Review by Chirine Yamout

The short: 

A Lebanese icon nicknamed “ Shahroura el Wadi” i.e. songbird of the valley, specifically Wadi Chahrour her hometown.

The long: 

Jeanette Gerges Feghali, born in 1927, was a Lebanese singer and actress, famous in the entirety of the Arab World. In her lifetime, she has released over 50 albums, recorded over 3,500 songs, and acted in 98 movies in total. She even had a Lebanese series made about her and her life in 2011, called Al Shahroura “الشحرورة”. She released her first song when she was 15, and later was signed for three movies after catching the eye of Egyptian film producer Asia Dagher. She was known to break so many taboos and being very expressive in the way she acted and dressed. She wed 7 times, and 7 of these times she married distinguished famous men, most notably the famous Egyptian actor Roshdi Abaza. She died on the 26th of November 2014, hundreds of people filled the streets of Lebanon to pay their respects, even the official Lebanese Army band played the national anthem at her funeral as she was given her last goodbye in the same manner of a Lebanese hero.

To listen or not to listen:

Definitely! Sabah is an icon in the Arab world and beyond. To have a taste of a merge between Egyptian and Lebanese culture and sound, Sabah is your go to.