Samira Said

Infobox musical artist 2
Name = _ar. سميرة سعيد
Samira Said


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Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = Samira Bensaïd Pirthi
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Born = birth date |1957|01|10
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Origin = Rabat, Morroco
Instrument =
Genre = Arabic music, pop
Occupation = Singer
Years_active = 1980—present
Label = Alam el Phan/EMI Arabia
URL = [http://samirasaid.tv/mainpage.htm Diva Samira Said website]
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Samira Said ( _ar. سميرة سعيد (native name: Samira Bensaïd)) (born January 10, 1957) is an Arabic singer. She was born and raised in Rabat, Morroco. Said lives in Cairo, Egypt with her husband Moustapha Naboulssi. The couple has a son.

Biography

Early life

Born in Rabat,in 1960 Morroco, Samira began singing at an early age. She grew up in Rabat in Morocco was praised for her beauty and charming personality. 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 greater impact on the entire Arab world. Many producers took her on and she began recording many Arab favorites. Before moving to Egypt, Samira had several successful Moroccan singles such as " Kifash Tlakina", " Fayetli sheftek shi marra" and " Sarkouh". Samira met the famous Egyptian singer Abdel El halim and Faiza Ahmed and they convinced her parents that she had to go to Cairo if she wants to have a real singing career. In 1979 Samira moved to Egypt.

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 on television was in the show "Mawaheb".

In a short time, Samira Said, as she is known in Morocco, became one of the leading 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 Eurovision Song Contest. Her song "Bitaqat Hub" came 18th out of 19.

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.

Said's performance of "Alemnah Al hob", on Layali Television in 1983, is credited with making her well known in Egypt. Said is known for her selection of songs and accompanists, working with several well known composers and lyricists. As a result, many of her songs are critically acclaimed, such as "Asmar malak", "Malak moch zay aweydak", "Sayidati anissati sadati", "Ech gab li gab", "El Leila dee", "Min ghir sabab", "Amrak ajib", "Al gani Baad Yomeen", "Mosh Hatnazel Anak" and "Alf Leila wal Leila".

The next few years in Said’s was becoming more successful. Her love scandals and rumors with the famous composer Baleegh Hamdi, (One of Om Kalthoum’s famous composers) added to her fame though tarnishing her popularity. Her popularity however, picked up as she emerged with hits like “Aiwa Bashta’lak Sa’at” (Yes, sometimes I miss you) a sultry, jazz track, “Oyoonak Alit” (Your eyes say so) and Al Gani Ba’d yomein (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. She experimented with many styles. 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 was popular in the Arab world. That same album had a number of hits “Halit Malal” (Situation of Boredom) and the “Beteegee witimshee.” (You come and you go.)

The next few years witnessed even more success for Said. With the Rohi (My soul) album, Said experimented with new producers and lyricists creating a grand album. The array of the many styles she experimented established new ground rules 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 2001Fact|date=June 2008. 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. The album had ballads such as “Te’dar Te’oli” (Can you tell me?) more saucy jazzy influences with “Malee,” (What’s it got to do with me?) 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 lyrics.

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 two international awardsFact|date=June 2008. Many will 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.

In 2004 Samira's new album is out and this album was a success too, with the singles 'Aweeny Beek' which video is shooted at Barcelona (Spain) and 'Ma khalas'.A promotional Concert for this Album promotion took place at Cairo in 2005 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. She followed this success with 'Aweeny Beek' (make me stronger). Most recently, she sang 'Kollena Ensan' (All people) during the African Cup Of Nations in Cairo in January 2006 and performed in Casablanca in July of that year.

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 the C.A.N. in Cairo.

tyle

Said has achieved an unusual longevity in the Arabic world, frequently adopting new stylistic influences, such as Tarab, Raï and Jazz. She has worked with a variety of young talents, producing a series of albums including "Inssani", "Khaifa", "Ashka", "Enta Habibi", "Kul Dee Eshaat", "Al Bal", "Rohy", "You Wara Youm" and her latest album, "Aweeni Beek" which went on to sell more than 25,600,000 copiesFact|date=June 2008

Following her days alongside Aziza Jalal on 1970's star-search program Mawahib, 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 song formats 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.

The Madonna of the Arab world is what her fan 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.

Activism

Said has worked to overcome taboos by 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 a beacon 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 Samira Said was the only Arabic artist to perform in front of the former Pope John Paul II), or taking the show on the road where other stars dare not go, bringing her joie de vivre live to people in Gaza.

Awards

Samira Said won more than 40 awards around the Arab WorldFact|date=June 2008. In 2003, the Diva Samira Said won a World Music Award and a BBC award for the best artist in the Middle East with her album 'Youm Wara Youm' (the title track of which is a duet with Cheb Mami)Fact|date=June 2008

Discography

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', 'Kassid yakoulouna aanni kathiran'.

Till now she still search the big tube, she worked with Mohamed El Mougi ('Ya damiiti 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', 'Men ghir sabab'.

It is Baligh Hamdi who finally composed to Samira the 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 "Asmar malak", "Malak mosh zay aawaydak"

Later Samira worked with Gamal Salama who composed her song "Al gani 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'.

ee also

* Eurovision Song Contest 1980
* Arabic pop music

External links

* [http://ayamhayati-samirasaid.blogspot.com/ All about AYAM HAYATI]
* [http://www.Diva.vze.com/ Samira Saied Website ]
* [http://SamiraClips.vze.com/ More than 70 Clips for samira said]
* [http://www.samirasaid-lovers.tk/ Samira Said Fan Club]
* [http://www.oikotimes.com/v2/index.php?file=articles&id=2178/ Eurovision Song 1980 with Samira Said]
* [http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-22871971_ITM/ Samira's song: Taking on the world]

References

* [http://divavideos.vze.com/ Samira Official You Tube ]
* [http://www.masrawy.com/News/2007/Arts/Music/may/7/samira-said.aspx/ Masrawy]
* [http://www.alriyadh.com/2008/04/10/article333027.html/ Alriyadh]
* [http://www.albawaba.com/ar/main/ Albawaba]
* [http://online.farfesh.com/ Farfech]
* [http://www.Diva.vze.com/ The Official Website]
* [http://www.samiradaily.com/ Samira Said Daily]
* [http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=131112069 / Diva Samira Said on MySpace]
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio3/world/awards2003/profile_said.shtml / Awards for World Music 2003: Diva Samira Said Artist Profile @bbc Radio]
* [http://www.listenarabic.com/samira-said-mp3.php Samira Said]
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/release/393n/ Samira Said: Youm Wara Youm] , Review by Garth Cartwright, 16 November 2007, BBC
* [http://www.alamelphan.com/music/ ALam Al Phan]
* Al Ahram
* Al Mawaid
* Television show Robaiyate