Wednesday, Jan 15, 2014
Dubai: The resonating voice of Egyptian music and one of the best-selling Middle Eastern musicians of all time, Amr Diab is returning to Dubai once more. After a failed attempt to open the Dubai International Film Festival’s 10th edition at the Burj Park — a cancellation that organisers attributed to the venue rather than Diab himself — the singer will try his luck again on the Shaikh Rashid Hall stage for a 21 and over concert on January 17.
“Personally, I love Dubai and I love performing in Dubai. I am lucky to have minimum of two public concerts every year in UAE,” Diab told tabloid! in an email interview ahead of his show, which will include an opening set by Jordanian rock group JadaL. “My fan base here is huge, and I am very lucky to have to see them every year.”
The UAE is only one of many countries that Diab has experienced success in. His first hit, Nour Al Ain, went triple platinum after its 1996 release and became the first song by an Egyptian artist to win a World Music Award in Monaco. With its instantly recognisable opening notes, the single was a crossover hit all over South Asia and a club-favourite in Europe, making Diab one of the most influential Mediterranean music-makers of his time.
“I personally love this song, and the name of the song came after my daughter’s name, so it’s very dear to my heart,” Diab said.
The star continued to transform the Arab music scene through bold albums such as Amarain (1999) and Tammaly Ma’ak (2000), introducing unconventional instrumental choices and transcendent compositions.
“It’s a huge responsibility, of course,” he said of his international reach. “That’s why I work hard [with] every album to try and satisfy the needs of my entire fan base. I search well for good lyrics and work a lot on my music, especially [because] many of my fans do not speak or understand Arabic.”
Diab’s latest release, Al Leila, marked his 27th official album. It was released in August of 2013 after a delay due to political turbulence in Egypt. The album was a chart-topper across the globe, earning the star four World Music Award nominations and cementing his current relevance despite talk that his time has come and gone.
“It’s a challenge for me to come up with something better,” Diab shared of the pressures to outdo himself. He is currently deciding on music and lyrics for his upcoming record, set to be released this year.
Aware of his role model status within the region, the 52-year-old is quick to encourage young hopefuls to pursue their dreams in the same way he did, but urges them to be realistic about tackling the competitive nature of the industry.
“They need to work hard to make their voice heard, as it’s not easy,” Diab said. “It took a lot of effort and years for me to reach what I am today, so they must not give up and always go after their dream. If you have the talent and worked hard to achieve your dream, there is nothing that would stop you.”
By Marwa Hamad, Staff Reporter
Gulf News 2014. All rights reserved.
