Lebanese singer Ragheb Alama revealed that he faced criticism early in his career for choosing to sing in the Egyptian dialect. Speaking during a phone interview on the TV program “Tafaseel” hosted by Nihal Tayel on Sada El Balad 2, Alama said that many in Lebanon, including fellow artists, attacked him for not singing in his native dialect.
He explained that most of his songs are in Egyptian Arabic because he was raised listening to iconic voices like Umm Kulthum, Fairuz, Farid Al-Atrash, and Sabah. He expressed deep admiration for Egyptian culture and music, which he said had a significant influence on his artistic development.
Responding to those who labeled him a traitor for adopting the Egyptian style, Alama declared:
“If singing in Egyptian is considered betrayal, then I proudly accept that label. I truly love Egypt—it runs in my veins.”
He added that the backlash he experienced helped him witness the genuine love and support of the Egyptian people. “I said to myself, maybe God allowed this situation so I could see how much Egyptians care about me,” he remarked.
Wrapping up his comments, Alama addressed the recent controversy surrounding one of his concerts. He said:
“I’ve been performing for 35 years, and what happened during my last concert always happens—fans come on stage, hug me, and sometimes kiss me. It’s nothing inappropriate. I even told the artists’ syndicate that the girl kissed me on the lips and I didn’t know her. At the very least, I wiped my mouth afterwards.”
Through his remarks, Ragheb Alama reaffirmed his commitment to artistic freedom and cross-cultural expression, emphasizing that love for music should transcend linguistic and national boundaries.
