Lebanese singer Ragheb Alama has sparked extreme anger among Sudanese people especially females with his latest public comments about his opinion of Sudanese women. During an interview on one of the Arab satellite channels, Ragheb was asked whom he thought are the most beautiful women in the world.
According to the daily Al Khaleej, Ragheb immediately answered that he thought Lebanese women are the most beautiful and added that Sudanese women to him are the ugliest. Ragheb's comments angered and hurt Sudanese women, who thought that such remarks are uncivil and give the singer a bad reputation. On their part, Sudanese women described the singer as being shallow not knowing when to stay quiet and does not think when he is talking.
Alama had just completed a series of performances around the Arab world and is in the process of finalizing his upcoming album, which is produced by Alam El Phan Production Company. Ragheb has just launched a new mobile phone commercial for the Samsung Electronics, the global leader in digital technology, which was filmed in Cairo. The commercial was directed by Sharif Sabri and holds the title "Nawarit Aiami" (You Light Up My Days), which is also a name of song that will be included in his new album.
Samsung had recently held extensive negotiations with Ragheb, and both sides reached an agreement to have Ragheb as the official spokesperson for the company. Ragheb has signed a contract for one year to shoot different television commercials for Samsung advertising their different line of mobile phones.
Alama denied circulating rumors that he will be singing a trio with Razan Moughrabi and Spanish international singer Julio Iglesias Junior. Ragheb stressed that he is not willing to hold any sort of trio or even a duet with anyone unless he finds the right voice that matches his and will add to his career,.
Rumors had it that Ragheb, Razan and Julio were holding extensive work sessions to choose the words for a new trio they will hold together. The new song will be a combination of English, French, and Arabic, and is scheduled to be out by early January 2004.
Ragheb has revealed that he is in the process of shooting a new music video for the song "Laialina" (Our Nights), which is scheduled to be aired on all local and satellite television channels after the Muslim Eid Holiday. Ragheb is also busy these days with finalizing the songs for his upcoming album, in addition to shooting a new television commercial for Samsung Electronics mobile phones.
Alama has been presented with the Golden Lion Award in Egypt from Egyptian journalist Samir Ragab. The award is presented by the Egyptian magazine "Huriyati" for the best Arab singer for the year 2003. –Albawaba.com
© 2004 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
