Category: World

Single Saturdays: Amr Diab-Bahebak Ana

Amr Diab has released a new single entitled Bahebak Ana (I love you). The story is about a man declaring his unconditional love for his significant other.

The music is incredible. It starts slow then it goes into a faster tempo. I enjoyed the mix of old and new musical styles from a variety of Amr Diab’s discography. The music of this song reminds of his older works such Nour Al-Ain (The light of my eyes), Ragaeen (We’re coming back), Habiby (My love), etc. The musical style has the classic Middle Eastern dance beat that is incredible.

The lyrics are simple but have deep meaning. The flow of the words is flawless. Also, there’s an organized structure to the writing of the song.

Amr Diab experiments with his voice, in a bold fashion. The quality of his music has improved, especially in 35 years being in the music business.

His latest album Kol Hayaty is now available. Enjoy!

 

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Amr Diab’s Latest Album Kol Hayaty – Deluxe Edition

Amr Diab’s latest album Kol Hayaty (All My Life) is available. The version I will review is the deluxe edition of the record. The primary themes of the album are love and heartbreak.

The music of this record is an exciting mix of old and new. The sound of the songs reminds me of Amr Diab’s older albums such as Aktar Wahed, Amarain (two moons), Mathafeesh (Don’t worry or don’t be scared), Habiby, Tamally Maak, etc. Amr Diab’s latest album is the one that has a lovely combination of Middle Eastern Music, pop and dance. Composers include Amr Diab and Amr Moustafa. The rhythm overall is consistent.

The lyrics are well-written but straightforward. The flow of the words is smooth. The most commonly poetic technique is repetition.

Amr Diab’s voice has improved over these 35 years. The Kol Hayaty album is one that shows Amr Diab’s experience as a singer.

Single Saturdays: Amr Diab – Yetalemo

Amr Diab has released another song from the album Kol Hayaty (All My Life) entitled Yetalemo (They’re Learning)*. The song tells the story of a man who falls in love at first sight.

The music of Yetalemo reminds of Amr Diab’s older material from the late 90s and early 2000s. The instruments heard in this song are Qanun and Darabukka (Egyptian Tabla- chalice drum). I believe there’s also the subtle sound of a Loud. The combination of the sounds of these musical instruments creates a joyful and fun tune.
Amr Diab’s voice is smooth and consistent. It’s in sync with the music. The quality of his voice has gotten greater over time. He impresses every time I hear him sing.

The lyrics have incredible rhymes throughout the song. There are poetic techniques that give the tune its richness such as repetition and personification. The examples of recurrence are repeating the word Yetalemo and Adda (transmitted). At the beginning of each verse, you can hear the word Yetalemo, which emphasizes the subject of how people will learn about how his attraction to his love interest is getting stronger.

Yetalemo is the fifth single for Amr Diab. The album Kol Hayaty will be released October 3, 2018.

*The translation or understanding of the lyrics is approximate and interpreted by the blogger.

Single Saturdays: Nancy Ajram-Badna Nwalee El Jaw

Nancy Ajram has released a new single entitled “Badna Nwalee El Jaw” (We want to create a pleasant atmosphere)*. The song is about celebrating a joyful event such as a wedding or a party in general. I can imagine bellydancers in some of those events.

The music has a mix of traditional Arabic music (folk-style music) and pop music. It makes one want to get up and dance. The style of the song reminds of the music of the late Sabah and Ragheb Alama, especially in the 70s and 80s, for both artists. There’s a nostalgic feel to it.

Nancy Ajram’s voice reminds me of two amazing singers Sabah and Asmahan, a mix of both. It has an old-fashioned style to her singing style in this song. Her voice compliments the music quite nicely. The way she sings is new and refreshing and just as incredible as her other songs.

The lyrics are full of joy and optimism. When I hear the words of this song, I think about classic Arabic songs from Abdel Halim Hafez to Ragheb Alama.

Single Saturdays: Moustafa Amar – Yekhreb Aqlak Bahebak

Egyptian singer Moustafa Amar has released a new single entitled “Yekhreb Aqlak Bahebak” (Overwhelming Your Mind with Love)*. The song is about a new relationship and the excitement that’s associated with this feeling.

The music is subtle in the beginning then becomes more present after the first verse. It’s a mix of Arabic music with Modern pop. Some parts have a dance feel to it. The dance part starts when Moustafa Amar sings the chorus the first time around.
Moustafa Amar’s voice is high-pitch but in a controlled manner. The rhythm of his voice is consistent and in sync with the music of the song. It goes deep when he sings the lyrics before the chorus. His voice is distinct and unforgettable.

The lyrics are simple, yet catchy. The verses are more detailed than the chorus. The words of the song rhyme in a smooth fashion. It is a romantic tune, regardless of the simplicity of the lyrics. The words focus on love at first sight. There aren’t any metaphors or similes, but it doesn’t take away the essence of the song.

