Al-Rawa'i (Greatest Hits)

Elissa, “al-Rawa’i” (Greatest Hits)
(New Sound, 2010) – ALL TRACKS FCC CLEAN
Reviewed by Abu Ramses

Lebanese female vocalists Elissa (Khoury) & Nancy Ajram have topped the Arab pop charts in recent years. Known as the “Queen of Romance” or “Queen of Emotion.” Elissa has a relatively untrained, husky, mezzo-soprano, “sweet and sour” voice. She is the first Lebanese to win 3 World Music Awards for best selling albums in the Middle East. These are love songs with percussion, piano and full orchestral accompaniment: mostly a very westernized sound. This album – produced in Nazareth, Israel – has fewer songs than the “Greatest Hits 2010” put out by Great Western Music group.

Tracks
***1. Tessada bi-meen (Who Do You Believe?) mid-tempo; Muted disco percussion beat; title song from best-selling 2009 album – 4:37
2. ‘Ala Hubbak (About Your Love) –standard mid-tempo Arabic pop – 3:38
3. Tulub Itmana - up-tempo dance beat with Arabic drums (table) & choral background - 4:23
4. Kol Youm fi ‘umri (Every Day of My Life) – Elaborate musical intro moves from slow to mid-tempo - 5:20
***5. ‘A Bali Habibi (On My Mind, My Love) – Slow piano and musical intro; shows off her voice qualities – 5:25
**6. Khud Balak ‘Alaya (Take Care of Me) another mid-tempo, vocal showcase – 5:30
7. Kermalak – “He said he just wants to be friends.” Slow disco beat -5:00
8. Hubbak Waja‘a (Your Love Hurt)–down-tempo, piano accompaniment; voice is double-mixed - 4:52
**9. Agmal Ahsas (Most Beautiful Feelings) Mid-tempo; big orchestra. Very successful love song; in Egyptian dialect - 5:54
****10. Salimli ‘Aley (Say Hello to Him for Me) – Mid-tempo; darbuka & kanun are prominent in instrumental mix, a more hybrid sound – 4:51
***11. Betmoun (I Owe You) – Kanun also prominent on this one – 4:05
**12. Law Ta‘rafu (If You Know Him) – mid-tempo; sweet sound. She was criticized for appearing in the video in bed under a white sheet – 4:19
13. Ahla Donya (Most Beautiful World)–“Should I complain or talk or cry because of my happiness.” Slow - 4:14
14. Masduma (Shocked) – “Why does he say such bad things about me?” From 2010 “Tessada bi-meen” album. Slow – 4:24
15. Saher E'ini – (Let my eyes stay awake all night) Mid-tempo; Latin influences. From 2008 “Ayyami Beek” album. - 4:35
16. Fatet Seneen (Years Have Passed) – Guitar solos; mid-tempo; voice double mixed - 4:07
**17. Irham ‘albi (Pity my heart) Mid-tempo; mejwez, darbuka and traditional Arabic beat – 3:59