Ahl Al Esheg (song)
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Diana Haddad ( ar, ديانا حداد; born 1 October 1976) is a Lebanese singer, actress, and television personality who also holds Emirati citizenship and is based in the
United Arab Emirates The United Arab Emirates (UAE; ar, اَلْإِمَارَات الْعَرَبِيَة الْمُتَحِدَة ), or simply the Emirates ( ar, الِْإمَارَات ), is a country in Western Asia (Middle East, The Middle East). It is ...
. Haddad is one of the most popular
Arabic pop Arabic pop music or Arab pop music is a subgenre of pop music and Arabic music. Arabic pop is mainly produced and originated in Cairo, Egypt; as Egyptian music genre is by far the most widespread within the region. Also Beirut, Lebanon, and Gul ...
musicians in the
Arab World The Arab world ( ar, اَلْعَالَمُ الْعَرَبِيُّ '), formally the Arab homeland ( '), also known as the Arab nation ( '), the Arabsphere, or the Arab states, refers to a vast group of countries, mainly located in Western A ...
and has been so since the mid-1990s. Her debut album ''Saken'' (1996) was one of the best selling albums of 1996, being certified platinum by Haddad's label Stallions Records. The album also introduced Haddad and her Bedouin music style to the public. Haddad's biggest breakthrough came in late 1997 when she released her third album ''Ammanih'' accompanied with a major hit single of the same title. During this time, Haddad formed a successful team with her Emirati ex-husband Suhail Al-Abdul who directed all of her music videos up until 2005 when she decided to work with new directors. Haddad also stepped out of her comfort zone when she started performing in dialects other than Lebanese and Bedouin in her fourth studio album ''Yammaya'' (1998) which included songs in Khaliji, Iraqi, and Egyptian dialects. Hadded's career saw ups and downs, but overall she was able to produce memorable hit singles. These include songs like "Saken" and "Ammanih" in the 1990s, "Mani Mani", "Mas & Louly", and "Ya Aibo" in the 2000s, "La Fiesta" and "Ela Hona" in the 2010s.


Life and career


1976–1992: Early life

Haddad was born to a Melkite Christian father, Joseph Haddad (originally from
Maghdouché Maghdouché ( ar, مغدوشة, , ) is a town in the South Governorate of Lebanon. It is located 50 km south of Beirut and 8 km southeast of Sidon. The village lies 3 km inland from the Mediterranean, occupying a hill with elev ...
,
Sidon District The Sidon District ( ar, قضاء صيدا) is a district within the South Governorate of Lebanon. Cities and towns * Aadloun * Ansariye * Ghaziyeh * Maghdouché * Majdelyoun * Miye ou Miye * Qinarit * Salhieh * Sarepta * Sidon - capital *Tabb ...
), and a
Muslim Muslims ( ar, المسلمون, , ) are people who adhere to Islam, a monotheistic religion belonging to the Abrahamic tradition. They consider the Quran, the foundational religious text of Islam, to be the verbatim word of the God of Abrah ...
mother, Mouna Haddad, in a small Lebanese village called
Bsalim Bsalim ( ar, بصاليم) is a village in the Matn District in Mount Lebanon Governorate in Lebanon. The population is almost exclusively Christian. Bsalim's municipality also contains two small districts which are found around Bsalim, and they ...
. Due to the
Lebanese Civil War The Lebanese Civil War ( ar, الحرب الأهلية اللبنانية, translit=Al-Ḥarb al-Ahliyyah al-Libnāniyyah) was a multifaceted armed conflict that took place from 1975 to 1990. It resulted in an estimated 120,000 fatalities a ...
which began in 1975 (one year prior to her birth) and lasted over fifteen years, Haddad spent her early years in the more stable
Arab states of the Persian Gulf The Arab states of the Persian Gulf refers to a group of Arab states which border the Persian Gulf. There are seven member states of the Arab League in the region: Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emir ...
. Her parents moved to
Kuwait Kuwait (; ar, الكويت ', or ), officially the State of Kuwait ( ar, دولة الكويت '), is a country in Western Asia. It is situated in the northern edge of Eastern Arabia at the tip of the Persian Gulf, bordering Iraq to Iraq–Ku ...
in the 1970s where she received her education at the national school in
Fahaheel District Fahaheel ( afb, الفحيحيل, li-Fḥēḥīl) is an area in Kuwait, located in the Ahmadi Governorate. It is located east of the Ahmadi area and is on the coast of the Persian Gulf. The Fahaheel Fish Market is a major fish market in Kuwait. T ...
. In 1990, Kuwait was invaded by Iraq, which forced Haddad's family to move back to Lebanon. During this period, Haddad lived between Lebanon and the United Arab Emirates where she met her Emariti husband Suhail Al-Abdul. Haddad was raised in her father's religion along with her four siblings, Lolita, Danny, Fadi, and Sameer. In terms of age, Haddad ranks third. As a child, Haddad was known to be a "
tomboy A tomboy is a term for a girl or a young woman with masculine qualities. It can include wearing androgynous or unfeminine clothing and actively engage in physical sports or other activities and behaviors usually associated with boys or men. W ...
" in her family. Haddad's musical talent was discovered in an early age when she was only eight years old. During her teen years, specifically in 1988, Haddad performed in multiple Kuwaiti national events. Haddad never received a college degree even though she was interested in
archeology Archaeology or archeology is the scientific study of human activity through the recovery and analysis of material culture. The archaeological record consists of Artifact (archaeology), artifacts, architecture, biofact (archaeology), biofacts ...
. For this reason, Haddad enjoyed shooting the song "Yammaya" in the
Giza pyramid complex The Giza pyramid complex ( ar, مجمع أهرامات الجيزة), also called the Giza necropolis, is the site on the Giza Plateau in Greater Cairo, Egypt that includes the Great Pyramid of Giza, the Pyramid of Khafre, and the Pyramid of Me ...
in 1998. In 1992, she received a diploma in
computer science Computer science is the study of computation, automation, and information. Computer science spans theoretical disciplines (such as algorithms, theory of computation, information theory, and automation) to Applied science, practical discipli ...
before she joined a popular singing competition called
Studio El Fan ''Studio El Fan'' ( ar, ستوديو الفن, "The Art Studio") was one of the Arab world's first star-maker talent shows in Lebanon, created by the famous television director and producer Simon Asmar, and Alfred Barakat. The program is behind m ...
in
Beirut Beirut, french: Beyrouth is the capital and largest city of Lebanon. , Greater Beirut has a population of 2.5 million, which makes it the third-largest city in the Levant region. The city is situated on a peninsula at the midpoint o ...
.


