He grew up influenced by Fairuz, Zaki Nassif, Charles Aznavour and Brel. Despite the unstable situation in Lebanon, Mike started taking piano lessons at the age of nine. In 1996, he joined the National High Conservatory of Music, and at the age of seventeen, he specialized in the Arabic opera. His musical curiosity led him to explore the Andalusian mouwachahat, as well as oriental and occidental singing, along with his classical piano education.
In 2001, his passion for theatre led him to join the Faculty of Fine Arts where he obtained his degree in Drama. At the same time, he took Jazz Ballet dancing courses at the dance school Arabesque. Mike has collaborated with the most important artists in Lebanon and the Arab world, from Lebanon to Egypt, Syria, Abu Dhabi, Algeria, Morocco, to the Netherlands, Italy and Belgium, where he performed in big festivals and toured with internationally known musicians and artists. His talent as an actor was discovered by many directors and scriptwriters, who offered him many roles in television and in cinema, in addition to short films, plays and musicals.
The year 2003 was a landmark in his career, because Mike released his first album of spiritual hymns entitled "Ila Ssama Atbaouka". In 2008, he composed the music of the documentary "Itsy Bitsy Spider" by Tania Nasr. A year later, he wrote, composed, and arranged "Sayf W Layl", an album featuring the Lebanese singer Nada, combining oriental melodies with Latin and jazz arrangements from the 1950s. In 2010, he wrote the original soundtrack of the film "Tannoura Maxi" by the director Joe Bou Eid, which was released in 2012. He has also presented his album "Ya Zaman", which he describes as a portrait of the Lebanese oriental man.
Beyrouth
Mike Massy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
الرصيف بلا موسيقا
والبحر ع المدينة واقف ناطر
يتذكر صوت اولاد كانوا يتمشوا ع الطرقات
صاروا صور مرسومة ومنسية على الحيطان
يا حكاية حلوة بكتاب امبارح
طرقاتها تضوي بكل المطارح
يا غنية منسية يا بيروت
بقيت ضجرانة وحيدة تسهر
يا خبرية مجنونة يا بيروت
ريحة ترابك صابون ومونة
مسلّات القشّ بقيت مدفونة
حجارك يا أرض بلادي مليانة حكايات
أخبارك بكيت بعيوني بقيت
تحفر أسراراها وردة ختيارة
يا قصة عتيقة يا بيروت
يا حكاية حلوة بكتاب امبارح
طرقاتها تضوري بكل المطارح
يا غنية منسية يا بيروت
مدينة حلمت أطفالها تكبر
ببقيت ضجرانة وحيدة تسهر
يا خبرية مجنونة يا بيروت
حكيوا لي عن مدينة كانت
يا ريت عيوني ما قدرت قالت
رزق الله ع أيامك يا بيروت
يا بيروت
يا حكاية حلوة بكتاب امبارح
طرقاتها تضوري بكل المطارح
يا غنية منسية
يا بيروت... يا بيروت
The lyrics to Mike Massy's song "Beyrouth" paint a picture of the city Beirut, in Lebanon as one that was once full of life and energy, but is now forgotten and abandoned. The song begins with the description of the narrow, old streets and the sidewalks that are devoid of music. The sea stands still, waiting, as it remembers the sounds of children who used to walk on these streets. Now, they are just faded pictures on the walls.
The song then moves on to describe the city's dreams for its children. Beirut had once dreamed about its children growing up and becoming great, but it now remains lonely and sleepless. The scent of the city's soil is a mixture of soap and labneh (a type of Middle Eastern cream cheese), while the city's old stories and secrets are buried under the stones. The song ends with an expression of hope that the city will one day return to its former glory.
Overall, the song portrays a nostalgic lament for a city that has lost its vibrancy and vitality. It speaks of a city that is filled with memories and untold stories, waiting to be uncovered.
Line by Line Meaning
الشوارع العتيقة
The old streets
الرصيف بلا موسيقا
The sidewalks without music
والبحر ع المدينة واقف ناطر
The sea waiting, standing over the city
يتذكر صوت اولاد كانوا يتمشوا ع الطرقات
Remembering the voices of children who used to walk on the streets
صاروا صور مرسومة ومنسية على الحيطان
They became forgotten and drawn pictures on walls
يا حكاية حلوة بكتاب امبارح
A sweet story from yesterday's book
طرقاتها تضوي بكل المطارح
Its streets shine in all directions
يا غنية منسية يا بيروت
A forgotten song, Oh Beirut!
مدينة حلمت أطفالها تكبر
A city that dreamed its children would grow up
بقيت ضجرانة وحيدة تسهر
It remained bored, lonely and awake
يا خبرية مجنونة يا بيروت
Oh Beirut! A crazy story
ريحة ترابك صابون ومونة
The smell of your soil, soap and cheese
مسلّات القشّ بقيت مدفونة
The straw mattresses remained buried
حجارك يا أرض بلادي مليانة حكايات
Oh land of my country, your stones are full of stories
أخبارك بكيت بعيوني بقيت
I cried for your news, I remained with tears in my eyes
تحفر أسراراها وردة ختيارة
Digging up its secrets, a rose of choice
يا قصة عتيقة يا بيروت
An ancient story, oh Beirut!
حكيوا لي عن مدينة كانت
Tell me about a city that once was
يا ريت عيوني ما قدرت قالت
I wish my eyes never saw what they saw
رزق الله ع أيامك يا بيروت
God bless your days, oh Beirut!
يا حكاية حلوة بكتاب امبارح
A sweet story from yesterday's book
طرقاتها تضوري بكل المطارح
Its streets fade away in all directions
يا غنية منسية
A forgotten song
يا بيروت... يا بيروت
Oh Beirut! Oh Beirut!
Writer(s): mike massy, yvonne el hachem, charbel aoun
Contributed by Mason J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@openheartify
warm greetings from Tehran! hope to visit Beirut and see Mike Massy singing live💜💜💜
@daniaabood1878
الله الله
@mohammaddukhano5215
pray for Beirut❤️
@elcyhaddad8745
Beirut!
@karamcell5736
I love this song
@celinehitti5020
I can't believe it has been 5 years! Ya Zaman! A real chef-d'œuvre!
@pirjovira5869
One of my favourites❤️
@mohamedhal6492
Brilliant !
@dohamoh3065
❤❤
@giselec2194
magnifique !