ALBAWABA - Macron Honors Fairuz on Her 90th Birthday.
A European nation regards Fairuz as a great musician, ranking the Lebanese singer among the greatest of all time, in addition to her enormous fan base in the Arab world.
On both the official and popular levels, Fairuz has enjoyed a unique relationship with France for many years. Around fifty years ago, in 1975, Mireille Mathieu hosted Fairuz's television debut in France on the show "Special Mathieu," marking the beginning of this relationship.
the Lebanese music legend's relationship with the French government significantly improved during the Lebanese war, and in 1979, she performed her well-known song "Paris, Flower of Freedom" at a lavish concert at the Olympia Theater in Paris.
the lebanese star received the Order of the Commander of the Arts and Letters in 1988 from François Mitterrand and the Order of the Legion of Honor from Jacques Chirac in 1998, as several French presidents were eager to honor her throughout his tenure in office.
When Emmanuel Macron, the current president, paid Fairuz a formal visit in 2020, he gave her the Legion of Decoration, France's highest official decoration, because he wanted to see her at home.
While in Lebanon, Macron decided to start his trip at Fairuz's house, where he met her and called her a "Lebanese icon."
Despite the prior announcement of the visit, the meeting took place in secret, and nobody knew the specifics until Lebanese music icon's official Facebook page posted those scenes.
During the 45-minute encounter, the Lebanese music legend covered her head with a traditional black scarf and wore a black cloak with embroidery. The images showcased the walls of the singer's house, adorned with old family photos, objects from archaeology, and paintings by Croatian artist Justyna Sisi Tomasiu, which highlighted various aspects of Fairuz.
Regarding that meeting, Macron remarked, "Fairuz is strong and beautiful." I spoke with her about Lebanon, our shared sense of nostalgia, and everything she represents to me.