1993–1997: ''Saken'' and ''Ahl Al Esheg''

With the help of Studio El Fan, which was broadcast nationally on
LBC LBC (originally the London Broadcasting Company) is a British phone-in and talk radio station owned and operated by Global and based in its headquarters in London. It was the UK's first licensed commercial radio station, and began to broadcast ...
in 1993, Haddad was able to come to fame at sixteen. She joined the competition with an original song entitled "Tayr El Yammameh", which was later included on her debut record ''Saken'' in 1996. Haddad was listed under the category of traditional Lebanese folk song. The song was written and produced by Elias Abou Gzale. At the beginning of her career, Haddad was best known for her Bedouin music style which also incorporates modern beats and instruments. Thus, she has been compared to Lebanese musician
Samira Tawfik Samira Ghastin Karimona ( ar, سميرة غسطين كريمونة; born 25 December 1935), better known by her stage name Samira Tewfik ( ar, سميرة توفيق, surname also spelled ''Tawfik'', ''Tawfiq'', ''Toufiq'' or ''Taoufiq'') is a Leb ...
. Haddad's music is considered an update of Tawfik's early work. Haddad's debut album also included other hits such as "Lagaitek", a cover of
Issam Rajji Issam Rajji ( ar, عصام رجي) (born 1944 in Kfarshima, died 2001 Lebanon) was a Lebanese singer lyricist and composer most prominent during the 1970s and 80s period. Biography Early life Issam Rajji began his artistic career, working bac ...
's classic hit, and "Al-Sahra". Her second album, ''
Ahl Al Esheg ''Ahl Al Esheg'' is the second studio album by Lebanese pop singer-songwriter Diana Haddad, released by Stallions Records on February 10, 1997. In terms of sales, ''Ahl Al Esheg'' is Haddad's third best-selling studio album behind ''Ammanih'' ...
'' produced the hit single "
Ahl Al Esheg ''Ahl Al Esheg'' is the second studio album by Lebanese pop singer-songwriter Diana Haddad, released by Stallions Records on February 10, 1997. In terms of sales, ''Ahl Al Esheg'' is Haddad's third best-selling studio album behind ''Ammanih'' ...
" in early 1997 and the moderate hit "Bizal Minak" in summer 1997. "Ahl Al Esheg" is considered one of Haddad's signature songs and is still performed in most of her concerts. "Bizal Minak", while not as successful as "Ahl Al Esheg", had a controversial music video which was shot in London. The song's
chorus Chorus may refer to: Music * Chorus (song) or refrain, line or lines that are repeated in music or in verse * Chorus effect, the perception of similar sounds from multiple sources as a single, richer sound * Chorus form, song in which all verse ...
can be translated to "I showed you the right way, but you're still walking in the wrong direction". Hence, the black and white music video, which was directed by Haddad's then-husband, shows padestrians in London walking backwards while Haddad is the only person walking in the correct direction. Haddad claimed that she memorized the lyrics of the song backwards in order to make the video works. The video also shows
Prince Charles Charles III (Charles Philip Arthur George; born 14 November 1948) is King of the United Kingdom and the 14 other Commonwealth realms. He was the longest-serving heir apparent and Prince of Wales and, at age 73, became the oldest person to a ...
walking backwards in reference to his marriage problems. Ironically,
Princess Diana Diana, Princess of Wales (born Diana Frances Spencer; 1 July 1961 – 31 August 1997) was a member of the British royal family. She was the first wife of King Charles III (then Prince of Wales) and mother of Princes William and Harry. Her ac ...
died few months after the shooting of the video.


1998–1999: ''Ammanih'', ''Yammaya'', and ''Shater''

