Fariha Al Abdullah

Attaba

• Ajibt (I Wonder)
• Ya Zareen Alward (You, Who Plant Flowers)
• Domo'i (My Tears)
• Ma Namat Al Ain (My Eyes Didn't Sleep)
• Mn Allah Zalima (This is Unfair of God)
• Asmar Alama (He's Brunette)
• Ana Lya Weli (God Help Me)
• Akhaf Alek (I Fear For You)
• Ya Nas Keef Al Amal (People, What Shall I Do?)
• Labki Ala Al Khal (I'll Cry For My Uncle)
• Arab
• Tai Ya Bent (Come, Girl)
• Allah Ala Ykhoon (He Who Cheats)
• Moaadal (He's Fair)

• Haram Al Khell (Poor Lover)
• Domou' Tshouf (You See Tears)
• Habaybe Law Jafouni (If My Lovers Abandoned Me)
• Hala Ya Deeb (Welcome, You Beast)
• Ma Tsaherni Al Mor (Don't Make Me Stay Up in Bitterness)
• Amr Alabwab (I Pass on Doors)
• Areed Abki (I Want to Cry)
• Ya Ahl Lbab (People Who Live Here)
• Baleghoha (Tell Her)
• Sarolak
• Rabbena w Te'bna (We Raised Our Kids and Got Tired)

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More Info

This cassette, released by Sawt Al-Naki records in Damascus, contains an hour of continuous flowing singing from Fariha Al Abdullah . On the first side, she chose a colorful collection of rhythmic songs with fluctuating energy, during which she excels in the ataba form, combining the mastery of tarab with the lightness and abandon of shaabi music. The second side of the cassette differs noticeably, the dance energy decreases to make way for an extended ataba session, which ends abruptly on this recording. Here, Fariha relies on the strength of her voice to overpower the arrangement and captivate the listeners' ears. Before Saria Al-Sawas became the first lady of Syrian shaabi song, the throne belonged to another mighty voice – that of Fariha Al-Abdullah. Fariha is still present today, but she lived a golden age in the 1990s, when she was abundantly present at weddings, private parties, and nightclubs. She collaborated with a wide spectrum of voices and musicians, and shaped the features of the Syrian shaabi singer with her highly dynamic voice, adorned with a hoarseness that adds a layer of sadness. At the beginning of her career, Fariha carried the classification of Al-Hajiat or Al-Sheikhat, a title given by the people of Homs to female Syrian shaabi singers from their region who suffered rejection from their conservative societies. However, Fariha today carries another title, which she deservedly earned through her sprawling career: Singer of the Badia.