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Fairuz Protests (source: http://www.fanoos.com/reports/fairuz_protests.html)
On the 26th of July 2010, hundreds of Fairuz fans from around the world protested in front of the Lebanese National Museum in Beirut.
The Committee for commemoration of Fairuz and the Rahbani brothers stood in solidarity with Fairuz, and they had one message to say: "No to preventing Fairouz from singing" .
Loudspeakers blared songs and excerpts of plays for Fairuz, in the presence of a number of artists such as Elham Shahin who flew from Cairo to take part in this protest. According to Shahin, Fairuz is one of the Legendary singers who gave a lot to the Arab world.
Other artists were present as well such as Julia Boutros, Liliane Nemri, Roula Hamadeh, Asaad Abou Khalil, Claudia Marchillian, Nidal Al Ahmadieh, Roula Saad and a lot of media presence, as well as local and foreign enthusiasts of Fairuz.
The demonstrators waved pictures of Fairuz in black and white, and distributed the statement to the participants explaining how the children and heirs of Mansour El Rahbani are restricting Fairuz, and accusing her of theft.
The dispute between Fairuz and the heirs of Mansour Rahbani began in 2008 when Mansour El Rahbani, alive at that time, sent warnings for Fairuz to stop the performance of the play (Sah El Nom) which was held in the Opera House in Damascus, Syria.
After the death of Mansour El Rahbani, on the 13th of Januray 2009, his children Ousamma Rahbani and Ghady Rahbani continued the fight against Fairuz, asking her to stop performing any of the Rahbani Brothers works without getting their permission and giving them a share in the profit.
The Ministry of Culture was also asked to act and do its duty to help Fairuz win this case.
The statement said: "We Lovers of Fairuz in Lebanon and the world are asking the Ministry of Education to respond to the request of Fayruz who is asking to have the Rahbani Brothers as a unique entity without distinction between them her husband Assi and his brother Mansour. "
The protesters also asked for Fairuz to come back soon on stage and give all the fans what they have longed for, a magical voice and a unique presence.
The Ministry of Culture was also asked to act and do its duty to help Fairuz win this case.
The statement said: "We Lovers of Fairuz in Lebanon and the world are asking the Ministry of Education to respond to the request of Fayruz who is asking to have the Rahbani Brothers as a unique entity without distinction between them her husband Assi and his brother Mansour. "
The protesters also asked for Fairuz to come back soon on stage and give all the fans what they have longed for, a magical voice and a unique presence.
Here is a news Report (in Arabic) about the various pro-Fairuz Protests. It aired on Al-Arabiya TV Channel and includes an interview with her daughter Reema Rahbany.
The banners below are but a few of the many samples that are being used at various rallies all over the Arab world in support of Fairuz and her right to perform her musicals without any legal obstacles. This movement of support includes peaceful marches, get-togethers at various coffee houses to listen to Fairuz songs, and dozens of Facebook Pages in support of the legendary Lebanese singer.
Western Media Reports on Fairuz:
Several western media sources also reported on the dispute, primarily Jacob Ganz who published this article titled Royalty Dispute May Silence Fairouz on July 30, 2010. In that article, Ganz explains that Lebanese singer Fairouz is the focus of protests around the world since a court in Beirut banned her from performing one of her signature songs last month due to a dispute over royalties. She was set to perform the song "Ya'ish Ya'ish" at the Casino du Liban until the children of her late husband's brother stepped in.
Ian Black of the Guardian explains the dispute by saying that many of Fairouz's works were co-written and composed by her late husband Assi al-Rahbani and his brother Mansour. When Mansour died, his children filed a suit against Fairouz, triggering a court order stopping her performing material that involved his contribution.
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Screenshot from article at this link |
On July 25, 2010, Rachel McArthur also published an article titled "Fairouz banned from performing – ever" in which she states that Fairuz is facing a ban on her performances in Lebanon and abroad, jeopardizing her career. McArthur goes on to explain that the ban follows a lawsuit by the sons of late composer Mansour Rahbani, who allege Fairouz owes them royalties. The singer's career began in the 1950s with The Rahbani Brothers, and she later married Assi Rahbani. Financial disputes have arisen since Mansour's death. Arab celebrities, including Elham Shaheen and Tamer Hosney, plan a peaceful protest in Beirut on July 26 to support Fairouz amid the controversy (read full article here.)
As NPR's Jamie Tarabay pointed out in her 50 Great Voices profile of the singer, Fairouz has fans around the world. Protests against the action taken by Mansour's children have popped up as far away as Australia, the Guardian says, and her cause has also been taken up by fans on Twitter. Tarabay wrote that the singer's career began as Lebanon gained independence, linking her inextricably to the country's history. During Lebanon's bloody civil war, when Beirut split in two in the 1970s, Fairuz refused to take sides. She decided not to perform in Lebanon at all, instead touring exclusively overseas. For Fairuz, music was her political activism, and the war-weary Lebanese clung to it. They latched on to one song in particular during this desperate time. It's called "Behebak Ya Libnan," or "I Love You, Lebanon," and it's still beloved in Lebanon today.
TAMER HOSNY RELEASES A SONG IN SUPPORT OF FAIRUZ:
Egyptian pop icon Tamer Hosny also just released a new single titled "Fairuz" in support of the legendary Lebanese songstress who has recently been prohibited from performing her musicals by a court ruling that was brought about by the heirs of Mansour Rahbani, Fairuz's late brother-in-law, who co-wrote many of these musicals. Hosny's song is being played on Lebanese radio stations on an hourly basis.
Listen to Tamer Hosny's song below then read along the heartfelt lyrics (in Arabic) or scroll down for a loose English translation.
مين عاش فى الدنيا دي إنسان.. محبش على صوت لبنان
صوت الحب صوت السلام.. يا حبيبتي يا صوت السلام
صوتك يا أغلى من الكنوز.. ياحبيبة قلبي يا فيروز
ما فينا نعيش بلا صوتك.. واسألي كده كل الأوطان
كلنا اتربينا على صوتك الحلو يا غالية..
واتعلمنا وغنينا من إحساسك يا مالية
علينا الدنيا بغناكي يا فيروز ده كلنا وياك.
من مصر بقولك مقدرش أعيش
من غير صوتك يا حياتي
من غير صوتك يا حياتي
Has there ever been a human in this world
Who hasn't fallen in love to the Voice of Lebanon?
The Voice of Love, the Voice of Peace.
Your voice is more precious than any treasure
O Love of my heart, O Fairuz
We cannot live without your voice, as any country would testify
We were all raised with your sweet voice
We sang and learned through your emotions and lyrics
Your singing is worth the entire world O Fairuz
And we are all behind you all the way
From Egypt, I am telling you
That I can't live without your voice
For you are my very life