Away from politics, Gemayzeh and the fight for survival within this Lebanese jungle; I have sought refuge in the comfort of good company and French wine. Le club des cinq gathered tonight in the safety of a home safely tucked away in the mountains, for an evening away from the newly found restrictions that once did not exist. The evening started with the normal discussion about Allouch and Sarkis’s decision to push Lebanon one step closer towards Iranistan, and the reactions of yesterday’s punters towards the early closing of their respective watering holes. Sitting in the living room sipping on a crispy cold Pouilly le club des cinq was graced with a program on LBC hosted by 4 wannabe “pop in et dans le vent” female compatriots trying to brake social barriers. At first we all thought that this might be the beginning of some sort of avant garde free speech program that might bring a glimmer of hope to what we have come to know as a waste of air space.
4 Women and a male guest (Yehia Jaber), a self proclaimed journalist, poet, communist, revolutionary, free speaking…etc polluted the airways for a couple of hours. All throughout this portrayal of what has become acceptable as Lebanon’s contribution to the world of “le 7emme art” and free speech (and a few glasses down our throats) we could not help but compare what we were watching to the good old days; the days of “le theatre des dix heures” with Yvette Sursock, “3acher 3abid zghar”, “toute la ville chante”, Alec Khalaf (as suggested by J.W Chouchou and Al dinyeh Heyk)…etc.
Association d’idées, we switched on to Tal Al Zaatar, holiday Inn, Sabra & Chatila, Tanzim, Ahrar, Kateb, Mourabiton, Fath, Saika…etc; all those memories shoved way back in the deep recesses of our minds resurfaced again only to be mentioned but not discussed.
The only agreement was that we were all reminiscent of the days when our country was a cradle of culture, wit, free speech; and programs like the one we saw tonight would have never aired for the mere fact that it would not have found an audience.
Bring me back the glory days of channels 7, 5, 9 11, C33; even in black and white. Moreover bring me back Doreid Laham, Sissi imperatrice,Simon Templar,Allo Hayete, Ghawar al Tocheh.
I truly regret my snobbish attitude then, and in order to redeem myself, enclosed is a clip of those glory days.
Yes those were better days !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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3 comments:
Don't forget Chouchou and El-Denieh Heyk with Mohammed Chamel.
Dunno who these people are on LBC, but a commie and a bunch of "liberators" sounds like the usual arrogant a-holes who are anti-west but get all their wrong ideas and habits from the west.
Good clip.
J.W,
The addition was made !
I watch Star Academy sometimes, and my favorite parts are always when they sing (or try to sing) the old songs I grew up listening to in the 70s. I will take far2i3 far2i3 ya bouchar any day over the crap that's on the Lebanese screens now. Having worked in Lebanese television in the 90s, I can sadly confirm the decline of culture in Lebanon. A bright spot was Ahmad Kaabour-- Helwenjeh Ismail was a very good try--but there is so much one man can give. The support network is not there.
I cried when Feryal Kareem (Zmurrod) dropped dead on stage one night. My heart broke when I saw El Dirwendeh selling cigarettes in Ouzai.
They're gone, and so are we, Josey.
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