Sabah (Arabic: صباح‎; born Jeanette Gergis Al-Feghali, 10 November 1927 – 2… Read Full Bio ↴Sabah (Arabic: صباح‎; born Jeanette Gergis Al-Feghali, 10 November 1927 – 26 November 2014) was a Lebanese singer and actress. Considered a "Diva of Music" in the Arab World, (the same title often given to Oum Kalthoum, Warda Al-Jazairia and Fairuz), she has released over 50 albums and has acted in 98 movies as well as over 20 stage plays. She has a reported 3,500 songs in her repertoire. She was the first Arabic singer to perform at Olympia in Paris, Carnegie Hall in New York, and Piccadilly Theatre in London and Sydney Opera House in Sydney . Member of The 3 Lebanon Icons with Fairuz and Wadih El Safi .

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.

Kol Ma Bashofak
Sabah Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

كل ما بشوفك كل ما بتحلى
يا مثل الملاك وأحلى، وأحلى
كل ما بشوفك كل ما بتحلى
يا مثل الملاك وأحلى، وأحلى
كل ما بشوفك كل ما بتحلى
يا مثل الملاك وأحلى، وأحلى
كل ما بتمرق، ما بتمرق حد البحر ما بتمرق
كل ما مي البحر بتحلى

يا، يا، يا، يا حبيبي يا، يا حبيبي

والأرض اللي بتمشي عليها
عم بحلم تأوصل ليها
والأرض اللي بتمشي عليها
عم بحلم تأوصل ليها
وزرع قلبي حواليها
وزرع قلبي حواليها
وزرع قلبي حواليها
وقضي عمري أنا وأهلها
كل ما بتمرق، ما بتمرق حد البحر يا عيوني
كل ما مي البحر بتحلى
يا، يا، يا، يا حبيبي يا، يا حبيبي

الله عطاك الحسن والقد الجميل
الله، الله عطاك الحسن والقد الجميل
ومن كلامك ها الحلو بيشفى العليل
ومن كلامك ها الحلو بيشفى العليل
وكل شئ بالناس في سحر وجمال
وكل شئ بالناس في سحر وجمال
ما كنت بين الناس، بين الناس الاقيلك مثيل

جننت الناس بأوصافك
وبسحر البسمة اللي ع شفافك
جننت الناس بأوصافك
وبسحر البسمة اللي ع شفافك
وقلبي من يوم اللي شافك
وقلبي من يوم اللي شافك
فتح بابه وقال لك أهلا
كل ما بتمرق، ما بتمرق حد البحر ما بتمرق
كل ما مي البحر بتحلى
يا، يا، يا، يا حبيبي يا، يا حبيبي

إنت الفرحة اللي بتمناها
إنت الكلمة اللي ما بنساها
إنت الفرحة اللي بتمناها
إنت الكلمة اللي ما بنساها
والشمس فيك بتتبها
والشمس فيك بتتبها
والقمر غيرك ما استحلى
كل ما بتمرق، ما بتمرق حد البحر يا قلبي

كل ما مي البحر بتحلى
يا، يا، يا، يا حبيبي يا، يا حبيبي

Overall Meaning

The song "Kol Ma Bashofak" by Sabah speaks about how the presence of a loved one brightens up one's day and everything around them becomes more beautiful. The song repeats the phrase "Kol Ma Bashofak" which translates to "Every time I see you" emphasizing how each time the person is seen, they become more beautiful like an angel. The lyrics also express the desire to be close to the loved one and to be able to spend one's life with them. The words "وزرع قلبي حواليها" which means "I planted my heart around her" implies the desire to be near and protect the loved one.

Sabah's beautiful voice and the upbeat melody complement the lyrics, creating a beautiful love song that expresses the joy and happiness one experiences when they are with their loved one. The song also emphasizes the power of words and how the words of a loved one can heal the sick and make everything around us more beautiful.

Overall, "Kol Ma Bashofak" is a beautiful love song that speaks about the beauty of love and the desire to be close to the person we love.

Line by Line Meaning

كل ما بشوفك كل ما بتحلى
Every time I see you, you become more beautiful

يا مثل الملاك وأحلى، وأحلى
You're like an angel, even more beautiful

كل ما بتمرق، ما بتمرق حد البحر ما بتمرق
As you pass by, even the sea can't compare to your beauty

والأرض اللي بتمشي عليها
The ground you walk on

عم بحلم تأوصل ليها
I dream of reaching it

وزرع قلبي حواليها
My heart has planted itself around it

وقضي عمري أنا وأهلها
I will live my whole life with it and its people

الله عطاك الحسن والقد الجميل
God gave you beauty and grace

ومن كلامك ها الحلو بيشفى العليل
Your sweet words can heal the sick

وكل شئ بالناس في سحر وجمال
Everything in people is magical and beautiful