Arabic

Assembled by EMI Arabia, this collection represents some of the greatest names in Arabic song, most now deceased. Since some of the best Arabic recordings are of just one hour-long song in which the singer wrings every possible nuance from each phrase, the challenge was to find selections by major artists that would fit into a single CD. Remarkably, there are nine tracks here-the shortest, by Om Kalthoum, clocking in at just over three minutes. The liner notes give a few brief lines about each performer, but they are cryptic and frustratingly inadequate. If Mohamed Abdou is "considered a major modernizing force in Arabic music," what did he modernize? If Layla Murad was "enormously popular," why did she abandon her career in 1955 "due to political and media pressures"? The answers may be familiar to aficionados of Arabic music, but the rest of us will be left in the dark.

Amr Diab's hard work and passion to creating quality music and new stylized musical techniques was his ultimate aim throughout the years. He has certainly and clearly delivered to all his multi-national fans around the globe and proved that he is one of the best Middle Eastern singers with extraordinary talent, determination, charisma and charming appearance.