News Report (in Arabic) about the various pro-Fairuz Protests

This news report, which aired on Al-Arabiya TV Channel, includes an interview with her daughter Reema Rahbany.

Beirut's Jam Is Mashrou' Leila's 'Embembelela7' (NPR)

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128668709\

NPR (National Public Radio) web site features a great article on Mashrou3 Leila (Lebanon's hippest band) and other summer music from Beirut.

 

The Spin: Beirut's Jam Is Mashrou' Leila's 'Embembelela7'

by NPR STAFF

Tanya TaraboulsiMashrou' Leila's "Embembelela7" borrows its main lyric from a Lebanese nursery rhyme and sets it to a harsh drumbeat.

July 21, 2010

Summer deserves its own soundtrack — for the beach, for warm nights and for the road. But don't worry if your travel budget is tight: This summer, All Things Considered and NPR Music will take you on a global journey through music. We're checking in on DJs, musicians and writers for the songs that define summer in some of the world's most vibrant cities. We're calling it The Spin.

When it comes to summer in the Arab world, no city does it better than Beirut. It's often called the Paris of the Middle East — for its style, cuisine and fashionable nightlife along the Mediterranean. Beirut is home to some of the biggest Arab pop stars, but it's also home to a thriving independent music scene.

Ziad Nawfal is a DJ with Radio Lebanon, and also hosts a series of live shows across Beirut. His choice for the city's song of the summer is Mashrou' Leila's "Embembelela7," which borrows its main lyric from a Lebanese nursery rhyme and sets it to a harsh drumbeat. Nawfal says the song is a commentary on materialism in Lebanon.

"[The band] wanted to turn this nursery rhyme around and turn it into some sort of satirical comment on materialistic tendencies in Lebanon," Nawfal tells All Things Considered host Michele Norris. "How people are driven by greed, by money — how a nursery rhyme, using the same words, can be turned into something quite dark and brooding rather than soothing and lyrical."

ZIAD NAWFAL'S SUMMER PLAYLIST

*Note: All of the songs selected by Ziad Nawfal can be purchased at the iTunes (U.S.) store.

Intensive Care, "Tales of Sarah-Jane, The Golden Horse"

Mashrou' Leila, "Embembelela7"

Munma, "Yaqiin"

Nadine Khouri, "Number One Boy"

New Government, "Flaka"

Rima Khcheich, "Haflet Taraf"

Shant & Diamond Setter, "Champagne"

Soapkills, "Ya Jarha Galbi"

Ziad Rahbani, "Ma Tfel"

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Huge Fairuz Protests in Beirut Today

Fairuz Protests

http://www.fanoos.com/reports/fairuz_protests.html

On the 26th of July 2010, Hundreds of Fairuz fans from around the world protested in front of the Lebanese National Museum in Beirut.

The Committee for commemoration of Fairuz and the Rahbani brothers, stood in solidarity with Fairuz, they had one message to say "No to preventingFairouz singing" .

Loudspeakers blared songs and excerpts of plays for Fairuz, in the presence of a number of artists such as Elham Shahin who flew from Cairo to take part in this protest. According to Shahin, Fairuz is one of the Legendary singers who gave a lot to the Arab world.

Other artists were present as well such as Julia Boutros, Liliane Nemri, Roula Hamadeh, Asaad Abou Khalil, Claudia Marchillian, Nidal Al Ahmadieh, Roula Saad and a lot of media presence, as well as local and foreign enthusiasts of Fairuz.

The demonstrators waved pictures of Fairuz in black and white, and distributed the statement to the participants explaining how the children and heirs of Mansour El Rahbani are restricting Fairuz, and accusing her of theft.

The dispute between Fairuz and the heirs of Mansour Rahbani began in 2008 when Mansour El Rahbani, alive at that time, sent warnings for Fairuz to stop the performance of the play (Sah El Nom) which was held in the Opera House in Damascus, Syria.

After the death of Mansour El Rahbani, on the 13th of Januray 2009, his children Ousamma Rahbani and Ghady Rahbani continued the fight against Fairuz, asking her to stop performing any of the Rahbani Brothers works without getting their permission and giving them a share in the profit.

The Ministry of Culture was also asked to act and do its duty to help Fairuz win this case.

The statement said: "We Lovers of Fairuz in Lebanon and the world are asking the Ministry of Education to respond to the request of Fayruz who is asking to have the Rahbani Brothers as a unique entity without distinction between them her husband Assi and his brother Mansour. "

The protesters also asked for Fairuz to come back soon on stage and give all the fans what they have longed for, a magical voice and a unique presence.

