Egypt Tunes Into Nostalgia for Golden Age of Arab Song
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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2019 07 Egypt tunes into nostalgia for golden age of Arab song Ahmed Hafez, bassist for Egyptian rock band Massar Egbari, warms up in a recording studio in the Egyptian capital Cairo Songs that sounds Egyptian classical Arabic music singer Ahmad Adel performs a song by celebrated 20th century Egyptian composer Mohamed nostalgic Abdel Wahab, AFP | Cairo, Egypt But in the 1990s, Gulf coun- seminal director of the Revival tries vying for cultural dom- opera’s Oriental Music de- tanding before a rapt Until the 1970s, inance emerged as rivals partment. Rising artists from such places crowd, Ahmed Adel oozes to Egypt’s music industry, and And to soar above Cai - as Lebanon, Morocco and the charm with his passionate Egypt’s music indus- Rotana, the Arab world’s larg- ro’s 24-hour cacophony, she United Arab Emirates harness Sperformance of an Egyptian try was bubbling, est record label, was formed doesn’t just look to golden millions of views on YouTube, classic, evoking a romantic in 1987. oldies. usually singing in their own di- nostalgia for Arabic songs of with singers like The company is currently “I bring (pop stars like) Ang- alects. the past. owned by businessman and ham, Saber El-Robai, Wael Jas- Egypt’s music scene remains After a melodious introduc- Oum Kalthoum, Saudi prince, Al Walid bin Talal. sar. They are beautiful voices vibrant, including electro Shaa- tion on the Oud, the famed ori- The 2011 uprising that have an audience among bi music, an exuberant popu- ental lute, Adel croons his way Mohamed Abdel in Egypt that plunged the coun- the youth,” said Morsi. lar blend seen by purists as too through a “Mawal”, a tradition- Wahab, Abdel Halim try into political and economic Music production compa- raucous. al melody boasting long vowels. chaos also saw a downturn in nies are also seeking to pre- And there is a new genre “Ya leil” (“O night”), he sings, Hafez and others the domestic music industry. serve the country’s music known as alternative, or “un- with the dreamy languor of Yet the Egyptian metropolis heritage through younger derground”, which has emerged the original performer, Egyp- making Cairo a remains alive with the sound generations. in recent years. tian legend Mohamed Abdel true Hollywood of of music. Sawt al-Qahira, or Sono The band Massar Egbari, Wahab. Every day, in local cafes and Cairo, a historic record com- which roughly translates as With cheers of “Allah!”, the Arab song. But two homes the melancholic songs pany, is betting on the internet Compulsory Detour, rose to mesmerised audience shows of Syrian-born star Asmahan despite financial setbacks and fame with a relaxed style of rock its appreciation. decades later, fierce and the tender rhythmic mel- ongoing legal battles over the and a distinctive performance of “Modern songs are a hit for a odies of Egyptian singer Najat copyright to Umm Kulthum classics, such as by Sayed Dar- day or two, a month, or maybe competition ap- al-Saghira mix with animated songs. wish often called “the father of a year, but then we do not hear peared in Gulf coun- conversations, modern pop mu- Known as the “Star of the modern Arab music”. about them any more. sic and Islamic chants. Orient,” Umm Kulthum’s voice Although the rock stars say “But Abdel Wahab and tries especially with is still considered the Arab they are influenced by classics, (Egyptian diva) Umm Kulthum Luring the young world’s finest, more than four they don’t want to live in the have lasted until today,” said Saudi billionaire Torn between stage fright and decades after her death. past. Adel, before his performance Al-Walid Ben Talal’s joy, Adel performs regularly at And with its wide varie- “Nowadays you can record in the tiny Mamluk-era hall at the Arab Music Institute paying ty of classics, the record something at home at a low the Arab Music Institute. Rotana label, with tribute to his music idols. label has struck deals cost,” said bassist Ahmed Hafiz. Egypt, a cultural power - During events such as the with YouTube and oth- “After every era, something new house in the Arab world, has the 2011 revolution “Khulthumiat” (the music of er mobile application appears, these are phases.” long enjoyed a booming music Umm Kulthum) or “Wahabiyat” companies to keep this The band, whose style its gui- industry. plunging Egypt (the music of Abdel Wahab), heritage alive. tarist and vocalist Hani el-Dak- In the past, the rise of re - further into political organised by the 100-year old Younger generations have kak describes as a blend of Sayed vered singers, such as Umm institute, Adel is often the lead also shown a renewed interest head, adding this has prompted Darwish and rock band Pink Kulthum, Abdel Wahab and and economic chaos singer with an entire troupe in the classics thanks to popular many fans to dig out the original Floyd, is also trying to distin- another Egyptian Abdel Hal- from the Cairo Opera House televised talent shows. versions. guish itself through its message. im Hafiz among others, saw and giving a blow to accompanying his powerful “Arab Idol, The Voice and Classic black and white music “We try in our lyrics to talk Cairo billed as the Hollywood the sector. vocals. others show people singing old video clips struggle, however, to about social problems or things of Arab song, attracting talent “These events are very suc- songs,” said Doaa Mamdouh, compete against today’s torrent that nobody else will speak from across the region. cessful,” said Jihan Morsi, the the company’s internet services of slick, ultra-modern videos. about,” said el-Dakkak..