My response to that catholic school

Some catholic school sent the above flyer to parents, in a nutshell they warned parents that there will be a concert where gothic people (who have the culture of death) will lure kids in to some satanic rituals and give them drugs, and they wondered, why aren't there any cameras allowed? What are they trying to hide? So here is my answer below!

That's definitely an old subject being opened up, I don't remember the exact year, but I know it was mid 90s to the beginning years of 2000 where the music Rock and Metal were considered Satanic and everyone who likes this music worships Satan and many got arrested for having long hair and an earring in their nose.

Well I used to listen to metal and heavy/hard rock music a lot in my early 20s and I have never worshiped Satan, he doesn't exist you see, him and his stupid red horns.

Drugs and cults exist everywhere irregardless whether their members like rock or samba, if they do, it's mere coincidence, but it's not an equivalence formula, because most people who like rock and metal music just like music for what it is and are not a part or members of any satanic cults.

I used to attend so many rock concerts in Lebanon, and today I was at the mentioned concert where 4 bands in total played, 2 of them were local bands, moreover there was To Die For and Anathema (the latter is a great band which I really like), and the reason why they said no cams, wasn't because we were all going to do a big circle and chant to Satan, it was simply a marketing thing and the organizers probably wanted exclusivity on the photos. BUT TO YOUR SURPRISE there was at least 500 cameras down there, why don't you go ahead and check the videos, you will see there was nothing harmful there, just people happy and singing along and jumping!

If by any chance a group of people did any drugs, it's (I believe) their parents problems and responsibility, plus no one was forcing anything there.

I am sick and tired of catholic school's war on this music, if you're afraid a kid might be drawn into drugs, alcohol and into a cult, well I suggest you check his or her family's situation, how their parents are raising them, and see what the real problem is that caused this kid to be so susceptible and fragile. Let's not blame rock and let's see what really causes some kids to become suicidal or confused or looking like a Gothic (which is really trust me on this, just a fashion look for most of them). Also note that a screwed up kid will not resist temptation in the bathroom of his own school, so will you not send him to school either? Or will you see what his problem is and fix it and not throw blame on other things?

And guess what, the concert was amazing, Anathema rocked the stage and no one offered me drug or told me to dance wouha wouha to Satan!

Updated: Here's an excellent post about the matter from the fellow blogger Tony. "Cultural Segregation"
And here us L'Orient-Le jour's article on the matter: "Le Centre catholique d’information au service de la censure"

Beirut Rock Festival 2009

Click on image to enlarge!

Beirut Rock Festival to take place on November 11, 13 and 14 at the Forum de Beyrouth. It's great to finally see Lebanon hosting such events again, I think if I'm not mistaken, this is the first Beirut Rock Festival, and for a start it's hosting some good bands, including one of my favorites "Anathema". I am sure year after year it will evolve to something that will attract more international visitors.

Tickets on sale at the Virgin Ticketing Box Office!

مارسيل خليفة يغني في مهرجانات بيت الدين، للمعتقلين في السجون الإسرائيلية... والعربية

باسكال عسّاف

بينما كانت بيروت ترزح تحت حرّ قاسٍ لف سماء العاصمة طيلة شهر أب، كانت منطقة بيت الدين تنعم بنسيم ليلي بارد أشبه بإطلالة خجولة للشتاء. أكثر من أربعة آلاف شخص حضروا، غصّ المدرج بحركتهم، تفقدوا أمكنتهم، وما كادت الساعة تقترب من التاسعة مساءً، حتى امتلأت كل المقاعد، وعمد القيمون على الأمسية إلى إضافة عدد آخر من الكراسي في نواحي المدرج. جلس الحضور يترقّب، فالليلة حنين إلى صوت مارسيل خليفة، وانتظار أقرب إلى التأمل في موعد مع الموسيقى.

أوشحة بألوان مختلفة لفّت أكتاف الحاضرين. عازفو الأوركسترا، الكورس، وبعض المستمعين، اختاروا الكوفية بلونيها الأبيض والأسود تعبيراً عن دعم قضية فلسطين، وطن عربي آخر يعاني من التخلّي.

أعضاء "أوركسترا فلسطين للشباب"، أكثر من 60 عازفاً بقيادة المايسترو البريطانية شون ادواردز (Shon Edwards)

 جاؤوا من لبنان، مصر، سوريا، العراق، فلسطين والهندوراس. باقة من الجنسيات المختلفة، اجتمعت في ليلة الأربعاء 12 آب 2009 وتركت في نفوس الجمهور ذكرى أمسية عبقت برائحة حب الأوطان.

وبمناسبة اختيار القدس عاصمة الثقافة العربية لعام 2009، كانت الأمسية تحية للشاعر محمود درويش في الذكرى السنوية الأولى لغيابه، هو الغائب الحاضر في الكلمات.

