| Abdel Halim Hafez | |
|---|---|
Abdel Halim Hafez |
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Abdel Halim Ali Shabana |
| Born | June 21, 1929 Ash Sharqiyah Governorate Egypt |
| Origin | Ash Sharqiyah Governorate |
| Died | March 30, 1977 King's College Hospital, London United Kingdom (aged 47) |
| Genres | Egyptian Opera Arabic |
| Years active | 1952–1977 |
| Labels | EMI Arabia |
| Associated acts | Umm Kulthum Fairuz Mohamed Abdel Wahab |
| Website | 7alim.com |
Abdel Halim Ali Shabana (Arabic: عبدالحليم علي شبانة) commonly known as Abdel Halim Hafez (Arabic: عبد الحليم حافظ) (June 21, 1929 – March 30, 1977), is among the most popular Egyptian and Arab singers and performers.[1][2][3] In addition to singing, Halim was also an actor, conductor, business man, music teacher and movie producer.[1][4][5][6][7] He is considered to be one of the Great Four of Arabic music (along with Umm Kulthum, Mohammed Abdel Wahab, and Farid Al Attrach).[1][6][8] His name is sometimes written as 'Abd el-Halim Hafez. He is known as el-Andaleeb el-Asmar (The Great Dark-Skinned Nightingale, Arabic: العندليب الأسمر).[3][9] He is also known as an icon in modern Arabic music.[1][10] His music is still played daily throughout the Arab world.[4][11][12][13]
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Born in El-Halawat, in Ash Sharqiyah Governorate, 80 kilometres (50 miles) north of Cairo, Egypt as Abdel Halim Ali Shabana, he was the fourth child of Sheikh Ali Ismail Shabana. He had two brothers, Ismail and Mohammed, and one sister, Aliah. His mother died from labour complications three days after giving birth to him - something that made people around him believe that he is a "bad luck". His father died five months later leaving him and his siblings orphaned at a young age. He lived in a poor orphanage for a period of time.[4] Later, He was raised by his aunt and uncle in Cairo. In these years Abdel Halim was extremely poor.[14]
Abdel Halim's one-of-a-kind musical abilities first became apparent while he was in primary school and his older brother Ismail Shabana was his first music teacher. At the age of 11 he joined the Arabic Music Institute in Cairo and became known for singing the songs of Mohammed Abdel Wahab. He graduated from the Higher Theatrical Music Institute as an oboe player [15][16]
While singing in clubs in Cairo, Abdel Halim was drafted as a last-minute substitute when the singer Karem Mahmoud was unable to sing a scheduled live radio performance in 1953.[17] Abdel Halim's performance was heard by Mohammed Abdel Wahab, the supervisor of musical programming for Egyptian national radio. Abdel Halim took 'Hafez', Abdel Wahab's first name, as his stage-surname in recognition of his patronage.[2]
In his early career's life, Abdel Halim was rejected by people for his new style of singing. However he persisted and was able to gain accolades later on.[9] Then, he became a favorite singer among all generations.[18]
Abdel Halim's collaborated with composer Mohammed Abdel Wahab to produce many popular love songs such as Ahwak ("I love you"), Nebtedi Minen el Hekaya ("If we were to tell the story"), and Fatet Ganbina( "She came between us"). Hafez also worked with Egyptian poet Mohammed Hamza on songs including Zay el Hawa ("It feels like love"), Sawah ("The Wanderer"), Hawel Teftekerni ("Try to remember me"), Aye Damiet Hozn ("Any tear of sadness"), and Mawood("Promised/ You're used to").
