He started his career back in the 1960s. Barakat has arguably established a genre of his own in both the way he sings and composes, which made him one of the most esteemed and popular stars in Lebanon. He has toured Australia, South America, Canada, and the United States.
Melhem Barakat mainly performs in colloquial Lebanese, a feat he has always defended, criticizing his fellow Lebanese peers for favouring the Egyptian dialect for commercial purposes. Although his popularity is rather modest in Egypt, where non-Egyptian music material generally receives lukewarm mass appeal, Melhem has achieved huge stardom in most Arab countries, most notably in Syria, Jordan, and Lebanon.
Barakat started singing more than thirty years ago. He participated as an actor and singer in many of the Rahbani Brothers' musicals and operettas; some Lebanese even saying that he established himself as one of the strongest voices in the country.
He also appeared in many Lebanese movies back in the 1980s. Some of his hits from the 1980s were “Kboush El Touti” and “Wahdi Ana (I am alone).”
During the 1990s, Melhem Barakat acted with Lebanese dancer Dani Boustros in a Lebanese theater play titled Wemsheet Bee Tariki (I walked my way).
Since the year 2000. Melhem Barakat had several hit songs, such as “Habibi Enta,” which was later sung by his ex-wife May Hariri. He also collaborated with current famous singers such as Najwa Karam, Karol Sakr, Shatha Hassoun, and Majida El Roumi.
Melhem Barakat, a Lebanese singer, was born in 1942 in Kfarshima, Lebanon. He grew up with the sound of Egyptian composer and singer Mohammed Abdel Wahab. Still a child, Melhem many people around him thought that he showed a special talent while singing in school parties. One day, he composed a text from the school journal and sang it first before his classmates and teachers, who appreciated his performance and then became one of the leading names in the Lebanese musical scene, who believed that he was an exceptional talent and had a charming voice. His career had many successes. His best-known works were “Amarine,” “Abouha Radi,” “Farah Ennass,” and “Habibi Inta.”
Keef
Melhem Barakat Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
كيف بتبعد عنّي و بعدك ساكن فيّي كيف
كيف بتبعد عني و بعدك ساكن فيّي كيف
يا حبّي الهارب من وعدك هارب من وعدك
وحدك شاغل عمري وحدك شاغل عمري وحدك
و بتقْسى عليّي و ما بتسألني كيف
كيف... كيف
صعبة الغلطة عندي صعبة... صعبة صعبة
لا تفكّر ترسملي قلبي... ترسملي قلبي
طفل و راكض خلف اللّعبة ع حفاف الرصيف
كيف... كيف
عم بتالّم و بتنساني و بتنساني
يا حبي ال مالك امانة... مالك امانة
يا ويل ويلك من حناني لو صبّح خريف
كيف... كيف
كيف بتبعد عنّي و بعدك ساكن فيّي كيف
كيف بتبعد عنّي و بعدك ساكن فيّي كيف
يا حبّي الهارب من وعدك هارب من وعدك
وحدك شاغل عمري وحدك شاغل عمري وحدك
و بتقْسى عليّي و ما بتسألني كيف
كيف... كيف
"Keef" is a hauntingly beautiful Arabic song about a lover who is drifting away, and the pain and confusion that comes with it. The artist, Melhem Barakat, sings about how his lover seems to be physically distant but still very much present within him spiritually. He wonders how this can be, and why his lover has become so cold towards him. He implores his lover to not break his heart and asks how he can go on living without him.
The song has a deep emotional resonance with listeners, as it captures the universal feeling of heartbreak and confusion. Barakat's voice is full of emotion and soul, giving the song a raw and authentic feel. The lyrics are simple yet powerful, giving voice to a common human experience that almost everyone can relate to.
The song has become an enduring classic in Arabic music, and it continues to be a beloved favorite among fans of the genre. Its timeless appeal lies in its ability to capture the essence of human emotion and the beauty of Arabic music, making it a true masterpiece of its kind.
