The Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) recently announced names of the winners in the “Sing for Amman” competition which was launched last year through the GAM-run Hawa Amman radio station. Names of winners were unveiled in a special ceremony held at the King Hussein Cultural Center.
Zaid Qandah from Zaha Cultural Center won the first prize for his song “Oyoun Amman” (Amman’s Eyes). With 12 years of age, Qandah was the youngest participant in the competition, and performed a song written and composed by Zaid Madahi.
Rami Shafiq came second with his song “Tehi Behosniki” (Be Proud of Your Elegance), written and composed by Ibrarhim Khalifa, while the third place was shared between Bashar Al-Sheikh for his “Hawa Amman” (Air of Amman) piece, and Norma Al-Duwairi’s “Marfou’ Rasik Ya Amman” (Amman: Head High).
Deputy City Director for Cultural, Social and Sports Affairs, Eng. Haitham Jweinat, deputized Mayor of Amman at the festival, and handed out the awards and honorary shields to the winners. The festival was attended by members of the jury and the Mayor’s advisors for tourism, investments and regional affairs.
The first three awards are worth JD10000 in total: JD5000 for the first winner, JD3000 for the second, and JD2000 for the third. GAM will bear the cost of the recording and distribution of the winning songs.
Jordanian singer Makadi Nahhas addressed the ceremony on behalf of the jury, during which she praised the competition’s high standard, for being necessary in providing the Jordanian music industry with young talented singers. Besides Nahhas, the jury consisted of director of Hawa Amman radio station Noufel Al-Khasawneh, Jordanian leading composer Sakhr Hattar, and president of the Musical Section at the Jordan Radio and Television Corporation, Dergham Bushnaq.
Nahhas thanked GAM for organizing the competition that helped in providing the Jordanian youth the opportunity to show their musical talents. She said that such talents have performed exceptional songs telling the story of Amman, and highlighting its residential, natural, environmental, and architectural uniqueness.
It is worth mentioning that 16 out of 157 songs have been short-listed to the finals in the “Sing for Amman” competition. Over 20,000 people have participated in the public voting that was launched by the Municipality to name the best three songs. Voters were asked to send SMS messages to a certain phone code. The juries have also helped in naming the winners with 50% of the overall score.
GAM will publicize the winning songs during the Amman Summer Festival which is due in July.
The “Sing for Amman” competition was launched in 2008 under the theme “If you have a nice voice, and love Amman… Sing for Amman”. It aimed at encouraging the youth, who have musical talents, to perform songs about the City, its beauty and history.