حفل استمر لأكثر من ساعتين، تنوع برنامجه بين أقسام ثلاثة. الجزء الأول غنائية بمشاركة أميمة الخليل من لبنان، ريم تلحمي وباسل زايد من فلسطين، تحت عنوان "أحمد عربي"، قصيدة عن المقاومة كتبها الشاعر محمود درويش وألّف موسيقاها مارسيل خليفة في العام 1983. ومع "القدس شمس الحرية، واليوم نغني أحمد العربي" بدأ خليفة حفلته ليدخل الجمهور معه إلى عالم آخر، ورددوا معه عالياً "أنا أحمد العربي\ فليأت الحصار\ جسدي هو الأسوار\ فليأت الحصار".

 

في الجزء الثاني عاد مارسيل متشحاً بشاله الأزرق، الذي شارك فيه مع فرقة الميادين ورافقه ولداه، رامي على البيانو، وبشّار على الدربكّة والدف، إسماعيل رجا(Ismail Raja)  على الكلارينت، بيتر هربرت (Peter Herbert)  على الكمان، ناصر سلامة(Nasser Salameh)  وألكسندر بيتروف (Alexandre Petrof)  عارفا إيقاع. 

عند أداء أغنية "يطير الحمام، يحط الحمام" توجه مارسيل إلى الجمهور طالباً منه أن يشاركه الغناء وتحديداً الصف الأول حيث جلس عدد من السياسيين وفعاليات البلد. وبعدما أطلت أميمة الخليل لتغني "عصفور طلّ من الشباك"، عصف المدرج بصراخ البهجة، ما دفع مارسيل إلى سؤال الحاضرين ممازحاً إذا ما زالت الكلمات في الذاكرة.

وبعد أن أهداها "إلى كل المعتقلين في السجون الإسرائيلية"، اخترقت المدرج عاصفة من التصفيق، انتظرها لتهدأ وأردف مبتسماً "والسجون العربية". في تلك اللحظة، وعلى وقع كلمات "كل قلوب الناس جنسيتي، فلتسقطوا عني جواز السفر"، شعر الحضور بأن التصفيق والصراخ لم يعد كافياٌ فوقف تحية لكل... المساجين.

أما أغنية "يا بحرية" فكانت الأكثر صخباً في الحفل، قديم جدده مارسيل بحضوره وعزفه الرائع، رافقه عازف المزمار (كلارينت) لبضع دقائق أذهل فيها الحضور بتمايله كالنسيم مع اللحن، أكمل بعدها مارسيل المقطوعة على العود على وقع تصفيق هادر. كما عزف على العود مقطوعة من قصيدة "محمد الدرة" و"أنا يوسف يا أبي" ليجعل هذا الحفل لوحة متكاملة من إنشاد جماعي وفردي ومعزوفات موسيقية وإلقاء شعري، لوحة رسمها الوطن المنسي في حسابات من نصبوا نفسهم قيّمين عليه.

في القسم الثالث غادر مارسيل ليجلس مع الحضور وعادت الأوركسترا إلى المسرح. منفردة، أدت ريم تلحمي أغنياتها "يا غزة" وإحدى قصائد محمود درويش "خضراء أرض قصيدتي \ خضراء عالية\ على مهل أدونها\ على وزن النوارس\ في كتاب الماء أدونها" واختتمت الحفل بأغنية عن القدس من كلمات وسيم الكردي وألحان سهيل خوري.

في نهاية الأمسية قدّم الوزير غازي العريضي ميدالية كمال جنبلاط وسجادة صلاة من صنع يد حرفية لبنانية لأعضاء الأوركسترا، كما قدمت السيدة نورا جنبلاط درعاً تذكارياً للأوركسترا ممثلة في مديرها، الملحن والموسيقي سهيل خوري. وبقي التكريم الأكبر الذي قدمه الجمهور وفي مقدمتهم وليد جنبلاط، طارق متري، جان أوغسبيان، زاهي وهبي، والسيدة جيزيل خوري تصفيقاً وتفاعلاً مع أغنيات وقصائد في ليلة موسيقية ارتقت إلى حد الإبداع.

A little bit too late, nevertheless worth the read. Marcel Khalife's concert with the Palestinian Youth Orchestra in Beiteddine on August 2009.

Madeleine Peyroux at Beiteddine, not to forgive and not to forget

When I went to Byblos a month ago to attend Loreena McKennitt's concert, although I love listening to her music and I find it very creative and rich, so is her amazing soprano voice, however I didn't enjoy my time that much, maybe I was far, maybe listening to all kinds of Celtic music live isn't as enjoyable as it is on your own radio on your own time and mood.

