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.
Gany We Talab El Samah
Sabah Lyrics
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جاني وطلب الســـماح اللي جرحني وراح آه ياعينى
مني طلب السماح اللي حرمني من الأفراح
جاني وطلب الســـماح اللي جرحني وراح آه ياعينى
مني طلب السماح اللي حرمني من الأفراح
جاني يبكي على جرحي جاني يتمنى فرحي
جاني يبكي على جرحي جاني يتمنى فرحي
ردِّيت حبيبي تعالى تعالى تعالى جنبي هنا هنا وارتاح
جاني فى عيونـُه دمعة بتقول والله ارحميني
دي عيوني من يوم فراقك النوم فاتها وناسيني
ده جاني فى عيونـُه دمعة بتقول والله ارحميني
دي عيوني من يوم فراقك النوم فاتها وناسيني
نادم طالب السماح نادم ع اللي راح راح
نادم طالب السماح نادم ع اللي راح
ردِّيت حبيبي تعالى تعالى تعالى جنبي هناهنا وارتاح
قلبي من يومها يا روحي باعت لك السماح السماح
جاني ولعلى شمعة على باب بيتي وقال
موال موال موال موال موال موال موال
وغنوة حلوة قلبي ساعتها مال
موال موال موال موال موال موال
نادى ردى عليّاَ رَدِّت دمعة عينيا
نادى ردى عليّاَ رَدِّت دمعة عينيا
حبيبى حبيبي تعالى تعالى تعالى جنبي هنا هنا وارتاح
قلبي من يومها يا روحي باعت لك السماح السماح
ما أحلى الســـهر ويَّا الحبيب ويَّا القمر ما احلى السهر
ما أحلى الســـهر ويَّا الحبيب ويَّا القمر ما احلى السهر
ما أحلى السماح بعد العذاب بعد الجراح ما أحلى السماح
ما أحلى اللقا أحلى اللقا والقلب ياقلب بعد الغربه الغربه ارتاح
ما أحلى الســـهر ويَّا الحبيب ويَّا القمر ما احلى السهر
ما أحلى الليالي الليالى ليا وانت انت قدَّام عينيا
حبيبى حبيبي تعالى تعالى تعالى جنبي هنا هنا وارتاح
قلبي من يومها يا روحي باعت لك السماح السماح
The lyrics of Sabah's song "Gany We Talab El Samah" (He came to me and asked for forgiveness) express the feeling of remorse and regret after causing someone pain and losing their love. The singer reflects on the individual who hurt her and then came to ask for forgiveness, showing vulnerability and expressing his wish to regain her affection. In the first verse, the singer focuses on the regret of the person who caused her pain and asks for forgiveness, expressing her sadness and longing for happiness. In the second verse, the singer describes the tears in his eyes and the regret he feels for what he has done, expressing his longing and pain. The chorus expresses his hope to be reunited with their lover and find peace.
Line by Line Meaning
جانى وطلب السماح
He came to seek forgiveness
جاني وطلب الســـماح اللي جرحني وراح آه ياعينى
He came to ask forgiveness for the pain he caused me, oh my eyes
مني طلب السماح اللي حرمني من الأفراح
I asked for forgiveness for the happiness he deprived me of
جاني يبكي على جرحي جاني يتمنى فرحي
He came crying for the wound he caused, wishing for my happiness
ردِّيت حبيبي تعالى تعالى تعالى جنبي هنا هنا وارتاح
I replied 'my beloved, come, come, come by my side here and relax'
قلبي من يومها يا روحي باعت لك السماح السماح
My heart since then, oh my soul, sold its forgiveness to you
جاني فى عيونـُه دمعة بتقول والله ارحميني
In his eyes there is a tear saying 'for God's sake, have mercy on me'
دي عيوني من يوم فراقك النوم فاتها وناسيني
These eyes of mine since your departure have lost sleep and forgotten me
ده جاني فى عيونـُه دمعة بتقول والله ارحميني
This is him in his eyes with a tear saying 'for God's sake, have mercy on me'
نادم طالب السماح نادم ع اللي راح راح
Remorseful, asking for forgiveness, regretful for what is gone
ردِّيت حبيبي تعالى تعالى تعالى جنبي هناهنا وارتاح
I replied 'my beloved, come, come, come by my side here and relax'
جاني ولعلى شمعة على باب بيتي وقال
He came and lit a candle at my door and said
موال موال موال موال موال موال موال
A beautiful Maqam melody
وغنوة حلوة قلبي ساعتها مال
A sweet song that my heart loved at the time
نادى ردى عليّاَ رَدِّت دمعة عينيا
He called, I replied, and a tear fell from my eyes
حبيبى حبيبي تعالى تعالى تعالى جنبي هنا هنا وارتاح
My beloved, come, come, come by my side here and relax
ما أحلى الســـهر ويَّا الحبيب ويَّا القمر ما احلى السهر
How beautiful is staying up with the beloved and the moon, how beautiful is staying up
ما أحلى السماح بعد العذاب بعد الجراح ما أحلى السماح
How beautiful is forgiveness after suffering and after wounds, how beautiful is forgiveness
ما أحلى اللقا أحلى اللقا والقلب ياقلب بعد الغربه الغربه ارتاح
How beautiful is reunion, oh heart, after the exile, relieve your exile
Lyrics © Mazzika Group
Written by: Magdy Naguib
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind