Renowned Egyptian soprano Amira Selim has recently released her latest single, ‘Benheb al-Masreya,’ on YouTube and other popular platforms.
The song, a collaborative effort with musician Skander Guetari, Tunisian poet Rafqa Ben Ali, and a talented production team, pays homage to Egyptian women.
Selim expressed her pride in this project, emphasizing the need for innovative ideas in the music industry.
She shared that the song’s lyrics, originally written by Tunisian poet Rafqa Ben Ali, were adapted into Egyptian colloquial Arabic to resonate more deeply with Egyptian audiences.
Selim believes that ‘Benheb al-Masreya’ not only celebrates Egyptian women but also challenges perceptions of opera singers, demonstrating their ability to connect with diverse audiences through music that touches their hearts.
“This song is a tribute to Egyptian women. We’re in need of such innovative ideas. The Tunisian poet Rafqa Ben Ali wrote the lyrics of the song and I asked her to change the lyrics into Egyptian colloquial Arabic. I felt that the lyrics should highlight the Egyptian spirit,” she said.
She added that, “I think that the audiences were surprised as it is the first song in colloquial Arabic by an opera singer. The song delivers two messages; a social message, as it is a tribute to Egyptian women, and an artistic one, as we prove that opera singers can communicate with all social groups through music that is close to their hearts; they are not restricted to a specific type of art”.
