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.
Allo Beyrouth
Sabah Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
من فضلك يا عينيي
أعطيني بيروت
و عجّل بالخط شويي
أعطيني بيروت وصّلني عالصنايع
قلبي هونيك ضيعتو بعدو ضايع
بدّي اسأل عن قلبي ... يمكن هونيك متخبّي
من الصنايع وصّلني عالإذاعة
بدّي غنـّي و حياتك عالسمّاعة
بيوت الـ بدّي غنيها . من الإذاعة بهديها
كرمال عيون أحبابي البسطاوية .
خدني مشوار عالروشة عالمنارة
بدّي بيروت حاكيها حارة بحارة
من باب دريس للحمراء . لفرن الشبّاك للدورة
و بترجعني تا أزور الأشرفية .
(موال):
خلقت و معي خلقان حبّي للبشر
لافرق عندي بين زيد و بين عمر
كل البشر أحباب قلبي
مصورين قبال عيني و القمر حدّ القمر
الو الو بيروت
من فضلك يا عينيي
أعطيني بيروت
و عجّل بالخط شويي
و الصحافة اعطيني خط النقابة
رجال التفكير هودي أغلى أحبابي
سياج الجمهور و سلاحه . أهل الفنان و جناحه
نخبة أقلام في إلها فضل عليي .
وقّف لي شويي في دربك عالزيتونة
قرّب عالشط تا أمواجه يسمعوني
بدّي بيروت حييها . بزلغوطة و أقول أويها
لعيون عيون عاصّمة اللبنانية .
The song "Allo Beyrouth" by the iconic Lebanese singer Sabah is a beautiful tribute to the city of Beirut. The lyrics are a plea from Sabah to her beloved city to come back to her, to reveal itself to her, and to allow her a chance to celebrate and sing its praises. The opening lines of the song, "Hello, hello Beirut, please give me back my eyes, give me Beirut, and hurry with the calligraphy," speaks to the fact that Sabah wants to be able to see Beirut clearly, and to fully immerse herself in the beauty of the city.
Sabah then goes on to express her feelings of loss, as she feels as though her heart has been lost in Beirut, and she desperately wants to find it again. She sings, "I want to ask about my heart, maybe it's hidden there with a beautiful girl from Beirut." She continues to sing about her longing to be reunited with her city, to sing its praises on the radio, and to explore its streets and neighborhoods. The song ends with Sabah expressing her love for all people, regardless of their background, and affirming her deep connection to Beirut.
Overall, "Allo Beyrouth" is a moving love song to a city that has been through so much turmoil and pain. Sabah's lyrics express a deep love and appreciation for the beauty and culture of Beirut, and her powerful voice brings these emotions to life.
Line by Line Meaning
الو الو بيروت
Hello hello Beirut
من فضلك يا عينيي
Please, my dear eyes
أعطيني بيروت
Give me Beirut
و عجّل بالخط شويي
And hurry up with the line a bit
أعطيني بيروت وصّلني عالصنايع
Give me Beirut and connect me to the artisans
قلبي هونيك ضيعتو بعدو ضايع
My heart is lost here, still wandering
بدّي اسأل عن قلبي ... يمكن هونيك متخبّي
I want to ask about my heart... maybe it's hiding here
يا إمّا هربان مع حلوة بيروتية
Either it escaped with a sweet Beirut girl
من الصنايع وصّلني عالإذاعة
From the artisans, connect me to the radio
بدّي غنـّي و حياتك عالسمّاعة
I want to sing, and you'll hear it through the artists
بيوت الـ بدّي غنيها . من الإذاعة بهديها
I want to sing for the houses, and dedicate it to them through the radio
كرمال عيون أحبابي البسطاوية
For the eyes of my beloved Bsoutiya people
خدني مشوار عالروشة عالمنارة
Take me on a trip to Roushé and Manara
بدّي بيروت حاكيها حارة بحارة
I want to talk about Beirut, street by street
من باب دريس للحمراء . لفرن الشبّاك للدورة
From Bab Dries to Al Hamra, from the Forn El Chebak to the Ad Doira
و بترجعني تا أزور الأشرفية
And bring me back until I visit Ashrafieh
(موال):
(Chorus):
خلقت و معي خلقان حبّي للبشر
I was created with a good nature, my love for humanity
لافرق عندي بين زيد و بين عمر
No difference for me between Zaid and Amr
كل البشر أحباب قلبي
All people are beloved to my heart
مصورين قبال عيني و القمر حدّ القمر
They are in front of my eyes, with the moon even beyond
الو الو بيروت
Hello hello Beirut
من فضلك يا عينيي
Please, my dear eyes
أعطيني بيروت
Give me Beirut
و عجّل بالخط شويي
And hurry up with the line a bit
و الصحافة اعطيني خط النقابة
And give me the union's press line
رجال التفكير هودي أغلى أحبابي
Men of thought, lead me to my dearest ones
سياج الجمهور و سلاحه . أهل الفنان و جناحه
The public's fence and weapon, the people of art and their wings
نخبة أقلام في إلها فضل عليي
An elite of pens, they are blessed upon me
وقّف لي شويي في دربك عالزيتونة
Stop me for a while on your olive tree path
قرّب عالشط تا أمواجه يسمعوني
Get close to the shore, so its waves can hear me
بدّي بيروت حييها . بزلغوطة و أقول أويها
I want to revive Beirut. Loudly announce it with a trumpet
لعيون عيون عاصّمة اللبنانية
For the eyes of the capital of Lebanon
Contributed by Dominic O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@edmamoussa8961
يا ألله شو حلو هالكليب ...
BRAVOOOOOO...
صور مختارة بمحلها...وهي من الماضي ...
أشعلتم الحنين في قلبي الى بيروت القديمة ....
تدمع العين على كل هذا الجمال المفقود بيومنا هذا ...
أصبحت بيروت جامدة،، حديثة بالعمارة ..
لكن، دون قلب حنون ينبض بالذكريات القديمة الحميمة والحنونة .... جافة ومتصنعة ....
ومن عاش بيروت القديمة ( البلد ) كما كنا نسميها،
لا يستطيع أن يتقبل جفاف بيروت الحديثة ...
وأكبر شكر لكم، على هذه المناظر القديمة المحفورة بالبال، والمشاعر .....
@FatimaFatima-zv6ow
من المملكة المغربية الشريفة الى بيروت لبنان تحية كبيرة
@user-pd8zw2zc6l
حبيبتي🇱🇧❤️🇲🇦
@user-rr5jb3nj5x
صباح تفداكي بيروت يا شحرورة بيروت
تحية من اليمن لكل محبي صبوحه
@cccccf1426
اللي ياي من دفعة بيروت لايك 😂😂
@seba-altagagahumfisl8983
انا بس شفتها في الاعلان سمعت الو بيروت وجيت اسمعها
@a.j.100
شو دفعة بيروت
@mohamadchadad865
@@a.j.100 مسلسل
@a.j.100
@@mohamadchadad865 شكرا
@mesharymohamdd4985
😂😂
@waeelkh3965
اخ قلبي اشتقتلك زمان يابيروت من ١٩٩٦الى عام ٢٠١٧ اتمنى اروح عليها حاليا مع انها قريبه من تبوك🇸🇦♥️🌺🇱🇧