During his career, he was very popular and always performed in sold-out arenas and stadiums.[19] Despite his popularity, he rarely released a studio album in his life as he was purely a live singer.[8] He also played many different instruments very well including the oboe, drums, piano, oud, clarinet and guitar.[4] He was involved in all aspects of the creation of his songs.[1] Halim brought many new instruments to the Arab World.[2] He was known for his deep passion in his songs and his highly unique and rare voice.[1][8] He always sang from true and honest feelings deep inside.[4] Halim did performances in almost every country in the Arabic world and some performances outside the Arabic world including several concerts in Europe.[1] He used to encourage and help many young artists and actors to become successful.[20][21][22]
In the Arabic world, Halim is known as the "King of Arabic music", "The voice of the people", "The son of the revolution", and "King of emotions and feelings".[1][14][23] His patriotic songs were the main and most frequent songs sung by the crowds during the Egyptian Revolution of 2011.[1][5][18] His albums and CDs have sold more copies since his death than any other Arab artist ever.[11] His way of singing, the popularity of his songs and his behavior made him a role model for almost every modern Arab singer.[22][24][25][26] Halim is still remembered in the hearts of many people, even years after his death.[27] He is widely considered among the most influential performers in the Arab World.[14] The two composers Mohammed Abdel Wahab and Mohammed Al-Mougy both said, "Halim is the smartest person I ever knew". Mohammed Al-Mougy also added, "Halim is very original in all of his work".
At the age of 11 Abdel Halim contacted bilharzia[4]—a rare parasitic water-borne disease[9]—and was extremely periodically and painfully afflicted by it for most of his career. Despite this, he remained positive and never stopped creating and performing his songs.[23] Nevertheless, he also was always there for his country despite the illness.[23]
Abdel Halim never married, although rumors persist that he was secretly married to actress Soad Hosny for six years. This has never been proofed by anyone. People who were close to both singers declined this rumor.[28][29]
Hafez is said to have fallen in love only once, in his youth, with a young woman whose parents refused to allow them to marry. After four years, her parents finally approved, but the girl died of a chronic disease before the wedding. Abdel Halim never recovered from her loss, and dedicated many of his saddest songs to her memory, including Fi Youm, Fi Shahr, Fi Sana (في يوم، في شهر، في سنا In a Day, a Month, a Year) and the poignant Qariat el-Fingan (The Fortune-teller).
Halim often gave money and food to charity, and to the poor directly, all through his life.[4] Halim frequently went to orphanages and hospitals all over the Middle East to donate money, teach music, and help the people there.[4] In 1969 Halim built a hospital in Egypt to help people. He made the poor, the rich, and presidents all alike in the Arab world.[23]
Abdel Halim established strong friendships with many contemporary presidents and kings of the Eastern world, including Gamel Abdul Nasser of Egypt, and King Hussan from Morocco.[4][11] He also had very close friendships with most Egyptian poets.[1]
Abdel Halim died of liver failure on March 30, 1977 (few months before his 48th birthday) while undergoing treatment for Bilharzia in King's College Hospital, London. His death brought sadness and shock waves to the entire Arab world as a result, His funeral (in Cairo) was attended by millions of people[9] – more than any funeral in Middle East history other than that of President Gamal Abdel Nasser[30] He had many more dreams and goals that he wanted to achieve and surpass and could have, but his early death stopped him.[23] Also some people committed suicide once they heard Halim has died. It is reported that at least four women committed suicide by jumping off the balcony during his huge funeral march.[4][9] He was buried in Al Rifa'i Mosque (مسجد الرفاعي) in Cairo.
