Abdel Halim Hafez - 1971 - Mawood

 Abdel Halim Hafez - 1971 - Mawood

Abdel Halim Hafez, known as "The Nightingale", was an iconic Egyptian singer and actor. His immense popularity has inspired a religious-like devotion by many Egyptians who still celebrate him every year. He starred in some of the most memorable movies in the 1950s and 60s, the golden age of Egyptian cinema, including Dalila, the first color film in the Middle East.   Abdel Halim was not just a singer; he played several instruments, including the piano, oboe, guitar, and oud. His songs are known worldwide. In fact, you might recognize one of his melodies, “Khosara”, composed by Baligh Hamdy, which was sampled by Jay-Z in 1999 in his song "Big Pimpin," and resulted in a copyright lawsuit.

Abdel Halim was born in El Sharqia, north of Cairo. Both of his parents died while he was young, leaving him an orphan and impoverished. He also contracted a waterborne parasitic disease in childhood, bilharzia, causing health issues that plagued him his whole life. Despite his early difficulties, Adbel Halim's musical abilities became apparent from an early age, and his talent were carefully nurtured by his older brother. At 14, became formal training at the Arabic Music Institute in Cairo. Abdel Halim continued teaching music and singing in clubs until he was discovered by a radio executive in the early 1950s. Despite his fame, Abdel Halim's humble beginnings made him relatable to many Egyptians; a true man of the people. He was the voice of the revolution, in fact, his rise to fame coincided with Egypt’s 1952 revolution, and he sang many popular patriotic songs. His music inspired nationalistic pride and support for the leader of the revolution and future president, Gamal Abdel Nasser.  His songs were also sung in Tahrir Square during the 2011 Egyptian revolution. 

Throughout his career, Abdel Halim did not only sing songs for his beloved country, but he also performed uplifting music dedicated to countries like Lebanon, Syria, Tunisia, and Palestine, endearing him to the Arab people. Not only were his songs and films immensely popular, Abdel Halim's musical style greatly influenced Arab music. The lyrics of his songs and performance style focused on emotional impact rather than technical singing ability, preferring live performances over studio recordings.

Hafez funeral

Abdel Halim passed away at only 48 years old, due to complications from his chronic disease. All of the country was grieving and his monumental funeral engulfed the city of Cairo. However, this wasn’t the end for Abdel Halim. Just as his songs and movies were remembered and continued to be played throughout the country for generations, Abdel Halim’s legacy lived on...and grew. Today, Abdel Halim's loyal fans continue to visit his tomb every year on the anniversary of his death. Abdel Halim is remembered as more than a pop culture figure; he is greatly respected and venerated as one of the greatest Egyptian artists. There are even miracles attributed to him. This yearly pilgrimage is a testament to Abdel Halim’s powerful legacy, and importance to the people of Egypt and the Arab world as a boy who grew from poverty to become the voice of a newly-established nation.

"Mawood" from 1971 is the first long-form song of a legendary series, this is a milestone in his career. A majestic artwork which is able to break down any barrier, this can be appreciated by lovers of both ethnic and classical music, but also by the most demanding popular music listeners.

Credits:

Composed By: Baligh Hamdy (بليغ حمدي)

Lyrics By: Mohamed Hamza (محمد حمزة)