Andrew W.K. Is America's Cultural Ambassador To The Middle East

Because drones, military force and tanks do not make good ambassador of America's wide cultural landscape. One rocker can build bridges and make the Middle East fall in love with America all over again by partying loudly.

In surprising and odd news of the day, the U.S. Department of State of has named Andrew W.K. the Cultural Ambassador to the Middle East. He is  an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, entertainer, motivational speaker, and music producer. He is the host of the television series Destroy Build Destroy. In November 2012, he was named a United States cultural ambassador to Bahrain. As a musician, he is perhaps best known for the 2001 hit single "Party Hard", from the album I Get Wet. Bahrain is an island, so he would have to get wet. Andrew has also lived and grew up in Ann Arabs where many Arab immigrants also live.

"This is a tremendous invitation," W.K. said in a statement on his website. "I'm very thankful to the Department of State for giving me the opportunity to visit a place I've never been before. And I feel very privileged and humbled by the chance to represent the United States of America and show the good people of Bahrain the power of positive partying. I can hardly wait for this adventure!"

The performer's website reports that W.K. will visit the Middle East "to promote partying and positive power." The story also explains that "Andrew will begin his journey the first week of December, 2012 and will visit elementary schools, the University of Bahrain, music venues, and more, all while promoting partying and world peace." Partying does help bring peace, but if the music is too loud the cops will shoe up and things may get hairy.

W.K. once told HuffPost his personal tag line would be, "I'm not here to impress you, I'm here to party with you."

Andrew W.K. - Party Hard

Eighties Pop With Egyptain Mona Abd El Ghany

Arabic pop was born on the late eighties of the last century. Unlike the more class songs that ruled up to that point, pop music was not trying to impress listeners with fancy lyrics and creative poetry. At its start, the rule was use everyday words, simple and direct to describe a moment in time.

And the music will carry your song where people will dance and move along with your music. Among those pop pioneers is none other than the now retried Mona Abd el Ghany. She was making early songs with the help of Ammar El Sharei. And she made a solo or two albums under this lable. Her music videos might be silly now but they were hot then. I know my sisters were dazzled by those and the outfits Mona sported.

Also listen to 03 track and tell me that you are not hearing Fayros Karawya--the lead female voice of Egyptian music at this moment. It's scary how similar those two voices are as revealed by this song.


02 2alby Ydo2 - Mona Abd el Ghany / قلبي بيدق - منى عبدالغنى


08 E7na Meen - Mona Abd el Ghany / احنا مين - منى عبدالغنى


03 Been Delo3ak - Mona Abd el Ghany / بين ضلوعك - منى عبدالغنى

New Release Carole Samaha 2013 Album سيمبلات البوم كارول سماحة - احساس

On the thirteenth of March in the year of our Lord 2013, one Lebanese diva will release her album of thirteen tracks. Bringing attention to the number often associated with bad luck 13. She wanted to defy it and release her album to tel that number to back off.  This is the story of the new and forthcoming album from this multi-talented diva.

She sings as a proud women, she sings the ind of songs that even the most manly man can find appealing. The samples are out and one will get to enjoy whopping of 13 tracks! There's the dance pop songs, and the touchy feely tracks. She gives a good balance of happy and heartbroken songs, and her collaboration with the best names is a long standing tradition. She also works with few names on this project.

There will be plenty of hugs, kisses, breakups and chances to dance in this mixed album--her first since 2009 when she released a dynamite album. The production went to the seasoned Lebanese composer Michael Fadel. I like how the album feels like a menu from all over the world of music and varying styles that showcase different notes.

Carole has shown that when it comes to her songs, she spares no expenses, unlike many of her peers- who tend to cut costs of recording and spend more on music videos. Carole spends on both of them. I look forward to this album, as for the money, this album will be the biggest release in 2013 from a star who has been rocking it since 2000! And by the way, she is a judge on the X Factor at the moment.


01 - Ehssas
02 - El Afrah
03 - Hakhounak
04 - Inta Tofl Kbir
05 - Ohdonni
06 - Ana Geet
07 - Ana Geet (Version 2)
08 - Yaoumayn Shahrayn
09 - Mosh Maakoul
10 - Mosh Tayaak
11 - Khedni Maak
12 - Wou Taawadet
13 - Ma Bnethammelsh Baad

سيمبل كارول سماحة - ما منتحملش بجد


سيمبل كارول سماحة - انت طفل كبير | من الالبوم القادم 2013


كارول سماحة احضنى من الالبوم القادم 2013


سيمبل كارول سماحة - احساس | من الالبوم القادم 2013


سيمبل كارول سماحة إحساس

Music From When Assala Cared More For Her Music Than Her Look

We all like good looks, but when Assala made her big dent on Arabic music she did it through her music and radio voice. But then the rule of the game changed with network TV, the internet and reality TV. Assala is a pioneer on all those. She made music videos when the times asked for them, she made a website and then a Facebook/YouTube channel followed. And now she has her own TV show where she hosts on her home groups of performers together.