Following the release of her first two albums, ''Saken'' and ''
Ahl Al Esheg ''Ahl Al Esheg'' is the second studio album by Lebanese pop singer-songwriter Diana Haddad, released by Stallions Records on February 10, 1997. In terms of sales, ''Ahl Al Esheg'' is Haddad's third best-selling studio album behind ''Ammanih'' ...
'' in 1996 and 1997, respectively, Haddad had to plan her third album more carefully in order to sustain her success. After careful planning of a third album, radio stations around the Arab world started airing "Ammanih", the lead single of her third studio album, in late 1997 which later became Haddad's biggest breakthrough. Several reasons contributed to "Ammanih"'s success. One of which, is the innovative use of the Turkish style " Amanes" in a Bedouin song. The imagery incorporated in the music video was also an important factor in making "Ammanih" a major hit. The video, which was also directed by Haddad's husband at the time, was shot in
Turkey Turkey ( tr, Türkiye ), officially the Republic of Türkiye ( tr, Türkiye Cumhuriyeti, links=no ), is a transcontinental country located mainly on the Anatolian Peninsula in Western Asia, with a small portion on the Balkan Peninsula ...
and showed both the modern and the traditional side of the country. In the first scene, young Turkish dancers are seen dancing in causal black shirts and jeans. In other scenes, dancers are shown wearing Ottoman clothes such as
kaftan A kaftan or caftan (; fa, خفتان, ) is a variant of the robe or tunic. Originating in Asia, it has been worn by a number of cultures around the world for thousands of years. In Russian usage, ''kaftan'' instead refers to a style of men's ...
s and
turban A turban (from Persian دولبند‌, ''dulband''; via Middle French ''turbant'') is a type of headwear based on cloth winding. Featuring many variations, it is worn as customary headwear by people of various cultures. Communities with promin ...
s. The video is considered one of the early media exposures to the
Turkish culture The culture of Turkey ( tr, Türkiye Kültürü) combines a heavily diverse and heterogeneous set of elements that have been derived from the various cultures of the Eastern Mediterranean, Eastern Europe, Caucasia, Middle East and Central Asia t ...
in the Arab world and therefore it promoted Arab tourism in the country. Shooting Arabic music videos in Turkey became a trend in later years and peaked in early 2000s. On 19 July 1996, Haddad gave birth to her first daughter Sophie. The birth of Sophie inspired the second single from "Ammanih", the ballad "Ya Benti" which was shot by Al-Abdul in a poor rural area in Lebanon and shows two-year-old Sophie suffering poverty with her mother. In the lyrics of "Ya Benti", which translates to "Oh my daughter", a mother apologizes to her little daughter for not being able to take her out or afford life luxuries and toys. Haddad's first three records contained songs exclusively in Lebanese and Bedouin dialects, which defined her unique musical style during the early years. However, the release of Haddad's fourth studio album ''Yammaya'' in late 1998 saw a big change in Haddad's music. The album's lead single "Yammaya" incorporated ancient Egyptian beats, but still maintained a Bedouin dialect. Al-Abdul allotted a high budget for "Yammaya"'s music video which was shot in the Giza pyramid complex. Big part of the budget went to well-known Arab actors such as
Muna Wassef Muna may refer to: Places * Muna (Mikulovice), a World War II POW camp and ammunition factory in the Czech Republic * Muna, Estonia, village in Rõuge Parish, Võru County, Estonia * Muna, Iran, village in East Azerbaijan Province, Iran *Mun ...
and
Sawsan Badr Susan Badr ( ar, سوسن بدر) (nicknamed: The Nefertiti of Egyptian Cinema) (born September 25, 1959) is an Egyptian actress of film, stage and television. She received the Best Actress Award at the 34th Cairo International Film Festival. Sh ...
who appear in different roles in the video. The video takes place in ancient times Egypt where Haddad uses a witch (played by Wassef) to restore her throne from the current queen (played by Badr). The video also shows slaves moving to the music in a choreographied dance inspired by ancient Egypt. Both "Yammaya" and the second single from the album, "Emshi Wara Kidbohom", were able to become popular across the Arab world despite the poor promotion following the death of Haddad's mother at the time of album's release. "Emshi Wara Kidbohom" marks Haddad's first single ever in a dialect other than Lebanese or Bedouin. The song, performed in Egyptian dialect, ultimately became one of Haddad's most recognized hits in Egypt. ''Yammaya'' also included songs in Khaliji, Iraqi, and classical Arabic dialects. In summer 1999, only a few months after the release of ''Yammya'', Haddad released her fifth studio album ''Shater''. The first single, "Shater", was one of the most popular singles in 1999 and was well received especially by toddlers for the use of the word "shater" meaning "clever", a word that is commonly associated with young children. The song was directed by Al-Abdul in
Jebel Ali Jebel Ali ( ar, جبل علي) is a port town south-west of Dubai. The Jebel Ali Port is located there. Al Maktoum International Airport has been constructed just outside the port area. Jebel Ali is connected to Dubai via the UAE Exchange (fo ...
in
Dubai Dubai (, ; ar, wikt:دبي, دبي, translit=Dubayy, , ) is the List of cities in the United Arab Emirates#Major cities, most populous city in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the capital of the Emirate of Dubai, the most populated of the 7 ...
. It featured peacocks, cocktails, and extras and dancers wearing colorful clothes in a sunny summer day. Due to lack of time, Haddad's plans to shoot the music video in a tropical island were canceled. Instead, a low budget music video was made for the song "Wainhom" back to back with "Shater". "Wainhom", while not Haddad's first song in a Khaliji dialect, is her first Khaliji music video. Haddad's first official Khaliji recording appears on her previous album ''Yammaya'', a song called "Men Ghebt". "Wainhom", which was released a few months after the success of "Shater", is about the Kuwaiti
prisoners of war A prisoner of war (POW) is a person who is held captive by a belligerent power during or immediately after an armed conflict. The earliest recorded usage of the phrase "prisoner of war" dates back to 1610. Belligerents hold prisoners of w ...
who never came back from Iraq. Haddad dedicated the song to her childhood friends in Kuwait.


2000–2003: ''Jarh Al Habib'', ''Akhbar Helwa'', and ''Law Yesaloni''

