Soumaya Baalbaki - Arabtango

Soumaya Baalbaki

Soumaya Baalbaki is a Lebanese singer born in Beirut. She holds a bachelors degree in Oriental Singing techniques from the Lebanese National Conservatory where she taught for years. She is one of the few authentic singers that have not gone commercial in the music circuit. Instead she focuses on genuine “Tarab” (the art of transcendence in Middle Eastern singing) whereby the listener reaches a state of euphoria and emotional climax.

She is undoubtedly the most elaborate female Tarab singer in the Arab world. She performed at the Opera of Cairo in 2000, participated in the Tyre International Music Festival in 2008 and 2005, Toured Japan in 2002 (as part of the Unesco cultural dialogue program), she was the main musical act at the opening of the Asian Games 2001 and winner of the Golden Microphone Award in Cairo 1994. Soumaya’s come back on the musical scene with “Arabtango” is a tour de force in which she showcases the wide range of her singing abilities and wide academic knowledge of the Arabic classical repertoire. This album is a remake of 9 compelling songs of the Arabic Classical repertoire of the 50s 60s and 70s, she succeeded the amazing feat of a golden period of Arabic music that composers and musicians in Cairo and Beirut began mixing Middle Eastern musical creations with Latin rhythm influences such as Bolero, Tango and Cha Cha Cha.

“Arabtango” is a remake of 9 compelling songs of the Arabic Classical repertoire of the 50s 60s and 70s. It was during this golden period of Arabic music that composers and musicians in Cairo and Beirut began experimenting with Latin influences such as Bolero, Tango and Cha Cha Cha mixing them with Middle Eastern melodies and lyrics. There are four songs in this CD by “Abdel Wahab” undoubtedly one of the greatest composers of this period, two by “Asmahan” and “Leyla Mourad” the divas of Arabic singing alongside “Om Kolthoum”.

The beauty of “Arabtango” is that all the tunes are recognizable by Arab speaking listeners because of their popularity in Middle Eastern culture but at the same time they can easily be prized by Western ears because of the beautiful melodies that are rearranged in a Tango format. As for the language: it is that of Love, the universal language that anyone who has loved would understand. All the songs are passionate and debate the issues of Love and heartbreak. This CD is about Love.

“Arabtango” is truly a world music endeavor in the sense that it blends the Oriental melodic imagination with the beautiful cadenza and verve of Tango. The combination of Oriental instruments such as the Oud, the Rik with the accordion, violin and Cajun create the perfect environment for the singer Soumaya Baalbaki to lay her magnificent voice and improvise at times.

Tracklist:

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1. Ahwak 05:14
2. La Mmoush Ana El Abki 03:49
3. Ya Ashikat Al Wardi 04:28
4. Shaghalouni 04:45
5. Bahlam Maak 02:30
6. Ahibak Wa Anta Fakirni 04:11
7. Ashanak Ya Amar 03:45
8. Dakhalti Marra Fi Gineyna 03:34
9. Otlob Einayya 03:27