Friday, January 28, 2005

Elissa's Regret...

Elissa
Listen to her latest song: Ahla Dunya (Real Player Required)

Lebanese singer Elissa was recently held as the guest of honor for the show "For Those Who Dare Only" on the Lebanese Broadcasting Company, "LBC". She now feels guilty about being involved in the program and said that had she known what the show was really about, she would have turned down the offer to appear on it. "According to the London based daily, Dar el Hayat, 'Alissa had given her approval to appear on the show after the organizers had explained to her the nature of it and so she thought that different topics will be discussed [and not just about] rumors from tabloids. To her regret the only topics that were talked about were nonsense rumors.'"

But honestly... how could a person like Elissa (as famous as she is) not have a clue as to what she might expect on a show that's blatanly called "For Those Who Dare Only"? How thick can ya get?


But the latest news on Elissa comes from Radio Power News where it is said that she just returned from a press conference held by the Pepsi Cola Co. in London, where she was in the presense of American pop stars, like Britney Spears, Beyonce Knowles and Pink.

Well, ain't she somethin' special!

Until Next Time...


Wednesday, January 26, 2005

Who's Hot Now? Why Nancy, of Course!

Nancy Ajram

(on the set of her new music video Ah wa Nos (#17!) )
Listen to it here (Real Player Required)

If girls and women alike actually knew w hat this woman above had to do to look as " beautiful" (remember,beauty is in the eye of the beholder) as she does today, they would probably feel so much better about themselves. (Believe me, she was not quite the looker she is now. Unfortunately, she was not able to rely soley on her voice to get to where she is today).

21-year-old Lebanese singer
Nancy Ajram has allegedly been singing all her life, but did not achieve her fame and glamour her until she came out with her jaw-opening, eyebrow-raising music video (yet with quite the most catchy of tunes, might I add - and still on the charts as number 34!) This music video of which I speak, called "Akhasmak Ah, Aseebak La" (translation: Fight With You, Yes - Leave you, No - the title is much more glamorous in Arabic) became a controversy when it came out in 2003, especially in the more conservative parts of the Arab world (where that is the main area in which she is popular). But she is now seen as pretty moderate, compared to some of the newer stars that are singing today. (More on that topic later).

Her newest song "Lawn Ayoonak" (Color of Your Eyes) was a grand success and is currently number 6 on the "Top Videos" list in the Melody Hits Website.

Ajram just recently completed the filming of a new Coca Cola commercial in Cairo, Egypt, where - rumor has it - she has underwent yet another make-over... (enough already!) Supposedly she was paid $2 million in American dollars, "which is one of the highest rates given to any Arab singer by an international company."

Also in the news...

Ajram reported at a recent press conference in Kuwait that she will help out the Tsunami victims in the next couple of days by hosting charity concerts. She will be singing in Lebanon along with other stars, whose names are not yet identified. Go Nancy!

Until Next Time...

Monday, January 24, 2005

Changed As Predicted!

Well, I guessed it (and maybe you, too)... The blog topic has been changed - though I do not like to think the word "drastically" here because I did, after all, keep the title.

I'm just happy Professor F. allowed us a good chunk of time to think about what we wanted to write. Usually teachers (and some of you may know of whom I speak) just have that "first-week-of-class?-well-I-don't-care-that-you-don't-know-what-you're-doing!-That's-not-how-they-do-it-in-the-real-world" persona that just drives me up the wall!

Anyhow... Basically, I have decided to make this blog about Arabic Music... I am almost definite that most of you girls in my class... (I don't think there are any guys - except for the professor) haven't really heard much of it, and that is something I would like to bring to this blog. If you have heard some Arabic Music and don't like it... Well, I can guarantee that you will by the end of April. If I am not successful in doing so... well, then I guess I will have to just delete the blog entirely.

I certainly hope that some of you have an idea or two on "good acting."

;0) Just kidding!

For those of you who will be sincerely enjoying reading my posts, you will also have the option to see and hopefully enjoy (although, not all of them will be great) many music videos (once I learn how to link). Music videos will be a great emphasis in this blog because I find that I have a lot to say about them...

And as I will tell you and anyone else entering this blog site again and again: Feel free to post any type of comments!

Yey! I'm so excited!

Until Next Time...


Thursday, January 13, 2005

Rapid FOREIGN Pictures...

After a short discussion with my professor, I have decided to make my blog more about foreign film, particularly Latin and/or Middle Eastern flicks (that's supposing I'll be able to find enough blogs and web sites about them - if not, I'll just make it foreign film in general), a narrower subject, allowing for easier research and posts.

I still have time to think about other things to blog about, so don't be surprised if in the next post you read that I have decided to talk about "underwater basket weaving" in Latvia... (if there is such a thing), but I hope that's not the case because that would mean a change in my blog title, which at the moment I like. I don't think the change will be that drastic, however.

I will do some real research for it later today and see what I can find. Perhaps I'll start with a short history of film in general, and then move on to what's happening at the Oscars and the Golden Globes.

Until Next Time...



Tuesday, January 11, 2005

Online Media Class

Hey everyone,

Since creating this blog is a requirement for COM 304, I will aim these posts more towards my professor and my classmates until the end of April 2005. Hopefully, I will continue blogging after that.

I already am excited about doing this, and I am looking forward to discussing about something I have such a deep interest in (film!). This will cover what I already know to what I am currently discovering.

This first post does not have to count, since I am waiting for the first actual, formal assignment.

: )

Until Next Time...