Month: June 2022

June 21 is here! Yes, today is the summer solstice with the LONGEST day and SHORTEST night of 2022 in the Northern Hemisphere. Isn’t this exciting?

To welcome the summer season in music, Bambi will share a few songs with you. They are all about the imminent summer season.

Some of the chosen songs are medleys of summer melodies, by talented kids, or simply kids’ songs. Other songs are light and joyful. Some other songs are more romantic. Yet other melodies are classical music.

The songs’ languages range from French, German, English, Lebanese-Arabic, Egyptian-Arabic, and partly Portuguese (in the last medley).

If you take the time to listen, Bambi hopes you will enjoy the songs, wishing you a wonderful June 21 filled with whatever you aspire for. This being said, it is now time for music!

Vive l’été… In a melody in the charming language of Molière.

Happy summer season… in the beautiful language of Goethe.

To continue, it is now the time for the practical and lovely language of Shakespeare with the famous Summer in the City song.

Following the above, it is now the time for the rich Arabic language with a lovely song by Fairouz (in Lebanese-Arabic dialect), which is subtitled in English. Those who understand this language will know that it is about the last days of the summer,as per its title.

To continue in the same vein, how can Bambi have a post devoted to the summer without her favourite romantic yet joyful Egyptian-Arabic song?! Yes, you may have guessed right, she means the three daqat [referring to a 3 heartbeats of love :)].

Now, time to switch to French again to listen to a song Bambi likes too. Thank you Mr. Gilbert Montagné!

The above will be followed by another French song that Bambi adores. It is by the late and great Mr. Joe Dassin!

Please, make no mistake: It is NOT the end of summer/fall season yet despite the cooler days. Yes, she can assure you that it is not l’été indien yet, no worries :). Although Bambi is joking about the weather, she considers herself blessed to live in a a place with a milder weather than the rest of Canada or parts of Europe, which are now ironically warmer than Beirut. Can you imagine?!

How about some classical music now? Of course, it will be Vivaldi’s “Summer” from “Four Seasons” performed by Ms. Mari Samuelson. Bravo!

To continue with melodies about the summer, here is another French song called “nuits d’été” [“Summer Nights”] by Mr. Oscar Anton and Ms. Clémentine. Bambi hopes your nights are as comfortable as possible given the heat in some places and/or lack of power in other places of the world… Yes, Lebanon is on her mind now.

The next French song is by Mr. Claude Barzotti called “On se reverra cet été” [See you this summer!]. It is romantic. You have been warned :).

Enough of romance :). Time to celebrate summer games now. If she may, Bambi would like to dedicate Ms. Ginette Reno’s song to her dear cousin Khalil in Doha wishing him to keep up his great work… and spirit!

How about continuing with another great French-Canadian song by Mr. Claude Dubois, in duo with Ms. Natasha St-Pier, and entitled “Laisser l’été avoir 15 ans” [hard to translate in English :)]?

Last but not least, a medley of Kids United will conclude this post with songs in French, Portuguese, and English. Bravo to these talented children and thanks to them!

Bambi is grateful for the generosity of her friend Khaldie. All the pictures and the short video below were taken in Northern Lebanon.

As described under each picture, most of the images were taken in a gorgeous region of the Akkar district called Tachaa. The rest of the pictures are landscapes, shot by Khaldie from the Saydet el Nouriyi [Our Lady of Nourieh or Light] monastery lying on top of a small mountain (https://www.destimap.com/index.php?act=attraction&a=Saydet-el-Nouriyi-Monastery%2C-Chekka%2C-Lebanon), with a view of the Mediterranean sea in the Chekka region, which lies in the Batroun district/Governorate, shown below.

Bambi is eager to visit the beautiful place of birth of Khaldie one of these days!

For now, she will just comment on the last set of pictures taken in Chekka. She will share with you that this region of Lebanon is dear to her heart. Indeed, during several summer visits to her birth country, her family and childhood friends [some likely reading this blog now :)] used to drive her, all the way from Beirut, to this destination to spend the day swimming in the magical, warm, and transparent water. To end the day with more pictures and perhaps with a spiritual touch, they would drive on top of that mountain by the sea to visit the monastery mentioned above before returning to Beirut. Bambi will always cherish those unforgettable memories!

To conclude this post on a musical note, to thank both Khaldie and Lebanon for this beauty, Bambi will offer them two songs: The first one is by Fairouz, sub-titled in English, and entitled “Bihabak ya Liban” [“I love you Lebanon“]. As for the second song, also sub-titled in English, it is by Ms. Tanya Kassis and it is called “Watani” [“My country”].

If you are interested in watching this landscape shown above as a short video, you can see it here :): https://youtube.com/shorts/_ypCyfChUFk?feature=share

Now, after watching the above, we cannot visit Lebanon without tasting its DELICIOUS food. The picture below shows a tannour oven like this one, opened by a guy from Akkar in the city of Byblos or Jbeil (Lebanon):

Tannour, the traditional Lebanese bread is now available in Byblos.

