Sabah (Arabic: صباح, romanized: Ṣabāḥ, Lebanese Arabic pronunciation: [sˤɑˈbaːħ]; born Jeanette Gergis Feghali [جانيت جرجس فغالي]; 10 November 1927 – 26 November 2014) was a Lebanese singer and actress, specializing in mawwal, a popular genre of traditional music in the Middle East.[2][3][4][5][6] She performed in many Egyptian movies and songs.[7][8]
She was known as "Al-Shahroura" (الشحرورة, 'The Songbird') or "Shahruret el-Wadi" (شحرورة الوادي, 'The Songbird of the Valley') both in reference to her origins and her strong and rhythmic voice.[9][10][11][12]
Early life
Sabah was born to a Maronite Christian family in Bdadoun, Aley, as the youngest of three daughters. During her childhood, she reported experiencing bullying from her father, who had hoped for a son. Her brother later killed their mother, suspecting her of having an affair.[2][13][14]
Career
Sabah emerged in a period when the field of Arab singers included many notable talents, such as Umm Kulthum (1898-1975), Nagat El Saghira (born 1938), Warda Al-Jazairia (1939–2012), Shadia (1931–2017), Fairuz (born 1934), among others. [citation needed]
Sabah began singing at a young age and released her first song in Lebanon in 1940 at the age of 13.[3] In the early 1940s, she was invited to Egypt by actress and producer Assia Dagher. Sabah acted alongside Dagher in her first movie, El-Qalb Luh Wahid (The Heart Has Its Reasons), released in 1945, which brought her regional fame.[3][15] She then became widely known by her character's name, Sabah, which means "morning" in Arabic.[3] Sabah also acquired several affectionate nicknames, including "Chahroura" ("songbird"), "Ustura" ("legend"), "Shams Al Shamoos" ("The Sun of the Suns"), and "Sabbouha," a diminutive of Sabah.[3][15][16]
Among Sabah's most popular films were The Night is Ours (1949), My Father Deceived Me (1951), That's What Love Is (1961), Soft Hands (1963), Three Women (1968), Paris and Love (1972), and The Second Man (1959), where she played a cabaret singer seeking to avenge her brother's death at the hands of a smuggling ring.[3]
In the 1990s, Sabah and her former husband, Fadi Lubnan (Kuntar), produced a documentary about her life. Titled The Journey of My Life (مشوار حياتي), the documentary aired on Future Television.
Throughout her music career, Sabah recorded over 3,000 songs, collaborating with numerous renowned Egyptian composers, including the late Mohammed Abdel Wahab.[15] She specialized in the Lebanese folk tradition known as mawal, and among her most famous songs were "Zay el-Assal" ("Your Love is Like Honey on my Heart") and "Akhadou el-Reeh" ("They Took the Wind").[3][16] Sabah released more than 50 albums and appeared in 98 films.[3] Known for her youthful spirit and vibrant performances, she became a symbolic figure of the "belle époque" and the "joie de vivre" in the Levant and the Arab world.[13] Despite the Lebanese civil war, she continued to sing at weddings in Lebanon.[17]
Until 2009, Sabah performed in concerts and on television, including appearances on programs like Star Academy. She collaborated closely with singer Rola Saad in remaking some of her previous hits, such as "Yana Yana". The accompanying video, which pays tribute to Sabah as "the notorious diva", received significant airplay on Arabic music channels. Additionally, Sabah hosted the TV show Akher Man Yalam on 31 May 2010.
