Filmon Wahbi

Artist: Filmon Wahbi

LP: Lebanon Souvenir

Song: "Malli Al-Garra"

[ listen ]

Have you ever owned a souvenir from someplace you've never been? If this French-influenced Filmon Wahbi song is any indication of what I'd find in the record stores of Beirut, then I need to hop on a plane—pronto! Filmon Wahbi (more commonly spelled "Philemon Wehbe") is a popular Lebanese composer who wrote songs for iconic singer Fairuz, who is also featured on this terrific record I recently found in West Seattle. Liner notes and complete track list are included below, both in English and in Arabic.

[ Assi Rahabni ] 

ps. I sent a link to this posting to my boss, who was raised in Lebanon, and he told me the man in the photo above isn't Filmon Wahbi (as previously credited), but Assi Rahabni. He also told me about a dream he had last night, which is strange, since he rarely dreams and was never obsessed with Fairuz. Here are his notes about the Lebanese music scene and his dream, followed by actual photos of Filmon Wahbi:

The pic is that of Assi Rahabni. He was Fairouz's discoverer, husband, and primary composer. He died young due to a brain hemorrhage many years ago. Assi and Mansour (his brother) were a formidable composer/musician team. They composed many songs and music for Fairouz. The trio dominated the music scene in Lebanon for decades. Assi and Farouz had a son named Ziad. After Assi died, Mansour continued composing for other artists, but Ziad assumed the role of Fairouz's primary composer and took her into an entirely new "Oriental jazz" direction. It was a rebellion against the old tradition represented by his father and the state of the Lebanese music scene which emphasized folklore. At first, Lebanese people shunned the change en mass. They were used to the happy/romantic songs that the Rahabani Brothers and Fairuz were known for. At one point, many people walked out on a Fairouz concert in Paris because she sang mostly new jazzy songs composed by Ziad. But in the end there was finally acceptance of the new direction. 

Ziad is sort of a Michael Moore figure in Lebanon. He is known to be on the left politically and a very heavy drinker. Ziad is also a playwright. One of his famous plays was a beautiful adaptation of "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" set in an insane asylum during the Lebanese Civil War.

Yesterday I had a very weird dream. I dreamed of being Fairouz's manager! It felt great to be close to her. At one point in the dream, Fairouz came back from a trip and we were all lined up to welcome her at the entrance of her house. She appeared in a white dress and gave me a hug when she entered the house!

 [ Filmon Wahbi ]