Samira Said
Cairo
Samira Said is one of the biggest Arabic superstars today with a repertoire that exceeds 50 albums and many massive hits and successful music videos.
Diva of Arabic Music is what Samira Said Fans like to call her. This is due to her ever changing style and image in her music and appearance. To many, this may seem like a negative thing; however, in Said’s case it is hardly so. Singer,songwriter, performer, producer, actor —is there anything Samira Said hasn’t done, and done exceedingly well? One of the most accomplished singers of the three last decade of the Arab world.
Born in Rabat, Morroco, Samira began singing at an early age. She grew up inRabat in Morocco and was almost instantly praised for her beauty and charming personality. People knew these would carry her far, but it was only when shegrew a little older and began singing that people realized she was destined forgreat things. Her parents realized this and they began entering her in singing competitions. Always a favorite of the judges, she often won, and launched her professional singing career from this. Soon after she was the most popular singer in the country.
However, she decided to move to Egypt so she could make a major impact on the entire Arab world. Sensing her greatness, many producers took her on and she began crafting beautiful songs, and recording many Arab favorites.
Early career
Samira began singing professionally at the age of 9. Encouraged by her family,she began her career by participating in talent shows. Her first appearance ontelevision was in the show "Mawaheb".
In a short time, Samira Said, as she is known in Morocco, became one of theleading names in her home country. Her best known works include"Maghlouba" and "Wa'ady".
Said's ambitions extended beyond Morocco and following the advice of her idol and friend, Abdul Halim Hafez, she moved to Egypt to expand her career.
International career
In 1980 Said sang Morocco's first (and so far only) entry in the EurovisionSong Contest. In the early 1980s, Said recorded a song called "Al hob Elli Ana Aichah", composed by Mohamad Sultan. She went on to record with big names in the music scene in Egypt, including Baligh Hamdi, Helmi Bakr and Mohamad Al-Mouji.
The meeting with Baligh Hamdi was considerably going to enrich the directory of the Moroccan young person, by composing her songs like: "Ben leef", "Sayidati sadati", "Malich eenwan", "Akher hawa". Another meets with Mohamed Soltane by 'Hikaya' , 'Methaya li', 'Ellila dee', 'Kassidyakoulouna aanni kathiran'.
Till now she still search the big tube, she worked with Mohamed El Mougi ('Yadamiiti haddi' from the only movie of Samira Said) Khaled El Amir by 'Shoft habibi', 'Helmi Bakr' by 'Lilet el ouns', 'Ech gab li gab', 'Amrak aajib', 'Menghir sabab'.
It is Baligh Hamdi who finally composed to Samira the magnific song"Aalemnah el Hob", who she presented it counting for the festival of 'Layali' of television in Cairo, in 1983.
After this song Samira became star among the first stars in Egypt and she continued with Baligh by "Ketre el kalam" song "Asmarmalak", "Malak mosh zay aawaydak"
Later Samira worked with Gamal Salama who composed her gracious song "Algani baad youmine" with whom dominated during a very long period the Hit-Parades. The new couple does not stop there, rather they presented another song it was 'Mosh hatnazel aannak Abadan'.
After that, Samira and after these big successes had to prove nothing more inEgypt. Another challenge was outlined that the position of the great star didnot allow her to darken.
The next few years in Said’s career were exploding with success. Her popularity however, picked up as she emerged with beautiful hits like “Aiwa Bashta’lak Sa’at” (Yes, sometimes I miss you) a sultry, jazz quite cheesy but sexy track, “Oyoonak Alit” (Your eyes say so) and Al Gani Ba’dyomein (He came two days later). Samira’s ever changing style picked up new armies of listeners as she transitioned in and out of the many styles and genres out there. Gambling her music career away and outrageously experimenting in every situation possible, Samira became known for her blatant and unconcealed mentality as this was vividly seen within her music.
In 1998, we saw a lot of change for Said when she emerged with her “Al Bal” (On the mind) album. The title track, a livid, furious call to her loved one,stormed the Arab world. The dramatic and very sexy video, showed Said’s striking side. Said was dressed in a black sleeveless dress with a black shawl spontaneously fluttering across her body. With wind effects blowing her hair,fires burning everywhere and Roman style statues engulfing her, a wonderful video was created. That same album had a great bunch of hits, the philosophical, mind-numbing “Halit Malal” (Situation of Boredom) and the wetand jazzy “Beteegee witimshee.” (You come and you go.)