During the 2011 Beiteddine Art Festival, a performance was staged that retraced Sabah's journey as a singer and movie star.[18] Rouwaida Attieh played the title role, alongside more than 40 singers and dancers, paying tribute to Sabah's contributions. [citation needed]
In 2010, Sabah retired from public life due to health reasons, which resulted in paralysis affecting one of her arms and legs.[19]
Personal life
Sabah held passports from Lebanon, Egypt, Jordan, and the United States.[3]
She married Lebanese businessman Najib Chammas at the age of 18[17] and later married nine more times. Her notable spouses include Egyptian actor Rushdy Abaza,[20] Egyptian musician Anwar Mansy, Egyptian television presenter Ahmed Farraj, Lebanese politician Youssef (Joe) Hammoud, and Lebanese author-director Wassim Tabbara.[3] Hammoud reportedly divorced Sabah in the 1970s following a scandal related to a performance in which she wore revealing shorts.[17][16] Her second-to-last marriage, which lasted 17 years, was to the much-younger Lebanese artist Fadi Lubnan.[17] Her final marriage took place in 2013, at the age of 85, to Joseph Gharib.[17]
She had two children: Sabah Chammas, from her marriage to Najib Chammas, and Howayda Mansy, from her marriage to Anwar Mansy.[17] Sabah Chammas is a medical doctor, while Howayda Mansy is known as a singer, actress, and socialite.[21] Both of Sabah's children reside in the United States.[3]
After selling her house in Hazmieh, which she felt as "too big and cold for only one person", Sabah relocated to the nearby Hotel Comfort in Baabda, Mount Lebanon, a hillside city with views of Beirut and the Mediterranean Sea. Later, she resided in another hotel adjacent to Baabda. [citation needed]
Sabah was related to Brazilian congresswoman Jandira Feghali and her brother, Ricardo Feghali, who is a musician, songwriter, and member of the Brazilian band Roupa Nova.[22][23]
Death
Rumors of Sabah's death circulated days before she died. Amused by the rumors, Sabah said, "Even in my death, I'm making people busy."[3][16]
Sabah passed away on 26 November 2014, at approximately 3:00 a.m., sixteen days after celebrating her 87th birthday, at her residence in Hotel Brazilia, due to unspecified reasons. The news was first published by Clauda Akl, the daughter of her sister, actress Lamia Feghaly, on her webpage around 6:45 a.m. It was mentioned that Sabah expressed a wish for people not to mourn her and to dance the Dabke at her funeral, stating "I've lived enough." Following her death, her hairdresser Joseph Gharib shared in an interview that Sabah had a fondness for wearing red lipstick during her final days.
On Sunday, 30 November 2014, four days after Sabah's passing, thousands of people gathered to pay their respects. Her family, Lebanese officials, and numerous Arab delegates attended the funeral held at St. George Cathedral in downtown Beirut to bid farewell to the renowned singer, actress, and entertainer.
Outside the cathedral, the official Lebanese Army band performed the national anthem, followed by several songs from Sabah's extensive repertoire, marking a historic occasion for the country. Fans applauded and sang along to their favorite Sabah tunes. Additionally, a group of dancers dressed in traditional attire performed to her music, which played through loudspeakers.
During the funeral mass, Sabah's coffin, draped in a flag, was placed near the altar alongside a large photograph of the singer during her younger years, featuring her distinctive voluminous peroxide-blonde hair. Following the service, mourners escorted the casket to a waiting hearse outside. People expressed their respects by applauding, throwing flowers, and reaching out to touch the coffin and take photographs. Sabah's body was transported through several towns to the church in her hometown of Bdadoun, where she was laid to rest.[24]
Legacy
The TV drama Al Shahrourah, based on Sabah's life, aired during Ramadan in 2011,[25] with actress and singer Carole Samaha portraying her. Sabah generally responded positively to the series, though she noted some inaccuracies, such as the portrayal of her father in traditional Lebanese attire.[26] Months before her passing, Lebanese journalist Rima Njeim hosted a live TV episode on MTV Lebanon honoring Sabah.[27]
Her music is included in music classes in Lebanon.[citation needed] In 2015, graffiti artists Halwani and the brothers Omar and Mohammad Kabbani created monumental murals on buildings in Beirut to commemorate Sabah. These artworks celebrated her for challenging gender-based and other social taboos, and for offering an alternative to the dominant images of political leaders and their slogans in Lebanese culture.[28]
On 10 November 2017, Google honored what would have been her 90th birthday with a Google Doodle.[29] In Marvel's Moon Knight TV series, her song "Saat Saat" from the 1980 Egyptian movie A Night When The Moon Cried is featured at the end of Episode 5.[30][31]
On 6 September 2023, the Alexandria Film Festival announced the results of a poll it conducted to compile a list of the top 100 Egyptian musical films. Approximately 32 film critics and cinematographers participated in this poll. Sabah appeared in six of the selected films, including "Love Street" (1959), "The Unmarried Mother" (1950), "Bolbol Afandi" (1946), "Soft Hands" (1964), "Leila Baka Feha Al Qamar" (1980), and "He Stole My Wife" (1954).
