Late last week, Lebanese singer Amal Hijazi was a guest on the ART satellite channel show "Studio Al Mushahedeen" (Viewers Studio) hosted by Jumana Bou Obeid. The program which usually hosts some of the biggest names in the music industry, witnessed an unusual interview with Amal that left viewers and the presenter in utter shock.
According to the London based Elaph, Amal went overboard with her comments and answers to most the questions asked by Jumana. The singer had in fact insulted many of her colleagues in the music industry not paying attention to what she was saying.
Jumana had asked Amal if she owned her own hotel who among the singer would she invite to hold a live performance, the singer simply answered Lebanese singer Haifa Wahbi for she would surely bring in a lot of customers. Her insinuation that Haifa's looks would attract customers shocked the presenter whose face went pale after hearing the answer. Amal realizing what she had said was completely out of place, tried hard to change the words around to make it seem as if her intentions were pure, but in fact it was too late to make any alteration for the point had been sent across.
Amal had also said that her competition in the music world is internationally well-known singer Celion Dion, saying that the pitch of her voice is very similar and matches that of Dion. None the less, it is an understatement to compare Celion, whose voice is considered to be legendary, to such an amateur as Amal.
It appeared that Jumana had realized that the interview was a total loss of time and in some ways an insult for her to present such a guest, who does not know when to stop talking and think before saying anything, on her show. But it was revealed that the program has a previous contract with the record production company Rotana, which is Amal's production company, stating that only members of Rotana can be guest on the program. This in turn limits the presenter to whom she may invite as a guest on her show.
Algerian singer Fuedel revealed that he is the main reason behind the success of Lebanese singer Amal Hijazi. Fuedel commented that before his duet with Amal "Einak" (Your Eye), she was not well known in around the Arab world and even in Lebanon.
Fuedel added that Amal benefited in a major way from their duet by being able to double her popularity. Fuedel expressed that he hopes Amal does not find offense in his remarks, but he was simply saying the truth and that the credit of her popularity is owed to him.
Her album "Zaman" has gone beyond expectations in the number of breaking figures in the music market all over the world. The twelve-song album, produced by Universal Company in Paris, held two major surprises, the first, her duet with Fuedel, written by Fuedel and Tony Abi Karam, and the second with the duo Omar and Rafi.
Hijazi is currently preparing for the filming of her new music video "Id'eeli" (Pray For Me). All necessary arrangement concerning time, place, and scenario for the new clip have been complete and are underway.
Amal Hijazi is an architecture Engineer, but never worked in this field, saying that she is "dedicating all my time to music, for it needs lots of time and hard work." – Albawaba.com
© 2003 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
