Samira Said
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| سميرة سعيد Samira Said |
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 Samira Said
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Samira Bensaïd Pirthi |
| Born | January 10, 1960 |
| Origin |  Rabat, Morroco |
| Genre(s) | Arabic music, pop |
| Occupation(s) | Singer |
| Years active | 1980—present |
| Label(s) | Alam el Phan/EMI Arabia |
| Website | Diva Samira Said website |
Samira Said (Arabic: سميرة سعيد (native name: Samira Bensaïd) ; born Jan 10, 1960) is an Arabic singer. She was born and raised in Rabat, Morroco. Said lives in Cairo, Egypt with her husband Moustapha Naboulssi. The couple has a son.
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[edit] Biography
Born in Rabat, Morroco, Samira began singing at an early age. She grew up in Rabat in Morocco and was almost instantly praised for her beauty and charming personality. People knew these would carry her far, but it was only when she grew a little older and began singing that people realized she was destined for great things. Her parents realized this and they began entering her in singing competitions. Always a favorite of the judges, she often won, and launched her professional singing career from this. Soon after she was the most popular singer in the country.
However, she decided to move to Egypt so she could make a major impact on the entire Arab world. Sensing her greatness, many producers took her on and she began crafting beautiful songs, and recording many Arab favorites.
[edit] Early career
Samira began singing professionally at the age of 9. Encouraged by her family, she began her career by participating in talent shows. Her first appearance on television was in the show "Mawaheb".
In a short time, Samira Said, as she is known in Morocco, became one of the leading names in her home country. Her best known works include "Maghlouba" and "Wa'ady".
Said's ambitions extended beyond Morocco and following the advice of her idol and friend, Abdul Halim Hafez, she moved to Egypt to expand her career.
[edit] International career
In 1980 Said sang Morocco's first (and so far only) entry in the Eurovision Song Contest. Her song "Bitaqat Hub" came 18th out of 19.
In the early 1980s, Said recorded a song called "Al hob Elli Ana Aichah", composed by Mohamad Sultan. She went on to record with big names in the music scene in Egypt, including Baligh Hamdi, Helmi Bakr and Mohamad Al-Mouji.
Said's performance of "Alemnah Al hob", on Layali Television in 1983, is credited with making her well known in Egypt. Said is known for her careful selection of songs and accompanists, working with several well known composers and lyricists. As a result, many of her songs are critically acclaimed, such as "Asmar malak", "Malak moch zay aweydak", "Sayidati anissati sadati", "Ech gab li gab", "El Leila dee", "Min ghir sabab", "Amrak ajib", "Al gani Baad Yomeen", "Mosh Hatnazel Anak" and "Alf Leila wal Leila".
In 2005, she followed this success with 'Aweeny Beek' (make me stronger). Most recently, she sang 'Kollena Ensan' (All people) during the African Cup Of Nations in Cairo in January of 2006 and performed in Casablanca in July of that year.
[edit] Style
Said has achieved an unusual longevity in the Arabic world, frequently adopting new stylistic influences, such as Tarab, Raï and Jazz. She has worked with a variety of young talents, producing a series of albums including "Inssani", "Khaifa", "Ashka", "Enta Habibi", "Kul Dee Eshaat", "Al Bal", "Rohy", "You Wara Youm" and her latest album, "Aweeni Beek" which went on to sell more than 25,600,000 copies.