Single Saturdays: Ragheb Alama- Yalla Habibi Feat. Seyi Shay & Costi

Ragheb Alama has released another single for the Summer season entitled Yalla Habibi (Let’s go my love or Come on my love) featuring Nigerian-British artist Seyi Shay and Romanian singer Costi. It’s a lovely blend of cultures. That is especially the case in the music (below).

The music of Yalla Habibi is a fusion of different genres, which are Arabic, Dance, R&B with a subtle hint of Pop. There’s a beachy-feel to it the beat of the song. It reminds of the song of the musical style of a tune from the early the 2000s, called Yalla Ya Shabab (featuring Armenian-Iranian Andy Madadian). However, Yalla Habibi has a faster tempo. It’s an experimental style that differs from what Ragheb Alama usually sings. His musical style is typically a mix of Arabic music with Pop music.

The lyrics are romantic and fun. Repetition, a poetic technique, gives it a simplistic form. Most of the tune is in Arabic, with some parts sung in English. Both Seyi Shay and Costi sing a few words in Arabic, which is impressive. The subject of love is evident in this song.

Ragheb Alama’s voice is incredible as always and slightly remixed with the music. It didn’t affect the quality of his singing. Seyi Shay’s voice is powerful, even if she just sang briefly. It’s unforgettable, and I look forward to discovering more of her music. Costi’s voice, like Seyi Shay’s sound, is also memorable. Their voices compliment each other very well.

Ragheb Alama’s latest single Yalla Habibi is available on music streaming sites. Enjoy!

Single Saturdays: Amr Diab-Hadded

Amr Diab has released single from his upcoming album Kol Hayaty entitled “Hadded” (Threatened). The song is about a man whose relationship has ended or is about to because of heartache.

The music is similar to Amr Diab’s records from the late 80s/early 90s such Shawaqna (Our Passion), Matkhafeesh (Don’t Worry), and Habibi (My Love). It also reminds of the classic Arabic music from the Golden Age, called Tarab. The rhythm of Hadded has a combination of a slow and fast speed.

The lyrics have a rich vocabulary and full of raw emotion. The emotions felt in this song are sadness and anger, because of heartbreak, a relatable subject. The structure of the lyrics is similar to a few of Amr Diab’s songs from the 80s and the 90s, such as Habibi, Mestaghreb Leih (Why are you surprised?), Kalimeeny (Speak to Me), Shawaqna (Our Passion), Matkhafeesh (Don’t Worry), and other songs from the late 80s/early 90s. There’s a nostalgic feel to the song, both musically and lyrically. I had to hear to listen to quite a few songs to notice the similarities to other tunes.

Hadded is a song that is the most interesting for Amr Diab because it combines the styles of the old and the new. It is impressive!

Enjoy!

Single Saturdays: Amr Diab-Kol Hayaty

Amr Diab’s third single Kol Hayaty from the album with the same title. The song tells about a couple that has been together for many years, in which the man says to his significant other how much he loves her.

The music is slow with a smooth rhythm. It’s a song that could be suitable for a slow dance, in my opinion. It has a romantic feel to it. The piano is distinct in this song, a classic choice for slow songs. The beat reminds me of or is similar to another song entitle Habeet Ya Alby (Is my heart fall in love)*, from the album Al-Leila (The Night). However, the tempo of Kol Hayaty is slightly faster than Habeet Ya Alby.

The lyrics, like the music, are romantic. There are beautiful metaphors and similes, as well as personification that nicely describe the couple’s relationship. My favourite line of the song is when he sings: “Ala Ganah El-Khayal Ateer,” which means my imagination flies away. That’s my interpretation of the song. The part that is so sweet is how he tells his love that he sees the world in her eyes. The poetry in this song is rich with vocabulary. The rhyming is well done in this song, with style of AABB.

Enjoy the audio clip!

All three songs: Da Law Etsab, Ta’ali, and Kol Hayaty are all incredible songs from the album Kol Hayaty, coming out October 3, 2018.

Single Saturdays: Amr Diab-Ta’ali

Amr Diab’s second single from the Kol Hayaty album: Ta’ali (Come to me) is about a man who wants to be with his significant other.

The music has a techno-dance beat, which reminds me of what I would here at the beach, especially in the summer season. The kind of music reminds of what one would hear in an exercise video. The beat reminds of the music of two of his albums: Al-Leila (The Night) and Shoft El Ayam (I Saw the Days). The techno dance beat is a style that can be heard in Amr Diab’s recent music. There is a subtle presence of Arabic-style music, which is also heard in his music. Amr Diab’s voice is in sync with the music. Egyptian singer Amr Moustafa composed this song. The song ends with the music fading away, it gives it a nice touch.

The lyrics are simple, but their meaning is profound. The words are romantic and sweet. The words of the song rhyme in a coordinated manner. Ta’ali is another song with repetition, which is a reoccurring style in Amr Diab’s music.