"In the morning, Fairouz's hopeful voice, like the trilling of a songbird, is fresh and cheery. Her melancholy lifts your spirts. In Fairouz's company the world is bright, and though sadness is always present, behind every word, her voice takes you to a lush hilltop under skies the sweetest blue." As perfectly stated by Saleem Haddad in his incredible novel, Guapa. As the famous Arabic saying goes and as quoted from the novel "you must wake up to Fairouz and fall asleep to Oum Kalthoum. Fairouz in the morning, Oum Kalthoum in the evening" (Haddad, 331).
No for a snippet from my Masters thesis for some more insight on Fairouz. . .
"This saying has become such a part of popular culture that contemporary singers refer to it in their songs. Majid Al-Mohandis, the Iraqi Pan-Gulf singer mentions this cultural phenomena in the lyrics of this Pan-Arab song in the “White Dialect” (lahja al-bayda) “Sabah Al-Khair”: “Ya Omri, Sabah al-Nour, Yalla AsHa Ghenit Fairouz: My life (sweetie), Good Morning, come on wake up, Fairouz already sang.” Associations between Fairouz, the morning, a cup of Turkish coffee, and (possibly) a cigarette have been ingrained into the Arab psyche over the generations as a set of inseparable factors. Traditionally no radio station would begin its morning broadcast without playing something from Fairouz. Her soothing and strong voice has become inseparable with the morning and this tradition that began with the radio continues today on social media as well. Even Instagram accounts like insta6arab will begin their morning posts with a clip or recording from the legendary diva.
Fairouz also sang in al-‘ammiya, or (Lebanese) dialect, and Classical Arabic, predominately in poems recounting Arab greatness. Despite being a Lebanese cultural icon, she established herself as a pan-Arab singer and cultural icon that while still symbolizing Lebanon, reached and represented all the Arabs. She is still loved and can be heard all over the world to the present day. She has been able to successfully cross from the classical era to today and from folklore to contemporary genres. Hammond writes that “No Arab singer has managed to merge the traditional and the modern as Fairouz has.” Fairouz is the epitome of dignified Arab nationalism due to her patriotic songs. Her image and “mythical” status in Arab culture have placed her on par with Umm Kulthum and given her nicknames like “Ambassador to the Stars,” “Neighbor to the Moon” and “the Jewel of Lebanon.” She is the only one of the original Divas still living." . .
My most recent trip to Lebanon was this past December 2017 for about 10 days. I have since heavily referred to Beirut and my memories of this trip as 'cafe life.' Beirut with its beautiful cafes spread out from, in the words of Sabah (another mega artist and Arab cultural icon), Sana'ya to Rouche and Manara, Hara Hara, from Bab Idris to Hamra." In the morning, until about 1pm when the radio stations and playlists switch, you hear Fairouz, EVERYWHERE. In every cafe, every shop, every car. This is not only in Lebanon. I experienced the same thing in Kuwait and Cairo on this last trip as well. Needless to say, 'Fairouz, the morning, a cup of Turkish coffee,' and in my case a glass of orange juice rather then a cigarette, has been ingrained into my psyche as a set of inseparable factors. The only addition I will make to that is my memories of Lebanon; its beautiful landscapes, its beautiful people and its lovely love of life, all with Fairouz and a tiny cup of Turkish coffee.
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