2012-12-21 Pathfinder Concert in Cairo

Egyptian singer Amr Diab held a successful concert at the Hokey (sic) Stadium in Cairo on Friday 21st of December. Having no fears about the end of the world, the singer attracted huge presence from his fans. The concert sponsored by QNet investments lasted for over two hours.

Diab performed his hit songs including new ones that are still to be officially released; "Matlomneesh" (Don't blame Me), "Away mafeesh Mennak"(Yes! None is Like You), "Dawam El Hal" (Ongoing State), "Yalli Hekayty Maak Hekayat" (Our Story makes Many).

Amr's fans demanded 12 songs in his upcoming album instead of 10 and Amr stated he is currently selecting ten out of twenty recorded new songs! Amr Diab sported a new look with long hair and a hair band

End-of-the-World (Music Awards) Oddities

Note:  Amr was of course nominated for, and slated to win a 2012 WMA  but this year's event was inexplicably moved from Monaco to phobic USA ... but were visas the only problem? ... read on

The mystery of the World Music Awards is solved. It's been canceled once and for all, say organizers.
The official statement: "For 21 years, the World Music Awards was primarily produced in Monte Carlo. This year the Awards ceremony was scheduled to be at the Marlins Park on Saturday, December 22. Event organizer John Martinotti, along with the team on the ground in Miami, reached a decision yesterday to postpone the event: "We are sorry for any inconvenience but this decision had to be made due to logistical and multiple visa issues and in view of this week's national mourning. Fans have been a great support to the artists and have voted online in huge numbers." A press release issued on Dec. 13 said the WMAs would raise funds for Superstorm Sandy victims and “be beamed to 180 countries reaching a billion viewers.”
Less than two weeks ago it was announced that the Eurocentric event, usually held in Monaco, would take place on Dec. 20 at Marlins Park. What wasn't announced was the name of a single performer. A vague press release over the weekend announced a date change to the 22nd and touted awards for several big names, including Jennifer Lopez, Earth, Wind & Fire, Tony Bennett, Gloria Estefan and One Republic (not One Direction as was mistakenly reported in Scene in the Tropics).  The only major act promised to actually perform was Bennett. Not so, said a Rogers and Cowan spokesman for Bennett, saying the famed jazz crooner was never slated to appear. Mark Young, a past World Music Awards producer and publicist for Jennifer Lopez and Earth, Wind & Fire contacted us saying, "Neither Jennifer or EWF are confirmed to participate on the show. Jennifer has a sold out concert in Puerto Rico as the final stop for her Dance Again World Tour on December 22. The show has been sold-out for months. And a U.S. label publicist for Brazilian star Michel Telo, another act supposedly performing, also said Telo would be a no show. Link   

Read more here: http://blogs.herald.com/scene_in_the_tropics/2012/12/world-music-awards-sham-canceled-uses-sandy-hook-tragedy-as-excuse.html#storylink=cpy

World Music Awards cancelled two days before Dec. 22 show
TORONTO - Organizers have pulled the plug on the World Music Awards (WMAs), which were scheduled to be staged Saturday in Miami.
Producers announced Thursday the show won't go on as planned at Marlins Park Stadium.
"We are sorry for any inconvenience but this decision had to be made due to logistical and multiple visa issues and in view of this week's national mourning," reads a statement. "Fans have been a great support to the artists and have voted online in huge numbers."
News that the WMAs were moving to Miami came just weeks before the show, raising eyebrows in the music industry. Organizers also started selling tickets without announcing any performers or presenters.
A press release issued on December 13 said the WMAs would raise funds for Superstorm Sandy victims in Haiti and "be beamed to 180 countries reaching a billion viewers." It also implied Jennifer Lopez would attend -- even though she will be performing a sold-out concert in Puerto Rico on the night of the WMAs.
Contacted by Global News on Tuesday, the WMAs Miami-based publicist Brandi Kolosky said the show's "major talent" would be announced "just 2-3 days leading up to the ceremony."
The WMAs were staged annually at the Casino d'Monte Carlo from 1989 to 2003 before moving to Las Vegas, Los Angeles, London and Cote d'Azur. They returned to Monte Carlo in 2008 and 2010 but were not held in 2009 or 2011. 

What to Buy for Christmas

According to the Washington Post, here's a gift idea

A great album of world music. 
• From Egypt, Amr Diab: The Cairo pop mega-star, famous for making what music critics have termed “the sound of the Mediterranean,” is best known for the hit Nour El Ain. Like most of his songs, it’s romantic and a bit syrupy but quite catchy.

Also according to the Washington Post

Egyptian television and broadcasting union have banned airing any “romantic or passionate songs” on its 23 state-owned channels, according to the state-run Ahram Arabic Web site.Instead, only “patriotic” music will be allowed, the agency said. The more emotional songs may be aired after midnight, “because it is not appropriate to show these kinds of songs with the current situation of the country.”

What does a “romantic” Egyptian song sound like?
The songs of  ... Egyptian megastar Amr Diab, the “father of Mediterranean Music.”