Awards
In 2004, Sabah was recognized at the Alexandria Song Festival and the Cairo Film Festival.[32] Additionally, she was honored with a statue in Beirut during the same year.[32]
In 2010, she received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Dubai International Film Festival.[33]
She received multiple honors from the Lebanese Republic, including the National Order of the Cedar medal.[citation needed][34]
Work
Sabah released more than 50 albums and appeared in 98 films, along with over 20 stage plays. She was known for having a vast repertoire of over 3,500 songs.
Selected filmography
- Source:[35]
- 1986 Ayyam El Lulu ايام اللولو aka = Days Of The Lulu
- 1972 Paris wal Hob باريس والحب aka = Paris and Love
- 1970 Kanet Ayyam كانت ايام aka = It Were Days
- 1970 Nar El Shoq نار الشوق aka = Fire Of Longing
- 1969 Easabet El Nesa عصابة النساء aka = Gang Of Women
- 1968 Thalath Nesaa ثلاث نساء aka = Three Women
- 1966 Mawwal El Aqdam El Zahabiyyah موال الاقدام الذهبية aka = Popular Song Of Golden Feet
- 1963 El Aydi el naema الايدى الناعمة aka = The Soft Hands
- 1963 El Motamaradah المطاردة aka = The Chase
- 1961 El Hob Keda الحب كده aka = That's What Love Is
- 1961 Goz merti جوز مراتى aka = Husband Of My Wife
- 1960 El Ragol El Thani الرجل الثانى aka = The Second Man
- 1959 El Ataba El Khadra العتبه الخضرا aka = The Green Threshold
- 1958 Shari' El Hobb شارع الحب aka = Love Sreet
- 1958 Sallem Al Habayib سلم ع الحبايب aka = Say Hello To Lovers
- 1956 Izayy Ansak ازاى انساك aka = How To Forget You
- 1956 Wahabtak Hayati وهبتك حياتى aka = I Gave You My Life
- 1954 Khataf merati خطف مراتى aka = He Kidnapped My Wife
- 1953 Lahn Hobbi لحن حبى aka = Melody Of My Heart
- 1953 Zalamuni El Habayib ظلمونى الحبايب aka = Were Unjust To Me, The Lovers
- 1951 Khada'ni Abi خدعنى ابى aka = My Father Deceived Me
- 1950 Ana Satuta انا ستوته aka = I'm Sattutah
- 1949 Al lailu lana الليل لنا aka = The Night is Ours
- 1948 Sabah El kher صباح الخير aka = Good Morning
- 1947 Albi W Sefi قلبى و سيفى aka = My Heart And My Sword
- 1947 lebnani Fi El gam'ah لبنانى فى الجامعة aka = Lebanese In University
Selected discography
- Source:[36]
| Release Year | Original Title | Translation | Label | Main songwriter(s)/producer(s) | Notable Songs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1957 | Alhan Bilady | Favourite Oriental Melodies | Voix de l'Orient | Folk | Ya Huwaidalak Abu Al-zuluf |
| Ghanni Maa Sabah | Sing with Sabah | Tayyib Tayyib | |||
| 1959 | Ajmal Aghani Sabah | Sabah Sings Love Songs | Philémon Wehbé | Al-iza'a Al 'Asfuriyya | |
| 1960 | Mawsam El 'Ezz (with Fairuz & Wadih El Safi) |
Baalbeck International Festival |
Assi & Mansour Rahbani Wadih El Safi Philémon Wehbé |
||
| Ain Al Roumane - Musical (with Fairuz & Wadih El Safi) |
The Village | Assi & Mansour Rahbani | Finjan Qahwa Al Tayir | ||
| 1963 | Share' Al Hob - Soundtrack From Ezzel Dine Zulficar's Motion Picture (with Abdel Halim Hafez) |