The final single from ''Shater'', "Al Fosol Al Arba'a", another Khaliji song, was released as a music video in early 2000. The song, produced by Saudi musician Aseel Abu Bakr Salem, is about a love interest who changes instantly like the four seasons. The music video was shot in a
green screen Chroma key compositing, or chroma keying, is a visual-effects and post-production technique for compositing (layering) two images or video streams together based on colour hues ( chroma range). The technique has been used in many fields to ...
and used 3D graphics. In summer 2000, the song "Mani Mani" was released as the lead single from Diana Haddad's sixth studio album ''Jarh Al Habib''. Haddad returned to her home country of Lebanon for the music video of "Mani Mani" since the song combines Bedouin and Lebanese lyrics. The song contains unique arrangements and sound effects which contributed to its success. ''Jarh Al Habib'' saw a successful attempt to break into the Egyptian market again as it included four out of nine tracks in Egyptian dialect. One of these tracks is the title track "Jarh Al Habib" which is a duet with Egyptian
Chaabi Chaabi ( in Arabic), also known as Chaâbi, Sha-bii, or Sha'bii meaning "folk", refers to different music genres in North Africa and the Middle East such as Algerian chaabi, Moroccan chaabi and Egyptian Shaabi. Chaabi music just means 'music ...
legend Mohammed Al Azabi. In early 2001, "Adlaa Alaik" was released as the second and final single from the album. The Khaliji song had limited success in Arab States of the Persian Gulf, although the music video featured a second appearance of Haddad's daughter Sophie, aged four years old at the time. Haddad's seventh studio album ''Akhbar Helwa'' followed in July 2001. "Elli Fe Bali" was the only music video to be released from the album. This is Haddad's first upbeat music video in Egyptian dialect, which helped it become more popular across the Arab world. The music video, which is set in 1972, draws heavy influences from the popular musical '' Grease'' (1978). Stallions Records, Haddad's label since her debut, was sold to
Rotana Records Rotana Music Group ( ar, تسجيلات روتانا, Tasjīlāt Rūtānā) is the Arab world's largest record label. It is owned by the Rotana Group, established by the Nagro Brothers, Mohammed, Khalid, Waleed, Ahmed and Nezar Nagro later sold t ...
in 2002, which impeded any further promotion of the album. However, several
greatest hits A greatest hits album or best-of album is a type of compilation album that collects popular and commercially successful songs by a particular artist or band. While greatest hits albums are typically supported by the artist, they can also be crea ...
albums were released by Stallions including a DVD release with most of Haddad's music videos in 2003. In addition to Stallions' sale, Haddad suffered a
miscarriage Miscarriage, also known in medical terms as a spontaneous abortion and pregnancy loss, is the death of an embryo or fetus before it is able to survive independently. Miscarriage before 6 weeks of gestation is defined by ESHRE as biochemica ...
and was sued by Lebanese rival
Nawal Al Zoghbi Nawal El Zoghbi ( ar, نوال الزغبي, also spelled Nawal Al Zoghbi; born 29 June 1972) is a Lebanese pop singer. She achieved popularity first by dancing and singing traditional Arabic music with a pop sensibility, and later singing in ...
, which also affected the promotion campaign of ''Akhbar Helwa'' in 2001. Al Zoghbi sued Haddad due to her and her husband's accusations that Al Zoghbi pays more attention to her looks than her music and that she is just a "performer". Al Zoghbi took the couple to court in Lebanon on grounds of "emotional distress" she suffered as a result of Al-Abdul and Haddad's criticism. Al-Abdul also stated that Al Zoghbi's voice was "out of tune". However, in 2002 the court rejected Al Zoghbi's case and the ruling stated that "the statements made by Al-Abdul and Haddad are not classified as defamation of the claimant as it does not have any impact on her basic artistic position but is rather linked with her performance. The claim that the plaintiff is a singer or performer is a flexible classification that conforms to personal standards". Haddad signed a contract with Egyptian label
Alam El Phan Alam el Phan ( ar, عالم الفن, , The World of Art) is an Egyptian media group based in Cairo that supervises, manages, and produces Arabic music records and motion pictures. The company also runs the record label and TV station Mazzika. ...
in 2002 and released her first album with the company ''Law Yesaloni'' in June. ''Law Yesaloni'' marks Haddad's first full studio album in Khaliji dialects. The album incorporates styles from almost all the different Arab countries of the Persian Gulf. For example, the track "Kama Kom" is heavily influenced by Omani music, a style that is rarely found in mainstream Khaliji music. One music video was released from this album for the song "Law Yesaloni", which is a duet with Emirati newcomer
Eida Al Menhali Eida Al Menhali ( ar, عيضه المنهالي; born 7 April 1977) is an Emirati singer. He is also referred to as Aida al-Menhali. Known for his hit single "Motasoa," he headlined at the Mother of the Nation Festival in 2018 at the Abu Dhabi C ...
who went on to become one of the most popular Emirati Chaabi musicians.


2004–2007: ''Awel Marrah'' and ''Diana 2006''

