International singing sensation Najwa Karam bites back at dogged rumors

By Anayat Durrani

Los Angeles, Calif., Feb. 17 -- Some call her the Madonna of the Middle East. Others say she is the reincarnation of the legendary Lebanese singer Fairuz. One thing is for sure: Najwa Karam’s sultry songs are drawing fans everywhere her international concert tours take her.

Karam’s style is as unique as they come. Retaining the Lebanese folkloric style called Al-Assil that Fairuz made famous, Karam takes her music one step further with modern, danceable beats. That’s her only concession to Western influences, however. Her deep, intoxicating voice billows against a purely Middle Eastern instrumental background, making her as definitively Arab as a Middle Eastern artist can get. Though decidedly modern, her music has a classic upbeat Arabic instrumental sound that’s worthy of a debka line.

She began singing professionally more than a decade ago, and has released nine successful albums. Much of her artistic success can be credited to well-known composer Zaki Nassif, who coached her for three years before she launched her singing career. Not surprisingly, Karam’s favorite Arab singers include none other than Fairuz, plus Wadih Al Safi, Um Kulthum and Abdel Halim Hafez.

Some of Karam’s biggest hits come from her 1995 album Ma Basmahlak, which includes such danceable beats as the title track and “Hakam El Adi.” Songs from this album are arguably the best debka dance music around.

Although Karam has skyrocketed to international stardom, earlier this year she had to endure bad publicity after she became the target of a mean rumor campaign. Soon after she did a satellite TV interview, rumors circulated that she said in the interview that she had named her dog after a religious Muslim. Another version maintained Karam named the dog after the Prophet Muhammad. Neither claim was taken well by the public.

Karam, who said she did no such thing, was advised to lay low for a few months with hopes the rumors would go away -- but they didn’t. The singer received death threats in Jordan. Then the Jordanian government exiled her, Qatar banned her albums and Egypt prohibited her from entering the country.

Finally Karam called a press conference to announce the support of fans and more than 200 Arabs from all facets of the entertainment industry. She demanded to see proof of the allegations, saying she would never disrespect Islam and that she sees all Arabs as one. In April, Egypt lifted its ban, allowing Karam into the country. Qatar and Jordan have still not lifted their bans, however.

Despite the setback, Karam’s career continued full force with two more albums that possess the same punch as her earlier work. Last summer Karam released Maghrouma, with such hits as “Ghamza” and “Talaat Malak,” and more recently she released Rouh Rouhi, with songs like “Atshaneh,” “Erifto Alby La Meen” and “El Wafiyeh” carrying on the tradition of her signature Lebanese folkloric style.

On Oct. 30, Karam capped her decade by headlining a show called “The Night of Stars” at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nev., which also introduced singers George Wassouf and Kathem Al-Saher to American audiences. Even audience members who didn’t understand the words she was singing could appreciate her riveting performing skills and the incredible depth of emotion in her powerful voice. There was no doubt who shined as the top star of the night.