Nevertheless this is not the case with Madeleine Peyroux whom I saw yesterday in Beiteddine Palace. My first impression was that everything was extremely organized, we got there at 7:30pm, so the bus picked us up from the parking lot and took us to the venue. Before entering to the stage, there are 2 lines on both sides, full of coffee shops and mini-restaurants, drinks bars and others. If you walk up the road again, there is a small Saj Café, not very tasty though and a bit expensive. So my advice for you is to try and get something to eat in the region of Chouf, this way you will be sure to get a taste of the traditional.

Later on when we entered, on every two seats there was a magazine about Beirut being the world book capital for this year, and it was written in 4 languages for a change and not the 3 known ones in Lebanon, the 4th language was Spanish.

The stage wasn't very big, smaller than Byblos's stage. The part at the end of the stage contained a closed and inaccessible section of chairs. The stage looked very nice, nothing less can be expected in such a beautiful palace that was built in the early 19th century by Emir Bechir Chehab II.

The difference between this venue and others I've been to, was the familiarity and closeness between the people there, perhaps because it was not as crazily crowded, and perhaps it was because we were closer to the stage. Yet in summary, it was easier to be there, smoother.

When Madeleine Peyroux entered, she wasn't wearing anything fancy, a cute outfit, long jacket, jeans and boots. That is something we do not see Arab female artists do often. With artists such as Madeleine Peyroux, it is about the music, the lyrics, the voice and the cute in between jokes.

If you have never heard Madeleine Peyroux before, and you are a fan of Jazz & Blues, I highly recommend that you listen to her, although when you do, you will love her, and when you do, you will regret not having attended her concert yesterday. Her voice live was even better than when it's recorded in the studio. Why would you attend a concert and not listen to a CD? The main reason is the experience. The artist should interact and offer you with something you don't hear on the CD. And that is what Madeleine Peyroux did.

When you listen to her, you don't feel you're in Beiteddine Palace or even in Lebanon anymore, you travel with her voice to wherever she wants you to, be it New Orleans or Paris.

One small disappointment was the drums, he was very good, but being a drums instrument fan, I was waiting for a breath-taking drums solo.

At the end, and as the tradition goes, they leave, we applaud for encores, they come back, but hey it's Madeleine, and she didn't cease to surprise us, she did a finale song by herself, solo, on her guitar with her famous hat on her head, the song was "La vie en rose". It was beautiful, lucky me, I was able to get close to her and take great close-ups with my useless cam, because I had forgotten my better one at home. No matter, the souvenir is what counts.

If she's back next year, I really advise you to come and enjoy her show.

In a nutshell, it was a "inolvidable". Just my way of practicing my Spanish.

Fete de la musique - After glow

La Fête de la musique 2009 was everything I expected and more. I got there a little bit late, but there was nothing that could stop me from going. It is a one time a year event and I wouldn't miss it at all. I have been to previous Fête de la musique events, and they were always amazing and extremely fun.

First I stopped by Saint Nicholas stairs at Gemmayze, in addition to having a stage at the bottom of the stairs on the street, some chairs facing the stage, there was a sort of an art exhibition. All the way from down to the top, artwork was showcased on both sides of the strairs.

As you can see in the above photo, an artist "Charles Nassar" made some artistic arrangements with shrapnels that were collected from the July 2006 war of Israel and Hezbollah. A nice way of taking something ugly and making beautiful things of it.

Someone overheard me say that I needed a program to decide where to go next, and the nice gentleman gave me the flyer that had the program on it. So I looked at it and saw that there was Mashrou' Leila in the Thermes Romains. I couldn't recall who had told me to check them out, but nonetheless I grabbed my enthusiasm and went to the roman ruins in Downtown Beirut.

When I arrived, a band called "The New Government" was playing, and as I looked up at the what sort of appears as a Colosseum, it was filled with people, so were the sides of the stage, and all the way up there on the upper street.

After they were done, came the infamous band Mashrou' Leila. Everyone was cheering, more people came closer to the stage, I was able to see the obvious fan base. In my early twenties I used to keep up with the music scene, local emerging rock and metal bands, attend their concerts, etc... But this was a unique and a first time experience, seeing so much positive energy and enthousiasm from the fans. I still didn't know what the hype was all about. When the music started, everything came clear. This is definitely a promising band that will go international, or so I predict. Unfortunately by the time Mashrou' Leila came on, my camera's battery was dead, but I still insisted on a souvenir and took a photo with my modest cellphone. You can check Mashrou' Leila in their myspace page or check their facebook group. They will be playing in Sour (Tyr) on Sunday July 26th.

Looking forward till next year's.

