CULTURE SINGERS

Swan songs THE 1940S AND 1950S WERE A GOLDEN ERA FOR . NOW A NEW GENERATION OF SINGERS IS TAKING UP THE MANTLE OF LEGENDARY SINGERS LIKE OUM KOLTHOUM, AS THE LEGACIES OF THE ARAB WORLD’S GREATEST VOCALISTS ECHO THROUGH THE DECADES WORDS JESSICA GLIDDON

n the first Thursday evening of the Roosevelt and the audience of Elvis and you Oum Kolthoum was the most famous of month, for a period of 40 years, the have Oum Kolthoum, the most accomplished a select group of mostly Egyptian singers who OArab world would fall into a collective singer of her century in the Arab world.” formed the golden age of Arabic music. They hush. Shisha cafes would quiet their bubbling; Oum Kolthoum’s warbling, mighty voice were revolutionary for their unique mix of women would shush their children; shop- was one of a handful that could reach every classical elements and modern, Western keepers would put down their brooms. This note on the Arabic scale. The singer was influences. These greats paved the way for was the magic hour of Oum Kolthoum, the famous for her trademark improvisations, modern Arabic music, but did it with soul and most famous woman in the Arab world. When where she would spend hours reworking the depth that has yet to be replicated. she sang, the world listened, and her monthly same phrase at the goading of her audience. “There were actually two golden ages in broadcast became a ritual for millions. Her fans would throw themselves towards the Arabic music,” explains Ghazi Abdul Baki, Virginia Danielson, the author of The Voice of stage in adoration. She was revered like producer at ’s Forward Music record , compared her impact to Western artists: a queen – her image is still plastered on walls label and an accomplished musician himself. “Imagine a singer with the virtuosity of Ella in every café across , even though she “Sayed Darwish is considered the father of Fitzgerald, the public persona of Eleanor died more than 30 years ago. modern Arabic music. He defined a new

77 popular era.” Darwish was the first to bring by a pathos known as huzn. ’s voice music away from the upscale salons of old soared and warbled much like Oum Kolthoum, Egyptian society and to the people. but with a higher, clearer pitch. But the But in the 1930s, Arabic music underwent glamorous 1940s singer died tragically in car a renaissance. “Egypt had re-emerged as an accident at the age of 26. independent country and was re-creating its Many of these legends were as famous for own style,” Baki says. Throwing off British their composing as their singing – Mohammed colonial rule, Egyptian and Arabic Abdel Wahab was arguably the most well was at its peak. “Oum Kolthoum was a musical known. “He modernised a lot of the sounds icon – she brought a wider feeling of Arabic coming from the Middle East,” says Abdul pride and was the voice of Arab nationalism.” Baki. “He brought influences from around the Her large, round face, her hair tied in a bun, world, adapting them in a way that was her hand clasping a handkerchief – these compatible.” Abdel Wahab was actually an She was revered like a queen – her image is still plastered on walls in every café across Cairo, even though she died more than 30 years ago became symbols of the Arab world. The resonance of this pan-Arab nationalism that retrospective of the Arab world’s most famous Oum Kolthoum embodied can still be felt from singers. Egyptian singer Amal Maher sang the Marrakech to Muscat. It has become part of tribute to Oum Kolthoum. Reciting the songs the for men to sit in cafés, of the golden age singers is a defining career smoking shisha, playing backgammon and point for many young Arabic singers. “Amal mulling over the mournful strains. Maher is one of many young talented artists,” Part of Oum Kolthoum’s pan-Arab resonance says Hala Chanine, the director of the festival. came from her devout background. Her lyrics “Many people sing or Oum were mostly romantic and had universal appeal Kolthoum. Every star going on any show or – many were realisations of great Arab poetry, quiz programme will sing their songs.” connecting her songs with history and tradition. Learning these songs has become almost Her influence is similar to that of the many an initiation rite. “It’s quite common for rising legendary Western jazz musicians with religious stars to sing the classics,” Abdul Baki says. upbringings. “Oum Kolthoum was really a John “The divas are the ones that define genres.” Coltrane or a Charlie Parker – her father was Some have incorporated their melodies or a sheikh and she honed these advanced lyrics into modern Arab music. Take Soumaya Quranic singing techniques,” Abdul Baki says. Baalbaki, who sings the classics in a unique “The reason she is valid today is the same mix of Arabic sounds and tango. reason the masters of jazz are still valid. In 2006, a film was made called Halim Nobody crosses those lines any more.” devoted to the late Abdel Halim Hafez. The The 1950s was also the glory age of Egyptian auditions for this film were done live, and cinema, and its rise was intertwined with that of hosted by Lebanese pop star Nancy Ajram, in the great vocalists. Most notable was Abdel a quest to find someone who looked the Halim Hafez, who rose to fame through his most like Halim. There was also recently FIRST PAGE: The legendary Oum Kolthoum; films, where he would strum the , mournfully contemporary singer Amal Maher reworks Oum a biographical show produced in Lebanon crooning. He was known as the Arabian Elvis Kolthoum’s songs at Lebanon’s Beittadine Festival devoted to the life of Asmahan, who was for his broody style and his sonorous voice, ABOVE: Halim Hafez strikes a typical pose; Farid Al controversial in her time and remains Atrash with Egyptian belly dancer Samia Gamal in Cairo and was dubbed the “The Nightingale”. controversial today. The renewed debate over Another star of cinema was a female singer actor during the silent film era, when he moved the details of her life demonstrates just how known as the only woman who could rival into singing. He wrote many songs for Oum relevant the lives of these singers remain. Oum Kolthoum. The graceful Egyptian-Syrian Kolthoum, and perhaps most notably, the A museum now stands in Cairo devoted to

Asmahan found fame along with her brother, national anthem for the Kingdom of Libya. Oum Kolthoum. Like the other greats of Arabic y Editorial

Farid Al Atrash. He was known for his talent At the latest edition of Lebanon’s Beiteddine music, Kolthoum’s legacy lives on in the Gett with the oud, his compositions for his sister Festival, a tribute was paid to Oum Kolthoum. hearts and minds of those who still enjoy her

and his own low-pitched voice, characterised The festival makes a point of an annual lasting influence. IMAGES |

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