If a competition was ever to be organized to identify which part of the planet pens the best tear-jerkers, hands down, the Arab World would rank number one by quite a margin, leaving other regions only to wonder what is the secret behind such morose musical prowess. Growing up, Fairouz was exclusively for the mornings as the way she would harp her love towards her native Lebanon was enough reason to start the day with a bittersweet sense of nostalgia and longing while giving us a purpose to keep on going. On the other hand, Umm Kulthum belonged to evenings, as her hauntingly beautiful voice drew us into the depths of contemplation and introspection, leaving us wondering for hours after the final note had faded, lingering in a state of awe and reflection.
Now, one event seems to be on a mission to prove that our genius in composing sorrowful songs is as strong as ever, and is in fact experiencing a vibrant renaissance. Enter the “Night of Tears,” a concert dedicated to tugging on heartstrings and encouraging ugly crying.
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Set to take place in Jeddah on Aug. 24, Saudi Arabia’s Entertainment Authority has gathered some of the Avengers of traditional Arabic singing— namely Ahmed Saad, Tamer Ashour, Hamada Helal, Haitham Shaker, Muslim, Tariq Al-Sheikh, and Adam Hamada Hilal — promising to make ticket-holders indulge in an evening of soul-stirring melodies that will transport them through the entire spectrum of emotions and feelings.
With tickets made available yesterday, starting at 350 SAR, the six Egyptian singers will be performing some of their repertoire’s past and present classics, rekindling cherished memories while serving as a gateway to sugar-coated nostalgia from back in the day.