Street of Love | Orient | Hussein Al Sayed Munir Mourad |
Rahat Leialee Wa Jat Leialee |
| 1964 | Ash-Shallal - Musical | The Cascade | Voix de l'Orient | Walid Gholmieh Younes El Ebn |
Ya Mrouj |
| Fatinat Ajjamahir | Girl for the Masses | Assi & Mansour Rahbani Mohamed Abdel Wahab Zaki Nassif Philémon Wehbé |
Sana Helwa | ||
| 1966 | Dawaleeb Al Hawa - Musical | The Pinwheels | Assi & Mansour Rahbani Philémon Wehbé |
Esmy Hala | |
| Shams El Shoumous - Musical | Sun of Suns | Allo Beirut | |||
| 1967 | Sabah | Philips | Philémon Wehbé Elias Rahbani Michel Tohme |
Al Bassata | |
| 1968 | Al Al'aa | Baalbeck Festival | Romeo Lahoud | Ya Ahl Al Al'aa | |
| 1969 | Sabah | Mohamed Abdel Wahab Philémon Wehbé Michel Tohme Halim El Roumi |
Jary Ya Jary Ya Msafer | ||
| 1970 | Al Wahm - Musical | Illusion | Najib Hankash Maurice Awad |
Nehnal Hawa | |
| 1972 | Ahlan Wa Sahlan Wa Marhaba | Hello and Welcome | Voix de l'Orient | Walid Gholmieh Younes El Ebn |
Al Bassata |
| 1974 | Sett El Kol - Musical | The First Lady | Voice of Lebanon | Philémon Wehbé Michel Tohme |
Ya Dalaa Dallaa |
| Helwe Ktir - Musical | So Beautiful | Nicolas El Deek Michel Tohme |
Marhaba Ya Habayeb Bawsa | ||
| Oghniyat min Lubnan | Songs of Lebanon | Cairophon | Rabie Loubnana | ||
| 1976 | Sabah in Paris (live) | Voice of Lebanon | Toufic Barakat Nour Al Mallah |
Dek El Kaf | |
| 1977 | Shahr El 'Asal - Musical | Honeymoon | Melhem Barakat Elie Choueiri |
Men Aboukra Hala Hala | |
| Sabah | Melhem Barakat Farid El Atrache Romeo Lahoud |
Helwet Lebnan Zay El Amar | |||
| Allah Makom Ya Chabab | God Be with You Guys | Duniaphon | Allah Makom Ya Chabab Zein El Abidin | ||
| Wetdallou Bikheir - Musical (with Wadih El Safi) |
May You Be in Good Health | Zaki Nassif | Ward El Janaen | ||
| 1979 | Live Performances (live) | Voix de l'Orient | Michel Tohme Philémon Wehbé |
Marhabtein W Marhabtein | |
| 1980 | Ghnany 'Al Bal (with Wadih El Safi) |
Souvenirs | Wadih El Safi Philémon Wehbé |
Altaf Diney Aatouni Derbake | |
| Leyla Beky Feeha Al Amar - Soundtrack From Ahmed Yehya's Motion Picture | The Night the Moon Cried | Sout El Hob | Mohamed Abdel Wahab Omar Batiesha |
Yalla Naish El Hayat | |
| 1982 | Wadi Shamsine | Sings Elias Rahbani | Rahbania | Elias Rahbani | Waadouni W Natarouni Rakesni Hayk |
| 1985 | Sabah in Hollywood (live) | Sphinx | Ma'moun El Shinnawi Samy Farag |
Ahlan Wa Sahlan | |
| Ayam El Loulou | Days of Loulou | Relax-In | Elie Choueiri | Ayam El Loulou | |
| 1988 | Yalla Naish El Hayat | Let's Live This Life | Jamal Salama | Yalla Naish El Hayat | |
| 1993 | Khatwa Khatwa | Step by Step | Khatwa Khatwa Shoufo Shoufo | ||
| 1996 | La Tiaanidni | Don't Hate Me | Disco 99 | La Tiaanidni |
References
- ^ "الشحرورة صباح توارى الثرى في الضيعة", Skynews Arabia
- ^ a b Mostyn, Trevor (7 December 2014). "Sabah obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Sabah, Lebanese singing legend, dies aged 87". BBC News. 26 November 2014. Retrieved 18 January 2023.
