A guest album review by Lena:
I started listening to Arabic music back when the only known pop singers were Amr Diab, Najwa Karam, and a few others. Now we see a huge influx of new Arabic pop artists, many can be attributed to the growing music video phenomena where eye candy trumps any solid talent.
But as you filter out all the mediocre (Amal Hijazi, Fares Karam, Nancy Ajram,etc) and the crap (Haifa Wehbi, Rola Saad, Jad Chouairi) then you have a select few that are worthy enough to download and can be proud to blast in your car….and nobody stands out more than the very talented actor, composer, and singer TAMER HOSNY.
We also have those ‘once upon a time’ great artists that lose their touch, like Nawal El Zoghby, Hisham Abbas, and Ragheb Alameh.
But one of the few exceptions is an old timer that continues to spit out great albums….none other than the King of Pop – Amr Diab!
Now that I briefly introduce these wonderful talents…I would like to expose a little of their latest albums that were just released within the last few weeks.
Tamer Hosny
“Ha3eesh Hayati”
and
Amr Diab’s
“Wayah”
What’s significant about these releases is that they happened within days of each other, a first time ever! It’s a big deal because they are each other’s biggest competitor! When I was on a plane to Egypt last summer, the Egyptian fella next to me put it this way, “If Amr Diab has 10,000 fans, Tamer Hosny has 100,000.”
At the time, I was in disbelief. I didn’t really know much about Tamer honestly, I thought he was this ugly, hairy wannabe singer. I rejected any attempt for people to change my mind otherwise. But summers in Egypt are all about the latest music frenzy and as the stranger on the plane predicted, Tamer was EVERYWHERE.
His movies corresponded with his albums and they are always simultaneously popular. He has a great voice, his music is almost flawless. The only thing I would refrain from commenting on is his music videos and movies because I have a feeling if I see them it would make me lose any awe I have for the guy.
The comparison:
Now for the overview of his latest album, there are 15 songs in which he had to have put together in one year PLUS his summer movie, Omar w Salma 2. Amr Diab’s ‘Wayah’ came out with 12 songs after about 2 years of absence. Amr Diab (nearing the end of his 40′s) has a resume from as far back as the mid 1980′s whereas Tamer (who is 31 and half Syrian) debuted only 6 years ago.
Taking these into consideration, Amr Diab has a collection that sounds very much like his predecessor albums ‘El Leila Di’ and ‘Kamel Kalamak’. Mostly upbeat songs with only one purely slow song “Yehemik fe eh” which is actually one of the better songs on the album. Overall, the album is pretty good with the title song ‘Wayah’ a great opening for a series of songs that sound like slightly emulated copies.
“Ella Habibi” was leaked a month before and is probably the best song on the album because of its original beats. We have “Malak” and “Ah men el Fora2″ that reminds you of why we all fell in love with Amr in the first place, something you would have heard in his earlier albums like Amarain or Tamally Ma3ak. “Tamenni” is a nice, happy song as is “Ba2adem Albi” that has absolutely no Arabic beats and sounds more like his favorite (Latin) ‘El Leila De’ beats All the other songs like “Allah 3ala Hobbak”, “We7yati khaliki” are good but easily forgettable with copy beats. It should be noted that, as I speculate, Amr actually composed several songs on this album which may explain the lazy variation…
Basically, it is a good album with not much diversity. Ultimately, it is definitely worth checking out as it satisfies the pop fan’s basic needs. I don’t think there is any song on here that is to the level of his smash hit singles like ‘Wala 3ala Balo’ or ‘Amarain’. I think those days might be over but I hope I’m wrong.
Now as for Tamer… while Amr Diab’s best songs are somewhere in the past, Tamer’s songs keep getting better and better. This might be because it’s relatively early in his career but ‘Ha3eesh Hayati’ is definitely a GREAT album.
The title song, ‘Ha3eesh Hayati” is such a great song. It has very nice lyrics and you will fall in love with the song from hearing it just once (whereas with Amr Diab, I felt like I had to give them a few chances to like).
But the BEST song, absolutely AMAZING song, has to be the first introductory song…”Kolli elli faat” I think this has to be one of his best fast songs if not the best. The second song, “Tab3a kol el nas” is nice followed by one song I have mixed feelings about… a very daring song with English lyrics and very different from his regular style.
Tamer goes terribly wrong though, when he included the last song, which is even entitled in English “Come back to me.” It’s painful even to write about it so I’ll just say it reminded me of Jad Chouari’s latest embarrassment.
