The latest musical achievement from Lebanese singer Melhem Barakat is a rich, interesting, but rather unoriginal album entitled Ahla Thuhour (The Beautiful Appearance).
It is rich and interesting because of the dramatic, vibrant music and colorful lyrics, but lacks originality, as it is reminiscent of the singer’s earlier works, according to Thisiscyberia.
Barakat has undoubtedly established a genre of his own in both the way he sings and composes, which makes him one of the most esteemed and popular stars in Lebanon today. But, as he mainly sings in colloquial Lebanese, he hasn't become as big a star in other Arab countries.
Still, he remains a respected artist at home - despite the constant rumors surrounding his personal life and passionate love affairs.
Barakat started singing more than twenty years ago, but he only entered the limelight after teaming up with the Rahbani brothers and Fairouz. Barakat participated as an actor and singer in many of their musicals, establishing himself as one of the strongest voices in the country.
Later on he went solo and shot to fame with hits like La Thizi Kboush Ettoute, and Dobbi Tyabek Ta Riddeck. In the early 1990s, Barakat became known as a serious composer and collaborated with singer Meshlin Khalife on the hit song Ana Wil Kamar Winnujoum (Me and the Moon and Stars).
He went on to score major hits, such as Hamama Beida (A White Dove), Taa’ Ninsa (Let’s Forget), Ala Babi Wai’f Qamarein (Two Moons on My Door), and Habibi Inta (You, My Lover).
His new tape, which came out last week, boasts only three new songs: Thuhour Al Qamar (The Appearance of the Moon), Irjaili (Come Back to Me) and Jeet Bwa’tak (You Came at the Right Time). He composed the songs himself and wrote the lyrics to one of them (Irjaili). The other two were written by poet Nizar Fransis.
Thuhour Al Qamar and Jeet Bwa’tak are fast, cheerful dance songs that speak about love and the intense emotions between lovers, while Irjaili is a sad, slow song in which a lover remembers and yearns for his lost love. (It could be dedicated to Barakat’s ex-wife and big love Mai Harriri.) – Albawaba.com
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