February 3, 2025, marks the 50th anniversary of Umm Kulthum’s passing. She was the most prominent Egyptian singer in Arab music history. Some say she had a vocal range that no one could match. There was quite a distance between Umm Kulthum and the microphone during her
concerts. Her legacy is legendary. Umm Kulthum’s music is classical and timeless, also known as Tarab.
Umm Kulthum was like no other. Her voice captivated audiences at every performance. Each song lasted between 30 minutes to an hour. Her career started in the 1930s and became very popular in the 1940s and ’50s, which some call the “Golden Age” of Tarab music.
Profound poetic works by poets such as Ahmad Shawqi and 11th-century Persian poet Omar Khayyam inspired many of the songs she performed. She had a musical charisma, unlike any other artist.
Her most iconic song is Enta Omry (You Are My Life), composed by Egyptian composer and singer Mohammed Abdel Wahab.
I admit I only know some of Umm Kulthum’s music. However, I know from what I saw on Arabic TV that there would be footage of some of her concerts. Listening to Umm Kulthum recently brought back memories of years of hearing her music during road trips or visiting family overseas.
My parents, aunts, uncles, and grandparents loved listening to Umm Kulthum. She had a way of conveying feeling in each performance. It was impressive to see how people attended concerts back then. It reminds me of attending a concert of musicians playing classical music.
Side note
When her guitarist friend passed away, she left an empty as a tribute to him. If you see an empty chair, it’s in his honour. I couldn’t find the name, but I will keep trying.
Rest in Peace, Umm Kulthum.
Flora Youssef