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==Music== ==Music==


Magida was one of the first modern singers to start combining western classical music with the Arabic classical music (tarab). ], ], ] and ], all of whom Magida has worked with, also subscribe to this school of music. Her first hit, ''Am Behlamak Ya Helm Ya Lebnan'', written by poet ] and composed by ] offered a first glimpse at her operatic voice. However, the majority of her early 1970s–1980s success was achieved with much more oriental songs. From 1977 to this day, Magida has made sure to sing at least one song composed by her late father on each album she releases, as well as songs about Lebanon and her people. Magida was one of the first modern singers to combine western classical music and Arabic classical music (tarab). ], ], ] and ], all of whom Magida has worked with, also subscribe to this school of music. Her first hit was ''Am Behlamak Ya Helm Ya Lebnan'', written by poet ] and composed by ]. However, the majority of her early 1970s–1980s song were oriental. In all her albums she includes patriotic songs and works by her father.


===Beginnings (1970s–1980s)=== ===Beginnings (1970s–1980s)===

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Majida El Roumi
Musical artist

Magida El-Roumi (Template:Lang-ar, also transliterated as Majida Al Roumi) was born in Kfarshima, Lebanon, on December 13, 1956. She is a Lebanese singer and a soprano, who started her musical career in the early 1970s when she participated in the talent show, Studio El Fan on Télé Liban and won the gold medal for best female singer. Since her appearance on television at the age of 16, she has become one of the most successful singers of the Arab world as well as a UN Goodwill Ambassador.

Biography

Magida El Roumi Baradhy (Arabic: ماجدة الرومي برادعي), born to musician Halim El Roumi (born Hanna El Roumi Baradhy) and wife Marie Loutfi who were a Melkite Greek Catholic couple from Tyre, a city in South Lebanon. They got married and lived in Kfarshima, they had three girls Maha, Mona, and Magida, and a boy Awad. Halim el Roumi became a musician and continued to live in Kfarshima, which was home to many Lebanese singers, musicians, poets and writers, like the late Philemon Wehbi, Melhem Barakat and Issam Rajji. The residence of Halim el Roumi in Kfarshima was a meeting place for many cultural figures. Growing up in an artistic environment, Magida listened to the works of Fairuz, Umm Kulthoum, Mohammed Abdel Wahab, Wadi AlSafi, and Asmahan. Her beautiful voice attracted the attention of her family and neighbors. One of the early songs she sang was "Your Birth" or Miladak in reference to the birth of Jesus Christ.

Raymond Safadi, Magida's cousin, thought that she should pursue singing as a profession. Te big obstacle was her father who did not want her to participate in Télé Liban's Studio el fan. Nevertheless, Magida entered the talent show, singing songs for Asmahan and Leila Mourad, like Ya Toyour, Ana Albi Dalili, and Layali El Ouns Fi Vienna. She won the gold medal. Halim El Roumi gave Magida his blessings to pursue singing as a profession as long as she continued her higher education. Magida obtained her BA in Arabic Literature from the Lebanese University.

In 1977, Magida married a businessman from Byblos, Lebanon, Antoine Dfouni who was also her manager. They had two daughters: Hala and Nour. They divorced in 2006.

Her sister's death from cancer inspired her to produce several religious albums and release a song in her memory.

Music

Magida was one of the first modern singers to combine western classical music and Arabic classical music (tarab). Ihsan Al-Monzer, Elias Rahbani, Elie Choueiri and Dr. Jamal Salama, all of whom Magida has worked with, also subscribe to this school of music. Her first hit was Am Behlamak Ya Helm Ya Lebnan, written by poet Said Akl and composed by Elias Rahbani. However, the majority of her early 1970s–1980s song were oriental. In all her albums she includes patriotic songs and works by her father.

Beginnings (1970s–1980s)

Magida's self-titled debut album was typical of 1970s Arabic pop, with traditional percussion, a string section, guitar, and keyboard. Her sense of duty towards her country was evident from the beginning, with songs like Nab' El Mahabbeh, and the vast majority of her songs were in the Lebanese Arabic dialect. The same can be said for her 1980s work, like the joyous Layalina Men Layali El Omr and Ya Saken Afkari. Ya Saken Afkari marked some of her first work in classical or written Arabic, with songs like La Taghdabi and Salawna. Magida also sang a hit rendition of the late Abdel Halim Hafez's El Touba in 1987. Never one to depend on record companies, so far Magida has released no more than two albums with each label she signed with.