The next few years witnessed even more success for Said. With the Rohi (Mysoul) album, Said experimented with new producers and lyricists creating agrand album. The array of the many styles she experimented established new groundrules for the Arab song. Bringing her Moroccan influence back into perspective,the album progressed into becoming yet another hit for Said.
In 2000, we witnessed the release of “Lailah Habeebee,” (One night, my love) the title track of the album, won the best video award in the Arab world for 2001. The video which cost significantly more than your average Arab music video, showed Said in a state of depression and anxiety. With the pathetic fallacies being anything but pathetic Said showed her dramatic side. Rainpouring in and out of every possible place, wine glasses breaking at Victorian style settings, the video was remarkable! The album had one of the most beautiful ballads ever sung by Said, “Te’dar Te’oli” (Can you tell me?) moresaucy jazzy influences with “Malee,” (What’s it got to do with me?) grooving tracks like “Moshta’alak” (I miss you) and of course, not leaving anything behind, Samira had the enticing “Beyban Alaya” (It shows on me) a traditional Arab track, longer than the typical pop song, with recurring, mind boggling lyrics. “Lailah Habeebee” was definitely a winner!
2002 came along and many, who have never heard of Samira Said before, had suddenly heard of her. “Youm Wara Youm” (Day after Day) is not necessarily her finest work to date, but definitely her greatest achievement. She had achieved what I’d like to call partial international stardom. With the two international awards, Said has definitely, with no doubt, set new standards for herself. Manywill argue that “Yom wara Yom” is not a work of art, but merely a commercially driven album. To an extent there is a lot of truth in that statement, for “Yom wara Yom” was released by “Alam El Phan” a record company famous for creating the best selling albums. It would be wrong to say that it was just the music that created such success. “Yom wara Yom” was very cleverly crafted, in every possible way. The album had the great collaboration with Cheb Mami. Marketing wise, the album had premieres in Virgin mega stores in Dubai and Beirut. The album cover itself was pretty catchy and the video of “Yom wara Yom” need less to say was spell bounding, raising controversy across the Arab world, revealing Said’s sexy and wild side.
In 2004 Samira's new album is out and this album was a success too, with the singles 'Aweeny Beek' wich video is shooted at Barcelona (Spain) and 'Makhalas'. A promotional Concert for this Album promotion took place at Cairo in2005 will Samira sang too Youm Wara Youm.
In summer 2005 Samira rekindled an old flame between her and her Tunisian fans during her performance at the Carthage festival, she sang a collection of songs in different dialects varying from Moroccan to Egyptian, Lebanese, and even western.
In 2006, she again struck gold with "Kolena Enssan" (We are all humans), a new song for Africa Cup of the Nations which she sings in French,English, and Arabic. "Kolena Enssan" debuted at the opening of theC.A.N. in Cairo.
In 2008 Samira Said (Saeed) reinvented herself once more as a disco-diva for the release of her tenth album Ayaam Hayati "Days of my life". The album not only spawned several hits (most notably "Already - Awam Kida","Hob Mayouss Minoh - Hopless Love" and "Nefssi Atkalem - I WishI Can Talk", but also sparked a renewal of interest in disco among main stream music fans. It also won the MEMAwards for Best Singer and best Album of the year. Samira's Thirty-Three studio album, Days of my life (200 [8)] , sold almost 600,000 copies in its debut week, easily topping the charts.
The latest video clip by mega star Samira Said for the song “Hob Mayoos Minoh”(Hopeless Love) from her last album was directed by Hadi Al Basjori and the story of the clip is about a girl in her car while it isdrowning in the sea. As hersoul rises up to the sky she accuses her lover of betraying her and tells the story of their failed relationship
In 2009, The 6th Arab Radio and Television ART Festival announced winners for the 2008 round in music, as voted to in a record pan-Arab survey that covered Arabs at home and in exile, in all spanning 60 million voters. Samira Said gotan honorary award for her comeback after a 3 year hiatus, through her latest album, Ayaam Hayati Days of My Life, for which she was awarded a Distinguished Creativity Prize.
