Fahd Ballan (the man that we've mentioned in the previous post), is one helluva man in all seriousness. This Syrian singer-actor had a very distinctive singing style bordering sometimes at yodeling, mixed so heavily with his body and arm movements, and above all his very weird facial expressions and googly-eyes as he tried to roll each eye with every word he's singing (or, vise versa), making his voice the most-notable instrument, drowning an Arabic 30-plus strong orchestra in the process as his pan-sized eyes and his extra-large maw led the show! Yes! He was something else. (This calls for a 'Yoube link as I am sure words can do Ballan no justice when it comes to describing his facial expressions). Ogle this one tunestalgia on YouTubia:
و أشرح لها عن حالتي - فهد بلان
He was nicknamed 'Manhood's Singer' at the Syrian music-show 'Alwan' ('Colours'), by the Syrian boob-tube meister Najib Henkish. Very much the Arabic answer to Tom Jones, he has the similar, 70's dressing order with puffed-out butterfly shirt-collars, corduroy smoking jackets, velvety pants that shone like a thousand stars... what can I say? Unlike Tom Jones, he didn't get frillie underwear and a ton and a half of smelly bras thrown at him. Still, he was a macho-man nonetheless: he married Lebanese singer Sabah *wink wink nudge nudge*.
Born in 1933, Fahd Hmoud Ballan (also spelled Fahad/ Fahid Bellane), was raised to hard-working labour in the southern part of Syria called Suyiedah. This provincial agricultural part of Syria is the birth-place of all Arab musical genres. The Arabic world learned how to 'debka'; sing 'zajal', shout 'atabah', and basically sing and dance every other style of popular music bearing the clear mark of Sahl Houran: the large area that covers southern Syria and north Jordan.
On-stage in the 80's. Jordan. |
His early starts: Ballan was discovered as a musical talent in a singing competition that he won and led him to the bright-light/ big-city of Damascus to start a singing career in his early 20s as part of Syrian Radio orchestral chorus in 1957.
With Baligh Hamdy, Cairo circa late 60's. |
In 1997, Fahd Ballan died of a brain hemorrhage leaving his legacy and sweet-funny stage antics that were much-loved by my late father whose most favourite song by him was 'Wash'rah Laha' ('I Shall Explain to Her') which you can watch on the vid-link above and DL from the album-link below.
The Middle-east's macho-est man! You can almost see him winking... if you stare long enough! |
The tracks inclusive 'ere are some of his best-known songs.
Track-list:
1- A'aleehum Alah (God Woe Them).
2- Alfein Salam (Two-thousand Hellos).
3- Ana Sayyaad (I'm A Hunter).
4- Bent El-Arab (The Arabian Girl).
5- Eioun El-Najrjis (Iris-Eyes).
6- Enta We Ana (You And Me).
7- Karim Allah (God's Gives).
8- Kif Baddi A'aysh (How Am I Supposed to Live?).
9- Mal We Ihtajab (Went And Disappeared).
10- Qalat (She Said).
11- Wash'rah Laha (I Shall Explain to Her).
12- Ya Banat Al-Mukalah (Oh Girls of Mukalah*).
13- Ya Bint El-A'am (My Niece).
14- Ya Ein La Tedme'ai (Oh My Eye Don't Cry).
15- Ya Emdalaani (You Who Are Spoiled).
16- Ya Hamam Eddouh (O'Doves of The Garden).
17- Ya Haz Min Yehwak (Lucky Are Those Who Love You).
18- Ya Sahira'l Aynien (You With The Magic Eyes).
19- Ya Salimah (Oh Salimah).
20- Yesaed Masaha (May Your Evening be Happy).
*Al-Mukalah: 'a port city in Yemen'.
Funny, yet really sweet: that's music, that's life.
Dig'em!
H.H.
2 comments:
have a rcord from Fahd and i always thought he was from Lebanon, but thanks to your wel-informed blog i know better now. Since your (and other) blogs is also a sort of monument for this music, wouldn't you consider oploading in a 320 bitrate? Thanks for the music! Gerrit
@LolaRadio:
I will soon.
Enjoy the more to come.
H.H.
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