Iman Mansour: A Palestinian Singer with a Special Bond with Lebanon

About Iman Mansour

Iman Mansour has a delicate sense of singing. Her voice sings with real feelings that leave an impact on the listener. She tells Asharq Al-Awsat that when she performs any song, she travels with it to another world. She draws its features in her mind and crowns them with images that give it realism.

Patriotic Song “Ila Watan”

Finally, Iman Mansour, a Palestinian of French origin who lives in Lebanon, released a patriotic song titled “Ila Watan,” in which she addresses the feelings of immigration and alienation that every Arab suffers from, and she dedicated it to the Palestinian people who have been torn away from their land.

She continued to Asharq Al-Awsat: “It is true that this song is directed to the people of Palestine, but I wanted through it to highlight my love for Lebanon, as it is my second country, especially since my mother is Lebanese and my grandmother is from the southern town of Tanbourit.”

She dedicated the song to the people of Palestine and wanted to show her love for Lebanon (Iman Mansour)

Iman’s tribute to Lebanon was translated into several elements. “I released it on August 4, the anniversary of the Beirut explosion, and I filmed it in the vicinity of its port. It was a tribute to a country that had also suffered greatly. I consider Lebanon my homeland, which has added a lot to my personality and its place in my heart is incomparable.”

About Her Music Choices

Iman Mansour is known for her unconventional singing choices. She explains: “Since the beginning of my career, I have stuck to unpackaged artistic choices. I did not restrict my voice to a specific color. I sang pop, patriotic, folklore, and more.”

Iman tells Asharq Al-Awsat about the song “Ila Watana”. “I was recording one of my new songs in the studio, and the writer and composer Robert Al-Asaad asked me to listen to a single section he had prepared from ‘Ila Watana’. I was affected and could not hold back my feelings and cried. The lyrics and melody of the song entered my heart quickly. I asked him to complete the work because I wanted to perform it.” Iman adds with emotion: “From the first phrase of the song, I knew that I would sing it, which says: ‘All people have a homeland in which they live, except for one homeland that lives within us’. It was the useful phrase that prompted me to choose it as a patriotic song.”

{Except a Homeland} was filmed on the outskirts of Beirut Port (Iman Mansour)

It is difficult for an artist to choose a patriotic song that carries the message he desires. For Iman Mansour, any song she performs must touch her feelings. She explained to Asharq Al-Awsat: “This song in particular, because it is related to the homeland, had to speak to me and stir my feelings. That is what actually happened when I heard it from the first moment. It was natural that it would have a great impact on me, so that I could convey the message it carries.”

Collaboration with Dan Haddad

Mansour collaborated with director Dan Haddad to film the song. She describes him as a creative artist who spared no effort to present it at the required level. “He showed interest in the history of Palestine, its arts, and the smallest details that represent it. He resorted to the nature of Beirut, its heritage houses, and its narrow alleys. Through them, he conjured up the atmosphere of Palestine. There are people who believed that the filming took place there, due to the great similarity between the two cities. The architecture of the houses with high ceilings was present. The nature of the Lebanese capital and the scenery of its sea also contributed to that.”

With director Dan Haddad during the filming of “Ela Watanna” (Iman Mansour)

About Her Roots

Regarding her Lebanese roots, which she clings to, she tells Asharq Al-Awsat that they are embedded in her being. “I sang for the south (Allah Ma’ak Ya Bayt Samaed Bil Janoub) by the late Wadih Al-Safi. I also dedicated it to my grandmother from the southern town of Tanbourit. Among those whose patriotic works I was influenced by were (Fayrouz, Majida Al-Roumi, and Julia Boutros).”

This Song Has to Move Me

This particular song, because it’s about the homeland, had to move me.

Iman Mansour

Upcoming Projects

The song “Ila Watana” has achieved wide popularity and was well received by people. It is an idea by Issam Amouri and the lyrics and melody are by Robert Al-Asaad. Among her future projects are songs that she is preparing to release at the beginning of the winter season.

Performing a Gulf Dialect Song

Regarding the possibility of performing a song in Gulf dialect, she says: “I have sung in all Arabic dialects. As well as Egyptian, Lebanese and Palestinian, I have sung Moroccan. But Gulf songs have a special place in my heart. I am drawn to their rhythm, which distinguishes them from other Arabic songs. This is what creates this difference that is dear to my heart between them and others. I am ready to perform a Gulf song when I find the right words and melody.”

Conclusion

Iman Mansour is a Palestinian singer who has a special bond with Lebanon, where she has released a patriotic song titled “Ila Watan” to address the feelings of immigration and alienation that every Arab suffers from.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What inspired you to create the song “Ila Watan”?

A: I was recording one of my new songs in the studio, and the writer and composer Robert Al-Asaad asked me to listen to a single section he had prepared from ‘Ila Watana’. I was affected and could not hold back my feelings and cried. The lyrics and melody of the song entered my heart quickly.

Q: How did you come up with the idea of featuring Dan Haddad in the song’s video?

A: He showed interest in the history of Palestine, its arts, and the smallest details that represent it. He resorted to the nature of Beirut, its heritage houses, and its narrow alleys. Through them, he conjured up the atmosphere of Palestine.

Q: What’s next for you after releasing “Ila Watan”?

A: I have future projects that I am preparing to release at the beginning of the winter season.