An Appreciation: Fairouz, A Lebanese Icon
The Baalbeck International Festival was initiated in 1956 and has become recognized as one of the most prestigious cultural events in the Middle East. Before the civil war in 1975, musicians such as Fairouz, Ella Fitzgerald, Oum Kalthoum, and many renowned musicians performed at what can be called the “glorious days of the festival”(History). One specific poster exemplifies the magnificent days, a vibrant illustration of Fairouz before her performance, coated in a single blue tone that garners a sense of nostalgia (Poster below).
I stumbled upon this poster at a small store in Mar Mikhael, Beirut, Plan BEY. This store describes itself as “an artisan-publisher of artists’ multiples, books, and prints” (“About Us”), with endless options of diverse artworks on the wall and spread out through a tall open space. They collaborate with Beirut-based artists and locally sourced artwork. I was immediately enticed by all the local work and actually bought several pieces. However, once I saw the bright color of this poster, it felt almost nostalgic; I knew I had seen it before and felt like I could do nothing but buy it to have it with me at all times.
Although the poster only uses black, white, and a shade of blue, somehow it just draws you in. The designer is unknown, but the design is titled: “Lebanese Nights: Fairouz and Wadi’ al-Safi”(Shehab and Nawar). The eye draws you into the darkened eye/eyelash area, and the use of blue is immediately comforting. The Arabic font is in some ways simple, but its bright contrast to the black behind it absorbs you. While it might’ve functioned as an ad many years ago, it now serves as the biggest poster in my room - filling the white walls with a piece of home that radiates the love I feel walking through the streets of Beirut among similar iconic designs and illustrations.
This illustration was not just an aesthetically pleasing visual, but iconic in many ways. Lebanon has gone through a myriad of different hardships over the years, with the war in 1975, then again in 2006, and is still currently undergoing an economic crisis that has broken the country down once again. Yet, Lebanon’s culture survives, thrives, and persists, just like its people. Fairouz is a perfect example of that, as many would even describe her as the essence of Lebanese culture. She is a singer and actress that has been highly celebrated and loved by many. She was married to Assi Rahbani, a part of the Rahbani duo who wrote and composed the majority of the songs she sang. This exchange and collaboration is a simple yet beautiful example of how collective and family-oriented Middle Eastern culture can be. A big reason for much of the turmoil in Lebanon is due to intense religious conflict, however, Fairouz is a unifying icon, regardless of background or political views, everyone can agree on.
In my opinion, one of the reasons why Fairouz unifies Lebanese society and on a larger scale the Middle Eastern community is due to her embodiment of a Lebanon that we once knew, loved, and miss. For example, the French president described Fairouz saying, “There is perhaps no one else in Lebanon more celebrated than the 85-year-old singer, whose name and voice draw instant recognition even in its most conservative of corners.” (Macron) After the explosion in August of 2020, French President Emmanuel Macron visited Lebanon to show his support. Instead of imploring the ruling class, he stood in front of what The Guardian described as a unifying force, Fairouz. As he was visiting Lebanon and famed singer Fairouz, Macron gave her one of the most respected accolades one could receive, a Legion of Honour. (“Macron”)
Her songs speak of loss and mourning and are sung with such distinctive power and beauty. They resonate in and along the frontlines of war, restaurants, homes internationally and locally. When I was younger, my parents were never the type to listen to much music. They were pushed to leave their country because of its difficult circumstances, and the experiences they went through after the civil war. They never spoke much about their lives or experiences when I was younger, and even when they do now, it is clear that even with as much love they have for Lebanon in their hearts, there are still a lot of hurts.
I will, however, never forget one Fairouz song in particular, as my dad would hum and sing it whenever he got the chance. I knew the lyrics before I knew the name of the song because the melody lives in my head forever. Nassam Alayna el Hawa’s (The Voice of Hope) tune will be forever in my head and in my heart. While upbeat and filled with the rhythm of acoustically beautiful instruments, this song can occasionally bring me to tears. It does what Fairouz does to many, reminds me of my beautiful country and all of what it can be. That’s why I bought the poster, that’s why I hang it above my bed, and that is why it is the center of attention in my room. It is very easy to get absorbed by a life of routine and work, to forget to take a minute to appreciate my memories or think about the country I left because it truly is too hard to be there. Fairouz reminds me of the beauty and joy I feel when I think about what Lebanon can be.
When thinking about why this is so good, it truly is not just that this poster visually drew me in, but that it is a chance to bring a piece of home back with me. More than just a random Arab design, but a true Lebanese icon. It reminds me to call my family back home, to eat some Lebanese food, enjoy a couple of Fairouz songs as I get my day started, but most of all it reminds me that I am from a country of hardship but persistence. Fairouz has the unique ability to use music to draw her people in. It reminds me that I come from a strong group of people who will always find a way to bring each other back together. In times of hardship, sometimes the only thing you can do is be there for the people that surround you, and I have never seen a community work harder to be there for one another, even in the midst of political separation.
Sometimes all you need is a little Kifak Inta when you’re drinking your cup of coffee. Or Le Beirut when you want to feel a powerful presence with just a voice. Maybe some Saalouny El Nas when you’re celebrating someone you love. There is much to be proud of and appreciative of when thinking of Lebanese culture, similarly to Fairouz. Nostalgic and contemporary, Lebanon’s architecture and design have found a way to seep into my life and inspire me. Thinking back to Plan BEY, the wonderful store in Beirut, there is another piece of art that sits right below my poster, with the words: Sometimes I Love You, Sometimes I Hate You. This piece of art was also completed by a local Beirut artist and fits in with the Festival poster as it reminds me that while there is so much to love, there is so much to hate about how the country isn’t what it could be, because of the political situation. Sometimes I love to listen to Fairouz and have a piece of my heart feel at home, and sometimes I hate that I can’t be there.
I am honored to have Fairouz exist in my space, as she is surrounded by pictures of Beirut, ranging from my grandma’s house to the Mediterranian architecture, or artwork by Lebanese artists, whether that be a set of coasters or a painting. Even when filled with a range of these illustrations, each one is just as powerful next to each other as they would be alone, and somehow Fairouz ties them in together, just as she ties together the people of Lebanon back home.
Many Lebanese have left in the past, but an exceptionally large amount have in the last year. People who have left their hearts back home have no choice but to leave, just because they have the option to leave. It is singers like Fairouz that make us feel connected, even halfway across the world I long to be in Lebanon, with my family enjoying the view, the company, and the music. I truly and deeply appreciate Fairouz and this poster for simply existing.
Works Cited
“About Us.” Plan BEY, http://www.plan-bey.com/about-us/.
“Fairouz.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., https://www.britannica.com/biography/Fairouz.
“History.” Baalbeck International Festival, https://www.baalbeck.org.lb/history/.
“Macron Visits Lebanese Singer in Bid to Change Political Soundtrack.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 1 Sept. 2020, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/sep/01/emmanuel-macron-visits-lebanese-singer-fairouz-in-bid-to-change-political-soundtrack.
Shehab, Bahia, and Haytham Nawar. A History of Arab Graphic Design. The American University in Cairo Press, 2020.