Abdel Halim Hafez

Review by Elaine Haddox

The short: 

A classic adored Egyptian singer well known for singing patriotic and romantic songs.  

The long: 

Abdel Halim Hafez lived a life full of adversity but used music to overcome his struggles. Hafez began to gain recognition after he was asked to sing on the radio after another famous singer, Karem Mahmoud, could not.  He sang many nationalistic songs, which gave Egyptian pride to the people, and continued to do so during the Egyptian revolution of 2011. His music was unique and unfamiliar to the people of the time as he incorporated western instruments into it. Aside from being a talented producer and singer, Abdel was also a philanthropist, using his fortune to help the less fortunate. Hafez’s music continues to inspire the people of today and is enjoyed by all generations. 

To listen or not to listen:

Listen!!! Abdel’s music is inspiring, uniting, and classic! A good song to start with is “Khosara” as it is one of his most famous songs; in fact, it was even sampled in a song by Jay-Z in 1999. Hafez is one of the most influential Egyptian singers of all time, so his music is definitely worth listening to!