12 Established 1961 Lifestyle Features Monday, March 15, 2021 he Arab world’s favorite trouba- Later, he blended in the traditional on Iraqi and Jordanian television. T dour Ilham Al-Madfai, who last instruments in a fusion of the East and The musical legend who now also year had to perform in an empty West, an Arab jazz crossover with a flavor holds Jordanian citizenship had to call off Roman amphitheatre and scrub concert of Andalusia, accompanying European concert dates in 2020 in Britain, dates across Europe and the Gulf, can’t songs with Middle Eastern sounds and Germany, Sweden, Italy and the Gulf. He wait to get back on stage. Unveiling his also vice versa. has crossed the globe and performed at latest work in Amman where he has lived prestigious venues such as London’s since 1994, the Iraqi star widely known as ‘The Baghdad Beatle’ Royal Albert Hall and Queen Elizabeth simply Ilham has tried to break free of the “In Arabic, the instrumental intros are Hall as well as Le Trianon theatre in Paris, shackles imposed by Covid-19 with a endless and the melodies sad,” the musi- but his heart yearns to sing again in song of hope entitled “After the cian nicknamed “The Baghdad Beatle” Baghdad’s modest Al-Zahawi cafe. Absence”, taken from a poem by Omar told AFP. “Me, I shortened the opening “We’ve all left our country for a variety Sari, a young Jordanian. and chose the instrument which adds an of reasons. It’s true that I live in Jordan “After the absence, you must come upbeat rhythm and stays in the listener’s but I remain an Iraqi attached in every back, your dream is a cloud, your sad- ear,” Madfai explained. way to my native land.” ness is a mirage,” the 79-year-old veteran The lyrics of most of his songs, apart Al-Zahawi, established in 1917, sits on performer with the world-weary voice from those he writes himself, come from a corner of the Iraqi capital’s famed sings, strumming a guitar. ancient poetry and Iraqi folk music. Moutanabi Street where book fairs are “Come back tenderly, your voice rings “I interpret them by mixing in musical Iraqi musician Ilham Al-Madfai is pictured with his guitar in the ruins of the Amman Citadel in held every Friday. It owes its own spot on in my ears, leave behind the sadness, influences that I’ve discovered,” said the Jordanian capital on March 6, 2021.—AFP Baghdad’s cultural map to legends of the forget the past,” read the lyrics of the Madfai, whose work has inspired a gen- traditional Iraqi “maqam” music such as song posted this week on YouTube, in eration of modern artists in the region. “All In his apartment in the upmarket dis- sal language of the people,” he said. “It Mohammad al-Qubanji and Youssef which Madfai is accompanied by young I’ve done is reinvent old Iraqi songs for trict of Abdoun, among the books, paint- crosses borders and reaches all parts of Omar. Iraqi-Egyptian female vocalist Nadin Al- them to survive the passage of time.” ings and a large portrait of his wife Hala the world.” “It’s on this little Moutanabi Street, Khalidi, also on guitar. Ilham was a dash- Madfai, who grew up in a house filled who died in 2014, Madfai spends his time where writers, intellectuals, musicians ingly-handsome rebel in his younger with music, hopes he helped “save the sketching, composing music, writing From Albert Hall to Baghdad cafe and artists of all religions cross paths, days, replacing the stringed oud and heritage of Iraqi songs from oblivion”. poetry and, of course, singing. Coronavirus lockdowns and his isola- and which breathes culture, that I dream qanun, the flute and violin with electric “Men, women, children, everybody But he is anxious to spread his wings tion have left him frustrated. “If the pan- to go to and sing again after the pandem- guitar, piano, drums and saxophone, to would sing at our house. I grew up nur- again and get back on stage before live demic carries on much longer, I’ll open ic,” said Madfai, who last played back the delight of young Arabs if not musical tured by love of music,” he fondly audiences, and also longs for his old the window and sing from the balcony home three years ago. — Agence purists. That dates back to his time in recalled, harking to the Baghdad of the haunts in Baghdad. like Europeans have done.” France-Presse London in the 1960s where he had been 1950s as a cultural oasis where he said “We must carry on singing whatever Last May, Madfai and his band gave a sent to study architecture like his two as many as 85 women singers alone per- happens to send a message of hope out closed-door concert at Amman’s 6,000- brothers and