Musical Maturity (1990s)

In 1991, Magida released Kalimat, her first true pan-Arab hit, under the Music Master label. The hit title song was written by revered (and controversial) Syrian poet Nizar Qabbani, and composed by Ihsan El-Mounzer. Qabbani also gave Magida a patriotic song titled Beirut, Set Eddounia, which Dr. Jamal Salama composed. Magida started the movement which re-popularized classical Arabic poetry in music. It was also a marked change of tone for Magida, and her music began to fuse East and West. 1994's Ibhath Anni followed the template set by Kalimat. Magida sang another symbolic song which empowered women, Dr. Souad Al Sabah's Kon Sadiqi, as well as patriotic songs like Oum Etthadda and Saqata Al Qina. She also sang another Nizar Qabbani poem, titled Ma'a Jarida, which garnered almost as much success as Kalimat. With Dr. Jamal Salama on board, the album felt even more classical, especially with Lan A'oud, Ma'a Jarida, and the signature ballad, Ibhath Anni. However, Magida still maintains an Arabic feel to her music, and you can hear it throughout the album in the percussion, the strings, and even accordion (which Dr. Salama worked into Ma'a Jarida). The album was the first in which Abdo Monzer, who composed both Ibhath Anni and Kon Sadiqi, and Dr. Salama did all of the musical arrangement.

In 1996, Magida signed with budding Saudi label Rotana and released Resa'al. Like its predecessor Ibhath Anni, the album was dominated by Abdo Monzer and Dr. Jamal Salama. Elie Choueiri, who had previously only composed patriotic songs like Saqata Al Qina and Koullon Youghanni Ala Lailah for Magida, wrote the opening song, Samra' El Nile, a song for Egyptian women. Some of the greatest work from Magida's collaboration with Dr. Salama came in this album. Songs like Shou'oubon Men Al Oushaq (composed by Joseph Khalifa), and Ainaka blurred the line between what was considered classical and Arabic music, while Lawen Ma'i El Iyam employed Magida's operatic skills and Hobbouka evoked songs from Eastern Europe. Elie Choueiri composed two more patriotic songs for this album, the powerful Qana, condemning the Israeli massacres there, and Ma Rah Tekhlass Lehkayeh. Magida's father Halim composed Mimi, written by the Rahbani Brothers, for Magida's daughter.

In 1998, Magida released her ninth official album, Ouhibbouka Wa Ba'd. For the first time, she worked with Saudi poet Al Nasser and composer/singer Dr. Abdel Rab Idriss, and the duo produced the title song. Tawq Al Yasmin marked Magida's fourth collaboration with Nizar Qabbani, and her first with Iraqi singer/songwriter Kathem Al Saher, who had become Qabbani's musical ambassador by then. The heartbreaking song of an ignored lover, arranged by Kadim himself and Khaled Fouad, was perfect for Magida, in the sense it was unmistakably Arabic and yet had the added the grandeur of classical music. The style of the album also suited Dr. Jamal Salama perfectly, and he composed three songs, the powerful Al Qalb Al Maftouh, dramatic Inta El Madi, and unforgettable Sayedi El Ra'is, which was written in the form of a letter to the President. He also arranged Al Yawm Aada Habibi, a duet with her father Halim El Roumi. Dr. Salama's purest classical work with Magida to date was on this album. Al Nasser also wrote Yaqoulou Inni Imra'aton for Magida, and the influence of Nizar Qabbani on the poet is evident in this romantic poem.

After the death of her sister Maha, Magida did not release any "secular" music for close to a decade. In 2003, she released two religious albums titled Cithare Du Ciel and Erhamni Ya Allah. Magida sang a special rendition of the song "Ave Maria", which was the first official recording to show her talent as a soprano.

The Return of "Magida El Roumi" (2006)

2006 marked the return of Magida El Roumi to a much-changed Arabic music scene. As she signed for an album with Good News Production that made her return with an album that spoke to a younger audience, while still stimulating her faithful older audience. "E'tazalt El Gharam" (I Quit Love) was released with a video directed by Nadine Labaki. It showed a changed, happier, and young Magida. Magida worked with many new names, like singer/songwriter Marwan Khoury as well as musicians Jean-Marie Riachi and Claude Chalhoub. The new musicians updated Magida's style while keeping the old-world charm that made her name. Many whom she hadn't worked with in over a decade also returned, like fellow Kfarshima musician Melhem Barakat, who composed the title song. Said Akl returned with his poem "Sawfa Nabqa", an ode to Lebanon. Composers Ihsan El Mounzer, Joseph Khalifa and Kamal Saiqali put Gibran Khalil Gibran's words to music for Magida in "Nashid Lel Hob." "Nashid El Zafaf" is a rendition of Mendelssohn's "Wedding March" with congratulatory lyrics by Magida herself. Familiar names, like Saudi duo Al Nasser and Dr. Abdel Rab Idriss, as well the late Halim El Roumi and Nizar Qabbani, also contributed songs to the album. "Al Hob Wal Wafa" revealed once again the diversity of Dr. Idriss as a composer, but the ability of a lengthy song to succeed so greatly in 2006 surprised everyone.

