| ThingsFrom America to Asia and Africa, a playlist that pays tribute to artists from all over the world I’ve never been loyal to a particular music genre, so I found it hard choosing just one favorite genre, artist or album. I’ve always liked listening to songs from across the music spectrum depending on my mood, but, recently most of my playlist is laid-back and mellow. |
| I’ve never been loyal to a particular music genre, so I found it hard choosing just one favorite genre, artist or album. I’ve always liked listening to songs from across the music spectrum depending on my mood, but, recently most of my playlist is laid-back and mellow.
Regardless of my musical whims or mood, there are certain artists I can always listen to, one of whom is Canadian singer Michael Buble. Be it his take on traditional Christmas songs, his own original tracks, or even his versions of Frank Sinatra’s most famous songs, I enjoy all his music.
When I’m in the mood for light music while working or right before I go to sleep, I usually listen to the album Best of the Scores, with selections by prominent Egyptian composers Omar Khairat, Hesham Nazih and Rageh Daoud. Piano pieces by Syrian composer Malek Jandali can also be relaxing. My favorite of all of Jandali’s albums is Echoes from Ugarit. Of all the soft classical piano pieces on the album, I recommend “Yafa” and “Arabesque.”
For a more lively mood, Lebanese composers Charbel Rouhana and Toufic Farroukh will pick you up or keep you energized. For Rouhana, I listen to songs from across several of his compilations rather than sticking to just one full album. As for Farroukh, my recommended album would be Tootya. The album is mostly composed of jazz music, but each track has its own flavor, some with fast beats and others slow, some tracks purely instrumental and others with lyrics.
One artist who I have recently added to my playlist is Palestinian singer, arranger and composer Rim Banna. She is known for her songs about Palestine and the struggles of its people. Banna has numerous albums, but my favorite is Marayat El-Roh (Mirrors of my Soul), on which the best tracks are Marayat El-Roh and Fo’ El-Gaabal (On Top of the Mountain).
Another favorite of mine is Algerian singer Souad Massi. I don’t have a favorite album or even a track for Massi; I’m just a fan of all her work. Massi sings in French, English and Arabic. Even though her Algerian accent is sometimes hard to understand, her music is always good. Another artist that I’m also a fan of is the Palestinian Marcel Khailfe, whose song “Ommi” (Mother) made me a devoted fan.
In addition to all the new artists that I’ve started listening to, I still hold a very special place in my heart for classics like the Lebanese diva Fairouz and our very own Abdel Halim Hafez.
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