Mayssam Nahas catches a bug in Dubai

tabloid! brings you the latest gossip about Arab celebs

Everything was going perfectly for Lebanese singer Mayssam Nahas. She launched a CD, a new single and a new music video in which she appears with her son.

But a few days after returning to Beirut from Dubai, Nahas was rushed to the hospital. Nahas caught a virus and underwent a battery of tests and remained several days without eating.

Nahas's new song Mahdoum (Cute) is a real success in Beirut.

Once on her feet again, she is planning to visit Algiers, where she will be the host of a variety show presented by famous anchor Soufiane Dani.

For Myriam Fares, career comes first

Myriam Fares's song Ana Mouch Ananiya (I am not selfish) is a hit in Beirut and other Arab capitals. Its lyrics tell the story of a betrayed woman who asks the love of her life to take a decision, choosing between her and her rival.

According to Fares, the song was inspired by a friend who had a similar experience.

“My friend's story has a happy ending. She will get married soon and this is because she reacted smartly to the situation,"Fares said, adding that if she was betrayed by the man she loves, she would certainly forgive him. “I am very realistic about these kinds of things,"she added.

Fares always wanted to be famous, but dreams of having a normal job with a real schedule and well-defined working hours.

“Artists don't have schedules. They work during their leisure time, but I cannot imagine myself away from art,"she said, adding that she dreams of becoming internationally famous.

“I can be an international star, all I need is a chance,"she said. Asked if she had to choose between such an opportunity and marriage, she answered without hesitation: “For the time being I'll choose international notoriety. Marriage can wait ten more years."

Fares launched her new CD, Bitkoul eh? (What do you say?) during a reception held in a very chic restaurant in Beirut.

George Wassouf: ‘Kazem al saher doesn't even say hi'

Artist George Wassouf, who is known for his spontaneity during interviews, talked recently about dishonest friends in showbiz and elsewhere.

On a TV show he said: “I was the role model of Iraqi singer Kazem Al Saher. I helped him to start his career. But today he doesn't even say hi. I wish I was stupid. The more you grow, the more you learn. In life, oblivion is a blessing."

During the programme Wassouf spoke on the phone to his mother and father. He thought that his mum would ask him to sing a religious song. And he remembered his childhood, when his mum used to wake him up everyday at a quarter to six on the music played by BBC radio.

Talking about his several surgical operations and his health, he said that he “never thinks about suicide as it is religiously forbidden. Those who commit suicide are stupid. For the time being I don't care about anything other than my family."

Nancy Ajram in Morocco

Lebanese star Nancy Ajram will be participating in the Mozian festival in Morocco. The festival takes place every year in May and gathers artists from every part of the world.

Nancy will be singing with fellow Lebanese stars Diana Haddad and Fadl Shaker. This year, artists from 40 countries will take part.

Gibran's TV biography

This year Lebanon is celebrating the 125th anniversary of writer and painter Khalil Gibran. For this occasion a TV movie retracing Gibran's life has just been shot.

The four-hour movie is directed by Samir Habchi.

Actor Nazih Yousuf plays Gebrane. The programme brings together a group of Lebanese theatre actors including Julia Kassar, Randa Al Asmar, Nicolas Daniel and Nabeel Abou Mrad.

The movie was shot in Becharre, Gebrane's village, notably in the writer's museum and house. A villa in Tripoli was chosen for the indoor scenes.

The programme should be shown on LBCI.