Banners in Support of Fairuz

These banners are but a few of the many samples that are being used at various rallies all over the Arab world in support of Fairuz and her right to perform her musicals without any legal obstacles.  This movement of support includes peaceful marches, get-togethers at various coffee houses to listen to Fairuz songs, and dozens of Facebook Pages in support of the legendary Lebanese singer.

Tamer Hosni Releases Song in Support of Fairuz

Egyptian pop icon Tamer Hosni just released a new single titled "Fairuz" in support of the legendary Lebanese songstress who has recently been prohibited from performing her musicals by a court ruling that was brought about by the heirs of Mansour Rahbani, Fairuz's late brother-in-law, who co-wrote many of these musicals. Hosni's song is being played on Lebanese radio stations on an hourly basis.

Listen to Tamer Hosni's song by clicking on the arrow below then read along the hearfelt lyrics (in Arabic) or scroll down for a loose English translation.

مين عاش فى الدنيا دي إنسان.. محبش على صوت لبنان

صوت الحب صوت السلام.. يا حبيبتي يا صوت السلام

صوتك يا أغلى من الكنوز.. ياحبيبة قلبي يا فيروز

ما فينا نعيش بلا صوتك.. واسألي كده كل الأوطان

كلنا اتربينا على صوتك الحلو يا غالية..

واتعلمنا وغنينا من إحساسك يا مالية

علينا الدنيا بغناكي يا فيروز ده كلنا وياك.

 من مصر بقولك مقدرش أعيش
من غير صوتك يا حياتي

Has there ever been a human in this world

Who hasn't fallen in love to the Voice of Lebanon?

The Voice of Love, the Voice of Peace.

Your voice is more precious than any treasure

O Love of my heart, O Fairuz

We cannot live without your voice, as any country would testify

We were all raised with your sweet voice

We sang and learned through your emotions and lyrics

Your singing is worth the entire world O Fairuz

And we are all behind you all the way

From Egypt, I am telling you

That I can't live without your voice

For you are my very life

The Arab World Supports Fairuz

http://www.waleg.com/archives/020710.html

After long years of fame and many generations who grew on loving Fairouz worldwide, Fairouz the legend have been banned by the Rahbani brothers through a lawsuit from meeting up with her fans in Lebanon and abroad, Assi and Mansur left the talented Diva alone to face their gold digging sons.

Fairouz’s phenomenal voice amazed us over the years through her brilliant performances; she survived a hard life with her late husband even though he helped establish the legend Fairouz through his soft compositions and had the copyrights for the Rahbani Brothers. Rumor has it that he spent most of the money she earned in her glory years on gambling but her love for her made her forgive him and when he first got sick she sang for him in a concert ‘sa2aloni el nas’ which brought tears to the crowd. Now after many years of his death his family wants to still control her?

The stars and celebrities of the Arab world are holding a peaceful sit-in with Lady Fairouz to support her against the Rahbani brothers in Beirut on the twenty sixth of this month. Celebrities from all over the Arab world are expected to be part of it like the Egyptian actress Elham Shaheen who flew especially for the occasion from Egypt to Beirut.

Tamer Hosni the youth’s idol is supporting Fairouz in his own way, he composed, wrote and sang a song with the title of her name ‘Fairouz’ that is currently been broadcasted over most of the Lebanese radios, what a noble artist!

The Rahbni Brothers took Fairouz copyright over the years and they are still getting paid for any of Fairouz songs that are broadcasted all over the media. Haven’t they had enough all these past years? Can’t the most famous living Arabic singer work with someone else and enjoy the few years left in her life? Everyone deserved to retire at some point and our lady has had enough of the Rahbni Brothers and deservers the freedom to sing wherever and whenever she wants. Even though she might have signed contracts ages ago it’s time for The Rahbani Brothers to Respect her wish, after all she is an essential part of the family, it’s a shame that such issues have to reach courts.

Our love for the spark of the Lebanese national pride (Fairouz) makes us very upset to see her going through such a difficult time. We should all unite and protest against this.

What do you think about this scandal? Doesn’t Fairouz deserve her freedom?

“Ya maresal maraseel 3l day3a l areebi khdli bdarbak hal mandeel w ati la habibi”

Hope the message reaches to ‘habibtna’ Fairouz and she finds out how much we her fans support, appreciate and love her.

By guest writer Tam