On 12 March 2004, "Waily", the lead single from Haddad's ninth studio album ''Awel Marrah'' (2004), was premiered on the reality talent show ''
Star Academy Arab World ''Star Academy Arab World'' or ''Star Academy Arabia'', is a pan-Arab televised talent show, which has aired since 2003. The show features a group of young male and female candidates who are selected from a pan-Arab pool of more than three-thousan ...
'' on LBC. The album, which was initially titled ''Diana 2003'', faced many delays prior to its release. It was originally set for a summer 2003 release. The president of Alam El Phan records, Mohsen Gaber, explained the reason behind the delay is that Haddad spent two years "perfecting" her new album which in his opinion makes her "a genuine artist that his company will do everything in their hands to promote". To make up for the delay, three tracks from ''Awel Marrah'' were shot back-to-back as music videos with Haddad's husband Suhail Al-Abdul. These include "Waily", "Saheby", and the title track "Awel Marrah". "Waily" music video was premiered with the album's release in June 2004. The video, which features Kuwaiti actress Mona Shaddad, follows a storyline that is Haddad's idea. Some of "Waily"'s scenes were shot at
Dubai International Airport Dubai International Airport ( ar, مطار دبي الدولي) is the primary international airport serving Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and is the world's busiest airport by international passenger traffic. It is also the nineteenth-busies ...
while most of the video takes place in a school
basketball court In basketball, the basketball court is the playing surface, consisting of a rectangular floor, with baskets at each end. Indoor basketball courts are almost always made of polished wood, usually maple, with -high rims on each basket. Outdoor sur ...
. Haddad's leg was injured during the shooting of a scene in the video where Haddad's is dunking. Haddad's broken leg appears in the airport scene of the video. "Saheby", a cover of a song by Emirati folklore artist Ahmed Al-Shibani, was premiered in summer 2004 as well. During this summer, a promotional party was held in Cairo where Haddad performed a number of the album's tracks. The concert was later shown on Gaber's newly launched channel
Mazzika Mazzika Group ( ar, مزيكا, lit=Music) is a Vertical integration, vertically integrated entertainment company founded in Egypt, focused on repackaging and distribution of Arabic content to Arabic-speaking communities and audiences interested ...
. After the success of "Waily" and "Saheby" music videos in the summer of 2004, "Awel Marrah" video premiered in November 2004. A music video for "Khaleny Saktah" was also set to be directed by Egyptian director Ahmed Al-Mahdi in Cairo, but Haddad had to leave Egypt for Lebanon due to her father illness. Hence, the project was canceled altogether. If went through, "Khaleny Saktah" could have been Haddad's first music video with a director other than her husband. However, in early 2005, Haddad finally collaborated with a different director for the music video of the Lebanese track "Law Ma Dakhalt Ebrasi". The song was released as the fourth and final single from the album before Haddad went into another hiatus to record her tenth studio album. In December 2004, Haddad and Al Zoghbi overcame their differences when Haddad took the initiative and made a personal phone call to Al Zoghbi after hearing that she was experiencing a downfall in her health. Haddad revealed that she felt it was her duty to call and wish Al Zoghbi a quick recovery. Al Zoghbi was grateful towards Haddad for putting all the disputes aside. The two artists appeared on the cover of Zahrat Al Khaleej magazine in an issue that featured a photoshoot of Haddad and Al Zoghbi together. They also began to form a mutual respect for one another. On 24 June 2005, Haddad performed a new track from her upcoming studio album at the finale of the talent show Nojoom Al Khaleej which used to broadcast on Al-Abdul's channel Nojoom. The song, entitled "Hassafah", is a Khaliji track that later appeared on Haddad's tenth studio album ''Diana 2006''. The album was released simultaneously with the lead single "Mas & Louly" in March 2006. For this record, Haddad had to break up with her former label Alam El Phan which kept on postponing the album release for months. A last-minute decision, the album was finally released under her husband's Al-Abdul records company. However, Al-Abdul was a newly established company at the time and only focused on the
Persian Gulf The Persian Gulf ( fa, خلیج فارس, translit=xalij-e fârs, lit=Gulf of Persis, Fars, ), sometimes called the ( ar, اَلْخَلِيْجُ ٱلْعَرَبِيُّ, Al-Khalīj al-ˁArabī), is a Mediterranean sea (oceanography), me ...
area. Therefore, Haddad signed contracts with multiple labels to ensure distribution of the album across the Arab world. These include
Melody Music A melody (from Greek μελῳδία, ''melōidía'', "singing, chanting"), also tune, voice or line, is a linear succession of musical tones that the listener perceives as a single entity. In its most literal sense, a melody is a combinati ...
in Egypt and
EMI Music Arabia EMI Group Limited (originally an initialism for Electric and Musical Industries, also referred to as EMI Records Ltd. or simply EMI) was a British transnational conglomerate founded in March 1931 in London. At the time of its break-up in 2012 ...
in other countries. "Mas & Louly" became an instant hit due to its simple lyrics which are performed in a dialect that can be understood by most people in the Arab world. It also featured Algerian
raï Raï (, ; ar, راي, Latn, ar, rāʾy, ), sometimes written rai, is a form of Algerian traditional music, folk music that dates back to the 1920s. Singers of Raï are called ''cheb'' (Arabic: شاب) (or ''shabab,'' i.e. young) as opposed ...
musician Cheb Khaled which gave the song an
international International is an adjective (also used as a noun) meaning "between nations". International may also refer to: Music Albums * ''International'' (Kevin Michael album), 2011 * ''International'' (New Order album), 2002 * ''International'' (The T ...
feel. No more music videos were released from the album due to the
2006 Lebanon War The 2006 Lebanon War, also called the 2006 Israel–Hezbollah War and known in Lebanon as the July War ( ar, حرب تموز, ''Ḥarb Tammūz'') and in Israel as the Second Lebanon War ( he, מלחמת לבנון השנייה, ''Milhemet Leva ...
until later in the year when the song "Zay El Sokar" premiered in late October coinciding with Eid al-Fitr. Before the war, a Khaliji non-album single entitled "Badr Al Bdour" was performed in Nojoom Al Khaleej second-season finale. When the war started in July, Haddad was in the Emirates with her family. However, she paid a tribute to Lebanon by shooting a music video for two of her old tracks "Ana Al Ensan" and "Maghdouche" which appear on ''Yammaya'' (1998) and ''Jarh Al Habib'' (2000), respectively, in the form of a medley. Haddad worked with the Egyptian director Yaser Sami for the first time on "Zay El Sokar" music video which helped make the Egyptian song popular in Egypt. The Egyptian ballad "Aadi" was shot with Lebanese director Leila Kanaan earlier in 2006 but was not released until early 2007.


2008–2010: ''Men Diana Illa'' and divorce

In late 2008, Haddad announced the release of her eleventh studio album (and second Khaliji album) '' Men Diana Illa''. Despite the difficulty for a non-Khaliji artist to break into the Gulf market with Khaliji music, Haddad managed to break that barrier and stereotype. She has been somewhat "adopted" into Emirati culture and society. Two music videos were released from ''Men Diana Illa'', both of which were directed by Haddad's friend Nahla Al-Fahd. The lead single, "Sheft Itessalek", was premiered on Al-Abdul's channel Nojoom in October 2008 coinciding with
Eid al-Adha Eid al-Adha () is the second and the larger of the two main holidays celebrated in Islam (the other being Eid al-Fitr). It honours the willingness of Ibrahim (Abraham) to sacrifice his son Ismail (Ishmael) as an act of obedience to Allah's co ...
. Before the release of the second music video from the album, a track in Lebanese dialect entitled "Ya Aibo" was released in early 2009. "Ya Aibo" was also directed by Al-Fahd in Beirut. The song proved successful in Lebanon, although it received mixed criticism for its unusual lyrics and imagery. "Ya Aibo" is a diss to old men who, in spite of being grandparents, spend their time hitting on young girls and cheating on their wives. Haddad sends a message to these men to respect their age and behave well to set an example for their grandkids. Some critics hated the comedy approach Haddad took in the song and the video, while others praised the idea. This was Haddad's last single before she announced her separation from her husband Suhail Al-Abdul in August after over a decade together. After the divorce, Haddad decided to get busy in a mini summer tour in 2009, beginning with two concerts in France and Morocco. The concert in Morocco was a part of Al Mydiak Festival, which is held annually in honor of the King Crowning Day. Haddad set a record in the festival's history for attracting more than 150,000 people. After a concert in Algeria, Haddad ended the tour in Lebanon with two concerts. One of these concerts was Haddad's first show ever in her hometown of Maghdouche. Her concert attracted more than 6,000 people from all over Lebanon. Footage from the concert can be seen in the second music video from ''Men Diana Illa'', "Ya Zalan". The video also shows footage of Haddad enjoying her life as a single woman in various locatios such as the beach and the recording studio.


