Lebanese singer Majida El-Roumi cleverly clapped back on social media after lyrics from her song were abruptly omitted from the “Kermelak Ya Watan” concert on Saturday.
On August 1st, singers joined in a massive virtual concert to commemorate the Lebanese army. However, one performance became the most talked-about subject of the weekend: the banned ‘Thawra’ lyrics!
The Revolution is born from the womb of sufferings.
Dodging that message of truth, to which the people so relate to for living it daily since October 17, was deemed a meek attempt to avoid glorifying or justifying the current revolution.
A failed attempt as it only reignited anti-government sentiment and showed the resilience of the people of the revolution.
These lyrics even trended #1 on Twitter in Lebanon and are currently trending on Instagram, and outside of Lebanon as well.
Majida El-Roumi, who has always sung this particular patriotic song with so much passion and pride, seemed to have taken offense to the alteration of the lyrics in their most important message.
A day after the concert, on Sunday, she posted the video of her full performance of the song on Youtube. On Monday, she pinned it on her Facebook page, captioning it with the hashtag “The revolution is born from the womb of sufferings.”
Over on Instagram, she cropped the video and posted the part where she blasts those patriotic revolutionary lyrics loud and proud.
The cherry on top is that she didn’t share just any performance. She chose one where she is singing right in the middle of Martyrs’ Square, where the revolution first began!
Clearly, Majida El-Roumi, who is a U.N. Goodwill Ambassador, is not okay with the offensive removal of the powerful lyrics.
Besides, these lyrics are the words of famous poet Nizar Qabbani, who was a genius in his own right.
Changing his creative work to fit whatever political aim is not only an insult to his memory and legacy but also a violation of artistic integrity and freedom of expression.
In whatever angle this is seen, Majida El-Roumi, a widely loved and influential singer in Lebanon and the region, didn’t tolerate it and decided to right the wrong, in the most epic way possible.
It might not be a direct statement, but it is a very strong one nonetheless, even stronger than any spoken rebuke. It reflects resistance against those who want to silence the revolution and defile the truth.
Her stance meets that of the people, reminding all that the revolution is not over and will react to any blow meant to smother their truth and the rightful demands of the nation.