Now, you may wonder how the bread shown in the picture above will become at the end of the short baking process. Please take a look and be honest with Bambi: Doesn’t this “Markouk” [= thin] pita [or Arabic] bread looks delicious?! Bambi is salivating now imagining this bread filled with thyme [yes, zaatar with cucumbers, mint, and tomotoes!] or with delicious homemade cheese or even with roasted chicken like those we find in Montreal or Beirut!

OK, enough of salivation because of food. Now is the time to dream of a nice dive in the Chekka bay!

Thank you again Khaldie. Welcome back home! Bambi hopes you will enjoy these two songs about our birth country.

Enjoy your day Antonio: Yes, Happy Fathers’ Day papy or baba. Bambi loves and misses you!

Enjoy your Sunday, Robert too. Yes, Happy Fathers’ and Fathers’-in-law day :). Bambi misses you and sends you her love too!

To all the men in Bambi’ life who are, will be, would be, or would have been fantastic fathers: Best wishes, thanks, and have fun today!

To all the fathers of the world, deer or human beings: THANK YOU!

Now, to conclude this post with a touch of humour, here is a kids’ song in French to Bambi’s dad (and indirectly to all the fathers). Last but not least, this melody will be followed by a timely cartoon of YGreck, or Mr. Yannick Lemay from the Journal de Québec, which sadly works for fathers both in Lebanon and Canada.

Yesterday evening, a song was stuck in Bambi’s head. Yes, she kept humming it, of course singing it like a frog (poor spouse!). Well, this love song, by the Rahbani Brothers, is entitled Kenna netlaka min ashiyi” [We used to meet in the evenings] . Here is its original version by Lebanon’s pride, Fairouz, with English sub-titles.

Now here Ms. Ranya El Hage singing it at a concert in Bahrein with the late and great, Mr. Elias Rahbani. Yes, the latter was/is the brother of the duo (Rahbani Brothers, Assi and Mansour) mentioned above (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rahbani_brothers). Sadly, Lebanon and the world lost Mr. Elias Rahbani to the coronavirus (as per Bambi’s older post at the end of this one). May the memory of these three incredibly talented brothers be eternal. Thank Goodness their music will never die, especially when transmitted to us by skilled singers like Ms. El Hage. Bambi is so happy she discovered her!

If you wish, below you can listen to Ms. El Hage singing in Arabic, German, French, English, Spanish, Italian, Greek, Assyrian, and Sri Lankan. Bravo to her!

Here she is, with her pure voice, singing in Lebanese-Arabic Ms. Majida El Roumy’s famous song that translates into English as follows “I am dreaming of you O Lebanon, our dream“. What a timely song. Indeed, the people of Lebanon are still dreaming of a Lebanon with the rule of law (for all), not of the sect. Will the latter ever see the light?

Last but not least, here is Ms. El Hage’s own adaptation of the “O Holy Night” into Standard Arabic. The lyrics are by Ms. Rima Saikali Khoury and the Director/Editor is the singer herself.

Bambi hopes you have enjoyed this musical post. Until the next one, have a good one!

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Ghassan Rahbani – Elias Rahbani Academy [2018]: Christmas songs performed by 40 (5-30 years old) students!

Yes, time flies, even if three decades is a long time in someone’s life.

Bambi has always thought that any extra year beyond civil war was a gift of life. She would happily enjoy it and be grateful for it. Imagine 32 years beyond this unforgettable June 17, 1990 (as described in a post from last year shown below).

How can Bambi not be grateful, especially for a life enriched by meeting wonderful people in three different provinces of our beautiful country?

Is our country still the same as Bambi discovered it upon her arrival? Of course not. It is not even similar to what it was 10, five, or even just 2-3 years ago.

Is Canada still worth loving and celebrating, despite our collectively insane times? Of course, always!

Today’s post will be brief. It will end with a few songs to highlight this important day for Bambi, her family, and her dear friend Carla. Their friendship began on a KLM flight. Together they discovered their beloved Québec. They did crazy things in their youth like taking belly dance lessons and returning to their neighborhood dancing on a bridge, ignoring cars that passed by them :). Happy June 17 to you too Carla ❤️!

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Some dates are unforgettable, June 17, is one of them!

There are so many songs and music for Leila, including Mr. Eric Clapton’s Layla.

As a tiny virtual surprise, without any particular reason, Bambi would like to dedicate this post to honour her dear friend Leila.

In addition to being so talented and beautiful (in her soul, look, and voice), Leila has a contagious big heart and an inspiring sharp mind. Her adorable spouse, daughters/their own families, and relatives are also a blessing in Bambi’s life.

