Fairuz: Famous Arabic Singer & Style Icon

I've long been fascinated by Arab culture, language and music. I've been lucky enough to live in Egypt and Tunisia and I've travelled in the Arabian Gulf including Oman, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain. The smells of the souk with their fresh spices and herbs, the hospitality of the people and the complex -but beautiful- sounds of the language make me incredibly happy. While recently visiting friends in New York City, I decided it would be fun to do a tutorial of Fairuz, the famous Lebanese singer and diva. Fairuz sang for the people...not for the government or for the elite. Her lyrics are bold and at times, haunting.

Here are the partial lyrics (translated, but not officially so there may be some mistakes) to the song featured in my hair tutorial "Habaytak Bisayf"

"In days of cold, in days of rain, and the pavement - a lake, the street:

drowning, she comes - that girl - from her old house

and is told "wait for me"

and she waits on the road, and he goes and forgets her while she withers in the rain I loved you in summer

I loved you in the winter rain, I waited for you in the summer, I waited for you in the rain, and your eyes: the summer. my eyes: the rain (winter). our meeting: my love is between the summer and between the winter..."

Watch the intensity as she sings this song:

A link to Lebanese food recipes

More about the life of Fairuz

A short overview and introduction to Classical Arabic is here