Mohammed Al-Buainain to Al-Rai: We are reviving the songs of Arab stars... Singing in love with Kuwait
At the conclusion of the 18th edition of the “Cultural Summer” festival, organized by the National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters, attention turns to the Drama Theater at the Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Cultural Center on the evening of August 30, where audiences will attend a musical evening titled “Arab Stars Singing for Kuwait.” The event aims to revive a selection of prominent songs performed by major Arab artists for Kuwait, encompassing both patriotic and romantic works, with lyrics and compositions by renowned Kuwaiti and Arab artists.
The evening will feature artists Adel Al-Mas, Abdulaziz Al-Musbah, and Saud Al-Faiz, accompanied by an orchestra conducted by Maestro Dr. Mohammed Al-Buainain. In an interview with “Al-Rai,” Al-Buainain revealed details about the concert and the selected repertoire, explaining that the event seeks to recover an important aspect of Kuwaiti song memory, which is closely linked to the voices of major Arab artists.
Al-Buainain stated, “The concept of the concert is to re-present Kuwaiti songs performed by various Arab stars, whether romantic or patriotic. The memory of both Arab and Kuwaiti music is rich with a large number of works sung by singing stars of the 20th century. Therefore, we were keen to select a group of these works and present them anew to the audience at the closing ceremony.”
Regarding the program of the closing event, he clarified, “The concert program will include nine songs, selected from works performed by Arab singers. Their lyrics and melodies bear the imprint of prominent Kuwaiti and Arab names, reflecting the diversity witnessed by Kuwaiti music during various stages of the last century.”
He added, “Artist Abdulaziz Al-Musbah will perform three songs, starting with ‘Bismillah’ (In the Name of God), with lyrics by Fathi Qoura and music and vocals by the maestro Farid Al-Atrash. This is one of the milestones that recalls the presence of Kuwaiti song in the experience of one of the most prominent stars of Arab music. He will also perform ‘Slow Al-Kaab Al-Hasnaa,’ with lyrics by Ahmed Al-Adwani and music by Ahmed Al-Zanjari, a work originally sung by Badi’a Sabri, alongside ‘Ya Banat Al-Madina’ (O Daughters of the City), with lyrics by Youssef Nasser and music by Marzouq Al-Marzouq, which was sung by Aliya Al-Tunisya.”
Al-Buainain continued, “As for artist Saud Al-Faiz, he will perform three songs: ‘Nasi Ayyamna’ (Forgetting Our Days), with lyrics by Abduljalil Hassan and music by Abdulrahman Al-Buainain, originally sung by Fawziya Akif; ‘Adari Wa Al-Hawa Namam’ (I Conceal It, and Love Gossips), with lyrics by Ahmed Al-Adwani and music by Hamad Al-Rajeb, sung by Najah Salam; and ‘Taj Hasanak’ (The Crown of Your Beauty), with lyrics by Mahboub Sultan and music by Abdulaziz Mohammed, sung by Houria Sami.”
He elaborated, “Meanwhile, artist Adel Al-Mas will perform the final three songs of the evening: ‘Ayni Dhanaha Al-Sahar’ (My Eye Was Weary from Sleeplessness), with lyrics by Abdulmohsen Al-Rifai and music by Saud Al-Rashid, sung by Abdel Halim Hafez, who is considered one of the Arab singers who performed the most songs in the Kuwaiti dialect. Additionally, Al-Mas will perform ‘Ya Hali’ (O My People), with lyrics by Walid Jafar and music by Abdulhamid Al-Sayed, a work also sung by the ‘Dark Nightingale.’ He will conclude his participation with the song ‘Ya Darina Ya Dar’ (O Our Home, O Home), with lyrics by Ahmed Al-Adwani and music by the maestro Riyad Al-Sunbati, originally sung by the ‘Star of the East,’ Umm Kulthum.”
Al-Buainain explained the mechanism behind the song selection, stating, “The choice of these works stems from the desire to revive songs that formed part of the Kuwaiti and Arab artistic memory, particularly because they combined Kuwaiti names in the fields of poetry and composition with shining Arab voices that carried these works to a wide audience, keeping them present in memory to this day.”