Following her days alongside Aziza Jalal on 1970's star-search program Mawahib, solo artist Samira Saïd reinvented the very basis of the contemporary Arabic song medium, paving the way for music video just over 20 years ago. Since her one-woman revolution, composers have morphed classical 20-to-30-minute song formats into short, camera-ready forms, and she has been *the* term of reference for an entire generation in the performing arts throughout the Arab world. She is often imitated but impossible to duplicate. Flamboyant yet discreet, Samira is an awe-inspiring creator whose passion gives new meaning to the word charity. As an example for all -- don't just stand there, do something -- she gives intelligently, discreetly and powerfully, even when the world hasn't yet realized it needs to wake up. Courage, strength and conviction are her middle names -- she always ends up standing up for what is right, whether or not it's fashionable or popular, destroying taboos and launching AIDS awareness in the Arab world, as well as rallying other European and African stars to the urgent need to aid earthquake victims across North Africa. As a beacon of tolerance, she has spearheaded mega concerts to draw people together after the riots in immigrant suburbs across France, and to bring about solidarity between all religions, whether performing at the Vatican( Diva Samira Said was the only Arabic artist to perform in front of the former Pope John Paul II), or taking the show on the road where other stars dare not go, bringing her joie de vivre live to people in Gaza. Not just another star in the sky looking pretty, but a voice for humanity.
The Madonna of the Arab world is what her Fan like to call her. This is due to her ever changing style and image in her music and appearance. To many, this may seem like a negative thing; however, in Said’s case it is hardly so.
[edit] Awards
The Diva Samira Said won more than 40 AWARDS around the Arab World and other. In 2003, the Diva Samira Said won a World Music Award and a BBC award for the best artist in the Middle East with her album 'Youm Wara Youm' (the title track of which is a duet with Cheb Mami)
Samira Said's fan base increases with every new album. Her concerts are constantly fully booked, sometimes with so many people that it exceeds the capacity of the stage at which she is performing.
[edit] Discography
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The meeting with Baligh Hamdi was considerably going to enrich the directory of the Moroccan young person, by composing her songs like: "Ben leef", "Sayidati sadati", "Malich eenwan", "Akher hawa". Another meets with Mohamed Soltane by 'Hikaya' , 'Methaya li', 'Ellila dee', 'Kassid yakoulouna aanni kathiran'.
Till now she still search the big tube, she worked with Mohamed El Mougi ('Ya damiiti haddi' from the only movie of Samira Said) Khaled El Amir by 'Shoft habibi', 'Helmi Bakr' by 'Lilet el ouns', 'Ech gab li gab', 'Amrak aajib', 'Men ghir sabab'.
It is Baligh Hamdi who finally composed to Samira the magnific song "Aalemnah el Hob", who she presented it counting for the festival of 'Layali' of television in Cairo, in 1983.
After this song Samira became star among the first stars in Egypt and she continued with Baligh by "Ketre el kalam" song "Asmar malak", "Malak mosh zay aawaydak"
Later Samira worked with Gamal Salama who composed her gracious song "Al gani baad youmine" with whom dominated during a very long period the Hit-Parades. The new couple does not stopthere, rather they presented another song it was 'Mosh hatnazel aannak Abadan'.
After that, Samira and after these big successes had to prove nothing more in Egypt. Another challenge was outlined that the position of the great star did not allow her to darken.
The next few years in Said’s career were exploding with success. Her love scandals and rumors with the famous composer Baleegh Hamdi, (One of Om Kalthoum’s famous composers) added to her fame though tarnishing her popularity. Her popularity however, picked up as she emerged with beautiful hits like “Aiwa Bashta’lak Sa’at” (Yes, sometimes I miss you) a sultry, jazz quite cheesy but sexy track, “Oyoonak Alit” (Your eyes say so) and Al Gani Ba’d yomein (He came two days later). Samira’s ever changing style picked up new armies of listeners as she transitioned in and out of the many styles and genres out there. Gambling her music career away and outrageously experimenting in every situation possible, Samira became known for her blatant and unconcealed mentality as this was vividly seen within her music.
In 1998, we saw a lot of change for Said when she emerged with her “Al Bal” (On the mind) album. The title track, a livid, furious call to her loved one, stormed the Arab world. The dramatic and very sexy video, showed Said’s striking side. Said was dressed in a black sleeveless dress with a black shawl spontaneously fluttering across her body. With wind effects blowing her hair, fires burning everywhere and Roman style statues engulfing her, a wonderful video was created. That same album had a great bunch of hits, the philosophical, mind-numbing “Halit Malal” (Situation of Boredom) and the wet and jazzy “Beteegee witimshee.” (You come and you go.)
