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The National
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The National
Ziad Rahbani, 'the voice of Lebanon's soul', dies at 69: Tributes pour in for beloved composer
Ziad Rahbani, a Lebanese composer, playwright and political commentator known for his influential role in Arabic theatre and music, has died aged 69. A cause of death has yet to be announced. The son of renowned singer Fairouz and composer Assi Rahbani, Rahbani is widely regarded as one of the most distinctive creative voices to emerge from Lebanon in the past five decades. Toufic Maatouk, Lebanese composer and musicologist, told The National: "Ziad Rahbani's music is a voice carved from Lebanon's soul. He called it 'oriental jazz,' but it was more – a fusion of Arabic melodies, funk, and jazz that sounded unmistakably Lebanese. Each note carried Beirut's chaos, warmth, and wit. Ziad's artistry wasn't imitation, it was invention, born from home." Rahbani rose to prominence during the Lebanese Civil War through a series of acclaimed plays and musical works that combined colloquial Lebanese dialogue, jazz and classical Arabic music with political and social critique. He was born in Beirut in 1956 into one of the Arab world's most prominent musical families. He began his professional career at a young age, composing Saalouni El Nass in 1973, which Fairouz performed during a period when Assi Rahbani was recovering from a stroke. In the years that followed, Rahbani established himself as an important figure in Beirut's cultural scene. His early theatre productions explored themes of civil conflict, sectarianism and everyday life in Lebanon with a satirical and often provocative tone. Rahbani was an outspoken political commentator, often expressing support for leftist movements and criticising the Lebanese political establishment. While his views were often polarising, he remained a key voice in regional cultural and political discourse. In addition to his theatre work, Rahbani continued to compose music throughout his career, including a number of collaborations with his mother Fairouz, in the 1980s. Albums such as Maarifti Feek and Wahdon introduced lyrical and musical directions for the celebrated musician, often reflecting more personal or socially conscious themes. Although he gave few interviews in his later years, Rahbani continued to perform live, frequently mixing music with political commentary during his concerts. His influence extends to multiple generations of Arab musicians, writers and performers. In recent years, the rise of the Habibi funk movement has garnered Rahbani new fans around the world, with albums including Houdou Nisbi, Amrak Seedna & Abtal Wa Harameyah and Bennesbeh Labokra... Chou? reissued internationally on vinyl to great acclaim. Arab musicians pay tribute to Ziad Rahbani Lebanese musician Tania Salah, considered one of the founding voices of the country's independent music culture, says that Rahbani is the true architect of the scene. Salah said: "Some people like to think the indie scene started with us. I don't think so. I believe it started with him, because he was already independent – from his family, from the Lebanese music scene, and even from the larger Arab world. His influences came from everywhere. He was the true first." Mayssa Kara, singer and artistic director of Berklee Abu Dhabi, said that Rahbani's current influence extended far beyond his artistic output. 'Ziad Rahbani was more than just a musician; he was a voice, a mirror, and a pulse for Lebanon," said Kara. "He taught generations how to speak the truth through music, no matter how uncomfortable that truth was. His art was always based on his deep love for his country and its people, and this love shaped every lyric, melody, and story he told. "People of all ages, classes, and faiths could relate to Ziad's music because it was so real. As a musician, he broke all the rules and didn't follow trends or fit into moulds, carving out a path that countless artists, including myself, have drawn inspiration from. He showed us that music could be both heartbreaking and full of humor," Kara said. "Ziad, rest in music. Your music, your words, and your spirit will always live on in the hearts of the people of Lebanon. Without you, we might not even know what Lebanon means, but maybe that's the beauty of your legacy: you've become part of the country's very definition." Emirati composer Ihab Darwish said: "For us, this is a tragedy. It feels like we've lost one of the most iconic musicians in the Arab world. "While I never met him, I consider him one of my idols. He taught me a lot about blending different genres. He also clearly has a storytelling style that is very similar to mine – ensuring that music has a narrative and theme."
Yahoo
13-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Andrew Schulz Fires Back at White House Over Epstein Files
Andrew Schulz has fired back at the Trump administration for continuing to cover up a 'global pedophile blackmail ring,' after a spokesperson responded to Schulz's recent critiques of the president. Schulz made waves Thursday when he called President Donald Trump out for 'doing the exact opposite' of what he promised to do if re-elected. In an episode of his Flagrant podcast, Schulz said, 'There'll be people that they'll DM me like, 'You see what your boy's doing? You voted for this.' I'm like, 'I voted for none of this.'' Schulz continued, 'He's doing the exact opposite of everything I voted for. I want him to stop the wars—he's funding them. I want him to shrink spending, reduce the budget—he's increasing it.' In response, White House spokesman Harrison Fields told Fox News, 'Andrew Schulz knows life is far better in President Trump's America than it would have been under a weak and incompetent President Harris. As a guest on the Flagrant podcast, millions of listeners heard the president lay out his vision for America, and many voted in support of it—that's exactly what President Trump is successfully executing. Name the issue, and the president is solving it. From the border to Biden's inflation to fostering world peace—the results speak for themselves.' On Friday evening, Schulz took to Instagram to respond, posting a screenshot of Fields' statement, tagging the official White House Instagram account, and writing, 'The issue is are you going to cover up a global pedophile blackmail ring or not? Why did you not include that in your response?' He continued, 'We know Kamala would have covered it up. Joe and her had the Epstein file during his term. They choose [sic] to cover it up. We thought you guys would expose it because… you said you would expose it.' 'I'm sure you can see how Americans would feel deeply angered by their government protecting rapists of underage girls,' he added. The top responses to Schulz's post were considerably unsympathetic, with people asking the comedian, who hosted Trump on his podcast during his presidential campaign, what exactly he expected. 'People getting conned by a con man and acting surprised…' read one comment, while another asked, 'Having some regrets on helping him get elected?' Others were slightly more supportive, with one person writing, 'He played you, and many others. Glad you are at least speaking out about it.' Former transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg said the same thing during his appearance on Flagrant back in April, with Buttigieg telling Schulz, 'Most of the stuff he said he was actually going to do, he didn't actually do.' Schulz had previously maintained his vocal support of Trump even after laughing in his face during their interview, leading the Kamala Harris campaign to use the clip on their social media channels. The administration's decision to decline to release more information about convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, and Attorney General Pam Bondi's repeated denials that any 'list' of Epstein's clients/co-conspirators exists, finally pushed Schulz to publicly question the administration. On his podcast, Schulz said, 'I already expect politicians to not do most of the s-–t they say.' He added, 'I don't want to be too cynical, but now I'm getting to the point where it's like, 'Can they do anything?''
