Prominent Lebanese singer Fairouz sent a warning to the Egyptian main radio station that aired a new series ‘Jarat al Qamar’ (Neighbor of the Moon) portraying her life, starring the Syrian actress Raghda. The warning sent by Fairouz through her lawyer stated that no written or verbal permission was given to the station to produce and air a series about her life.
According to the monthly magazine Nadine, legal actions will be taken against the station for not respecting the great singer and her personal life. In turn writer Mahmoud Qasem replied to the warning saying that he had made endless efforts in trying to contact the singer leaving many voice messages, but without any reply.
The series, composed of 30 episodes is produced in cooperation with Mohammad Wafiq, Abdul Rahman Abu Zahra, writer Mahmoud Qasim, and is directed by Issam Al Iraqi.
The series revolves around the Fayrouz-Rahbani legacy; a peculiar twentieth-century cultural phenomenon. From the early fifties to the current date, Raghda will be portraying the life of Fairouz and how she came about; her legend, personal, and professional life.
The dissemination of hundreds of songs, many musical plays and several films will take a large portion of the series and the success that Fairouz achieved through her widened audience that also includes Arabs living in Europe and the Americas.
Born and educated in Beirut, Fairouz began her musical career as a chorus member at the Lebanese Radio Station. In the late 1950s her talent as a singer became fully acknowledged due to her unprecedented enthusiasm and vocal superiority. Fairouz's early songs featured the singer's distinct vocal timbre and lyrics expressing romantic love and nostalgia for village life.
By the early 1960s Fairouz was already one of the main attractions at the annual Baalbeck Festival and a celebrity not only in Lebanon but also throughout the Arab world.
During most of her singing career, Fairouz was part of a three-member team that included the two Rahbani brothers. Generally, Mansour Rahbani wrote her lyrics, and the tunes were composed and arranged by his brother Assi, Fairouz's former husband. Fairouz's songs owe a great deal to the musical and poetic genius of these two Lebanese artists. –Albawaba.com
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
