The Queen of Arabic music, Samira Saeed, long anticipated release of her fourteenth album, “Aweeny beek”, showed us that there is still much more we can expect from her in the future. Vibrant and with a great deal of energy, Saeed sat down with Insight to discuss life, her career, music and the road ahead. This Moroccan has surprised many with her latest release, not the least her new hair color. It was a great honor to have the opportunity to sit with Saeed at her home in Cairo, where she showed Insight the real Samira. by Joseph S. Mayton & Ola Naguib Aweeny beek Although it had been two years since her “Youm Wara Youm” release, Saeed makes up for any doubts fans may have had with “Aweeny beek.” Reminiscent of American hip-hop stars Outkast, Saeed doesn’t shy away from doing something outside the norm of traditional Arabic pop music. Although she said it was not her intention, this CD has European, particularly Spanish and Portuguese, rhythms and beats written throughout. Drawing from the constantly changing attitudes in music, this album is a beautiful combination of Arabic and Iberian sounds. “People want to see change and I wanted to do something new,” Saeed said. Undoubtedly, she has succeeded in doing such. Her rasping voice is superbly used to give the listener numerous styles, which only she could pull off. From the hit title track, the ballads and upbeat tracks, one cannot but be impressed with the talent of Saeed. The album is so good that it is near impossible to choose which track is the best. It is better not to and just let the entire album play through, over and over. I asked Saeed if she has ever been compared to Shakira, in the way she combines “Western” music and “Arabic” music with her voice that sounds very similar to the Latin American sensation. “No, but Shakira’s voice is beautiful so I don’t mind in the least,” she responded to the compliment. “Fe Khayalee” has the entire trademark Shakira sounds. However, we must keep in mind that Saeed has been around for two decades, so we should probably be comparing Shakira to Saeed instead of the other way around. Despite taking two years to create “Aweeny beek,” the wait was definitely worth it. Both, Westerner and Arab alike will easily enjoy this album. Saeed was open about the influence the West has had on her music saying, “with globalization the same equipment and techniques are used here in Egypt as in Europe, so obviously the sounds will continue to come closer having been influenced by each other,” Saeed said. This is true, because more and more Westerners are using “oriental” sounds in their music, so it is no wonder that Saeed has drawn from the sounds of the world. This is what she refers to as ‘loops.’ These loops are helping create more dynamic sounds in music throughout the globe. Although she is humble at giving credit to others, it is apparent that this album is a drastic change from the usual Arabic music that is being released these days. Very few artists have the talent and credibility to combine such a fusion of sounds Saeed created. She says that in order to maintain creative and popular music an artist must “continue looking for new ideas that surprise people.” She continues on, declaring, “I do not want to stop now. I don’t know where I will go from here, but I am sure to continue to develop new music. Music gives me a thrill.” Saeed says this is the difference from those who are lasting singers in the Arab world. It is easy for artists to come out with a popular song, based on looks or dancing, but she says that the key to staying on top is having a song that has excellent lyrics and a beat that with keep the listener attentive months after the song has been released. It is hard to disagree with her, as her music continues to be played throughout the cafés and restaurants of the Middle East, almost as often as her concerts sell out at any arena she chooses to perform at. Pressing the Issues We discussed her music for a while before I turned to a more serious round of questions about her career and how she sees herself as a musician. Always a hot topic in the Middle East, especially for foreigners is the subject of women in the region. I asked her if she thinks her music can be a source of empowerment for women. Her response was not what I had initially expected. “Music and song can convey strong messages. In the past I would sing about women being able to tell their men that they didn’t want to stay and I think this does help women see that they can have power in their lives. This may have helped to strengthen women and make them more independent. Women change and I may help in my music.” It is obvious that she is an independent woman, which can lead more Arab women to connect with the many messages throughout her music. Asked about her much talked about dispute with Amr Diab, Saeed shows strength. “It was mine,” referring to Lealy Nahary, Diab’s newest hit. However she tells us that even though it was first offered to her, the same composer who does much of Diab’s music wrote it, supposedly offered it to Diab as well. She said she liked it, but when Diab also showed interest in the song, they sat down and discussed whom it would be better for. After she had listened to Diab’s version of the song, Saeed said, “I like Amr’s song and wanted him to do it.” This shows the respect of an experienced artist, something the world rarely witnesses in today’s world. Showing this strength of a great artist, she allowed Diab to release the song, but that did not stop her from taking center-stage with her own release. Always a question on every journalists mind when talking to Arabic music stars is acting. I asked Saeed if she has thought about acting. To my surprise she had already acted. “A long time ago I did (acted) in Morocco, but now I do not really feel like I want to. But I do not feel like it is entirely out of the question,” she said. To be sure, she has received many calls asking for her to act in the myriad films produced in the region, but she was adamant that she is happy with her music career and wants to keep it going, adding that she wants to make it stronger and better than ever. Inspiration “My friends and family have helped me throughout my musical career,” Saeed commented about the inspirations in her life. It is hard to think that she has needed much inspiration in her career, but she is a regular human being like any of us. People standing by to guide and support us are always welcome. She said that no person in particular was the inspiration for her musical career, “but obviously Abdel el Haleem had a great influence on me,” Saeed reveals. Haleem, one of the icons of Arabic music, discovered Saeed in Morocco and brought her to Cairo where she hasn’t looked back since, creating album after album to please the entire region. “I still stand on real ground, like anyone in the world,” she said. This belief that she is no different from the average person who listens to her music is inspiring. Surprisingly this is exactly the perception I had as I walked out of her home; this woman is for real; there is no outer crust that has to be broken away to see into the real person behind the star. She is a star that more “up and coming” artists should emulate. Unlike the majority of music stars in the world, Saeed is a combination of star and reality that makes you feel you aren’t talking with someone who has produced fourteen amazing albums which has made her a household name throughout the entire Middle East. As a Western journalist it amazed me the ease she was able to openly discuss issues relating to her music. I did not sense a hint of arrogance in her personality. She has ample reason to show off, but her best quality is probably the way she allows her music to speak for itself. It appeared that she was very happy, a trait hard to find in the world of music today. Her ability to continue to put out great music year after year, is not only bewildering, but knowing how difficult it is to change in the music business, it reveals that no matter how beautiful an artist may be, which Saeed certainly is, you have to have the talent and abilities necessary if you are to make it to the top and maintain that position over years, let alone decades which Saeed has accomplished. It is difficult to predict what is in store for Saeed in the coming years, after two amazing albums have made certain she has no plans to exit the music stage any time soon. In an ever-changing business, Saeed deserves all the credit she has received. After beginning her career in Morocco, she has persevered throughout the years, giving the Arabic music world great album after great album. Saeed is a testament to the power of music in the Middle East. While her latest release, “Aweeny beek,” is an amazing fusion of her many talents, I can only hope she doesn’t take two more years to release a new album. Her talent will continue to carry her to new heights, bringing Arabic music more and more exquisite sounds. If you don’t go out and buy Saeed’s album you are truly missing one of the best Arabic music records produced in recent years. Not since her “Youm Wara Youm” album has the Middle East witnessed a display of talent shown in Saeed’s, “Aweeny beek.”//en.yabiladi.com/topics/breaking-hype-44-480134-480134.html#msg-480134 Thu, 04 Jun 2026 13:56:11 +0200 Phorum 5.2.15