The story never changes; the characters are simply switched with new ones. This is the story of Rotana and its never-ending conflicts with its Egyptian artists. The latest conflict would be with the famous Egyptian singer, Angham. Angham’s latest quarrel with Rotana is over her choice of director. Angham is trying, again, to get Nadine Labaki to do her first video for her upcoming album. However, Salim El Hindi’s strict budget, again, is preventing Angham from doing so. Last time, she settled for Hadi El Bajouri. This time, the conflict remains unresolved. This follows her complaints about how Rotana didn’t sufficiently advertise her album. Naturally, an artist with Angham’s rich history would be extremely offended at the treatment she is receiving from her production company.

Back in the good old days, when Arabic music was actually completely 100% Arabic, this was not a concern. When Um Kolthoum, Fairouz, Wadi’ El Safi, and Sabah got on stage you had no doubt that you were about to listen to an Arab production. However, during the nineties more than ever, stars like Amr Diab, Elissa, Nawal El Zoghbi and even Saber El Robai and Fadel Shaker’s “composers” stole endless melodies and pieces from their Turkish and Greek counterparts. This problem has become of much less importance as copyright protection in the Middle East strengthens, but the problem is by no means gone and now, Arabs blatantly steal from each other!

The name Rotana needs no introduction, but in case you’ve been living under a rock: Rotana is the Arab world’s largest music distributor and producer, with 130 active artistic contracts, and a portfolio boasting giants like Sultan El Tarab George Wassouf, Caesar El Tarab Kadim El Saher, Shams El Ghinnieh Najwa Karam, Asalah Nasri, Elissa, Hussain El Jassmi, Amr Diab, Angham and the late Zekra. Naturally, power lunches like the following are all in a day’s work for such a company:

After creating the most beautiful music melodies in the whole world for Fayrouz and others, Elias El Rahbani decided to artistically adopt “Dana” who is famous with her song “Ana Dandan” which is talking about how much she is beautiful and gorgeous without any plastic surgeries!

Everyone including me, and I believe you will share this with me as well, is greatly surprised that Elias who comes from a very famous artistic family can even listen to that kind of singing. It started when he made a song for Haifa Wehbe called “Badi Eish” and ended up with this.

The count down has started for the launching of the second season of X-Factor. The tour will include 7 countries as the following:

• Beirut in Venesia Hotel: From 22 – 23 January
• Casablanca in Morocco: From 26 – 27 January
• Tunisia: From 30 – 31 January
• Cairo: From 3 – 4 February

As if the song hasn't caused enough controversy already.
Boos il Wawa, Haifa Wahbe's song which was released some time ago still hasn't sunk into the ears of the Arab public in Syria. According to a survey conducted by "Farah Radio", 80% of Syrians don't like the song to be on the airwaves and another 10% don't want to hear it at all.

A source within "Farah" said that a decision maybe taken to remove the song altogether based on public request.

The 70-year-old classical music icon Luciano Pavarotti was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer few days after he underwent his regular check-up in an undisclosed hospital in New York City. The results of his medical tests prompted his doctor to carry out an “emergency surgery” but he is recuperating now, according to his manager in statement released last Friday.

Here’s a treat for jazz and music lovers: the 13th International Istanbul Jazz Festival. This festival is a cultural celebration held in the month of July in Istanbul, Turkey. It is organized by the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts and is sponsored by Garanti Bank. This Jazz festival started last July 5 but you can still go and join the celebration till the 16th, its last day. Apart from Jazz music, the festival is also going to showcase performers of different styles of music like pop, rock and Latin.

Sorry for not posting the Top Ten list on Monday!
Well the list has a few changes ... Haifa Wehbe's Wawa is in the race this week at number 2 ! While Diana Haddad's duetto with Cheb Khalid is at umber 10 !

1. Saber Al Ribai - Ajmal Nisa' El Donia
2. Haifa Wehbe - Wawa
3. Faris Karam - Shifta

Although ticket prices were very high, they even reached the $500 border in the black market, & the security was unbelievably tight, the number of audiences at Ricky Martin's concert in Beirut was huge!
Most of the audiences were young & they came from all over Lebanon & surprisingly from the Gulf as well!
Martin's concert, which is part of a tour that takes him to Egypt & Israel as well, was roaring over two hours of beautiful music.
What's surprising is what Ricky Martin says about himself & how he feel when being in an Arab country: "I was an Arab in a past life!"

The last prime of the X Factor was really interesting as it was the first time that the results only depended on the audience's votes.
We were entertained by the famous lebanese singer Najwa Karam.
At the end of the prime we had to say good bye to Guitarista from Iraq & Lebanon.

The remaining contestants are:

- Ahmed from Egypt
- Rajae from Morocco

Who will you vote for?

By guest writer Mostafa

Sorry for not posting the Top Ten list yesterday, but better late than never!
The list is pretty much the same, but with a slight difference; Saber Al Ribai's new song Ajmal Nisa' El Donia moved up 2 places to number 1!
On the other hand Amal Hijazi's Biya3 El Ward is not moving anywhere from number 10!

Check out the Top Ten list:
1. Saber Al Ribai - Ajmal Nisa' El Donia
2. Faris Karam - Shifta
3. Najwa Karam - Shou Hal 7ala

This week the top ten Arabic songs are a variety of Lebanese, Egyptian & Khaliji styles.
The song to top the list this week is Najwa Karam's Shou Hal 7ala, while Amal Hijazi's Biya3 El Ward came in last at number 10, just like last week.

Check out the list:
1. Najwa Karam - Shou Hal 7ala
2. Faris Karam - Shifta
3. Saber Al Ribai - Ajmal Nisa' El Donia

Every week we will choose 10 great Arabic songs to be the WALEG Top Ten.
This week Elissa has taken the lead with her song Bastanak, while Amal Hijazi's Biya3 El Ward came in last at number 10.

Check out the list:
1. Elissa - Bastanak
2. Nancy Ajram - Mu3gaba Mughrama
3. Joe Ashkar - Shu Akhbarak