Magida sang a song from her upcoming album at the annual 2008' Beiteddine Festival in Lebanon, titled "Ma Rah Ez'al A Shi" (I Won't Feel Sad Over Anything). Her New album is scheduled for a release in 2011, She is working With Kathem Al Saher on a new track "Wa'adtouka" written by Nizar Kabbani. Other confirmed contributors in the album include Marwan Khouri and Melhim Barakat.

Career highlights

In 1976, Magida starred in Youssef Chahine movie Awdat Al Ibn Al Dal (The Return of the Prodigal Son) providing also 3 soundtracks for the movie. Chahine introduced her as 'the Voice of the 20th Century' and received the 'Egyptian Critics Award'.

Magida has performed at various festivals throughout the Arab world such as festivals of Beiteddine, Jerash, Bosra and Carthage as well as the Cairo Opera House. Magida has also performed at the most prestigious concert halls in the world, as the Avery Fisher Hall at the Lincoln Centre, Carnegie Hall and Hunter College in New York City as well as the Place des Arts in Montreal, Fox Theatre (Detroit, Michigan), the Paris Olympia, Palais des Congrès de Paris, Athens Concert Hall in Greece and the Royal Albert Hall in London.

Magida takes a firm stand opposing the Israeli occupation of Palestinian Territories and Israeli human rights violations. During her concert in Beirut on April 15, 2002, She said, "What is going now in Palestine is a crime against humanity, and I am here to say a final 'No!' to the Israeli occupation. To the Palestinians, I say, our hearts are with you; our souls are with you; justice is with you, and the land will always be yours." She also released the song, "Qana", Anakid Al- Ghadab April 1996,as a form of protest against the massacre that the Israelis committed in the town of Qana in southern Lebanon.

Magida performed "Light The Way", a duet with the international opera star, José Carreras, on December 9, 2006 during the opening ceremony of the 15th Asian Games Doha 2006.

In more than three decades, Magida El Roumi has become a symbol and an idol for global audiences. On December 9, 2007 Magida El Roumi gave a heart-wrenching speech to Lebanese political leaders at a memorial for Lebanese politician Gebran Tueni.

In 2009, she performed "Nous sommes les amis du monde", a duet with Youssou N'dour, on the inauguration of the "Jeux Olympiques de la Francophonie" in Beirut, Lebanon.

Festivals

Discography

Albums

Unrecorded Songs – Composed by Zaki Nassif

  • Raje' Yet'ammar Libnan / Ya Bladna / Tallou Hbabna / Ya Taleb Idi

Unrecorded Songs – Composed by Halim El-Roumi

  • Wajaba Al Shokro / Yarnu Be tarfin / Taba Waqti / Ala Inhad / Hasnaa Carthage / Loubanou Kalbi (Lyrics: Henri Zgheib), in addition to his last composition to Magida's voice: Al-yamami wel Sayf (Lyrics: Henri Zgheib – a political song recorded in 1982)

Unrecorded Songs – dedicated to Arabic countries

  • Bahrain : Al Bahrain Song
  • Kuwait : Ya Kuwait / Kuwait Balad El Salam / and Noqoush Aala Aba'at Al Kuwait.
  • Jordan : Ila Amman Khodni (Lyrics: Henri Zgheib / Music: Georges Abdo) / Amman je2touki min Loubnan / Raytek Seyajek Ya Amman / and Salamon Alayki.
  • Tunis : Aasslama (composed by Elie Choueiri) / and Hasnaa Carthage.
  • Palestine : Hal Tasma'een (Lyrics: Majida El-Roumi / Music: Elie Choueiri)
  • Syria : Al-Sham (Lyrics: Georges Gerdak / Music: Georges Abdo) / and Yes'ed Massakom Ya Ahl El-Sham (composed by Elie Choueiri)
  • Morocco : Ya Maghrib
  • UAE : Imarat Song
  • Qatar : Ya Qatar (composed by Elie Choueiri)
  • Egypt : Samra2 el-Nil (Lyrics: Georges Gerdak / Music: Elie Choueiri) / and Behwaki Ya Masr (Music: Dr. Jamal Salama)

Unreleased Songs (of Youssef Chahine's Movies)

