Sabah, known locally as "Al-Sabbouha" was born in Bdadoun, Lebanon. Her father was severe towards her, even beating her sometimes. When she started making a small amount of money out of her movies, he used to take it away from her. She married early to leave her father's overbearing financial control. Her brother killed her mother because he believed she was seeing someone outside marriage.
She began singing and acting in the 1940s in Egyptian movies when Egyptian filmmaker Henry Barakat recognised her talent. Her first featured film was "El Alb Laho Wahed" produced by Asia Dagher. Although a Lebanese national, the majority of her films were co-produced with or focused on Egypt. She starred with many famous actors, such as Abdel Halim Hafez, Kamal El Chenawi, Ahmad Mazhar, Rushdy Abaza and Hussein Fahmy.
Until 2009, she performed both in concert and on television, including such programs as Star Academy (the Arabic equivalent of the United Kingdom's Fame Academy), where she sang her new single onstage opposite a line of mannequins displaying costumes from several of her early films and musicals.
She was known to her affectionate fans as "Sabbouha". She was also famously known as "Al Chahroura" (The Singing Bird), because of her poet uncle who was named "Chahrour Al Wadi".
In the 1990s, she and her former husband Fadi Lubnan (Kuntar) made a documentary about her life.
She also developed a close collaboration with singer Rola Saad in remaking some of her old hits, such as "Yana Yana". The accompanying video, in which Sabah is shown as "the notorious diva" to whom her younger colleague pays tribute, has received wide play on Arabic music channels.[citation needed]
Sabah was hosted on Akher Man Yalam on 31 May 2010.
In the 2011 edition of the famous Beiteddine Art Festival, a show retracing the incredible journey of Sabah as a singer and movie star was performed. In the title role Ruwaida Attieh, shared the stage with more than 40 singers & dancers.
After selling her building in the early 2000s, she moved to "Hotel Comfort" in Hazmieh, Beirut. She lived in "Hotel Brazilia" next to her old hotel. She suffered from many illnesses due to several Thrombus in her brain. This caused her to lose control of her left hand and foot. However she did not lose her memories, but she suffered from a diminished ability to concentrate.
Al Shahrourah, a TV drama based on her life aired during Ramadan 2011. She was portrayed by actress/singer Carole Samaha.
Sabah's reaction was mostly positive towards the series and was happy that it was a success. However, she had some comments about inaccuracies, such as the depiction of her father as wearing the traditional Lebanese costumes.
Sabah was married seven times. Here's a history of her marriages:
Najib Chammas (5 Years); the couple had a son named Dr. Sabah Chammas .
Egyptian violinist Anwar Mansy. The marriage lasted four years; the couple had a daughter, actress and singer Howayda Mansy.
Egyptian television presenter Ahmed Farrag.
Egyptian actor Rushdy Abaza The marriage lasted only one week.
Lebanese depute Joe Hammoud
Lebanese artist Wassim Tabbara.
Lebanese artist Fadi Lebnan.
Her last romantic adventure was with Omar Mehyo, Mister Lebanon 2000, whom she was engaged but not married to in 2003. The relationship ended in 2004. According to Lebanese Media Magazine Al Mawed and Contrary to popular belief, she is not married to her hairdresser Joseph Gharib,who takes care of her daily.
In addition to her numerous concerts in the Arab World she also performed several times on foreign stages such as:
L'Olympia, Paris
Albert Hall, London
Sydney Opera House, Sydney
Carnegie Hall, New York
Her only European TV performance was in 1980, when she was a guest on the French TV show Le Grand Echiquier where she performed "Saidi" and the duet "Aal Naddaa" with French singer Enrico Macias. This duet lead to her ban in several Arab Countries,due to Macias' support of Israel.
Constant rumors involving Sabah's death have been circulating in the past decade because of her advanced age. She has been described as "The artist who would not die". However, Sabah was saddened by those rumors, saying :"Am I bothering them while i'm still alive ?".[citation needed] On the topic of death, she said: "I've lived enough".
She has received many awards during her lengthy career, recent awards include:
Lifetime Achievement Award from The Dubai International Film Festival.
She was honored by the Egyptian Cinema in Cairo.
She was honored in Beirut with a statue of herself.
Decoration Award By Lebanese President Michel Sleiman During The Beiteddine Art Festival.
Sabah has acted in more than 87 movies,most of these movies are Egyptian and Lebanese movies, as well as 37 play. Her acting career stretches from 1943 till 2005. Many of Sabah's movies have not been released commercially on either VHS tape or DVD. Some of the movies she played in include:
Iyam El Loulou written by Karim Abou Chakra (As well as Nousi Nousi a play written and directed by Karim Abou Chakra)
Kanat Ayyam (1970)
Nar el shawk (1970)
Mawal (1966)
El Aydi el naema (1963) aka Soft Hands
El Motamarreda (1963)
Jaoz marti (1961)
El Rajul el thani (1960)
El Ataba el khadra (1959)
Sharia el hub (1959)
Salem al habaieb (1958)
Izhay ansak (1956)
Wahabtak hayati (1956)
Khatafa mirati (1954)
Lahn hubi (1953)
Zalamuni el habaieb (1953)
Khadaini abi (1951)
Ana Satuta (1950)
Sabah el khare (1948)
Albi wa saifi(1947)
lubnani fi al gamiaa (1947)
Sabah died on 26 November 2014 at 3AM at her residence at the age of 87. The Lebanese official news agency confirmed her death, saying she died in Beirut.
