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.
Annadda N'Adda
Sabah Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
وان ماعطيوني اياكي . يا جبال العالي لَهِدّا
ندّا كانت حد العين . وسألتها الغيبه وين
غمزتني بهاك العينين . وبَدّا تحكي ومابَدّا
ندّا نزلت ع البستان . ولقاها وزهّر نيسان
عم ضل مْلبَّك سهران . ونجوم الليل بْعِدّا
مبارح بالحلو تلاقيت . هيك ومدري شو حسيت
ولما عزمتني ع البيت . وماعد قلبي يتهدّا
يا طير اللي بتضل تطير . تعمل بالشمس مشاوير
سلملي ع الحلو كتير . كانك مارء من حَدّا
In Sabah's song "Annadda N'Adda," the singer speaks of a person, possibly a lover, who is compared to the beautiful and blooming roses on her cheeks. She begs the mountains to help her reach this person, indicating that this person is of great importance to her. The title itself, "Annadda N'Adda," translates to "he called and I answered" which may suggest that this is a song about love and the imminent response to a loved one's calls.
The singer then describes a woman named Nadda who possesses mesmerizing eyes that she inquires about the mysteries of life. Nadda communicates her message non-verbally through the use of winks, indicating a connection that goes beyond words. The singer then goes on to describe Nadda wandering through a garden during the month of April, accompanied by blooming flowers which may symbolize new beginnings; perhaps the beginning of a new relationship or the promise of better times to come. The night sky and the stars further emphasize the romantic and mysterious nature of this song.
In the final stanza, the singer reflects on a recent encounter wherein a connection was made with someone she finds sweet, but she struggles with her emotions and the inability to stop thinking about this person. The song ends with a message directed to the birds, asking them to relay her message to her sweet companion because her thoughts and emotions are taking her down an uncertain road.
Line by Line Meaning
عالندّا الندا الندا . والورد مفتح ع خدا
The vibrations are in the air, the roses are blooming on the cheek.
وان ماعطيوني اياكي . يا جبال العالي لَهِدّا
Even if they offer me everything, O high mountains, I will not abandon her.
ندّا كانت حد العين . وسألتها الغيبه وين
Nadda was close to the eye, and I asked her where the unseen was.
غمزتني بهاك العينين . وبَدّا تحكي ومابَدّا
She winked at me with those eyes, and started talking and never stopped.
ندّا نزلت ع البستان . ولقاها وزهّر نيسان
Nadda descended on the garden, and found it in full bloom in April.
عم ضل مْلبَّك سهران . ونجوم الليل بْعِدّا
I stay awake all night, wondering, while the stars move away.
مبارح بالحلو تلاقيت . هيك ومدري شو حسيت
Yesterday, I met with sweetness, and felt something, but I don't know what.
ولما عزمتني ع البيت . وماعد قلبي يتهدّا
And when they invited me over, my heart couldn't calm down anymore.
يا طير اللي بتضل تطير . تعمل بالشمس مشاوير
O bird who keeps flying and explores the sun.
سلملي ع الحلو كتير . كانك مارء من حَدّا
Say hello to the sweetness for me, as if you're from the same place.
Contributed by Hailey H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.