Ziad Al-Rahbani, that brilliant star in Lebanon’s sky, does not cease to entrance his audience into his very unique music. His recent concert “Bi Ma Enno” (Since) at the Nabu Museum in the North of Lebanon on June 22nd was a dazzling success, and two more are scheduled for July 19th in Beirut, featuring Lisa Simone, and August 9th in Jezzine.
On this occasion, and for those who just happen by a weird chance to have missed knowing him and his unique work, Ziad Al Rahbani is a Lebanese pianist, composer, and playwright, son of the iconic Fairuz and Assi Al Rahbani.
Born into a family of music legends that influenced his artistic beginning, Ziad went with his own creativity, a uniqueness that launched his name to the stars, nationally and internationally. Among his creations back then: Blending Lebanese music with modern jazz in what came to be known thereafter as the jazz Arabic music.
The beginning of our sensational artist started during the 60s with his assembled writings entitled “Sadiki Allah” (My Friend God). During his teenage, he composed for his mother Fairuz the world-renowned “Saalouni El-Nass” (People Asked Me); a song that acknowledged the birth of the quintessential Ziad Al Rahbani.
Later to that, Ziad appeared in the plays of “Al Mahatta” (The station) and “Mays El Rim” (named after the illusional village the play revolves around) until he made his first theatrical masterpiece “Sahriyyeh” (The Soirée).
Ziad’s success kept rising as he gave to our homeland an eloquent and unparalleled muse to our ear with the music he composed, as well as with the lyrics that still speak to us as Lebanese.
Among his unforgettable music pieces that generations keep on playing, we cite: “Bi Saraha” (To Be Honest), “Bala Wala Chi” (Without Anything), “Kifak Enta?” (How Are You Doing?), “Habbaytak Ta Nsit El Nawm” (I Loved You to the Point of Forgetting the Sleep), “Eh, Fi Amal” (Yes, There’s Hope), and the list goes on and on.
There is more to Ziad than his musical creations. He came to be known as a controversial artist for his sarcasm in his outspoken political views and comments, which sounded kind of funny at times and to which many Lebanese related to.
That started during the Civil War (1975), and thereafter when he transcribed Lebanon’s bitter reality into astounding and hilarious showpieces.
Unlike the Rahbani Brothers’ patriotic plays, Ziad made his own artistic line of blunt sarcasm that reflected back then the veracious scene of conflicts in its crude reality with no sugar-coating. That deep pain he felt at the warring factions and politics, he channeled it into his artistic plays.
Among his timeless plays that remain contextual and relevant, we recognize “Nazl Al Sourour – 1974” (The Sourour Motel), “Bil Nesbeh La Boukra Shou? – 1978” (What About Tomorrow?), “Film Ameriki Tawil – 1980” (Long American Movie), and “Shi Feshel – 1983” (The failure), among many others of course.
Both his “Bil Nesbeh La Boukra Shou?” and “Film Ameriki Tawil” had their footage brought in 2015 and 2016 by a Lebanese distribution company to the silver screen.
Despite his outspoken sarcastically fun shows, Ziad was known for his shy and humble TV and stage presence in Lebanon as worldwide.
For some unexplainable reasons, he disappeared from the Lebanese scene two years ago yet kept performing throughout Europe. Now, he has made a strong comeback much awaiting by all; because we simply can’t get enough of this man.
To the delight of the Lebanese society, he finally appeared this year on a couple of TV shows and made it again to the glorious stage of Lebanese festivals and concerts.
Ziad Al-Rahbani is back! He is resuscitating his music back into the Lebanese nightlife, and we can’t wait to hear what new and more this genius of Lebanon has to share with us from his unparalleled creativity.
Until then, here is one of his most famous pleasant songs!