2011–2015: ''Bent Osol'' and ''Ya Bashar''

In 2009, Haddad revealed she was working on a duet with an R&B artist later revealed to be
Alicia Keys Alicia Augello Cook (born January 25, 1981), known professionally as Alicia Keys, is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. A classically trained pianist, Keys started composing songs when she was 12 and was signed at 15 years old by Col ...
for her twelfth studio album. The plans for the duet fell through when Keys asked for 1,500,000 dollars which Haddad couldn't afford. After over three years in hiatus, Haddad announced the release of her twelfth studio album '' Bent Osol'' in December 2011. Number of singles were released prior to the announcement including an Egyptian
Islamic Islam (; ar, ۘالِإسلَام, , ) is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion centred primarily around the Quran, a religious text considered by Muslims to be the direct word of God (or '' Allah'') as it was revealed to Muhammad, the mai ...
song for Ramadan 2010 called "Ya Hadieh Min Rabna", the Khaliji track "Majnona" in November 2010, and another Khaliji track entitled "Gaalat Diana" in May 2011. Hadded also recorded a song entitled "Ya Wagt" for the opening credits of the Kuwaiti soap ''Al Dakhila'' which premiered in Ramadan 2011. Only "Ya Wagt" and "Gaalat Diana" were included on ''Bent Osol'' (2011). The album was independently funded by Haddad after her breakup with her husband. Furthermore, an agreement was signed with Platinum Records to distribute the album across the Arab World and promote it through its affiliated TV and radio channels which includes MBC,
Wanasah Wanasah ( ar, وناسة) is a free-to-air satellite television channel that screens music videos and programs and other variety programs. The channel is run by the MBC Group, one of the leading media groups in the Middle East, and is owned by Ra ...
, and MBC FM. MBC FM premiered the song "Enta Ma'ai (Kol Hayati)" which features Lebanese-Canadian R&B musician
Karl Wolf Carl Abou Samah ( ar, كارل أبو سمح; born April 18, 1979), better known by his stage name Karl Wolf, is a Lebanese-Canadian musician based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He has been a singer, songwriter, and producer since 2001, releasing ...
ten days prior to the album release. In late 2013, Haddad signed a
record deal A recording contract (commonly called a record contract or record deal) is a legal agreement between a record label and a recording artist (or group), where the artist makes a record (or series of records) for the label to sell and promote. Artists ...
with Arab world's largest music label Rotana. Her first album with the company was released in December 2014 under the title ''
Ya Bashar ''Ya Bashar'' ( ar, يا بشر; English: Hey, Humans) is the thirteenth studio album by Lebanese recording artist Diana Haddad. The album was released by Rotana Records on December 17, 2014. ''Ya Bashar'' marks Haddad's first album in three years ...
''. The album was preceded by the release of number of singles including "Albi Wafi" in 2012, "Naam Seedi", "El Kathab", "Thaleth Alaaiad" and the Moroccan hit "La Fiesta" in 2013, and "Hala We Ahleen" and "Habebi Masry" in 2014. All of these single were released as music videos and only "Hala We Ahleen" made it into ''Ya Bashar''. Haddad supported the album with three more music videos for the songs "Haflet Hob", "Elard Ghanat (Megana)", and "Ya Bashar" throughout 2015. Haddad made her music production debut on the album on a track called "Farhet Qalbi", although she had an uncredited co-production on her 2012 single "Ya Baad Omri". In June 2015, Haddad was presented with an honorary award at the 2015 Murex D'Or in Lebanon for her contribution in music.


2016–present: "Ela Hona"

In 2016, Haddad stopped promoting ''Ya Bashar'' and started releasing more singles including a duet with Lebanese musician
Assi El Helani Mohammed Muzen El Hallani ( ar, محمد مزين الحلاني), widely known as Assi El Hallani; born November 28, 1970), is a Lebanese singer and actor. El Helani's musical career started after winning Studio Al Fan, a TV program for young a ...
entitled "Romeo & Juliet". She also released a cover of Kuwaiti singer Mohammed Almesbah song "Tibassam". During the summer of 2016, Haddad released a project with Saudi social media personalities Darin Albayed and Zied ِAlswaida under the title "Nisfi Althani". On January 1, 2017, radio stations across the Arab world premiered the single "Taabr Qalbi." The song marks Haddad's return to Lebanese dialect since her 2012 single "Albi Wafi." A lyric video for the song was uploaded to Haddad's YouTube account five days later. Another Lebanese song and its accompanying music video entitled "Nayma Bel Asal", produced by Saudi composer Talal, was premiered on Talal YouTube channel on August 13, 2017. Haddad shot a song called "Ela Hona" back-to-back with "Nayma Bel Asal" in
Tbilisi Tbilisi ( ; ka, თბილისი ), in some languages still known by its pre-1936 name Tiflis ( ), is the Capital city, capital and the List of cities and towns in Georgia (country), largest city of Georgia (country), Georgia, lying on the ...
,
Georgia Georgia most commonly refers to: * Georgia (country), a country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia * Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the Southeast United States Georgia may also refer to: Places Historical states and entities * Related to the ...
with her director friend Nahla Al-Fahad. The video, which premiered on October 11, 2017, is Haddad's first Iraqi music video in four years since "El Kathab" in 2013. During 2018, the song gained popularity in a slow manner due to it being covered by underground Iraqi artists including the producer of the song Ali Saber. It became a
sleeper hit In the entertainment industry, a sleeper hit is a film, television series, music release, video game, or some other entertainment product that was initially unsuccessful on release but became a success later on. A sleeper hit may have little promo ...
gaining over 100 million hits on
YouTube YouTube is a global online video platform, online video sharing and social media, social media platform headquartered in San Bruno, California. It was launched on February 14, 2005, by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim. It is owned by ...
as of early 2020. Due to the unexpected popularity of the song, Haddad postponed any plans for albums or major singles. Haddad released the follow up single, "Ahebak W Katha", in July 2019 with the same team that produced "Ela Hona". In early September 2019, Hadded followed "Ahebak W Katha" up with another single in Egyptian dialect entitled "Gamalo". This marks Haddad's first track in Egyptian since "Habebi Masry", Haddad's debut single with Rotana, in October 2014. On February 10, 2020, Hadded premiered the new music video of a track called "Ma Had Yehes Bi ElAasheq". The new track, performed in Bedouin Arabic dialect, is supposedly the lead single off Hadded's upcoming fourteenth studio album. Haddad, who has been speaking fondly of the song since 2018, claimed that the song "will recreate the glory of the single "Ahl Al Esheg" released in 1997".