Aashika Wa Galbanah
Sabah Lyrics
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بيقولوا لي توبي، توبي، توبي، توبي
وإزاي بس إزاي تتوبي يا عيني إزاي، إزاي
بيقولوا لي توبي، توبي، توبي، توبي
بيقولوا لي توبي، توبي، توبي، توبي
إزاي بس إزاي تتوبي يا عيني إزاي، إزاي
عاشقة وغلبانة والنبي
عاشقة ومسكينة والنبي
عاشقة ومسكينة والنبي
ما قدرش أفوته والنبي
ده أنا كل حتة في ثوبي
ذايبة، ذايبة، ذايبة في هوى محبوبي
عينيّ آه يا عينيّ أعمل إيه يا عينيّ
عايزين يحرموني من الدنيا الحلوة ديّ
عينيّ آه يا عينيّ أعمل إيه يا عينيّ
عايزين يبعدوني، يبعدوني، يبعدوني
ومش صابرين عليّ يا عينيّ
عاشقة وغلبانة والنبي
عاشقة ومسكينة والنبي
عاشقة وغلبانة والنبي
عاشقة ومسكينة والنبي
ما قدرش أفوته والنبي
ده أنا كل حتة في ثوبي
ذايبة، ذايبة، ذايبة في هوى محبوبي
عيني يا قلبي علينا أنا وإنت مساكين يا عيني
مبقاش فاضل لينا غير دمعك يا عين، يا عين
عيني يا قلبي علينا أنا وإنت مساكين يا عيني
مبقاش فاضل لينا غير دمعك يا عين، يا عين
عاشقة وغلبانة والنبي
عاشقة وتعبانة والنبي
عاشقة وغلبانة والنبي
عاشقة وتعبانة والنبي
ما قدرش أفوته والنبي
ده أنا كل حتة في ثوبي
ذايبة، ذايبة، ذايبة في هوى محبوبي
إن كان مكتوب علينا نفارق القمر حنفارق القمر
وإن كان حكم القدر الحيرة والسهر نسهر من غير قمر
إن كان مكتوب علينا نفارق القمر حنفارق القمر
وإن كان حكم القدر الحيرة والسهر نسهر من غير قمر
عاشقة وغلبانة والنبي
عاشقة ومسكينة والنبي
عاشقة وغلبانة والنبي
عاشقة ومسكينة والنبي
ما قدرش أفوته والنبي
ده أنا كل حتة في ثوبي
ذايبة، ذايبة، ذايبة في هوى محبوبي
The song "Aashika Wa Galbanah" by Sabah has a repetitive chorus of "they tell me to repent, how can I repent, I'm in love and defeated" which describes the struggles of a woman in love who is being urged to repent and mend her ways. She is ridiculed by people who believe that she should move on and forget about the man she loves. The lyrics show an internal conflict within the woman's mind as she contemplates whether to give up on her love or to continue to fight for it despite societal pressures.
The lyrics also reflect themes such as longing, sadness, and heartbreak. The verses describe the woman as being lost in love and unable to escape its hold on her. She feels hopeless and trapped, singing "I am lost, lost, lost in the love of my beloved." The song ends with acceptance of fate, admitting that if it is written in destiny to part with the moon, then so be it.
Line by Line Meaning
بيقولوا لي توبي، توبي، توبي، توبي
They tell me to repent, repent, repent, repent
وإزاي بس إزاي تتوبي يا عيني إزاي، إزاي
But how, oh how, can I repent? How, how?
عاشقة وغلبانة والنبي
In love and defeated, I swear
عاشقة ومسكينة والنبي
In love and poor, I swear
ما قدرش أفوته والنبي
I can't resist him, I swear
ده أنا كل حتة في ثوبي
I am all about him, he's in every fiber of my being
ذايبة، ذايبة، ذايبة في هوى محبوبي
Lost, lost, lost in the love for my beloved
عينيّ آه يا عينيّ أعمل إيه يا عينيّ
My eyes, oh my eyes, what can I do, oh my eyes
عايزين يحرموني من الدنيا الحلوة ديّ
They want to deprive me of this beautiful world
عايزين يبعدوني، يبعدوني، يبعدوني
They want to push me away, push me away, push me away
ومش صابرين عليّ يا عينيّ
And they are not patient with me, oh my eyes
عيني يا قلبي علينا أنا وإنت مساكين يا عيني
My eyes, my heart, we are both miserable, oh my eyes
مبقاش فاضل لينا غير دمعك يا عين، يا عين
All that's left for us is your tears, oh my eyes, oh my eyes
عاشقة وتعبانة والنبي
In love and tired, I swear
إن كان مكتوب علينا نفارق القمر حنفارق القمر
If it's written that we part ways with the moon, then we will part ways with the moon
وإن كان حكم القدر الحيرة والسهر نسهر من غير قمر
And if fate decrees confusion and sleeplessness, we will stay awake without the moon
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Mohamed Hamza
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind