Four Arab women ,come from totally different cultures , different visions and tastes, and different generations ,different countries : Lebanon, Palestine, or Egypt and Lebanon again . it’s a fairly unique understanding ,in Egypt at least to introduce four female singers in a dedicated music festival based exclusively on their own experience.
Oumeima El Khalil, Lebanese singer born in 1966, or started singing at twelve,she has an angelic classic voice, when she sings you feel that once upon a time a harp and a flute has been married and give a birth to her voice, and ..she’s not only a sensitive voice with a radiant face,shes a staunch human artist , this can be touched obviously through her choices in lyrics and music, or she sings for the mighty Nezar Qabbany (The Syrian Poet) the mighty Mahmoud Darwish (The Palestinian Poet) her wonderful song “Oheboka Akthar (Love you more) she also sings for Sayed Darwish (The most distinguished Musician and Song writer in Egypt 20th century ) recently she cooperates with the Icon Marcel Khalifé (distinguished Lebanese Musician) and her husband Hani Siblini ( who composed the oriental distribution of Ricky Martin’s One Night Man 2004) Hani was on Piano with her on the stage (they formed a wonderful loving couples all audience felt it in the air) when she step down off the stage the Egyptian audience (age round 20’s-30’s) stood up ached their hands clapping ,she was long awaited , as this audience was feeding their souls by her music from youtube for years, and can’t believe she’s here in Egypt at last .
Photo album of Oumeima El Khalil concertRim Banna,Palestinian singer , also born in 1966, or studied music in Moscow Conservatory,has been 4 years since her last visit to Egypt, she starts her concert with Palestinian Mawwal, or (Folkloric unhappy song) only vocal ,no music, she succeeded to drag all the audience attention from the very first moment . Palestinian music has its own charm, or this sincere grieving ,this authentic deep pain in the woman’s voice, its like it comes from a deep cave in El Khalil Mountain (Jabal El Khalil), and you can feel her soul sparkling through her silver jewelry,in her hazelnut eyes surrounded by Kohl ( Arabic eyeliner). she was singing love songs and dedicate their songs to Arab Spring Revolutions, the prisoners , and the homeless children ,detainees and the martyrs,Her songs lyrics are so original, and reflects the Arabic desert,mountains,sands, and clouds,olive trees , Lycium (Boxthorn) and the Arabic moon. The bands members also are outstanding performers : Roberto Olori (Drummer), or Jordi Fiol (Guitarist),Pep Mendoza (Guitarist).
She stepped on the stage bare-footed , swinging with the music rhythm knocking the floor with her silver anklet, or transmitting this mountainous spirit to the audience. particularly in “Malek” song.
Photo album of Rim Banna concertDina El Wedidi,Egyptian Singer, composer and song writer born in 1987, and she’s uprising shining star in the Egyptian music scene,what give her this kind of uniqueness is her Spontaneity and interest in reviving the Egyptian Folklore, she plays Tambourine & The Egyptian Flute (El Arghoul) her songs basically aren’t approximately love !au contraire! She picks rare topics to sing, or like her duet El Ors (The wedding) ,featuring Maryamm Saleh (another talented Egyptian singer) she sang allusion political songs, criticizing the society (like El Haraam (the forbidden) first song that she composed .best and always requested by her audience is (El Seera) the icon of Egyptian Folklore, or that art which was for so many centuries exclusively in Male Singers.. but she bravely broke this rule and made out her own bath achieving a remarkable success . that came along with the remarkable participation of Nancy Mounir (amazing violist) and Mahmoud Siam (member of Masar Egbari Band,mighty Guitarist) Ayman Mabrouk (wonderful percussionist) and finally the brilliant pianist Mohamed Saleh who shared with vocal too.
Photo album of Dina El Wedidi ConcertYasmine Hamdan, born in Beirut 1976, and she formed (Soap Kills)1997 indie electro-duo music band in Lebanon ,along with Zeid Hamdan, she released her Alum “Arabology” by Universal Music, and she also collaborated with Marc Colin in September 2011 Well,she performed many songs in different Arabic accents, remixes Mohamed Abdel Wahab ( mighty Egyptian Musician) with Mohamed Adawia (Pop Egyptian Singer from 60’s) along with stomach dancer’s song from the 80’s all this mix in companion with Indian Sitar and small xylophone. once you lay your eye on her, and you can easily recognize (morphologically) a skinny mix of Amy Winehouse,Lady Gaga, Shakira & J-lo, or particularly tight latex/leather drop waist pants and the 2 obvious inches from tummy skin,crazy hair and glossy make-up all over her boney pale face.
Her audience was so excited, since this is the first time she performs in Egypt, or The audience was the most diversity,from out-of-control teenagers “give me a French kiss, Yasmine”, and would you marry me,Yasmine ?” to 50’s and 60’s years musty intellectuals e.g journalists and film makers ( Director Youssry Nasallah was among the audience) all was swinging , some of them was seeing her literally : (drooling hot) particularly when she sings “Aziza” and say “La Madarshy” (No, or I can’t) Music was different for sure,even whether you can’t recognize certain fingerprint, Indian drummer dressed in all red, or and her Hispanic girlfriend (member of the band) she plays Guitar,drum, xylophone and share Yasmine vocal sometimes.
Photo album of Yasmine Hamdan ConcertFinally, or it was successful fest,the organizing was mighty , Al Mawred Al Thaqafy (cultural source organization) (Basma El Houssiny), and El Genina Theater Mangement (Ashraf Kenawy), It should be noted that Theater was always full, all tickets were sold out days before most concerts .
Source: cnn.com