Asala's Marriage Problems

Asala Nasri

Syrian singer Asala Nasri is reported to be in a state of depression due to problems she is encountering with her husband. Rumors have it that the reason for the arguments between her and her husband was the latest plastic surgery she underwent that has left her unsatisfied.


In other news...

Recently, Nasri has held conventions in Paris, where she expresses her disgust with the new women singers (like Ruby, Maria and Hayfa Wahbi) who rely on their sensual songs and music videos to become famous. Nasri considers a woman's mind to be much stronger than her looks... Which almost sounds hypocritical of her, considering that plastic surgery crisis she is angry about, which is practically ruining her marriage. Maybe if she stuck to her true feelings about the "mind" and not the "a woman's looks," she would be in better shape.

Until Next Time...

Iraqi Singer's Tunisian Fine...

Kathem el Saher

In 1993, prominent Iraqi singer Kathem el Saher signed a contract proposing that he would tour the many cities in Tunis, but Saher failed to comply thoroughly with the terms of the contract. Though it has taken over ten years for the court to reach its verdict, a fine of $36 thousand in US currency is to be paid by Saher to Tunisian concert sponsor El Said Lasa'd.


On a lighter note, Saher, 43, is doing really well with his new album. He is a one-of-a-kind singer, in that his style of singing is very unique and rhythmic. His latest song, "Ahibeenee Bila Ukadee" ("Love Me Without Restraints") has hit it big and the future for this singer looks bright.

Kfouri's "Womanish" Looks???

Wael Kfouri

Due to his new look, Lebanese singer Wael Kfouri was accused of looking like a woman by fellow Lebanese singer, Milhem Barakat. Kfouri has revealed that it is of no concern to him what Barakat thinks, and that everyone has their own opinion. Kfouri said that he is happy with the way he is and he's not about to change it just because Barakat thinks he should.

Also in the news...

Kfouri is getting ready to act in an upcoming American flick, "Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves," which will also star Antonio Banderas and famous Egyptian-American actor, Omar Sharif. Kfouri is taking speech lessons to better his English and is also going on a special diet to correctly portray his character in the movie.

Until Next Time...

Shaker's Problem Worsens...

Fadel Shaker

Fadel Shaker's plagiarism dilemma gets even bigger as the man who is accusing him of it, Fadi Suleiman, refuses to meet with Shaker peacefully.

Shaker is denying the allegations that he stole Suleiman's song, "Saharni el Shouq" ("Desire Has Kept Me Awake"). Both men claim that they had written the words to the song themselves, and this is where the problem lies.

Further details as to what is happening behind the scenes has not been revealed.

Until Next Time...

Nicole Stars in Chick Flick...

Nicole Saba

Lebanese singer Nicole Saba is preparing to star in an Egyptian film "Clip al Gharam," in which she falls in love with a man who is obsessed with music and fame.

In this movie, Saba is playing as herself and is on a mission to help this young man achieve the fame he so wants.

Saba is also receiving many offers to star in such movies, as well as television commercials. She is not putting her singing career on hold, however busy she will become.

Until Next Time...

New Song for the Ultimate Diva...

Fairouz
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70-year-old Lebanese singer Fairouz recently held a concert in Montreal which gathered fans from all over Canada, America and Europe. The concert turned out to be a success and is quoted to have been "breathtaking."

Fairouz has been singing for over half of a century, and her songs are still widely popular in the Middle East and now in other parts of the world as well. Her soothingly strong voice, mixed with her poetic songs (whose words never combine to form the same-old cliches) are an inspiration to generations young and old. Though not as strong as it once was, she just came out with a new single, "Baiti el Sagheer" (My Small House), as a surprise to her fans and was written by her daughter.

I guess this just proves how much she loves what she does and it doesn't look like she's about to retire anytime soon.

Until Next Time...

Zoghbi Flew in for the Flu!

Nawal al-Zoghbi

Lebanese singer Nawal Al-Zoghbi has been traveling around the world so much that she finally caught the flu. With the rising popularity of her songs and her music videos, audiences of all ages and cultures want to hear this woman sing. Due to her recent sickness, her doctor has ordered her to rest and gain back her strength.

She is scheduled to head to the US and Canada by the end of this month and hold concerts at the major cities there, but it is not revealed whether or not her flu will be a cause for delay.

Elissa's Success in Oman

Elissa is reported to have broken the record for the largest attendance at the Muscat Music Festival in Oman, with a crowd of about 10,000 people.

It has been reported that this large of an audience was unexpected; where only 1/3 of the size of the crowd had been predicted. Elissa was glad to have seen so many people attend and is now heading to Dubai to hold her next concert.

Diab to Star in Drama.

Famous Egyptian singer Amr Diab is surreptitiously preparing to star in a drama series. Any details about the filming is not being revealed because Diab wishes that it remain a surprise for his adoring public.

He is also currently working on his new album, which is scheduled to come out sometime this summer. Diab is working with famous poets and composers in hopes that this new album will be an even greater hit than his previous ones.

Double the Controversy?

Maria and Ruby

A musical duet starring two of Arab entertainment's controversial celebrities will soon be heard and seen as Egyptian singer, Ruby, and Lebanese singer Maria unite.

Former Miss Bikini of Lebanon, Maria, does not deny the news and is looking forward to pairing up with Ruby, who is holding steadfast against the many Egyptian newspapers that are attempting to lessen her popularity. The two believe that the music video will turn out a success.

Jad Choueiri, the man who introduced Maria to the music world will direct the music video. He just recently directed, produced and starred in his own little video called, "El Mazzika."

Until Next Time...

Controversial Singers Being Ridiculed?

Being a seductive, half-naked woman on the television screen may be generally accepted in the American or even European entertainment media... But it will only go so far in the Arab world. Lately, certain singers (new and old) have crossed the more conservative line in their music videos and have "bared-all."

Of the more controversial stars, women like Nagla, Ruby, Haifa Wahbeh, and Maria have introduced scenes to their music videos that have turned them into what some Middle Easterns might claim to be "the cheapest of women". Now, to each his own opinion, but this view is becoming more and more wide-spread with the production of each new and daring video, and action to de-popularize these stars is being taken.

Egyptian newspapers are trying to end Ruby's (watch her videos here) career by altoghether refusing to write about her in any articles. They think that the more she is discussed (in either good or bad means), the more fame she gains.

Just recently, a Tunisian journalist claimed that women such as these only "sing with their legs" in order to gain popularity and that they truly have no talent and are willing to go to any means to get public attention.

While I do agree that some of these women really have no talent, vocally, and it does seem as if anyone who is willing to strip a few layers is hitting the silver screen, I don't think that means that censoring these people will be the solution. Let them do what they will, because I doubt that these singers will last very long, anyhow.

A person with talent will not rely on his/her looks or body to have his/her voice heard and appreciated. At least, that is what I would like to believe.

Until Next Time...

Amr Diab's Power to Forbid...

Amr Diab

Famous Egyptian singer, Amr Diab, banned a journalist from attending a press conference because she had previously written negative criticism about him in an Arabic daily newspaper.

The journalist is reported to have gotten very angry and claimed that Diab was violating her freedom of press.

If this is not in the least bit fabricated, then I must admit that it is very disappointing that someone as popular as Diab could get so narrow-minded and shallow, if I do say so myself. In show business, it is expected that not everyone will like what they see. You just have to be able to deal with criticism of any type.

Yet, it's strange when you consider the charity concert he will hold alongside Lebanese singer, Haifa Wehbeh later this month. The money for the concert, held in Egypt, will go directly toward a program to fight illiteracy in the Arab world.

You just never know with these entertainers.

Until Next Time...