Arab idols: The New Voices of the Middle East – Na’gham el Hood

posted on: Sep 10, 2014

The latest season of Arab Idol kicked off last week with its first episode in Lebanon and Dubai. Here we met Japanese singer Nao Koyasu, who made it through with a ‘golden ticket’ after singing a classic song by Fairouz in Arabic. Watch her performance here:
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And she’s not the only foreigner to take on classical Arabic songs without fluency in the language; her talent is reminiscent of last year’s Arab’s Got Talent finalist Jennifer Grout, from Boston, who stunned audiences with her renditions of some of the most iconic songs known to the Arab world.

Many have criticized alternative Arabic music for trying too hard to emulate Western styles, losing its unique ‘Arabness’ in the process. But we’re also seeing more and more Western and global artists trying to connect with the Arab world through music. There is clearly something to be gained from such fusions.

Today’s featured artists are all of Middle Eastern decent; whether they choose to sing in English, Arabic, French or Hebrew, they’re still staying true to their roots. These are the new voices of the Middle East.

Visit <a href=”http://tlv1.fm/music/nagham-el-hood/2014/09/09/arab-idols-the-new-voices-of-the-middle-east-nagham-el-hood/”>the webpage here</a> to listen to the playlist:

Playlist:

JMR – Wild Hibiscus

Zeid Hamdan – Zizo

Helly Luv – Risk It All

Sarah El Gohary – 3elbet CDhat

Sun Glitters & Makimakkuk – Ajab/ Wonder

Hello Psychaleppo! – Badawiya Lovin

Emel Mathlouthi – Kelmiti Horra ( My word is free)

Luna Abu Nassar – Eynaim

Ahmed Alshaibia – They Don’t Care About Us

Sae Lis – Y’a Du Soleil

Magic! – Stupid Me

LazzyLung – Ridin

TLV1