The other songs, “Wa7lam Leh”, “Tab3a kuli el nas”, and “bghier 3alaiha” are nice, slow songs within the same quality we are accustomed to from Tamer’s previous songs. You have some duets going on here with “Rasmy Fahmy Nazmy” which were actually really good.
Another GREAT DANCE song by Tamer — though I don’t like the lyrics since I’m a feminist — was released slightly before this album. It is ‘shofi ba2a’ and was part of his movie.
There are two other duets that were OKAY at best, one with Karim Mohsen and the other with his jail buddy Haitham Shaker.
So overall, both are great albums, but if you want a memorable album with a great album cover, Tamer definitely wins. 
Related posts:
- The Hitchhiker’s Guide to Arabic Music 2008
- Arabic Music: This Year so Far
- Arabic Music Video Shows Mexico Some Love
- The Party Goes On…At Least for Some
- Arabic Music Videos: the Must See List
Oh I forgot to put the name of that 'mixed feelings' song, its "habibi shoof"
Posted by Lena | July 14, 2009, 4:41 pmnice review
Posted by Ridwan | July 14, 2009, 11:14 pmYeah, I wasn't really impressed by the new Amr Diab. It was okay, not spectacular like some of his past ones.
That being said, I want to blame the fact that it wasn't as good as it could have been on the fact that some of his songs were leaked while the CD was actually being recorded. That's gotta suck, right? I mean the people working with you release a few of the songs for your new CD a few months before the CD actually comes out? In a way, it reminds me of 1999/2000 when a band or an individual would out with a new CD and one person bought it, ripped the mp3, put it on Napster and your grandma had already downloaded it on to her computer. But Amr Diab had to totally re-work his CD which was already in the latter stages of production.
I'll agree with you that Tamer definitely wins this round. But you never know. Amr Diab might surprise us all next year with something no one has heard before.
Posted by Los | July 15, 2009, 8:03 pmWell, Tamer's was leaked too. I heard ha3eesh hayati much earlier. And Amr's songs have ALWAYS leaked prior as do most big artists….I dont know. I haven't purchased an ARabic cd in ages…..its all on http://WWW.NOGOMI.COM haha
But my problem with Amr is his new style…Amr is trying to be this hip, young, fast songs only kina guy and it's not the solution to compete with the newer popular artists like tamer, hama2i, and others.
I hope Amr gets back up too, but Tamer is just — getting there so fast
Posted by Lena | July 17, 2009, 2:26 amSince nobody else has posted on it, I will. Great review, Lena! I've listened to both albums, and even though I barely understand any Arabic, I still agree with you that Tamer Hosny's album is by far the better of the two. I actually like "Ta3aba Kol el-Nas", though. And if I had to pick a favorite Amr Diab song from his days past, it'd be "Wa7ashteny".
Posted by Nth Republic | July 17, 2009, 12:47 amSince nobody else has posted on it, I will. Great review, Lena! I've listened to both albums, and even though I barely understand any Arabic, I still agree with you that Tamer Hosny's album is by far the better of the two. I actually like "Ta3aba Kol el-Nas", though. I wholeheartedly concur that the all-English song "Come Back to Me" is exceedingly awful.
Oh, and if I had to pick a favorite Amr Diab song from his days past, it'd be "Wa7ashteny".
Posted by Nth Republic | July 17, 2009, 12:48 amSince nobody else has posted on it, I will. Great review, Lena! I've listened to both albums, and even though I barely understand any Arabic, I still agree with you that Tamer Hosny's album is by far the better of the two. I actually like "Ta3aba Kol el-Nas", though. I wholeheartedly concur that the all-English song "Come Back to Me" is exceedingly awful.
Oh, and if I had to pick a favorite Amr Diab song from his days past, it'd be "Wa7ashteny", but admittedly, I doubt I've listened to as much of his music as you have.
Posted by Nth Republic | July 17, 2009, 12:49 amGreat review, Lena! I've listened to both albums, and even though I barely understand any Arabic, I still agree with you that Tamer Hosny's album is by far the better of the two. It's more varied, interesting, and honestly I think at this point he might even be more vocally talented than Amr. I actually like "Ta3aba Kol el-Nas", though. I wholeheartedly concur that the all-English song "Come Back to Me" is exceedingly awful.
Oh, and if I had to pick a favorite Amr Diab song from his days past, it'd be "Wa7ashteny", but admittedly, I doubt I've listened to as much of his music as you have.
