liked recording songs, he was lazy and he hated the studio. Even though he is very talented and has a voice that nobody comes even close to, as one fan puts it. He did have a lot of good songs in the 80s that stand tall among the Iraqi classics. Some says he is supper sensitive  he is anti-social, others say he has complexes.

Some stories about him are legendary  he hates street language and insults, if he happens to hear on as he passes on the streets, he loses sleep over it and condemns such harsh language when the Arabic language is so beautiful. He had to walk away form his family and his friends because he appreciated privacy and longed to being along--not an easy thing to get when you live with Arabs.

Qahtan has stopped singing since the early 90s and immigrated to a number of countries until he found himself in the Denmark, a country where he can find all seclusion his soul demands. His story remains one of the mysteries many Iraqis wrestle with and there are those who boast about taking a recent picture of this legend on the streets of his new home.

قحطان العطار- سهلة عندك


قحطان العطار -يانوره

Hedi Jouini, The Protector of The Tunisian Song

Hedi Jouini has been rightfully dubbed the Frank Sinatra of the Arab World. From the theme song of a popular Tunisian soap opera to pop singers’ cover songs, including international superstar Ishtar, Jouini’s music still resonates twenty five years after his death.

Behind the usual story of siblings fighting over their inheritance lies the powerful dynamic of men’s and women’s roles in 1930’s Tunis and the sad but often funny story of Papa Hedi’s, a man and his legacy. Performing live accompanied buy his "oud" lute and an orchestra of people who are set on making beautiful music. The star Hedi Jouini seems to enjoy his live performances and inviting his audience to participate

Hedia became a star away from the center of the Arab star making system in Cairo. Like countless of his peers he started his career by reading and reciting the holy Koran. He moved into memorizing songs of singers that came before him. Then he studied under an Italian music professor, then in a French institution. He would go on to dominate the 50s, 60s, and 70s in the Tunisian song. Most of his songs have been inspiring young and old Tunisian artists to recreate them.

His early songs were light and had a lot of humor. Then he moved into romance and duets. And from there to the social issues. He was a leader in conserving the Tunisian song and had joined a group to promote and protect the local song--he would compose songs for a number of vocalists in that group "Jama'at Ta'aht Al Sor"
Hedi Jouini - 7obi Yitbadel Yitjadid


hedi jouini - lamouni live

Ziyad Sahhab When The Clouds Are Your Last Name

If your search for some classical yet fresh Arabic music is still on, your search is over. Here's Ziyad Sahhab who makes the lute dance. His voice reaches down to your soul and speaks to your brain. He describes himself as a poor artist. Not many artist can brag about performing in the Cairo House of Opera at the tender age of 13. He counts among his musical influences Mohamad Abdel Wahab, Sayed Darweesh, Tom Waits and the always relevant Roger Waters.

Ziyad took on the lute in 1989 and joined the Beirut Arabic music orchestra in 1993 where his serves were greatly appreciated. He has two albums, the first came in 2004 "Ouyoun El Bakar" (Forward Music)  includes songs of the Egyptian poet Salah Jahine.Ziyad's second album is called " keep on singing". In the second album Ziyad brings to life the poems of egyptian writers Ahmad Fouad Najem and Mohamad Kheir as well as his own texts in a style that is unique and particular.

Sahhab is his last name, in Arabic it means clouds! And that's where his music will put you, cloud 9 to be specific. Ziyad is studying musicology at the Antonine University.Ziyad Sahhab and his band are performing live at"Walimat Wardeh" in Hamra Makdessi Street every Friday. I like his depth and his intelligence. He is an artist who can recognize good art when he sees it. He chooses poems that fit his style yet challenge him to make good music.

Ziyad is an avid smoker whose facial hair is the first thing you notice about him. He lives and works in beruit where he collaborates on whatever musical projects comes his way.

زياد سحاب - يابو قلب وحيد

Good Music From Jerusalem By Turab Basel Zayed

Basel Zayed is a Palestinian native to the holly land of Jerusalem, a land known for many things, music is not one of them. The young musician and vocalist found out our his true gift at his young age of 12. He took part of  number of local events. But then two years later he was studying the piano.

Then he began his career as a composer and singer in a number of local bands, among them "Sanabel” at Bir Zeit University, and the First Ramallah Group of Music. He, with the help of many other musicians, formed “Yalalan” for Arabic music and finally “Turab” musical group. “Turab” (“soil” in Arabic) is a group of young musicians from a variety of different backgrounds who share a passion for contemporary alternative music. The group plays Zayed’s original compositions.

I was dazzled by one of the tracks  Love Me, the guy knows how to make a good song. The moment I heard his voice, I said to myself, this guy ought to be Palestinian and then I was right. It's a good song where it reminded me of on song by Katehm Al Saher "Ahbyny Bila Oqadin" I like his style on the oud, the guy have had a lot of practice.

I am glad to have discovered this video, I am all about good music and fresh lyricism.

Turab - Love Me. حبيني - تراب

Talal Madah, The Legendary Saudi Singer Who Made Music Mainstream

Talal Madah is an iconic singer in the Gulf and in some Arab countries. The late composer singer had many hits in his career. He made really good music that can rival the best of Egypt on his era. His music sounds like those you expect to hear for Abdel Halim songs.

The one song of his that separates real singers from clowns is Maqadeer, which most people in the Gulf use to test real singers from posers. Talal had many titled throughout his tenure, "The Golden Throat" is one, The "Harp of The East" He has caught the attention of legendary composer Mohamed Abdel Wahab who befriended him.  Talal helped shape Arabic music in the Gulf during the 60s, 70s and the 80s.

He worked on a number of poems and turned them into hit songs. Most singers in Gulf would cite him as an inspiration to them from Mohamed Abdu, Eitab, Arwa, Abady el Johor to Nabil Shoeel and dozens of other celebrated singers. His warmth and his understanding of music allowed him to develop so many songs and most of all earn the love of his listeners. He has been given so many awards from Saudi Arabia to Tunisia.    

He had to struggle with religious people who wanted to ban him and his music, but he won them over. He would go on to develop the Saudi music school. He would sing till his last breath and dies on stage from heart complications. A 100 thousands fans would attend his funeral.

 طلال مداح - مقادير