A few of my favourite things

It may be an exaggeration to say that Najwa Karam is the sole Lebanese diva, but it would also be unfair to say she isn't.

She's the only female Lebanese singer who sings with a pure Lebanese accent, and she's the only Lebanese singer who has made Lebanese mountain lyrics resound throughout the Arab world.

The Mediterranean mountains have imbued the population with interlacing traditions manifested in dress (shrwal), cuisine (kibbeh), dancing (dabkeh) and music (Mawal, Abul Zuluf, Mijana and Dalouna, which require great vocal ability). When the mountain people listen to their vibrant music, they feel the urge to dance dabkeh, a group folk dance, and as they dance they feel the need to wear shrwal.

When traditional Lebanese lyrics lost popularity in the 1990s, as the two icons Wadih Al Safi and Sabahh grew old, Najwa entered with her high vocal range and depth, and gave them a new lease of life. Since then she's been called "The Sun of Lebanese Song".

Najwa was a schoolteacher whose passion for music was suppressed by her father who regarded a singing career with disdain.

Success

In 1985 she participated against her father's wishes in Layali Libnan, a TV show that promotes young talent, and won the gold medal. Following this success she entered the Lebanese Institute of Music to develop her talent.

In 1989 she released her first album Ya Habayeb, which was well received, but only in Lebanon. Her second album Shams Al Ghinnieh won her prominence in the entire Arab world.

Her third album, Ana Maakon, was the precursor of the great success of her fourth album Naghmet Hob (The Rhythm of Love) which dominated the Arabian charts. All her subsequent albums made their way onto the charts.
Her album Nedmaneh (Regretful) sold four million copies worldwide and her latest, Haida Haki (released last June), was among the top ten in the Arab world.

She has received numerous awards and honours, including Honorary American citizenship, the key to the city of Chicago, Murex D'or, Highest Selling Album, Best Singer of Traditional Lebanese Song and an Honorary Award from Australia. But her popularity began to dwindle when she departed from her traditional image. Her later albums, especially Tahamouni (They Accused Me), were far removed from Lebanon's mountain folklore. Maybe she was trying to innovate, but rapping, copying others and adapting Indian songs fell far short of true innovation. Fortunately, Najwa has been aware of her fans' cool response. She took them by surprise with her latest album and confirmed that she's still the torchbearer of traditional Lebanese music.

• On spring
  I'm careful to release my new albums in the spring, in May or June. I see a good omen in spring and expect the best during these two months. I love springtime, and I prefer to start afresh during this season.
• On her image
  My last album Haida Haki is the oxygen, as I've been breathing hard. I've tried to repair my image and revive the old Najwa of the 1990s, but in a new style. It's a message to my fans; from now on I'll always be the Najwa they loved.
• On love
  I'm deeply moved when I watch a romance or read a romantic story. I feel I'm in endless love; I can't carry on without love even if it leads to suffering. Love is giving without counting; I'm the sort of person who always gives and never takes without giving.
• On Mr Right
  Mr Right is the man who loves my career as much as he loves me. He should be aware of the fact that my art is a part of me and that the artist and his art are not separable. So I expect him to respect me and art equally.
• On Majidah al roumi
  I'm on good terms with celebrity Majidah Al Roumi. We often talk and exchange viewpoints, but we seldom visit each other. Maybe because we're always busy. She means a lot to me; she's the only friend I have in the music world.
• On Elias Nasir
  Elias Nasir is a very great poet. I've collaborated with him and sang some of his lyrics. I hope we'll go on cooperating.