Ziad Baroud at La fete de la musique

I didn't recognize him at first, he just appeared like the average
Salim, an ordinary guy, dressed casually. And finally I hear:
"Liliane, your friend is here!" I look around and concentrate, and
still I wasn't able to recognize him (I will blame it on night light
and me being tired after a long day kayaking at the Litani), and then
my friend tells me again: "That's Ziad Baroud, your friend!" The
reason why they categorized him as my friend is because I really like
and respect the guy, and always compliment him on his work and defend
him, etc... So yes, I saw him, I was so happy to see him just there in
casual clothes, visiting Saint Nicholas stairs in Gemmayze and
checking the ambiance of fete de la musique, walking amongst us, I saw
him as a very modest person. Perhaps this is how all ministers should
be, but in Lebanon, a minister is always so mysterious, with trillions
of bodyguards and armed vehicles etc..

So Mr. Ziad Baroud, if you see this, I just want to say, GOOD JOB and
I really admire you, I wish all ministers can learn from you. I regret
not having a picture taken with you, but I took your picture anyway
with other fans.

Fete de la musique - Program

Fete de la musique will take place this Sunday 21st of June starting 8pm, in Beirut in the following location. Facebook event page here.

PLACE DES MARTYRS:
20h00 Limelight (Rock)
20h40 Khat Ahmar (Arabic Hip Hop)
21h35 Katibe 5 (Arabic Hip Hop)
22h05 Malikah (Arabic Hip Hop)
22h45 Anne (Rock)
23h30 Arcane (Rock)
00h20 The Kordz (Rock)
01h10 DJ Lethal Skillz (Scratch / Hip hop)


JARDIN SAMIR KASSIR:
21h00 The Narcissist (Dubai / Hip hop)
10h45 Sandmoon (Folk)
23h20 Sylvain Nassar (Rock)
23h55 The Incompetents (Folk / Indie)
00h50 I-Voice (Arabic Hip Hop)


THERMES ROMAINS:
20h00 Bayat (Oriental)
20h40 Champlain (Chanson française)
21h15 Elias Diez (Rock français)
21h50 Karimbo Mixity (Rap)
22h25 The New Government (Rock)
23h15 Mashrou’Leila (Pop rock)
00h00 Fareeq el Utrush (Arabic hip hop)


GEMMAYZE (escalier St Nicolas):
20h00 Toni Bayeh (Oriental)
20h35 Cristobal (Indy-folk)
21h15 Youmna Saba (Lebanese Folk)
21h50 ShaBa wa l Kaylou tafaha (Comic critic)
22h05 Omarz & Grandsunn (Hip hop)
22h35 J-Electric (Funk / Jazz)
23h30 Meen (Lebanese rock)
00h20 Arnab (Live Drum n’bass)

DOME:
21h - TRIX - DJ SET - DEEP HOUSE
22h - CHARLY SHAWLLPORN - LIVE - MINIMAL
22h30 - STEPHANIE MERCHAK - LIVE - ELECTRO TECHNO
23h - TRASH INC. - LIVE - ELECTRO BREAKS
23h30 - ASPRO (FRANCE) - LIVE - DEEP HOUSE
00h - JADE & DIAMOND SETTER - DJ SET – MINIMAL / TECH-HOUSE
01h - AAA - DJ SET - TECH-HOUSE / DUBSTEP
02h - JAY K - DJ SET - TECHNO
03h - FADY ASWAD - DJ SET - TECHNO
04h – E.L.I & RABI-H - DJ SET - TECHNO

Visuals by KAMA (ITALY) – LA MIRZA – MOSIG – LABO & STRONGSKY

HAMRA (Next to Fransabank):
20h00 Nahna El Nas (oriental)
20h40 L’Fahrass (Arabic hip hop)
21h00 7 Ta2at (Arabic hip hop)
20h20 Bicro-phone (Arabic hip hop)
20h45 Plugged (Alternative rock)
21h25 The Crave (Alternative rock)
22h05 José González (Flamenco)
22h55 Sphere (Rock)
23h35 Vibrations (60’s rock)

Byblos Festival

What I like about the festivals in Lebanon are their locations. Byblos Festival has a wonderful location, they build a stage on top of the sea, the weather in June and July at night is the best, you will sense a light breeze, see the Old Castle in front of you, and all the mountains of Keserwan, just amazing.

Check out the program of Byblos Festival here.

Beiteddine announces their Festival Program

Ladies and gentlemen, I am thrilled to inform you about Beiteddine's Festival, if you live in a country nearby, take a road trip and come visit Lebanon, spend a day at the beach, and come attend one of the many very supreme events. I personally have my eyes on 4, we'll see what the budget permits.

Charles Aznavour
Jad El Maleh
Madeline Peyroux
Marcel Khalife
Kazem El Saher
Haninae y son Cubano
Guy Manoukian
and others...

Check the website here.

Un peu partout, Byblos Fête Noel

Click on image to view larger size.