Also, Samira Said won the Murex d'Or award for best female artist in North Africa/ the Middle East.
Style
Samira Said has achieved an unusual longevity in the Arabic world, frequentlyadopting new stylistic influences, such as Tarab, Raï and Jazz. She has workedwith a variety of young talents, producing a series of albums including"Inssani", "Khaifa", "Ashka", "EntaHabibi", "Kul Dee Eshaat", "Al Bal", "Rohy","You Wara Youm" and her latest album, "Aweeni Beek" whichwent on to sell more than 25,600,000 copies.
Solo artist Samira Saïd reinvented the very basis of the contemporary Arabic song medium, paving the way for music video just over 20 years ago. Since her one-woman revolution, composers have morphed classical 20-to-30-minute songformats into short, camera-ready forms, and she has been *the* term of reference for an entire generation in the performing arts throughout the Arab world. She is often imitated but impossible to duplicate. Flamboyant yet discreet, Samira is an awe-inspiring creator whose passion gives new meaning tothe word charity. As an example for all -- don't just stand there, do something-- she gives intelligently, discreetly and powerfully, even when the world hasn't yet realized it needs to wake up. Courage, strength and conviction areher middle names -- she always ends up standing up for what is right, whetheror not it's fashionable or popular, destroying taboos and launching AIDS awareness in the Arab world, as well as rallying other European and African stars to the urgent need to aid earthquake victims across North Africa. As abeacon of tolerance, she has spearheaded mega concerts to draw people together after the riots in immigrant suburbs across France, and to bring about solidarity between all religions, whether performing at the Vatican (Diva SamiraSaid was the only Arabic artist to perform in front of the former Pope JohnPaul II), or taking the show on the road where other stars dare not go,bringing her joie de vivre live to people in Gaza. Not just another star in the sky looking pretty, but a voice for humanity.
Awards
The Diva Samira Said won more than 40 AWARDS around the Arab World and other.In 2003, the Diva Samira Said won a World Music Award and a BBC award for thebest artist in the Middle East with her album 'Youm Wara Youm' (the title trackof which is a duet with Cheb Mami)
Samira Said's fan base increases with every new album. Her concerts are constantly fully booked, sometimes with so many people that it exceeds the capacity of the stage at which she is performing.
Discography
1. El hob elli ana a'aycheh (1980)
2. Bitaqat hob (1980)
3. Ben Lif (1981)
4. Hikaya (1982)
5. Allemnah el Hob (1983)
6. Ketr al Kalam (1983)
7. Methaya'li (1984)
8. Lilet el Ouns (1984)
9. Ya Damaiti Haddi (1984)
10. Ehki ya Shehrazade (1985)
11. Youm akablak Fih (1985)
12. Ech gab li gab (1985)
13. Amrak ajib en (1986)
14. Ana walla anta (1989)
15. Moch hatnazel a'anak (1986)
16. Sibak (1986)
17. Ya ebn al halel (1987)
18. Ghariba (198 [8)]
19. Sibni louahdi (198 [8)]
20. Ensani (1989)
21. Ba'adin neta'ateb (1990)
22. Choft el amar (1991)
23. Hannitlak (1992)
24. Khayfa (1992)
25. a'ach'a (1993)
26. Enta habibi (1995)
27. Kolli de echa3at (1996)
28. a'al bal (199 [8)]
29. Rouhi (1999)
30. Laila habibi (2001)
31. Youm Wara Youm (2002)
32. Awweeni Beek (2004)
33. Kolena Enssan (We are all humans) (2006) - single
34. El Hayate We Essalam (Life & Peace) (200 [8)] - single
35. Ayaam Hayati (Days of my life) (200 [8)]
36. Be W1nner - Samira Said featuring Fnaïre (2010) - single
37. Min Tourabak - From Your Dust(2010)- single
38. Lahetini El dounya - Life Got in the Way(2010) - single
39. Yarab Ana Gitlak - Back to God(2010) -single
40. Khalouh - Let Him Be (2010) - single
Samira Said needs no intro for sure! Samira Said is one of the biggest Arabic superstars today with a repertoire that exceeds many albums and many massive hits and successful video clips.samira Said will back with her upcoming eagerly awaited killer album and it will be her huge comeback from the Arabic Music Queen The Diva Samira Said.
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