Nadine Khouri’s song “Number One Boy” rattles our senses. We are glad to see her back on top form with this new song and visual. Lovely.
Category Archives: LebLeb
Video: “Fasateen” by Mashrou’ Leila
This lovely little ditty almost went under our radar until it was brought to our attention by one of its directors. The visual is stunning and the song is yet another gem from the only group that has managed successfully combine Arabic lyrics with a rock-folk mentality. We like.
Arab-American wins Miss USA pageant 2010!
Rima Fakih, a Muslim Lebanese-American, has been crowned Miss USA 2010. She is from Dearborn, Michigan. This is a first in pageantry and most people will probably regard this as some sort of accomplishment. Well, pageants are not really scales of social progression. In fact, they are a constant reminder that we live in a misogynistic world filled with double standards and female objectification. At any rate, we wonder if it was politically motived or just by chance or luck. Click below for the crowning.
Premiere: Video: “Raksit Leila” by Mashrou’ Leila
2New Lebanese music project that fuses the Arabic laguage with experimental alt-folk beats. Well, at least in that video clip, which is scrumptious, might we add. Lovely burst of talent from the Middle East that need all the support they can get from music lovers in the region. Subscribe to their YouTube page.
Beirut no longer hot spot, Hello Damascus!
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Last year The New York Times named Beirut the #1 place to go to in 2009. This year, the list is out and there is not trace of Beirut. It was replaced by Sri Lanka at the top spot (which we fully agree with as we visited Weligama, Kandy, Colombo and Taprobane Island and absolutely adored it). But, interestingly enough, Damascus, also a place of untapped touristic gold, has sprung up at #7. The article explains: “The next Marrakesh? Perhaps mindful of the way that renovations of historic riads have drawn upscale travelers to Marrakesh, Damascus hoteliers are trying to mine tourism gold in the rundown buildings of the Syrian capital’s Old City.”
Also, the most compelling entry at #9 is Antarctica. Now, that’d be fun. Let’s go!
Middle Eastern drag queen living it up in New York City
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That’s the spirit. Doing some belly dancing on the side is always good, especially if you know how to. Sister’s strutting it!
Lebanon fights Israel over hummus!
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In an attempt to thwart Israel’s claiming of the hummus dish a bunch of Lebanese chefs and helpers gathered to make the world’s biggest hummus dish ever – breaking Israel’s record. AP explains: “Lebanese chefs react (above) after preparing a massive plate of hummus, seen in the middle, weighing more then 2,056 kilograms, during a bid to break a record previously held by Israel and reclaim ownership over the popular Middle Eastern dish, in Beirut, Lebanon, Saturday Oct. 24, 2009. The event is part of a simmering war between Lebanon and Israel over regional cuisine. Lebanese businessmen accuse Israel of stealing traditional Middle Eastern dishes, like hummus, and marketing them worldwide as Israeli products.”
Kuwait: Best place in the Middle East for press freedom
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Speaking technically, Kuwait is currently #1 in the Middle East and the Arab World when it comes to freedom of the press. As much as we’d like to boast and rant on this accomplishment, it was not really due to Kuwait’s adamant effort on rectifying some of its freedom faults, but is a result of other countries faltering. This comes on because of Israel’s atrocious behavior in handling media rights during the horrific Gaza Strip massacre. Yes, Kuwait rose to #60 and became the Middle East’s champion merely because Israel fell hard. Inching closer is Lebanon right after at #61 (rising). Then the UAE at #86 and Qatar at #94, both of which steeply down. Still, is #60 good enough? It’s 60 out 175, which gives Kuwait a grade of 65.8/100. That’s a D!
Must-Watch: Video: “بابا فين” by Haifa Wehbe
2We don’t usually feature Arabic videos because we personally don’t listen to Arabic songs at all. But, Haifa is an exception and this video reminds us of our shroom days with its psychedelic special effects and hallucinogenic aura. Also, we think Haifa’s overtly sexualized persona is just what this part of the world needs. A person that is not ashamed or afraid of sex. It’s only natural. At any rate, she’s probably doing a children’s album, a la Nancy Ajram.
Nancy Ajram on the Oprah Winfrey show…
4A song about tabbouleh…
1Jad Choueiri does another laughable video for “Stop Popping Pills”
21Just when we thought that Jad Choueiri couldn’t be more of a cliched tacky wannabe, he goes and outdoes himself. This time, in his quest to propel his drug-persona, he has opted for a house song with some of the worst vocals we had heard in a while (and Heidi Montag has an album coming out). It’s called “Stop Popping Pills,” which is contradictory as we have all seen him tweaking a couple of times. Regardless of what substance he abuses or uses, because he can do whatever he pleases, but it’s only bad because it’s been done before so many times and in the same format. This, still, won’t break him to the English-speaking market he was trying to attain and maintain. This whole album is a failed attempt at trying to cross over and it won’t happen if all he does is regurgitated tracks. If you are trying to break a market don’t try to imitate, but try to add. In any case, his videos are so painful to look at, one can’t help but watch. As my friend puts it: “Stop making videos,” is more like it.