Personal life

Haddad comes from the southern Lebanese town of Maghdouche, although born in the Mountain town of Bsalim. The track "Maghdouche" from her sixth studio album ''Jarh Al Habib'' was devoted to her hometown. In the 1990s, Haddad married Emirati businessman Suhail Al-Abdul. Together, they have two daughters: Sophie (born 19 July 1996) and Mira (born 26 November 2007). Haddad is Al-Abdul's second wife. The couple were divorced in August 2009; after which Al-Abdul got remarried in 2010. The divorce was not as publicized as Lebanese musician
Nawal Al Zoghbi Nawal El Zoghbi ( ar, نوال الزغبي, also spelled Nawal Al Zoghbi; born 29 June 1972) is a Lebanese pop singer. She achieved popularity first by dancing and singing traditional Arabic music with a pop sensibility, and later singing in ...
's divorce which occurred one year prior to Haddad's and drew media attention due to custody issues. Haddad explained that she is on good terms with her ex-husband and they agreed to share custody of their children. When Haddad was still a teenager when she married Al-Abdul, who was an older and richer music director and businessman from the
UAE The United Arab Emirates (UAE; ar, اَلْإِمَارَات الْعَرَبِيَة الْمُتَحِدَة ), or simply the Emirates ( ar, الِْإمَارَات ), is a country in Western Asia (The Middle East). It is located at th ...
. She was criticized by the press who called her marriage a
marriage of convenience A marriage of convenience is a marriage contracted for reasons other than that of love and commitment. Instead, such a marriage is entered into for personal gain, or some other sort of strategic purpose, such as a political marriage. There are ...
. Haddad has always stated that her marriage was out of love and not for wealth. However, in 2012, three years after their divorce, she recognized that she was far too young to marry and despite being in love, she was not fully grown up.ترفيه، جدول البرامج، مشاهير،أفلام، مسلسلات، برامج تلفزيونية - MBC.net
In 1999, it was reported that Haddad had officially embraced
Islam Islam (; ar, ۘالِإسلَام, , ) is an Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic Monotheism#Islam, monotheistic religion centred primarily around the Quran, a religious text considered by Muslims to be the direct word of God in Islam, God (or ...
in honour of her deceased Muslim mother Mouna who died in 1998. She went on to do
Umrah The ʿUmrah ( ar, عُمْرَة, lit=to visit a populated place) is an Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca (the holiest city for Muslims, located in the Hejazi region of Saudi Arabia) that can be undertaken at any time of the year, in contrast to the ...
that same year in
Mecca Mecca (; officially Makkah al-Mukarramah, commonly shortened to Makkah ()) is a city and administrative center of the Mecca Province of Saudi Arabia, and the Holiest sites in Islam, holiest city in Islam. It is inland from Jeddah on the Red ...
. It was also reported that her decision was met with strong opposition from her
Maronite Christian Lebanese Maronite Christians ( ar, المسيحية المارونية في لبنان; syc, ܡܫܝܚܝ̈ܐ ܡܪ̈ܘܢܝܐ ܕܠܒܢܢ) are adherents of the Maronite Church in Lebanon, which is the largest Christian denomination in the country ...
father and some of her relatives. Eventually, her father respected her decision. She is the only one of her siblings who practices Islam. Haddad rarely speaks openly about her religious beliefs stating that these matters "are personal and only between her and God." Prior to her official conversion, Haddad did thorough research into Islam. She once stated in an interview with Al-Jareema magazine that attending the lectures of Islamic scholars Sheikh Al-Shrawi and Tarek Swaed is also what motivated her to convert. Haddad describes herself as a "private, yet observant Muslim" who prays, reads the
Qur'an The Quran (, ; Standard Arabic: , Quranic Arabic: , , 'the recitation'), also romanized Qur'an or Koran, is the central religious text of Islam, believed by Muslims to be a revelation from God. It is organized in 114 chapters (pl.: , sing. ...
and fasts during
Ramadan , type = islam , longtype = Religious , image = Ramadan montage.jpg , caption=From top, left to right: A crescent moon over Sarıçam, Turkey, marking the beginning of the Islamic month of Ramadan. Ramadan Quran reading in Bandar Torkaman, Iran. ...
. She denied rumours that she embraced
Sufism Sufism ( ar, ''aṣ-ṣūfiyya''), also known as Tasawwuf ( ''at-taṣawwuf''), is a mystic body of religious practice, found mainly within Sunni Islam but also within Shia Islam, which is characterized by a focus on Islamic spirituality, r ...
or returned to Christianity after her divorce. Haddad's father died in late 2011, thirteen years after the death of his wife Mouna. The track "Rajaa Al Sheti" on the 2011 album ''Bent Osol'' was devoted to Haddad's parents. Hadded has lived in Dubai since she married Al-Abdul, but she frequently visits her native Lebanon when possible as she owns real estate there. In one of her visits in late 2009, Haddad and her driver were attacked by armed
militant The English word ''militant'' is both an adjective and a noun, and it is generally used to mean vigorously active, combative and/or aggressive, especially in support of a cause, as in "militant reformers". It comes from the 15th century Latin " ...
bandits Banditry is a type of organized crime committed by outlaws typically involving the threat or use of violence. A person who engages in banditry is known as a bandit and primarily commits crimes such as extortion, robbery, and murder, either as an ...
in
Beirut Beirut, french: Beyrouth is the capital and largest city of Lebanon. , Greater Beirut has a population of 2.5 million, which makes it the third-largest city in the Levant region. The city is situated on a peninsula at the midpoint o ...
who demanded everyone in the car to get out. Haddad's driver refused to obey the demands of the criminals and made a daring, yet life saving quick exit and escaped. The militants attempted to catch up with them but failed. Haddad called the incident traumatic and said she was not able to sleep for days afterwards. It is believed that their motives were to steal the car. In March 2010, Haddad admitted that she had not voted in the Lebanese general election of 2009 stating that she currently "lives in the United Arab Emirates" and that she hopes that "God protects every Lebanese official who puts Lebanon over his personal interests." When it comes to body image issues, Haddad revealed that she was not against plastic surgery as long as it was not exaggerated and admitted to having a nose job. Haddad is noted to being quite
petite Vincent Aycocho, or better known as Petite is a Filipino actor, comedian, singer and TV show host. He is known for as a Filipino comedian in ''Comedy Bar'', Punch line and Clowns, together with their other celebrities; Boobay, Iyah, Donita Nose ...
in size and height.


