JORDAN: Palestinian singer Rim Banna performs at the Jordan Festival in Amman

Record ID: 406242

  • Title: JORDAN: Palestinian singer Rim Banna performs at the Jordan Festival in Amman
  • Date: 14th July 2010
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) LUMA AL-ADNAN, MUSIC STUDENT, SAYING: "Rim Banna's blend between oriental and western music was very nice and reminds me of the lead singer of the Cranberries. Her singing was clear and attractive and the topics she talks about are in touch with people and their concerns. For me, Rim Banna performed better than Jadal.'' AUDIENCE LEAVING
  • Embargoed: 29th July 2010 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Jordan
  • Country: Jordan
  • Topics: Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky
  • Reuters ID: LVA52NBRHQ288R8BF2KTXDEUWDF4
  • Story Text: Palestinian singer Rim Banna entertained an audience in Amman on Monday night (July 12). Her performance is part of the Jordan Festival which is taking place in the country's capital.
    Banna is among a number of Arab artists to perform at the month-long festival, which opened on July 30 with a tribute night to Egyptian Diva Um Kalthoum by Egyptian singer Amal Maher.
    Palestinian singer Banna, who was born in the mostly Arab city of Nazareth in Israel, often uses her songs to highlight the plight of the Palestinians. Speaking after her performance, she said her music enables her to give more support to Palestinians.
    ''I am a Palestinian singer from Nazareth. In my voice I carry the suffering of all the Palestinian people. My message is to deliver a message to the world about the reality of Palestinians as they suffer from suffering, killings, bombardment and mass deportation and the demolition of houses, to try to to bring more support to the Palestinian people," she said.
    Banna is not only a singer, she is also a lyricist and composer. As she sang under the stars at Amman's citadel, the audience expressed their delight by singing and clapping along to her tunes.
    The 44 year old star is known for her unique interpretation of traditional folk songs and mixing in Western musical elements. She became popular in the 1990's and is still attracting crowds to her shows.
    "Rim Banna's blend between oriental and western music was very nice and reminds me of the lead singer of the Cranberries. Her singing was clear and attractive and the topics she talks about are in touch with people and their concerns. For me, Rim Banna performed better than Jadal,'' said Luma al-Adnan, a music student who attended Banna's concert.
    Jadal, a Jordanian rock band, also performed on Monday (July 12).
    The popular Palestinian singer is not only known in the Middle East, she also has a following in Europe.
    In 2003 she featured on a CD 'Lullabies from the Axis of Evil." She was asked to take part in the project by Norwegian music producer Erik Hillestad.
    Banna's lyrics are written by prominent Palestinian poets including Mahmoud Darwish, Tawfik Zayyad, Samih al Qasem, Zuhaira Sabbagh and others, including the artist herself.
    Other international artists like Spanish flamenco singer Rafael Amargo and Syrian jazz band Itar Shameh are due to take part in the music festival.
    Organisers of the event which runs until 30 August hope it will attract more than 50,000 people.
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