Lina Makoul's Latest Track Connects Art and Capitalism

Lina Makoul: Exploring the Art-Capitalism Paradox

Lina Makoul's Artistic Activism:

Lina Makoul has long used  her international profile to address social and political issues close to her heart and her new single, 'Fish Masari,' serves as a prime example.  You can listen/watch below or at this link.

Exploring the Art-Capitalism Paradox:

Written and produced by Makoul and Nasir AlBashir, 'Fish Masari' delves into the intricate relationship between art and capitalism. This thought-provoking wake-up call delves into how art enriches the hearts and minds of countless individuals while often failing to sustain its creators. Makoul's astute observations and succinct lyrics match the track's powerful physicality.

A Fusion of Arabic Musical Traditions:

'Fish Masari' is deeply rooted in Arabic musical traditions, incorporating Middle Eastern instrumentation, percussive rhythms inspired by traditional Palestinian wedding songs, and clever samples. The track's big, freewheeling drums and heavy bass provide a contemporary backdrop for Makoul's vocal acrobatics, ranging from quiet whispers to impassioned cries and tightly packed raps. Vibrant melodies burst forth, continually electrifying the track and reinforcing Makoul's message that the financial independence of any society should take center stage. 

Here are the song lyrics in Arabic and English:

AR	EN
فش مصاري	Ain't got no money
قومي اطلعي قومي تطلعي لا يهمك لا يهمك	Leave, look ahead, never look back never look back
قومي اطلعي قومي تطلعي لا يهمك لا يهمك	Leave, look ahead, never look back never look back
نزّل راسك	Heads down
مش رح ترفع كاسك	This is your last round
رح تعلن افلاسك	You’ll declare bankruptcy
منهدد منخوفك انت وكل صحابك	We’ll threaten you, terrorize you, along with all your little friends
منسكت حسابك	We’ll silence you
منقيد اعمالك	We’ll restrict you
‏ Shadow ban لپوستاتك وكل ستوريهاتك	We’ll shadow-ban all your posts and stories
منحقق مع عمك وابوك وابن خالك	We’ll bring your uncle, father, cousin in for questioning
منمرقش ميزانية	Budget? What is that
منمرق سلاح ع صينية	Weapons you’ll be served to you on a silver platter
منفرق، منعنصر، الحرب هاي نفسية	We divide, we discriminate. Psychological warfare
بتفكرها اهلية	Some say it’s a civil war
بتفكرها دينية	Some say it’s a holy war
بتفرق، بتعنصر، بنفسك بتفكر انها ديموقراطية (x2)	You divide, you discriminate, telling yourself this is democracy
ايوا	Sure
يلا كله عينيه عالكاميرات	Cameras everywhere
ما في بجيابنا شيكلين	Not a single shekel to my name
لمين اصلًا كل هالاستعراض	Who are they trying to impress?
عايش الفخامة على دين	Living luxuriously, yet drowning in debt
كوكا كوكا كلنا منعيد بعبارات	Coca coca everyone parrots
ولا ولا حدا فينا بكتب كلمتين	Let’s be real, we are all fools
والديلمة لما الدنيا ماشي ترالالا	Here is the dilemma: Everyone lives carefree
ضيقة ضيقة لما الدنيا تضيق يا ربي ليه؟	A tight grip, oh God why is life tightening its grip?
ما فش فش فش	Ain't got, got, got
ما فش فش فش مصاري	Ain't got, got, got no money
ما فش فش فش	Ain't got, got, got
ما فش فش فش مصاري	Ain't got, got, got no money
ما فش فش فش	Ain't got, got, got
ما فش فش فش مصاري	Ain't got, got, got no money
X2	X2
الفن بغذي الملايين بس ما بطعمي خبز	Art nurtures the soul, but we’ve got mouths to feed
روح العاشق والحزين بس روحي انا طز	All they think about is love and sadness, but no one cares about me
انا انا وانت مين بتشجع على الفوز؟	I am the winner, but who are you cheering for?
بالاخر احنا متشابهين دايرينلي على ال shows	We are literally the same, yet everything's a competition
والصحرا قاحلة قاحلة الصحرا قاحلة	An empty desert, the desert is utterly barren
الناس عطشا عطشا الناس عطشا	People are thirsty, the people are parched
المي ساحلة بتروي الارض الخضرا	The lack of water isn't the issue, our rivers overflow
بطلع منها سيلفي بنت اح	One selfie will quench your thirst
يلا كله عينيه عالكاميرات	Cameras everywhere
ما في بجيابنا شيكلين	Not a single shekel to my name
لمين اصلًا كل هالاستعراض	Who are they trying to impress?
عايش الفخامة على دين	Living luxuriously, yet drowning in debt
كوكا كوكا كلنا منعيد بعبارات	Coca coca everyone parrots
ولا ولا حدا فينا بكتب كلمتين	Let’s be real, we are all fools
والديلمة لما الدنيا ماشي ترالالا	Here is the dilemma: Everyone lives carefree
ضيقة ضيقة لما الدنيا تضيق يا ربي ليه؟	A tight grip, oh God why is life tightening its grip?
ما فش فش فش	Ain't got, got, got
ما فش فش فش مصاري	Ain't got, got, got no money
ما فش فش فش	Ain't got, got, got
ما فش فش فش مصاري	Ain't got, got, got no money
ما فش فش فش	Ain't got, got, got
ما فش فش فش مصاري	Ain't got, got, got no money
دولة بقلب دولة مستقلة داخلية	Two states, completely different, entirely separate
خايفة من اني اكمل اكتب بس انا فاهمة المسؤولية	Stop me right here, I don’t want to face the music
عارفة انه المطارات مش رح تكونلي ودودية	I know I might be detained at any airport
بس واقعنا طيارات لازم نوصله العالمية	But our reality is like an airplane, and we must spread it worldwide
دولة ناسها من اساسها	The people are the state
ما تقليش افكار وهمية	And don't call me delusional
مش رح نوصل MTV بس كمان Anghami عالمية	We might not make it to MTV, but we are doing great on Anghami
منقدر نعمل history اذا كانت ايدنا فولاذية	We can make history, all it takes is an iron fist
لا يهمك لا يهمك	never look back, never look back
ما فش فش فش ما فش فش فش مصاري	Ain't got, got, got, ain't got, got, got no money
مصاري	money
قومي اطلعي قومي تطلعي لا يهمك لا يهمك	Leave, look ahead, never look back never look back
قومي اطلعي قومي تطلعي لا يهمك لا يهمك	Leave, look ahead, never look back never look back

Listen to the song on Spotify here.  Follow Lina Makoul on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Spotify, YouTube, Anghami.

Arabic interview with Lina Makoul مقابلة مع لينا مخول