  • Movie: EL-AKHAR / 1999: Adam wa Hanan
  • Movie: AWDAT EL-EBN EL-DAL / 1976: Bye Bye (Lyrics: Salah Jaheen / Music: Sayed Mekawi) / Mouftaraq El-Toroq (Lyrics: Salah Jaheen / Music: Kamal El-Tawil) / Eshare3 lena (Lyrics: Salah Jaheen / Music: Baligh Hamdi)

Unreleased Recorded Songs

  • Nasheed Al Hob (Lyrics: Gibran Khalil Gibran / Music: Joseph Khalifé) / Baadak Helo (Lyrics: El-Murr / Music: Joseph Kalifé) / Bakkeer Fellayt (Lyrics: Magida / Music: Joseph Kalifé)
  • Ya Taleb Idi (Lyrics: Said Akl / Music: Zaki Nassif / Aired on TéléLiban on November 22, 1983)
  • Al Thawra (Lyrics: Henri Zgheib / Music: Elie Choueiri) / Emmi (composed by Elie Choueiri) / Al masra7 (composed by Elie Choueiri) / Ma tew3edni bi ba7er (composed by Elie Choueiri) / Yess3ed saba7ak wa massek (composed by Elie Choueiri), Entou lina Ne7na likom (Lyrics: Majida El-Roumi & Elie Choueiri / Music: Elie Choueiri)
  • Ana Habbaytak (Lyrics: Elia Abou Chedid / Music: Nour El-Mallah) / Lebso El Kafafi (Lyrics: Talal Haydar / Music: Nour El-Mallah)
  • Itkhayaltak Jayi Min B'eed (Lyrics: Elia Abou Chedid / Music: Ihsan Al-Monzer) / Morrou Bina Nass'har (Lyrics: Habib Younis / Music: Ihsan Al-Monzer) / Al Qassam (Music: Ihsan Al-Monzer)
  • Jayeh Min Beirut (Lyrics: Abdel-Rahman El-Abnoudi / Music: Dr Jamal Salama) / Ma Ajmal al-Oshaq (Lyrics: Al-Nasser / Music: Dr Jamal Salama) / Essina (Lyrics: Henri Zgheib / Music: Dr Jamal Salama) / Eshta2tellak (Lyrics: Henri Zgheib / Music: Dr Jamal Salama)
  • Ahenno Ilayka (Lyrics: Al-Nasser / Music: Dr Abdel-Rab Idriss)
  • Tifli Zghiri (Lyrics: Magida / Music: Abdo Monzer)

Egyptian Songs: Remakes

  • La Mush Ana Elli Abki (Mohammad Abdel Wahab) – originally sang by Abdel Wahab
  • Ana koulli magoul al-touba (Lyrics: Abdel Rahman El-Abnoudi / Music: Baligh Hamdi) – originally sang by Abdel Halim Hafez
  • Ba7lef bi Samaha (Lyrics: Abdel Rahman El-Abnoudi / Music: Kamal Al-Tawil) – originally sang by Abdel Halim Hafez
  • Layali Al-ouns bi Vienna (Music: Farid Al-Atrach) – originally sang by Asmahan
  • Ya Touyour (Music: Al-Kassabji) – originally sang by Asmahan
  • Emta 7a te3raf – originally sang by Asmahan
  • Ana Albi Dalili (Music: Al-Kassabji) – originally sang by Leila Mourad

Unreleased French Songs

  • La Liberté (Lyrics: Victor Hugo / Music: Dr Jamal Salama)
  • Quand je dors (Music: Abdo Mounzer)
  • Paix sur Terre (Music: Elias Rahbani)

UN Ambassador

Magida El Roumi was appointed an ambassador for the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) on World Food Day, October 16, 2001 in an official ceremony in Rome, Italy. She has participated in numerous round-table discussion on the role of FAO ambassadors in helping the Organization combat world hunger. As FAO ambassador, Majida inaugurated the First Annual Agricultural Week in Lebanon and dedicated the book prepared by FAO Sanabel El Kheir on November 8, 2005 during an official ceremony to celebrate World Food Day 60th Anniversary at the UNESCO Palace in Beirut.

Tributes and Awards

  • The Golden Cedar, Lebanon, 1988
  • National Order of the Cedar (Knight), Lebanon, 1994
  • The Médecines Sans Frontières Shield
  • Le Bouclier de l'information et de la culture / Algerian Shield of Culture, Algeria, 2005
  • The Shield of Honour from the Syrian Ministry of Culture, Syria
  • The Shield of Honour from Jordan
  • The Shield of Honour from Morocco
  • The Shield of Honour from Tunis, 2010

See also

References

  1. Cite error: The named reference books.google.ca was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. Jose Carreras On Tour October – December 2006
  5. United Nations Daily Highlights, 01-10-12
  6. The situation of women domestic migrant workers in Lebanon

External links

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