The organizers of the Jordanian annual summer festival Jarash have revealed that on performance held by the Lebanese singer Najwa Karam made more money than the two performances held by Egyptian singer Amr Diab. Sources revealed that there were many empty seats at both concerts held by Amr, while Najwa’s performances witnessed a full house.
According to the Saudi based daily, Al Riyadh, one of the main reason behind the success of Najwa’s performance and the failure of Amr’s is the fact that families were anxiously awaiting the results of the Tawjihi results (high school finals grades) during Amr’s scheduled concerts, and therefore preferred being with their children then postponed any entertainment activities.
Najwa’s concert proceeds helped the administration of the festival to make up for losses accumulated from the previous years, and gave a positive sign in the outcome of profits for this year’s festival.
Karam performed at Jarash on August, 7, 2003, after an absence from the festival that lasted 7 years. Najwa held a press conference in which she expressed her joy at returning to Jarash and her longing to sing to her Jordanian fans.
Najwa held a spectacular performance that kept her audience breathless, and had sung a special song dedicated solely to Jordan's King Abdullah II. The singer stressed that it was an honor for her to sing at the festival, especially since it adds greatly to a singer's career, unlike other festivals that hold no significance.
The singer added that her participation this year marked the second time she stands on the Roman stages, the last time being in the summer of 1996. Najwa stressed that the festival had brought her a lot of success, and is one of the main highlights of her career.
Karam previously released her latest album "Sahirni" (Mesmerized), under the music production company Rotana. The album is the singers return to the traditional folkloric Lebanese style. The singer has worked with a number of prominent Lebanese poets and composers to complete the work. The album is to mark Najwa's last album with Rotana according to a contract she has with them, which will be terminated after the release. It is still unclear whether or not Najwa will renew her contract.
Najwa stressed that she will never again film any of her songs in the form of a music video. Najwa’s decision came after the failure of her last music video for the song “Iw’a Itkoun Za’ilit” (I Hope you are not Upset), which did not witness any interest among viewers or even herself.
Karam made her debut in the music world in 1985, with her participation in “Layali Lobnan” (Nights of Lebanon) performing Asmahan’s song “Layali Al Ons” (Nights of Pleasure). She was awarded the program’s Golden Medal for her outstanding performance at the event. – Albawaba.com
© 2003 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
