Fairuz - The Very Best of Fairuz, Vol. 1

A great introdution to the world of Fairuz

If you have never heard of Fairuz, then this album is a must since it includes her greatest hits of all time. But make no mistake, Fairuz's later and earlier recordings are still a requirement for anyone wishing to learn more about her heavenly voice which, in many ways, remains one of the few uncontested constants in an ever changing Arab world. April 27, 2008

Neighbour to the moon, ambassador to the stars

" After Years of thirst, a voice like fresh water has arrived. A cloud, a love letter from another planet: Fairuz has overwhelmed us with ecstasy. Names and figures of speech remain too small to define her. She alone is our agency of goodwill to which those of us looking for love and poetry belong. When Fairouz sings, mountains and rivers follow her voice, the mosque and the church, the oil jars and loaves of bread. Through her, every one of us is made to blossom, and once we were no more than sand; men drop their weapons and apologize. Upon hearing her voice, our childhood is molded anew."

Nizar Qabani
February 24, 2007

She is Lebanon

For someone who didn't grow up in Lebanon, Fairuz might be a singer with an indescribable voice with songs that resemble little - if any - of what was produced in terms of music in the middle east.

To a Lebanese, Fairuz and the Rahbani brothers created an image of a Lebanon that few are certain ever to exist. The remote village, grape vines under the moonlight, people singing with no care in the world. Particularly during and after the end of the civil war (1975-1990), people became attached to this image of Lebanon that no longer existed, and because of that, Fairuz became the Lebanon that we always wanted. It's probably hard to explain, but she represents Lebanon more than our flag does.

I'm including this introduction for this album, because you might say that this is the essence of the "early" Fairuz. The "newer" Fairuz came to revolutionize what Arabic music is about, twice, but that's a subject to a different album.

Highly recommended album, specifically to non-Arabic speakers. January 12, 2006

Fairuz is the B-E-S-T best!

If you're interested in classical Arab music - or you're interested in Fairuz - start here. Why?

1. Habeytek bsayf - her most famous song, and one of the most famous songs in Arabic ever - is on this CD.

2. Fairuz sings a sort of hybrid - classical Arabic music that is pretty heavily influenced by Western orchestral and military music. That makes her songs a little bit more accessible to the Western ear than songs by somebody like Oum Kalsoum. December 16, 2005

A Classic.

Transport yourself back to a world in which East met West and made beautiful music. Allow yourself to weep with "Shadi" and "A-tini al Ney". Appreciate the controlled chaos of "Debke", and just simply be happy with "O Bird". The Very Best is an album packed with standards, and should be in the collections of any person who wishes to study or teach youngsters appreciation for popular Middle Eastern Music. April 19, 2003

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