Line by Line Meaning
كيف... كيف
The singer is repeating the same word, ‘keef’ which means ‘how’ in Arabic. It signifies their confusion and frustration.
كيف بتبعد عنّي و بعدك ساكن فيّي كيف
The singer is feeling confused and frustrated as to how their loved one can be physically distant, yet emotionally present in their life.
يا حبّي الهارب من وعدك هارب من وعدك
The singer's lover has broken their promise and fled, leaving the singer feeling betrayed.
وحدك شاغل عمري وحدك شاغل عمري وحدك
Despite the pain caused by the betrayal, the singer cannot forget their love and is still devoted to them, making it difficult to move on.
و بتقْسى عليّي و ما بتسألني كيف
The singer's lover is being cold and distant towards them, without any consideration for their feelings or wellbeing.
صعبة الغلطة عندي صعبة... صعبة صعبة
The singer acknowledges that the mistake made by their lover is a difficult one to forgive, and it weighs heavily on their heart.
لا تفكّر ترسملي قلبي... ترسملي قلبي
The singer pleads with their lover to stop playing with their heart and trying to manipulate or control them.
طفل و راكض خلف اللّعبة ع حفاف الرصيف
The singer feels like a child chasing after something unattainable, running after their love and never quite managing to catch up.
عم بتالّم و بتنساني و بتنساني
The singer is in pain and their lover seems to have forgotten them, leaving them feeling alone and abandoned.
يا حبي ال مالك امانة... مالك امانة
The singer is pleading with their lover to keep their promise and remain faithful to them, as they feel like they cannot trust anyone else.
يا ويل ويلك من حناني لو صبّح خريف
The singer warns their lover that they will regret losing their love and affection, especially when they are older and no longer have the same opportunities to find love.
Writer(s): Melhem Barakat
Contributed by Asher G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@H74-M4
@@kulthumsara3919
How ?
How could you stay away from me and still live inside me , how ?
My love, who didn't keep your promise
You're the only concern of my life
You're hard on me and you never ask me how
I'm hurting and you forget me
My love who's not honest
Oh, woe, will you, from my tenderness, if it waved to the fall ...
@user-tg7gm8on1h
وقت كان عمري ١٠ سنين كان دائما ابي يسمع لملحم بركات وقول مستحيل وقت اكبر اسمع هيك اغاني. وقت توفى الكبير ابو المجد كان عمري ١٦ سنة وجربت اسمع اغانيه وتعلقت بكل لحن وبكل حرف للفنان وهلئ عمري ٢٣ واغانيه عندي ادمان
@blueplanet1380
واحدة من اجمل الاغاني العربية عبقرية في اللحن والكلمات والاداء هذه اغنية فوق الوصف الله يرحمك يا ابو مجد
@angleangle5087
سمعت الأغنية لأول مرة سنة ١٩٩٥... عاشت معي بذكرى مؤلمة جداً لهاللحظة.. ولسه عايشة..
جماعة الديسلايك.. راجعو احساسكم المعدوم....
@zeinab2083
فعلا
@kendakenda6768
لازال صوتك يصدح في أعماق قلبي ..وكم انا ممتنه لك .لأنك غنيت ولحنت ابهى وأجمل وارقى مايمكن أن يسمع أي أنسان فيه شيء من الرقه والمشاعر ...
لن تموت ملحم ونحن نعشقك
@prevttesto6284
احببتك أكثر مما ينبغي واحببتني اقل مما استحق (كيف )
@user-br2zf6cb7o
صيام من ص
@Userbymyselfonly
وإحساسك رائع طالما ألحانه تؤثر فيكي
@adnangh1103
لا يسمع هذه الأغنية إلا أصحاب الذوق الرفيع و الاذن الموسيقية التي لا يمتلكها معظم الناس
@saleemgeming481
🌹🌹💗💗💙💙