Lebanese singers Assi Hilani and Rida Boutrus have decided to cancel all scheduled concerts that were to take place in Canada due to the current US led war on Iraq. The singers have agreed with the Entertainment E&J, who were sponsoring their concerts, that the time is very inappropriate to hold any form of entertainment while people are being slaughtered, the London based Elaph reported.
Earlier this month, Assi met with the manager of his production company, Salem Al Hindi, in Dubai to introduce a new trend in the release of albums. During their meeting, Assi suggested that instead of filming only one or two songs from every new album in the form of a music video, every song in the album should be shot.
Salem agreed to the idea regardless of the large budget it will require. Salem added that this new trend will without a doubt be successful and he will do all he can to achieve it. The manager added that Assi will be the first singer they will attempt to this new method. It was added that the filming of Assi's album will be postponed momentarily until the conditions in the region calm down.
Boutrus is currently preparing for her second album after Sony produced her first solo album after her breakup from the duo with her sister Nina. The new album’s name and the company that will produce it have not been revealed after Sony closed its headquarters in Lebanon.
Sony offices in Turkey have contacted Rida and offered to produce and market her song “Mustafa Ya Mustafa”. Rida has agreed to give Sony the rights for reproducing the songs, that will be sung by a Turkish artist to present the song in a new form..
Rida released her first album, which includes 13 songs, in July 2002. Salah al Sharnoobi participated in composing the cadences for the new album along with Emad Shams al Din, Marwan Khouri and Tareq Abu Judeh. The song “Mustafa Ya Mustafa” was the first released by Rida after she broke away from the duo with her sister Nina.
Butros’s first album included “Qalbi Majnoonak” (My Heart’s Crazy for You), written by Tony Abi Karam and composed by Tareq Abu Joudah, and remade by Naser Al Asaad. Recording took place at Tony Saba Studios.
Rida had stopped singing for two months after the death of her father, and then returned to the music scene on her own with her first solo album. Rida previously sang duets with her sister Nina, who has abandoned her singing career and moved to live in US with her husband. – Albawaba.com
© 2003 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
