Eminent Lebanese singer Najwa Karam had finally released her first musical video clip entitled “leish megareb?” (why are you heading west?), after her previous oath of never filming any of her songs in the form of a music video. The singer has been promising her fans for a long time of a big surprise that will be included in the clip.
The clip which talks about the real suffering of the average Lebanese citizen in his daily life, and what pushes him to leave his country and immigrate. Critics think that the subject of the song was very touching and the clip was very convincing and in harmony with the words. Needless to say, there were many gaps in the work as a whole. The tune done by Wissam al-Ameer did not match with the strong words and the great voice of Najwa, and it did not make the maximum use of the vocal spaces of Najwa's voice.
According to the London based Elaph, in an interview held with the director of the work, Saeed Al Marouq, he talked openly about the whole experience. Saeed angrily revealed that Lebanese censorship did not approve the first version of the work and made them make many alterations in order to obtain the approval and be able to release the video clip. Most of the scenes, which were omitted, were scenes that actually shed light on Lebanese citizens' daily life and in turn lost the true meaning and feeling of the message that was being sent out.
Al Marouq added that the pessimism in the video clip is a reality of what is really happening in daily life and not only something imaginary. He said if the current situation lasts for some time Lebanon's future will be even worse. Marooq concluded that this was the first experience for Najwa in political songs, and the best is yet to come. He also said that the song was so touching that censorship insisted on omitting many scenes.
The Lebanese Public Security department, which had forbidden the airing of the video by Karam, had finally backed off its previous decision and allowed the clip to be aired. It was revealed that one of the main reasons the video was banned is due to the fact that it featured actual events like protests, which was thought to be too provoking.
Public security officials requested that the clip be altered by the director in order to obtain permission for broadcasting. The Lebanese Broadcasting Company (LBC) satellite channel is scheduled to air the music video in the upcoming few days after the alterations are made.
It has been argued that the song is a controversial one and tackles political issues that should not be talked about. Director Saeed Marouq stressed that he decision of banning the song is firm and will not be changed, which means it will cost enormous financial losses for him. Saeed added that the clip talks about a humanitarian subject focusing on the financial and economical situation and the problems that occur with the younger generation in Lebanon. Najwa had finished shooting the song under the direction of Saeed and produced by Lebanese TV channel LBC. Date of release was scheduled to be in February and LBC was going to dedicate an entire episode of one of its weekly programs for the new video.
Najwa had vowed never to film any of her songs in the form of a music video, but despite her previous decision, she completed the shooting of a new clip for the new song under the direction of Saeed Al Marouq. Karam was to release the new hit single composed by Wisam Almeer, which tackles the economical and social conditions in Lebanon. The singer did not reveal why she decided to release a single song before launching her album. –Albawaba.com
© 2004 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
