Being in The Hood, I have my finger on a delayed pulse of the hip and happening Egyptian music scene. So, despite buying the year’s hottest CD a few months ago, today was the first time I listened to it all the way through.
Far be it for me to comment on the musical genius that is Amr Diab and his bulging bank account, but he is a giant unparalleled in Western music. An album release by this guy is followed less than a week later by his songs being played in all taxis (that are not playing the Quran) and the entire Middle East knowing the words to the entire album by the end of the same week. Not that the lyrics are particularly complex, but still…
Just in case we were in any doubt as to the arteest’s patrons, the latest album cover has two corporate logos on the front: Pepsi and Rotana (a Saudi owned record label that has six music channels on which it airs its artists – Simon Cowell is nothing compared to Prince Al Waleed bin Talal).
So that you too can keep up to date with the bangin’ Egyptian music scene, I’ve popped in a little video of the first track on his latest album. Before you watch it though, an interesting point: check out him following Natalie Martinez at the beginning. This is exactly what teenage boys frequently do to girls walking down the street here. It seems to be more fun when she’s blonde and they think she doesn’t understand what they are saying. It has a tendency to bring out an anti stalking rage in me unparalleled to most other things!
Did you notice the product placement at the beginning? Oh, yes, he may be the King of Cheese, but never let it be said that he’s an impoverished arteest.
After all, looking 20 when you are in fact 46 doesn’t come cheap, not even in Egypt.
Oh Amr, how I miss him… but thankfully you gave me his album!! Yay! Lucky me, I get to be all the way over in Blighty and still be connected to the youth of the Hood!! The video is awesome. But that is Amr – awesome, in the true sense of the word.
Oh he is. And you know you need never feel lonely, he is always in your heart…
He’s had LOADS of surgery. In 2002 we were in a bar in El Gouna and one of his songs came on. El Gouna was packed that weekend for the wedding of some important person from LEbanon, and apparently Amr was a guest. Anyway, his song comes on and we’re singing and dancing. Amr Diab walks over to my friend (who’s MExican American but was often mistaken for an Egyptian), and he’s dancing as he hits on her. She turns around and says, “Are you dancing to your own song?!” Which he acknowledged in shame and walked away. BTW-he’s short and he’s got a hUGE bald spot on his crown.
Yeah, Cairogal, you’re right about that bald patch. Poor Amr. Money, fame, surgery and airbrushing can’t get you real hair! I’ve always found him wearing heeled shoes that pump him up a bit, so never seen him at his real height. As for lack of modesty…well, that’s for another blog!