- ^ "Presence des musiques arabes en France : Immigrations, diasporas et musiques du monde" (PDF). Revues-plurielles.org. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
- ^ Statistics: Series - Al-Shahroura - 2011, retrieved 28 April 2023
- ^ "Cedars Art Production - Al Shahroura". Cedars Art Production. Retrieved 28 April 2023.
- ^ محطات غنائية في أفلام الشحرورة, retrieved 7 July 2023
- ^ Series - Al-Shahroura - 2011 Cast، Video، Trailer، photos، Reviews، Showtimes, retrieved 28 April 2023
- ^ "الشحرورة صباح.. وزيجاتها المثيرة للجدل". سكاي نيوز عربية (in Arabic). Retrieved 24 July 2023.
- ^ "أثارت الجدل حية وميتة.. قصة الشحرورة صباح أغرب من الخيال". فيتو (in Arabic). 26 November 2021. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
- ^ Welle (www.dw.com), Deutsche. "الشحرورة صباح... نجمة حتى الرمق الأخير | DW | 26.11.2014". DW.COM (in Arabic). Retrieved 24 July 2023.
- ^ "Ten Things You Should Know About Lebanese Singer Sabah (Jeanette Gergis Al-Feghali) | Blog Baladi". blogbaladi.com. 26 November 2014. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
- ^ a b Tsioulcas, Anastasia (26 November 2014). "Remembering Sabah, An Iconic And Thoroughly Unconventional Arab Star". NPR. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
- ^ Web Desk (26 November 2014). "Lebanese officials, artists bid adieu singing legend Sabah". Arab Press Updates. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
- ^ a b c "ET commemorates Iconic Lebanese singer Sabah on her birth anniversary". EgyptToday. 10 November 2021. Retrieved 18 January 2023.
- ^ a b c d "Sabah, actress and entertainer who thrilled and scandalized the Arab world, dies at 87". The Washington Post. 26 November 2014. Retrieved 18 January 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f Mostyn, Trevor (7 December 2014). "Sabah obituary". the Guardian. Retrieved 18 January 2023.
- ^ Elcinema website, "In its opening, Beiteddine Festival honors Sabaah", article dated June 26, 2011
- ^ Khalaf, Hala; Ghazal, Rym (27 November 2014). "Sabah, iconic Lebanese singer dies aged 87". The National. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
- ^ "Sabah - obituary". The Telegraph. 1 December 2014. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
- ^ "Legendary Sabah". Prestige. 27 June 2014. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
- ^ "'Imperatriz', santo e padre: livro resgata origem sírio-libanesa de políticos". O Globo (in Brazilian Portuguese). 13 September 2021. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
- ^ "Devastado, porto de Beirute tem significado histórico para o Brasil". br.noticias.yahoo.com (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 11 November 2022.
- ^ "Thousands bid farewell to Lebanese diva Sabah". The Daily Star. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
- ^ "myTV - Al Shahroura". My-tv.us. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
- ^ "El Shahroura". IMDb. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
- ^ MTV Lebanon website, MTV Pays Tribute to Legendary Lebanese Singer, article dated June 26, 2014
- ^ Sinno, Nadine (9 March 2017). "A War of Colors: Beirut Street Art and the Reclamation of Public Space". ASAP/Journal. 2 (1): 71–104. doi:10.1353/asa.2017.0017. ISSN 2381-4721. S2CID 193868123.
- ^ "Sabah's 90th Birthday". 10 November 2017.
- ^ Egypt Today website, Arabic tunes from Marvel Studios’ ‘Moon Knight’ score big on Spotify, article dated May 9, 2022
- ^ Radio Times website, Every Song Featured in Marvel Series
- ^ a b "Al Mawed- Akhbar Musawara". 19 August 2004. Archived from the original on 19 August 2004. Retrieved 18 January 2023.
- ^ "Dubai International Film Festival". Dubaifilmfest.com. Archived from the original on 9 April 2013. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
- ^ "صباح.. نجمة حتى الرمق الأخير". 1-a1072.azureedge.net (in Arabic). Retrieved 24 July 2023.
- ^ "Retrospective of Sabah's work at Dubai film fest". Emirates247.com. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
- ^ "Sabah Discography at Discogs". discogs. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
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