But before this era, she worked with names like Hilmi Baker who kept her original and not pop-centered. The music they have given her were a bridge in time lining the Syrian Diva with the golden classical days. But there's little money in that. Money is in pop and in Gulf music so Assala as any business woman made the transition.

I do not see her doing gigs in houses of opera--it's not because of Syria no matter what she says. She still sings around the world. I loved her 2012 album, I thought it has some fresh ideas, but only a song or two have lasting powers  unlike the two songs below from the late 90s, they are the kind of songs everyone wants to copy.

Assala - Ya Sabra Yana / أصالة - يا صابره يانا


Assala - Sam7tak / اصاله - سامحتك

Vidoe Najla & Nourlen Gay For Pay نجلا و نورلين - الليلة ليلتي

The head of the Melody Entertainment network used the old formula to sell records and films. He pushed twin sisters and placed them in sexually suggestive films and promotions. Now they twins get a music video, and they have one pig to thank him for it. It's more of two girls who like to dance and shake it music video where they also provide the boom. They have already been on film where there was a scene for the twins sleeping with one guy at the time time--very racy by all standards.

These two ladies Najla and Nourlen already have the name recognition. They have been commonly known as the melody twins, and they do not mind it, they play the sexy part so well in the hopes it will change things around for them. It's not a bad song, I know we both saw much worse things. So while serious people get serious, those two girls will make a living being not that serious.

I am not sure what the extend of their talent is, but singing might be the natural order for them and now they have a party song where they are talking about that special night. This is one long catwalk for ladies who like black outfits with shiny things. There a number of looks made to keep the boys interested. Urban look and stuff like you buy from the Icing Store. And yes, there's some dances that make you feel you have watching too many Beyonce Music videos.

Najla & Nourlen - El Leila Leilty / نجلا و نورلين - الليلة ليلتي



Najla & Nourlen - El Leila Leilty / نجلا و نورلين - الليلة ليلتي

Download Nassif Zeytoun "Ya Samt" Album البوم ناصيف زيتون - يا صمت

To be honest, this is the first exciting album to be released this year so far. I am waiting for more more awesome album that will land on March 13th. But for now, this is a worthy album, that should keep my music player busy for some time.

This is like a fine dessert, you do not eat it all at once, you savor it and take it one bit at a time. An impressive 12 tracks is the debut of boy wonder of Syrian pop, Nassif has a lot to celebrate. He is back with a variety album that changes styles, melodies and genres.

YouTube links for each of the songs are ready for your ears. This is a very good album that will stick around  Nassif has shown that if a talented young artists gets good advise, and a contract, he will make a very fine album. Syria, has one hell of a pop star who can actually entertain many generations was born three years ago, and now he is ready for his closeup.


01 - Ya Tayr El Ghouroub
02 - Baado Raemik
03 - El Ard Li Btimchi Aaleha
04 - Hiyi Li Ghamzitni
05 - Mani Zaalan
06 - Mich Aam Tezbat Maii
07 - Sawt Rbaba
08 - Ya Aachikata El Wardi
09 - Ya Samt
10 - We Nweet
11 - Sabrak Alaya
12 - Larmik Bbalach

Nassif Zeytoun - Larmik Bbalach / ناصيف زيتون - لرميك ببلاش



Nassif Zaytoun 's Interview | مقابلة خاصة مع ناصيف زيتون

Download: Dalida - Zalamteny Album / داليدا - ظلمتني

There was once a big Arab entertainer with the name Dalida, that was in the eighties of the last century ...now there is a new Dalida in town and now she has an album to her name "Zalamtny", or "you wrong med" She is smooth for a lady who is not from the Gulf yet do their songs better than most could do.

She breakout music video highlighted a very real issue, domestic violence. For that alone, I love her. But aside form that, her voice is superb, she seems to have the right skill or the right training for the kind of songs she chooses to perform. 

There's a new songstress in town and she is ready for prime time.

01 - Az'al
02 - Allah Yesamehom
03 - Ya Asmar
04 - Ya Maghrourin
05 - Ye'alemak El Gharam
06 - Khatem Sehry
07 - Osbor
08 - Zalamteny

Dalida - Zalamteny / داليدا - ظلمتني