Prominent Iraqi singer Kathem El Saher has just completed all the songs for his upcoming album "Youmiat Rajel Mahzoom" (The Diary of a Defeated Man). The singer gave the final copy of the album to his production company 'Rotana' in order to have it distributed in record stores across the Arab world.
The album, which is scheduled for release in April, features eleven songs written by some of the most prominent poets and mostly composed by Kathem himself. Three of song, including the main song "Youmiat Rajel Mahzoom", are poems by the late prominent poet Nizar Qabani
Kathem has expressed his satisfaction at the selection of songs for the album stressing that the songs match all tastes. The singer revealed that he intends on filming two songs in the form of a music video "Youmiat Rajel Mahzoom" and "Nai". The directors or filming locations have not yet been decided.
Recently, El Saher was in the United States of America, where he had received an official invitation to attend the Oscars Awards 2007 ceremony in Los Angeles California. The singer had participated in the film “Mawtini Mawtini” (My Country My Country), which was nominated in the Best Documentary Film category.
Kathem’s music and voice was used in the film, which is based on the chaos that is taking place in Iraq. Director of the film Laura Bitras had stated that she felt it is an essential element to have Kathem’s music in the film, and she had nominated the singer after watching one of his performances on TV. Laura added that she was taken back by how much people loved the singer, and he is not only a son of Iraq, but a true Arab Superstar.
When she had met up with Kathem to talk to him about taking part in her film, he agreed immediately and had stated that he would be honored to present a song that calls for unity of the Iraqi people.
