The dialogue with the artist Walid Tawfik quenches the interviewer's thirst for rich and distinctive content. His long career, which recently celebrat
The dialogue with the artist Walid Tawfik quenches the interviewer’s thirst for rich and distinctive content. His long career, which recently celebrated its golden jubilee, offers lessons and morals. He is a Lebanese artistic stature that holds glory by its edges. Through his achievements and continuity over half a century, he has been able to form an artistic school in its own right.
Finally, the owner of the title "Arab Star" released a song titled "I Sent Peace," which, with its lyrics, melody and image, resembles a beautiful era that we miss in Lebanon. He says that he was in Turkey when he heard the lyrics from Hani Abdel Karim about a year ago. It was etched in his mind all this time until he decided to record it. He spoke to Asharq Al-Awsat about the atmosphere of the song: "The idea of the clip completed the beauty of the song. I wanted it to carry this warmth in a session with friends that we used to call (seeran) in the past."
He says that he wanted the idea of the clip "I Send Peace" to bring this warmth to a session with friends. He says that he always tries to diversify and innovate his choices. Sometimes they are romantic, and other times they carry a rhythmic pattern and expressive lyrics. In his opinion, when an artist’s career is long, he resorts to change. Here we ask him about his opinion of Najwa Karam’s recent song "Ta’a Ne’na’ed". It received widespread criticism due to its simple lyrics that many considered inappropriate for her career. He responds: "Najwa is smart in her choices and went out of the ordinary because she realizes that the time has come for that.
He believes that the eye, rather than the ear, is stealing this generation more than ever. "There are people who don’t have the required voice. But people loved them on TV. Their presence in front of the camera had a great impact on them. In the past, radio was the most important platform for the voices of giants like the late Nasri Shams El-Din, Wadih El-Safi, and Zaki Nassif. Then, television appearances became a habit for our generation. But today, it has become available to everyone. Anyone with or without talent sings on social media. I describe this as overwhelming chaos and it has caused the profession to lose its privacy."
Walid Tawfik does not consider the decline in the level of singing happening today to be the work of someone or a premeditated conspiracy. "It was simply buried underground and found a loophole to emerge from. We must confront this reality by presenting works at the required level."
He lists to Asharq Al-Awsat a list of artists who knew how to hold the stick from the middle in order to persevere in their success. He also considers George Wassouf, Kazem El Saher and Sherine Abdel Wahab to have known how to keep up with all times. "We have to adapt to every era, and when I film a music video today, I address it to an audience from an older generation. They got to know me through the screen, so I maintain their place with me through the video. Sometimes I resort to words and melodies that I renew with them.
He is preparing a new song to dedicate to his wife, Georgina Rizk.
He remembers one of his meetings with the brown nightingale. In his first concert in Cairo in 1974, his main concern was to see him and talk to him. "He broke the rule in his enjoyable singing. I remember what he said to me: ‘I didn’t do anything, I just simplified the song so that any of the kids could sing it.’
Tawfiq points out that Abdel Halim was an academic professor and voice specialist. He derived his singing principles from Baligh Hamdi, Mounir Murad, Kamal El Tawil and Mohamed Abdel Wahab. He followed a musical line that he never got tired of.
Asharq Al-Awsat asked him about actor Salah Tizani’s initiative to donate his archive to the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik. “He took an excellent step. He is one of the distinguished artists and I collaborated with him on the song (You Deceived Me and I Said I Love You).” What about your archive? Are you thinking of donating it to a specific entity? “I haven’t thought about it yet, and when the answer comes I will say it publicly.”
Walid Tawfik will perform several concerts in the summer season, including in Beirut, the North Coast (Egypt), and Paris. His latest song is “Shou Badi Belward Wa Andi Yak.” It is composed and written by Salim Salama, and he dedicates it to his wife, Georgina Rizk, as he concluded to Asharq Al-Awsat.
Conclusion
The rich and distinctive content of Walid Tawfik’s conversation with Asharq Al-Awsat shines a light on the challenges and opportunities in the music industry. His insights on the impact of social media on the profession and the need for artists to adapt to every era provide valuable lessons for those who wish to navigate the ever-changing landscape of music.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What advice do you have for young artists who wish to succeed in the music industry?
A: We have to adapt to every era, and when I film a music video today, I address it to an audience from an older generation. They got to know me through the screen, so I maintain their place with me through the video. Sometimes I resort to words and melodies that I renew with them.
Q: Do you think that the decline in the level of singing happening today is due to a lack of talent or a lack of opportunity?
A: It was simply buried underground and found a loophole to emerge from. We must confront this reality by presenting works at the required level.
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