The name of the poet Tony Abi Karam is closely linked to the Lebanese national song, and he has a long history in this regard since i
The name of the poet Tony Abi Karam is closely linked to the Lebanese national song, and he has a long history in this regard since its beginnings. He presented national works for several official institutions in Lebanon. Finally, with the voice of the artist Melhem Zein, he presented the song “Mafou’at Al-Arza” from his words and melodies, which became widely popular, as the “Middle East Airlines” company adopted it on its flights during take-off or landing.
Poet Tony Abi Karam wrote and composed more than one patriotic song
In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, Tony Abi Karam considered that writing the national song must come from the heart. He continues: “Everyone knows that I belong only to Lebanon, far from any political party or entity. When I compose a patriotic song, it is born from deep within me. I am an integral part of this country. When my pen flows on paper, I start from this foundation. Therefore, the national feeling is considered a need and necessity for the poet of this type of song, so he translates it spontaneously, away from any complicated or artificial situation.
The first patriotic songs written by the poet Tony Abi Karam were in his early days. On that day, it was titled “O South, O Occupier” in the voice of the artist Hisham Al-Hajj, and then the rosary of his compositions was repeated for other songs. Abi Karam achieved wide successes in the entire world of song. He contributed to the launch of a number of stars. Among them are Myriam Fares and Haifa Wehbe, and he collaborated with Elissa, Ragheb Alama, Rami Ayyash, Nawal Al Zoghbi and others.
In 2000, Tony Abi Karam recorded the national operetta “The Loud Voice” with 18 Lebanese artists. He told Asharq Al-Awsat: “This song featured a group of the most famous Lebanese artists. It took long preparations to complete it, requiring about 6 months. I wanted to present it on the occasion of the liberation of the south. “I consider it an exhausting experience, and I will not repeat it again.”
This experience has not been repeated due to the effort made by Abi Karam to bring together the 18 artists in one song. “There were those who hesitated to participate, and others asked to perform a clip other than the one chosen for them. Several reasons stemming from the participating artists delayed her birth. What made my task easier that day was the artist Ragheb Alama. I asked him to accompany me to Bodi Naoum's recording studio, and he put his voice on a clip of the song without explaining to him the reality of the situation. When the other artists heard that Ragheb had participated in the song, they were excited and gathered to perform and sing it.”
More than once, an Arabic operetta was produced. We saw the participation of the most crucial Arab stars in it. Why, on the other hand, does the Lebanese artist hesitate to participate in a comprehensive national work? The poet explains: “This type of song is performed as a voluntary work. It is not included in the list of commercial ones. It is shameful to take a financial reward, as neither the singer, composer, writer, nor even the clip director receive a wage for their work. It is a metaphor for a gift given to the homeland. It is not permissible to take any financial compensation in return. But in many Arab countries, the artist’s residence and transportation are taken care of. “Perhaps this constitutes an element of temptation that encourages them to participate, with gratitude.”
Tony Abi Karam mentions that one time he thought of repeating the matter and performing a collective patriotic song. He says: “But I soon changed my mind, and contented myself with cooperating with the artist Ragheb Alama alone with a song composed by him (Boss Al-Ilm wa Ali Rasak).”
Poet Tony Abi Karam points out that most of the patriotic songs he wrote were born against the background of some occasion, and he explains: “In the song (No Touching) with Assi El-Helani, we went to the Army Foundation on its annual holiday. And also in the song (Always Present) with the artist Charbel Al-Safi to open the door to volunteering in the army.”
Regarding whether he chooses the voice of the artist who will perform the song before writing, he says: “No, the opposite is true. When the idea is born and the words are completed, I choose the voice based on them.” “I may make some adjustments afterward, but they will be small and not radical.”
The time to write the lyrics of the song, as poet Abi Karam mentions, takes about 15 minutes. He commented to Asharq Al-Awsat: “Because it comes from the heart, I pour its words quickly onto paper. What I write comes from my buried feelings, and from a scene, experience, or idea that I lived or heard about. Therefore, the duration of writing the song is short. It comes out of my depth and I write it, and if I am asked to make some changes by the artist, I do not mind at all, provided that its title, handwriting, and content remain constant.”
Regarding what he might write today in the stage that Lebanon is going through, he says: “I consider myself a very positive person in that hope does not leave me, no matter what difficulties I go through. But what hurts a person most is his disappointment, and these cases have been repeated in our country and in the lives of us Lebanese. We were optimistic about the good, but the opposite came after a short period. This creates a kind of frustration for us. Today we do not lose hope, but we cannot expand with positive thoughts. “In the hope that we will not be disappointed again, I will wait to write at this stage.”
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