Posted by Nth Republic | July 17, 2009, 3:13 amhaha well 'tab3a kul el nas' is fine, its just different….sounds like its an american song with arabic lyrics (la la la la la….and…..'yeeeeeeeaaaaahhhhhh'…..and 'everybodayyyyyy'….haha
even 'kol en nas' has 'DANCE' thrown in there which is all I can handle….I'll forgive him for that
Yeah, its hard to find bad tamer songs (except come back to me) but I can list you all of Amr's bad songs….theyr both vocally amazing in different ways
Posted by Lena | July 17, 2009, 2:20 amI just discovered Tamer on a trip overseas and I'm loving this album. I was wondering if there's any other contemporary Arabic pop at this level but the way you describe it sounds like Tamer is the best.
Posted by beezy | July 25, 2009, 2:20 pmI am sorry but this over all review sounds pretty knowledge less. Amr diab "wayah" album by far beat tamer by over a million albums just look at virgin mega stores data. also i memorized everysong for amr diab new album unlike tamer like his every year same thing album from same words to same beats . amr diab i am sure will win world music award once again with this amazing album………tamer lost i am sorry IT SHOULD BE : AMR VS TAMER
Posted by YUSEF | July 25, 2009, 6:37 pmI had listened to both albums but i liked amr diab new album " wayah" more than tamer hosny album finally amr diab wins
Posted by mohamed | August 12, 2009, 1:38 pmAMR IS THE BEST , TAMER IS UGLY
Posted by M+3A+G | September 19, 2009, 10:29 pmtamer is the best now
amr is losing his history
Posted by mohamed sobhi | October 6, 2009, 5:43 pmIm with u will 4 sure
amr diab has a history but nw he`s not the best though
Its tamer time
Posted by Emad Hosny | October 6, 2009, 8:49 pmnice review
i'm with you in almost everything … BUT ''come back to me'' is definitely a great song and it had SO much succes, so you can't even compare it to jad chouari's song! And in my opinion ''rasmy fahmy nazmy" is also awesome because it brings something new to the lyrics world….
about Amr Diab, well of course he is AWESOME no one can deny that but we should admit that he became old and he can't stay number 1 after 35 years! i mean it's life, there is always continouse progress…
Posted by Shery | October 6, 2009, 10:31 pm2akid 2akid tamerr hosny beh chou hal 2ad msatil ta n7et amr diab 2aslan tamer hosny kel cdyeto bi 3a2doo waaw w howe bi 3a2id i vote for tamer w 2akid tamer hosny yo2berne jamelak tayabak kelo fik 7elo mwahhh b7ebak lal moooot
Posted by lara saidy | October 9, 2009, 4:15 pm2akid 2akiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiid tameerrrrrr habib l2aleb w ma mnestaghne 3anooo 7ayete twa ha3eech 7ayatii 2a7la cd w 2anja7 cd tamer hosny tamer hosny w tamer hosny
heda amr dieb walla 2afchal men hek fenen 2akid 2akid ma fi chak tamer hosnyyyyyyy tamer hosnyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy mwahhh
Posted by lynn | October 9, 2009, 4:18 pmyeaah tamer iz da best evaaaaaaaa…his album is soo amazing album really…and the lyrics is sooo sensitive…tamer has da most population in da middle east really…and his concerts is always successful..it may exceed the half million audiences…really tamer is da best…and deserve to be an international singer
Posted by yassoo luv temo | October 9, 2009, 6:52 pmI am surprised that no one has mentioned the best song in the album Haeesh Hayati & the song is "7agaat Kitir" the beat is so awesome & lyrics are good.. better than Kulle Elli fat
Posted by Ahmed | November 10, 2009, 10:41 pmamr diab: 3 world music awards, tamer hosny: 0 world music awards…every1 can have an opinion but guess what…your opinion doesnt matter…let the facts speak for themselves! if i was amr diab id be offended that im being compared to tamer hosny after a life time of history!
Posted by hany_126 | November 23, 2009, 7:52 amtamer is the king
SiR.lOkA
TamerHosnyDefender
Posted by loka | January 29, 2010, 6:50 pmwhatever happens is the best Tamer
Posted by Elissa | December 27, 2010, 9:54 pmdoes anyone has the lyrics of Haeesh Hayati (Tamer Hosny's song) ?? I will really appreciate if you guys have
Posted by Ceren | February 10, 2011, 9:02 amif anyone has it can u pls send me an email – bonitac_crn@mynet.com
Posted by Ceren | February 10, 2011, 9:04 am