Friday March 29th, 2024
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VIDEO: Mohammed Assaf's New Song Celebrates Egypt and Goes Viral

Palestinian superstar Mohammed Assaf, who made it big on Arab Idol, is spreading some Assaf fever across the Arab world as the singer has just released a new video that is not only sung in Egyptian dialect, but also depicts Egypt in all its koshary-eating glory...

Staff Writer

There is a lot of hype these days surrounding Palestinian superstar Mohammed Assaf as he prepares to release a new album sung entirely in the Egyptian dialect, supporting its release with a video that shows Egypt in all its koshary-eating glory.

Since becoming the first Palestinian to win Arab Idol, Mohammed Assaf's career has skyrocketed, winning an 2014 MTV award for Best Middle Eastern Act, releasing a second album in as many years, and even having a biopic made of his triumphant journey. In an effort to keep the momentum rolling, ahead of the release of his second album completely sung in the Egyptian dialect, Assaf has just released the video for his song “Aywa Haghani”, which stays true to the nation that inspired his follow-up album and positively highlights Egypt and its koshary loving culture. Assaf describes the video in an interview with The National saying, “It is a beautiful place and the clip is not just showing the glamorous areas,” he says, “We head to the traditional neighbourhoods and you can see the people are generous and passionate.”

The music video released on the 30th of July quickly went viral being shared all across the Arab world, generating over 200k views and climbing. Talking to the National, Assaf believes “Egypt is acknowledged as the most important country when it comes to arts and culture and I have always loved the music and artists that came from there. I also admired artists who are available to sing in different styles, so it is from that perspective that I wanted to do an album that is purely in the Egyptian dialect," explaining his decision to create a whole album sung in the Egyptian dialect.

Although the Egyptian-inspired, yet-to-be-titled album was originally slated to be released during Eid, it was pushed to sometime next month due to Assaf hectic workload, as he is also tasked to record songs for his upcoming biopic also due out this year, while trying to fulfill his extremely busy touring schedule.

Directing his biopic is none other than acclaimed director Hany Abu Assad. Nominated for his work on 2006’s Paradise Now, the director has announced that the yet to be titled biopic will make its world premiere at the globally renowned Toronto International Film Festival this fall. The film has been already been shot, and is in the editing process. Watching a rough first cut of the film, Assaf hints that the first half the film isn’t entirely accurate, over-dramatising his personal struggles living in Palestine, but claims that the 2nd half, focusing on his run to claim the title of Arab Idol, is realistic. Trying to avoid knocking on his own film, Assaf reiterates that he found the film to be beautiful, making him both laugh and cry.

Fans swept up in Assaf fever will have to wait to see the film, but in the meantime they can check out his latest music video that will please plenty of ears and even more bellies hungering for koshary.