Abdel Halim Hafez's song Khosara (خسارة) received notice in the Western world in 1999 when producer Timbaland used elements from it for Jay-Z's recording "Big Pimpin'." Two complete bars from "Khosara" were rerecorded, not sampled, and used without permission from the song's producer and copyright holder, Magdi el-Amroussi. Jay-Z's use of an interpolation, rather than an actual sample, may allow him to avoid paying royalties for the use of the song.[31]
Over 300 of his songs were recorded and he starred in sixteen classic films, including "Dalilah" (دليله), which was the Middle East's first color motion picture[14]
Along with Mohammed Abdel Wahab and Magdi el-Amroussi, Abdel Halim was one of the main founders of the famous Egyptian recording company Soutelphan,[4][15] which continues to operate to this day as a subsidiary of EMI Arabia.[1] The company was founded in 1961.[4]
A feature film about his life, "Haleem", was released in 2006, starring Ahmad Zaki in the title role, produced by the Good News Group.[32] In the same year a soap opera "Al-andaleeb hikayt shaab" [33] was produced in Egypt with Shadi Shamel starring as Abdel Halim. Shamel won the lead role in a televised competition.[34]
Abdel Halim was very successful of creating and leaving behind rich and meaningful Egyptian songs for the world.[9]
Some of Halim's most popular songs are:
Ahwak (I love you), Ala Ad Al Shok (In return for the love), Ala Hesb Wedad (Depending on the Tenderness), Bitlimoni Leih (Why do you blame me?), El Masish (Christ), Fatet Ganbena (She came between us), Gabar (Strong), Sawwah (Wander), and Mawood (Promised/you are used to it).
| Title | Release Date | Role | Co-stars | Director | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lahn El Wafa (The Song of Truth) | March 1, 1955 | Galal | Shadia | Ibrahim Amara | Abdel Halim Hafez co-directed |
| Ayyamna al-Holwa (Our Beautiful Days) | March 1, 1955 | Ali | Faten Hamama, Omar Sharif, Ahmed Ramzy | Helmy Halim | |
| Ayam We Layali (Days and Nights) | September 8, 1955 | Eman | Henry Barakat | ||
| Mawed Gharam (Promised Love) | January 3, 1956 | Samir | Faten Hamama | Henry Barakat | |
| Dalila | October 20, 1956 | Ahmed | Shadia | Mohamad Karim | This was the Arab world's first movie in Cinemascope |
| Banat El Yom (The Girls of Today) | November 10, 1957 | Khaled | Magda, Amal Farid | Henry Barakat | Hafez performed the popular love song "Ahwak" for the first time in this film |
| Fata Ahlami (The Man Of My Dreams) | March 7, 1957 | Amal Farid | Helmi Rafleh | ||
| Alwisada El Khalia (The Empty Pillow) | December 20, 1957 | Salah | Abdel Halim Hafez, Lubna Abed El Aziz | Salah Abu Yousef | |
| Share' El Hob (Love Street) | March 5, 1958 | Sabah | Ez El Deen Zol Faqar | ||
| Hekayit Hob (A Love Story) | January 12, 1959 | Ahmed Sami | Mariam Fakher El Deen | Helmy Halim | |
| El Banat Wel Seif (Girls and Summer) | September 5, 1960 | Suad Husni, Zizi El Badrawi | Salah Abu Yousef, Ez El Deen Zol Faqar, Fateen Abed El Wahhab | This movie consisted of 3 stories. Abdel Halim Hafez acted in one of these. | |
| Yom Men Omri (A Day of My Life) | February 8, 1961 | Salah | Zubaida Tharwat | Atef Salem | |
| El Khataya (The Sins) | November 12, 1962 | Hussien | Madiha Yousri, Hasan Yousef, Nadia Lutfi | Hassan El Imam | Featured the songs Wehyat Alby, Maghroor, Last Adry, Olly Haga,and El Helwa |
| Maabodat El Gamahir (The Beloved Diva) | January 13, 1963 | Ibrahim Farid | Shadia | Helmy Halim | Featured the songs Haga Ghareeba, Balash Etaab, Last Kalby, Gabbar, and Ahebek |
| Abi Foq El Shagara (My Father Atop a Tree) | February 17, 1969 | Adel | Nadia Lutfi, Mervat Amin | Hussein Kamal | Featured the songs Ady El Belag, El Hawa Hawaya, Ahdan El Habayeb, Ya Khali El Alb, and Gana El Hawa. Hafez also produced this movie and was the last film in which he appeared. This movie is still the longest running motion picture in movie theaters in the Arab world to date. |