The next few years witnessed even more success for Said. With the Rohi (My soul) album, Said experimented with new producers and lyricists creating a grand album. The array of the many styles she experimented established new ground rules for the Arab song. Bringing her Moroccan influence back into perspective, the album progressed into becoming yet another hit for Said.
In 2000, we witnessed the release of “Lailah Habeebee,” (One night, my love) the title track of the album, won the best video award in the Arab world for 2001. The video which cost significantly more than your average Arab music video, showed Said in a state of depression and anxiety. With the pathetic fallacies being anything but pathetic Said showed her dramatic side. Rain pouring in and out of every possible place, wine glasses breaking at Victorian style settings, the video was remarkable! The album had one of the most beautiful ballads ever sung by Said, “Te’dar Te’oli” (Can you tell me?) more saucy jazzy influences with “Malee,” (What’s it got to do with me?) grooving tracks like “Moshta’alak” (I miss you) and of course, not leaving anything behind, Samira had the enticing “Beyban Alaya” (It shows on me) a traditional Arab track, longer than the typical pop song, with recurring, mind boggling lyrics. “Lailah Habeebee” was definitely a winner!
2002 came along and many, who have never heard of Samira Said before, had suddenly heard of her. “Youm Wara Youm” (Day after Day) is not necessarily her finest work to date, but definitely her greatest achievement. She had achieved what I’d like to call partial international stardom. With the two international awards, Said has definitely, with no doubt, set new standards for herself. Many will argue that “Yom wara Yom” is not a work of art, but merely a commercially driven album. To an extent there is a lot of truth in that statement, for “Yom wara Yom” was released by “Alam El Phan” a record company famous for creating the best selling albums. It would be wrong to say that it was just the music that created such success. “Yom wara Yom” was very cleverly crafted, in every possible way. The album had the great collaboration with Cheb Mami. Marketing wise, the album had premieres in Virgin mega stores in Dubai and Beirut. The album cover itself was pretty catchy and the video of “Yom wara Yom” needless to say was spell bounding, raising controversy across the Arab world, revealing Said’s sexy and wild side.
In 2004 Samira's new album is out and this album was a success too, with the singles 'Aweeny Beek' wich video is shooted at Barcelona (Spain) and 'Ma khalas'. A promotional Concert for this Album promotion took place at Cairo in 2005 will Samira sang too Youm Wara Youm.
In summer 2005 Samira rekindled an old flame between her and her Tunisian fans during her performance at the Carthage festival, she sang a collection of songs in different dialects varying from Moroccan to Egyptian, Lebanese, and even western.
In 2006, she again struck gold with "Kolena Enssan" (We are all humans), a new song for Africa Cup of the Nations which she sings in French, English, and Arabic. "Kolena Enssan" debuted at the opening of the C.A.N. in Cairo.
[edit] Also See
- All about AYAM HAYATI
- Samira Saied Website
- Eurovision Song Contest 1980
- Arabic pop music
- Eurovision Song 1980 with Samira Said
- Samira's song: Taking on the world
[edit] Diva Fan Club
[edit] References
- /Samira Official You Tube
- Masrawy
- Alriyadh
- The web site The Diva Aziza Jalal Angel's Voice
- Albawaba
- Farfech
- All about Diva Samira Said
- Samira Said Daily
- / Diva Samira Said on MySpace
- / Awards for World Music 2003: Diva Samira Said Artist Profile @bbc Radio
- Samira Said Clips
- Samira Said lyrics
- Samira saïd at the Internet Movie Database
- Samira Said
- Samira Said: Youm Wara Youm, Review by Garth Cartwright, 16 November 2007, BBC
- ALam Al Phan
- Al Ahram
- Al Mawaid
- Television show Robaiyate
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