their sister. formed in different clubs. to the world, because music is the univer- capacity Roman amphitheatre, broadcast TS were among the big winners at the Generation Change Award to all of the B the Kids’ Choice Awards this “young leaders” across the country. weekend. The chart-topping K- She said: “Thank you for being so pop group claimed three gongs during the incredible, and for all that you do, and will remote ceremony, including Favorite Music do. From social distancing to remote learn- Group, Favorite Song and Favorite Global ing, you’ve been through a lot this year. Music Star. Other big-name winners “But through it all, you young leaders have included Ariana Grande, who was named really stepped up.” the Favorite Female Artist, while Justin Bieber was awarded the Favorite Male Full list of award winners Artist gong. Ariana and Justin also won a Favorite Female Artist: Ariana Grande joint award, as they were given the Favorite Favorite Male Artist: Justin Bieber Music Collaboration accolade for their Favorite Music Group: BTS Kate Winslet goes track ‘Stuck with U’. The song was Favorite Music Collaboration: Ariana released as a charity single in May and Grande and Justin Bieber, ‘Stuck With You’ was co-written by their manager Scooter Favorite Song: BTS, ‘Dynamite’ fossil hunting Braun. Favorite Global Music Star: BTS Elsewhere, Millie Bobby Brown was Favorite Kids TV Show: ‘Alexa & Katie’ ate Winslet has become an avid handed two awards, including Favorite Favorite Family TV Show: ‘Stranger fossil hunter. The Oscar-winning Female TV Star and Favorite Movie Things’ K he late Princess Diana would be “But that’s where it ends. Meghan has a actress has developed a passion Actress. The 17-year-old star is best known Favorite Reality Show: ‘America’s Got “heartbroken” by the rift between tiny fraction of what Diana went through. for fossil hunting after working with a for playing the role of Eleven in the hit Talent’ T her two sons, it has been claimed. She was in the royal family for 20 months; paleontologist to prepare for her role in Netflix series ‘Stranger Things’, but she’s Favorite Animated Series: ‘SpongeBob Paul Burrell - who was the princess’ butler Diana had it for 16 years! ‘Ammonite’, the romantic drama film writ- also starred in and produced the mystery Square Pants’ and confidante for 10 years until her death “Meghan had it far easier than Diana ten and directed by Francis Lee. Kate, 45 film ‘Enola Holmes’, in which she played Favorite Female TV Star: Millie Bobby in 1997 - thinks it is “desperately sad” that did. “On her first royal engagement, the - who plays real-life paleontologist Mary the teenage sister of Sherlock Holmes. Brown relations between Princes William and Queen attended with Meghan and Anning in the film - said: “I worked with a ‘Stranger Things’ - which also features Favorite Male TV Star: Jace Norman Harry have broken down and thinks their showed her the ropes. “At 36, Meghan wonderful paleontologist and he knows the likes of Finn Wolfhard and Noah Favorite Movie: ‘Wonder Woman 1984’ mother would have been distraught to see knew what she was getting into - Diana every nook and cranny. “I did also find a Schnapp - was named the Favourite Favorite Movie Actress: Millie Bobby the “division” between them. He said: “It’s didn’t as a teenager. The royals welcomed piece of an ichthyosaur’s skull and was Family TV Show at the event. Meanwhile, Brown just so desperately sad that Harry and Meghan with open arms - with Diana they able to identify it. I was very proud of Robert Downey Jr won the award for Favorite Movie Actor: Robert Downey Jr. William are clearly so detached - both didn’t.” myself. “It was really exciting. It was Favorite Movie Actor, while ‘Wonder Favorite Animated Movie: ‘Soul’ emotionally and geographically. “William Harry and Meghan’s bombshell inter- almost at the waterline as the tide had Woman 1984’ - which saw Gal Gadot Favorite Voice From an Animated will be reeling over how things have turned view with Oprah Winfrey aired this week, gone out - tucked away in a rock pool.” reprise her role as the iconic superhero - Movie: Anna Kendrick out. “And Diana would be absolutely but Paul claimed Diana herself rejected an Kate stars in the movie alongside was named the Favorite Movie. Other Favorite Female Social Star: Charli heartbroken that it’s come to this... this approach from the media mogul in favour Saoirse Ronan, and the plot centers on award winners included Anna Kendrick, D’Amelia division between them.” of her famous tell-all chat with ‘Panorama’ their relationship.