'Like a dream': viral video launches Egyptian house painters' singing career

Record ID: 1699068

  • Title: 'Like a dream': viral video launches Egyptian house painters' singing career
  • Date: 21st November 2022
  • Summary: NEUCHATEL, SWITZERLAND (FILE - JUNE 14, 2008) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (REUTERS) ***WARNING: CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** CLOSE UP RONALDO TRAINING WITH PORTUGAL TRAINING SESSION MADID, SPAIN (FILE - JULY 6, 2009) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (REUTERS) RONALDO ARRIVES IN BERNABEU FOR UNVEILING AT REAL MADRID RONALDO EMBRACED BY REAL PRESIDENT, FLORENTINO PEREZ, REAL LEGEND, ALFREDO DI STEFAN
  • Embargoed: 5th December 2022 12:00
  • Keywords: Africa Egypt arts music singing
  • Location: CAIRO, EGYPT
  • City: CAIRO, EGYPT
  • Country: Egypt
  • Topics: Arts/Culture/Entertainment,Middle East,Music
  • Reuters ID: LVA006110021112022RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: When Egyptian house painter, Ahmed Salem, posted a video of himself singing absentmindedly while he worked, he never imagined that simple act would change the trajectory of his life.
    Two years after he first posted the video a known poet shared it - causing it to go viral.
    “I checked my social media accounts, and found that the notifications were so many that they caused the mobile phone to freeze,” said Salem.
    As the video spread, several music producers reached out to the house painter, and encouraged him to develop his talents.
    Now, the artist is preparing for his first album, and has recently featured in his first concert.
    “I cannot believe any of this, it feels like a dream,” he said.
    Salem, a 32-year-old from Gharbia Delta city, worked for years as a house painter, just as his father did before him. He says he has loved singing since he was eight years old, but never had the opportunity to showcase his talent.
    “How could I post something on YouTube, and it becomes a trend two years later? What does it mean to be a trend to begin with?… And what’s next? I don’t know. It’s overwhelming but it’s a beautiful thing, those who wait patiently get rewarded.”
    With his first concert gaining attention, Salem hopes to build a singing career that emulates his heroes.
    “Singers like Warda, Um Kalthoum, Abdel Halim Hafez are all dead now, but their songs are still alive, I wish I can do something that stays even after I am gone.”
    (Production: Heba Fouad, Mariam Rizk, Ahmed Fahmy)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2022. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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