Fayrouz at eighty.. The country first
Lebanon is now being assaulted by the disasters of a small regional war in which it was crushed, and the effects of a conflict that has cumulative effects. Lebanon did not exist for such destruction and destruction, but for peace, reconciliation, coexistence, love, tolerance, safety, and beauty, art, thought, and culture. A country that is like a mosaic in its social diversity. It was a model of coexistence in one rural country, to which belonging affects everything. We find different ideas about what this country was like in the past, and how the situation has been in recent decades, in intellectual, artistic and literary works. Among the most important of them are some of the songs of the famous artist Fairouz, who turned ninety days ago, and the Lebanese could not celebrate this event, because the sounds of the destructive missiles drowning everything else.
However, I would like us to think about some of her beautiful songs for Lebanon, and for the sake of a country that should respect any religious or sectarian relationships, and be protected from the dangers of conflicts and wars. She sang to Lebanon, her homeland: “My home.. from the mountain of blue clouds/my country.. from the moon of dew and lilies/oh the homes of the people who love us/oh the dust of those who came before us. ” She expressed her fear to him in the same song: “My country, oh gold of lost time/My country rises from the lightning of poems/I’m at your poem’s door/Written by the wind rough… oh my country.”
One of her unusual songs, which shows the beauty of natural life in Lebanon, where there is peace, love, and tolerance, and the ugliness of conflict and conflict, is the song “The Bird Is Back ,” which says at the beginning: “The bird is back, nesting in the bricks / And the magazine is back in bloom again / Schools are back… children “And snow and water.” She then explains what happens when this life disappears under the pressure of conflicts and wars: “They said a lot and wrote a lot.. They said that the homeland of the oar will be destroyed.. the homeland of the time who taught and taught. raised.. and I cried for the world.. I cried for the world. back: “But we will return.. We will return from the fires.. We will return from the streets destroyed by cannons.. We will return.” Then comes, or rather returns, Lebanon: “The real Lebanon is coming / Lebanon’s simplicity is coming / taking away the painted faces / and the sealed promises / Oh my great country , from my country / the river of joy and glory / and the rise of the light of day…life shines.”
The Arabs everywhere hear Fairouz’s songs, but they don’t know which religion she belongs to, or which region she belongs to. All they know about her is that she is an amazing artist who brings together all the Lebanese the arts in a country that should be first above her -everything else, but some of them don’t listen carefully to her song, and her lyrics say: “Woe to your nation with many people and little faith / And woe to your nation divided and everyone ag say, ‘I am a country’.”
Fairouz was also the one who took the lead in welcoming the Lebanese National Army, which preserved, and still preserves, the unity of Lebanon, as she sang to him in 1962: ” Well done, weapon O Lebanon, O Abu Znoud, named / And the jeweler of Lebanon rejoices on the mountains of freedom…” It is Fayrouz… Fathia is in her nineties.
* Advisor to Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies
How has Fairouz’s music functioned as a source of national identity and unity for the Lebanese people, particularly during periods of political and social turmoil?
## World Today News - Interview: Fayrouz at Eighty: A Throughline in Turbulent Times
**Introduction:**
Welcome to World Today News. Today, we commemorate the 90th birthday of the iconic Lebanese singer Fairouz, a voice that has resonated through generations and across the Arab world. To delve into the significance of her music, particularly in light of Lebanon’s current challenges, we’re joined by two distinguished guests.
**Guests:**
* **Dr. Sarah El-Masri:** Renowned scholar specializing in Lebanese cultural history and the impact of music on society.
* **Mr. Khalil Azar:** Political analyst and commentator focusing on Middle Eastern affairs, with particular expertise on Lebanon.
**Thematic Sections:**
**I. Fairouz and the Essence of Lebanon:**
* **Moderator:** Dr. El-Masri, Fairouz’s music often speaks of a Lebanon characterized by its natural beauty, diverse population, and cultural richness. How does her work portray this idealized vision, and how does it contrast with the realities Lebanon faces today?
* **Dr. El-Masri:**….”
* **Moderator:** Mr. Azar, Fairouz’s song “My Home” speaks of Lebanon as a “country of the people who love us.” Do you think this sense of collective identity and shared love for Lebanon still exists in the face of the country’s current political and economic crisis?
* **Mr. Azar:** …
* **Moderator:** How has Fairouz’s music been used to promote national unity and reconciliation in Lebanon throughout its history?
**II. “The Bird is Back” – A Song of Resilience:**
* **Moderator:** The song “The Bird is Back” evokes both the beauty of Lebanon’s natural landscape and the hope for renewal after periods of conflict. How has this song resonated with Lebanese people, particularly during times of upheaval?
* **Dr. El-Masri:** …
* **Moderator:** Mr. Azar, the lyrics also express a yearning for peace and a rejection of division. Do you see this message of unity as increasingly relevant today, given the political and sectarian tensions prevalent in Lebanon?
* **Mr. Azar:** …
**III. Fairouz as a Cultural Icon – Transcending Borders:**
* **Moderator:** Fairouz’s music transcends religious and political boundaries, and her appeal extends across the Arab world. Why do you think her work has resonated so deeply with such a wide audience?
* **Dr. El-Masri:** …
* **Moderator:** Mr. Azar, the article mentions Fairouz’s song welcoming the Lebanese Armed Forces. How does this signify the role her music has played in unifying Lebanon during times of crisis?
* **Mr. Azar:** …
**IV. Looking Forward – A Legacy of Hope:**
* **Moderator:** With Fairouz turning 90, what is her lasting legacy on Lebanese culture and identity, and what message do you think her music offers for future generations?
* **Dr. El-Masri:**…
* **Moderator:** Mr. Azar, what are the challenges and opportunities facing Lebanon as it navigates its way forward, and how can Fairouz’s music continue to inspire hope and resilience during these uncertain times?
* **Mr. Azar:**…
**Conclusion:**
Thank you to Dr. El-Masri and Mr. Azar for sharing their insights on Fairouz’s enduring legacy and the profound impact her music has had on Lebanon and beyond. As we celebrate her 90th birthday, we are reminded of the power of art to unite, inspire, and offer hope in the face of adversity.