Philanthropy

Haddad has been involved in humanitarian work in areas such as social and political crises. In 2000, upon the uprising of the Palestinian
Intifada An intifada ( ar, انتفاضة ') is a rebellion or uprising, or a resistance movement. It is a key concept in contemporary Arabic usage referring to a legitimate uprising against oppression.Ute Meinel ''Die Intifada im Ölscheichtum Bahrain: ...
, Hadded released a song dedicated to the Palestinian cause called "Al Haq Yaktubo Min Dami" (Arabic: the truth is written with my blood). She cancelled a scheduled fifteen US tour dates in solidarity with the Palestinian people.
/ref> In 2003, Haddad contributed to a campaign against drugs and smoking in the UAE by releasing a single called "Bi Edak El Qarar" (Arabic: the decision is in your hands). She was chosen to be part of the campaign by the organizers of the project due to her influence on young Emirati people. The video was directed by Suhail Al-Abdul. In 2007 she took part in a charity concert held by the American CHF firm in UAE along with Assi el Helani, Youri Mrakkadi, and Bassem Feghali. The money raised from the concert went to Lebanese children. A year later, she was honored by Al Rashid Care Center for her work with handicapped children. In September 2011, The International Human Rights Watch Organisation (HRW) appointed her an Ambassador of Peace. Since then, Haddad has been participating in humanitarian and charitable activities that are part of the HRW's agenda in the Arab world. In 2008, Haddad was offered a part in the charity single "El Dameer Al Arabi" (Arabic: the Arab conscience) performed by a
charity supergroup A charity supergroup is a music group comprising famous musicians or other celebrities which is formed to raise funds or awareness for charities or causes. The supergroup is usually together only for a single album, performance, or single. The ...
. The song is about the dire situation of the Middle East and Arab world including the
Palestinian-Israeli conflict The Arab citizens of Israel are the largest ethnic minority in the country. They comprise a hybrid community of Israeli citizens with a heritage of Palestinian citizenship, mixed religions (Muslim, Christian or Druze), bilingual in Arabic an ...
and
Iraq War {{Infobox military conflict , conflict = Iraq War {{Nobold, {{lang, ar, حرب العراق (Arabic) {{Nobold, {{lang, ku, شەڕی عێراق (Kurdish languages, Kurdish) , partof = the Iraq conflict (2003–present), I ...
. "El Dameer Al Arabi" is considered a sequel to "Al Helm Al Arabi" (Arabic: the Arab dream) project performed by a different supergroup in 1997 that included Haddad. Many of the original participants agreed to take part again including
Asala Nasri Assala Mostafa Hatem Nasri ( ar, أصالة مصطفى حاتم نصري; born 15 May 1969), commonly known as Assala ( ar, أصالة), is a Syrian musical artist. She is one of the most popular and famous Arab singers. Early life and career ...
and Ahlam. Hadded declined the offer and explained the reason behind her decision in the TV show Tarattatta that "patriotic songs proved useless and vain in the Arab world."Mazika


Discography


Studio albums

* '' Saken'' (1996) * ''
Ahl Al Esheg ''Ahl Al Esheg'' is the second studio album by Lebanese pop singer-songwriter Diana Haddad, released by Stallions Records on February 10, 1997. In terms of sales, ''Ahl Al Esheg'' is Haddad's third best-selling studio album behind ''Ammanih'' ...
'' (1997) * '' Ammanih'' (1997) * '' Yammaia'' (1998) * '' Shater'' (1999) * '' Jarh Al Habib'' (2000) * '' Akhbar Helwa'' (2001) * '' Law Yesaloni'' (2002) * '' Awel Marrah'' (2004) * '' Diana 2006'' (2006) * '' Men Diana Illa'' (2008) * '' Bent Osol'' (2011) * ''
Ya Bashar ''Ya Bashar'' ( ar, يا بشر; English: Hey, Humans) is the thirteenth studio album by Lebanese recording artist Diana Haddad. The album was released by Rotana Records on December 17, 2014. ''Ya Bashar'' marks Haddad's first album in three years ...
'' (2014)


Live albums

* '' Anida'' (1996)


Compilation albums

* '' Best of Diana Haddad'' (2002) * '' Best of Diana Haddad 2'' (2003)


Singles


1990s


2000s


2010s


2020s


Duets


Special Recordings/Live Tracks

* Lematha Al Moshtaka * Helm Al Arabi * Ya Rayheen Ommi (1997) * Jabalak Kanz (live in concert ) (1998) * Mush Beedi (1999) * Ya Carthage (2000) * Naam Zayed (2001) * Ard El Emarat (2001) * Wily Mennak (2001) * Asma Bilad * Roof Roohi (2002) * El Lilah Ghair (2002) * Noor Aini (2002) * Ela Falastin... (2002) (Live) * Saat Kheir (2003) * Ainawi (2003) * Yal Samra (2003) * Lgenawi (2003) * Ya Keef Al Rooh (2003) * Ya Fakr * Ya Baad Omri * Enta Al Shams (2001) (Song most famously by
Najwa Karam Najwa Karam ( ar, نجوى كرم, , born 26 February 1966) is a Lebanese singer, songwriter, producer, fashion icon, one of the best selling recording artist in the middle east with more than 60 million records worldwide. Known as the "Sun of ...
) (Unreleased Studio Recording) * Al EIn Molayetin (2005) (Live in concert in Algeria) * Lanat Emaraa (Theme Song for a Drama in Bahrain) (2008) * Yal Samra (2003)


References


External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Haddad, Diana 1976 births Living people Converts to Islam from Catholicism 21st-century Lebanese women singers Lebanese record producers Naturalized citizens of the United Arab Emirates Lebanese emigrants to the United Arab Emirates Lebanese Sunni Muslims Former Maronite Christians People from South Lebanon Rotana Records artists Singers who perform in Classical Arabic Lebanese emigrants to Kuwait 20th-century Lebanese women singers Women record producers Lebanese film actresses Lebanese television actresses Emirati actresses Emirati film actresses