Samira Said - live track from one of Morocco's biggest recording artists

Watch the clip and please feel free to comment.  I am also interested to find other cool Moroccan artists - so get searching on Youtube! :)

Samira Said

Early life

Born in Rabat,in 1960 Morocco, Samira began singing at an early age. She grew up in Rabat in Morocco was praised for her beauty and charming personality. Her parents realized this and they began entering her in singing competitions. Always a favorite of the judges, she often won, and launched her professional singing career from this. Soon after she was the most popular singer in the country.

However, she decided to move to Egypt so she could make a greater impact on the entire Arab world. Many producers took her on and she began recording many Arab favorites. Before moving to Egypt, Samira had had several successful Moroccan singles such as "Kifash Tlakina", "Fayetli sheftek shi marra" and "Sarkouh". Samira met the famous Egyptian singer Abdel El halim and Faiza Ahmed and they convinced her parents that she had to go to Cairo if she wanted to have a real singing career. In 1979 Samira moved to Egypt.

Early career

Samira began singing professionally at the age of 9. Encouraged by her family, she began her career by participating in talent shows. Her first appearance on television was in the show "Mawaheb".

In a short time, Samira Said, as she is known in Morocco, became one of the leading names in her home country. Her best known works include "Maghlouba" and "Wa'ady".

Said's ambitions extended beyond Morocco and following the advice of her idol and friend, Abdul Halim Hafez, she moved to Egypt to expand her career.

International career

In 1980 Said sang Morocco's first (and so far only) entry in the Eurovision Song Contest. Her song "Bitaqat Hub" came 18th out of 19.

In the early 1980s, Said recorded a song called "Al hob Elli Ana Aichah", composed by Mohamad Sultan. She went on to record with big names in the music scene in Egypt, including Baligh Hamdi, Helmi Bakr and Mohamad Al-Mouji.

Said's performance of "Alemnah Al hob", on Layali Television in 1983, is credited with making her well known in Egypt. Said is known for her selection of songs and accompanists, working with several well known composers and lyricists. As a result, many of her songs are critically acclaimed, such as "Asmar malak", "Malak moch zay aweydak", "Sayidati anissati sadati", "Ech gab li gab", "El Leila dee", "Min ghir sabab", "Amrak ajib", "Al gani Baad Yomeen", "Mosh Hatnazel Anak" and "Alf Leila wal Leila".

Comments

[Sophie R]

she is quite a good singer, but a great dancer