Magida el Roumi

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Majida Halim El Roumi is a Lebanese singer. She was born on December 13, 1956, in Kfarshima, Lebanon. She is the daughter of the music icon Halim El Roumi. She made her first steps in the artistic world at the beginning of the 1970s when she took part in the TV show "Studio Al Fan" (Art Studio). She won the gold medal of the best female singer in the year. Majida, blessed with her father’s support to start an artistic career, simultaneously continued her studies at the university. She obtained a Bachelor Degree in Arabic literature in 1975.

Majida’s career witnessed three different stages. In the 1970s and 1980s, Majida’s music was typical of the 1970s Arabic pop, with traditional percussion, a string section, guitar and keyboard. In the 1980s, Majida turned into celebration songs with more occidental instruments, using a Lebanese accent, and keeping the classic spirit of her style. Songs like "Ya Saken Afkari" or "Nabaa El Mahaba" were a proof that she is a self made respected artist .

The 1990s was the period when Majida reached maturity. In 1991, she released her first true pan-Arab hit "Kalimat" written by the famous Syrian poet Nizar Kabbani. Thus, Majida started the movement which re-popularized classical Arabic poetry in music. In the same period, her music started to fuse Eastern and Western rhythms. She mainly sang engaged and patriotic songs like "Oum Etthadda" and "Saqata Al Qina". In 1996, she signed with the Rotana Label and collaborated with the most famous composers and musicians. The same year, she released the album "Resaal".

In1998, she released her ninth album "Ahebak Webaad". After the death of her sister, Majida started singing religious songs. She did not release any "secular" music for close to a decade. In 2003, she released two religious albums entitled "Cithare Du Ciel" and "Erhamni Ya Allah". Besides, Majida sang a special rendition of the song "Ave Maria", which was the first official recording to show her talent as a soprano.

The year 2006 witnessed Majida’s come back to a much-changed Arabic music scene. Her album "Etazalt El Gharam" spoke to the young generation. The single with the same name as the album was released with a video directed by Nadine Labaki. It showed a changed, happier, and young Majida. She started collaborating with new names like the singer and song writer Marwan Khoury as well as the musicians Jean Marie Riachi and Claude Chalhoub. This collaboration updated Majida’s style but preserved the old- charm that made her name.

Throughout her career Majida has released several songs and albums. She also starred in Youssef Chahine’s movie "Awdat Al Ibn Al Dal" and provided three soundtracks for the movie. Moreover, Majida has performed at various festivals throughout the Arab world such as the festivals of Beiteddine, Jerash, Bosra, and Carthage as well as the Cairo opera House. Majida also performed at the most prestigious concert halls in the world, such as the Avery Fisher Hall at the Lincoln Centre, Carnegie Hall, a Hunter Hall in New York City, the Paris Olympia, and Athens Concert Hall etc.