Despite being a busy lady, from time to time, Leila kindly posts thoughtful comments enriching Bambi’s blog.

Thank you for being “you”, Leila. We ALL love you: Yes, much love across the miles from Bambi, her spouse, sisters and especially from her parents with whom you have been a close friend over many beautiful years in Beirut!

This being said, now is the time for “your” music :). Bambi hopes you will enjoy the following very famous songs in French, Arabic, and English. They are all are meant for a “Leila” ❤️.

To conclude this post, and if she may, Bambi will also dedicate Leila’s second Arabic melody to her childhood friend Selim who, like her, loves this superb Standard Arabic song, which translates into English as follows: “The night, oh Layla, reproaches me and it tells me to give you my regards, Layla the loves wind/breezes is not sweet unless it (the wind/breeze) sings for Layla  the alleyways are asking me has Layla travelled far away? And the tenderness of affection is carrying me towards your eyes, Oh Layla  for your sake the moon rises shy and full of timidity and how sweet to him travelling becomes in the splendor of your eyes, Oh Layla  for us, the days smile without any whispers or any regret and what good is it to regret? When regret is the companion of the soul, Oh Layla” (taken from: https://lyricstranslate.com).

In Canada, Western University had to pull a poster of two women dressed in hijabs kissing due to complaints.

Canadian university pulls LGBTQ poster after Muslim community complains

In Lebanon, a world’s famous animation will not be screened because of a lesbian kiss. Thanks to journalist Roula Douglas for her thoughtful words that translate into English as follows: “They do not have any problem with scenes of rape, torture, mutilation, and of war… but a kiss between two consenting people of the same sex is a categorical NO“.

What is the message being given here? There is no same-sex love in the Muslim community? Only in other communities? Does that make any sense? Today, it is a poster, or an animation, pulled under pressure. Tomorrow, what? Pushed to the extreme of the extreme, it can be human beings that would be pushed or hanged, as it happens sadly in some Islamic countries of our world (do you research and read about it, if you do not believe Bambi).

To conclude this post on musical note, Mr. Enrico Macias’s wonderful song on tolerance naturally comes to Bambi’s mind. Below you can find an English translation of it by Bambi (from an older post) followed by the song interpreted by a certain talented Mr. Pascal Leyman.

First, here are the lyrics in English, followed by the original French:

“Tolerance is proof of love and intelligence

Tolerance is respect for life in all countries

Tolerance is to have a lot of indulgence for your neighbour

Open your heart instead of clenching your fists

For no reason for nothing

All forgiven for the tears

Of a child or of a woman

We are never loved

By fear or by severity

Understanding the ideas of others

Without wanting to impose our own

It is in this world a virtue

That we lost

Tolerance is reasoning about the passions of difference

Tolerance means recognizing to everyone their divine rights

Tolerance is the last chance for today’s humans

If they don’t want to no longer live in freedom

in a few years

Despite the many disagreements that still exist between us

Everything can be discussed if we know how to forgive first

Whatever the naysayers of all stripes can write

Mourning the future, I still refuse

Tolerance will eventually win out over backbiting

And on that day, on earth

There won’t be happier than me”

Original French lyrics of Mr. Macias’ song:

« La tolérance, c’est une preuve d’amour et d’intelligence
La tolérance, c’est le respect de la vie dans tous les pays
La tolérance, c’est d’avoir pour son prochain beaucoup d’indulgence
Ouvrir son cœur au lieu de fermer les poings
Sans raison pour rien

Tout excusé devant les larmes
D’un enfant ou bien d’une femme
On est jamais aimé
Par crainte ou par sévérité
Comprendre les idées des autres
Sans vouloir imposer les nôtres
C’est dans ce monde une vertu

Que nous avons perdue

La tolérance, c’est raisonner les passions de la différence
La tolérance, c’est reconnaitre à chacun tous ses droits divins
La tolérance, c’est pour les hommes d’aujourd’hui la dernière chance
S’ils ne veulent pas ne plus vivre en liberté
dans quelques années

Malgré les nombreux désaccords qui entre nous existent encore
Tout peut se discuter si l’on sait pardonner d’abord
Qu’importe ce que peuvent écrire les défaitistes de tous bords
Porter le deuil de l’avenir, je m’y refuse encore

La tolérance finira par l’emporter sur la médisance
Et ce jour là, sur terre
Il n’y aura pas plus heureux que moi»

This post aims to share a song that came to Bambi’s mind at the end of this long day.

Who knows? You may already know this 1973 French melody. You may or may not like it. As far as Bambi is concerned, she loves it. If you wish, you can listen to it, thanks to the Youtube video below with English sub-titles.

Thank you, Mr. Michel Sardou, for your beautiful song entitled “La maladie d’amour” [Love sickness]!

For Bambi, it is clear: The University of Québec in Rimouski (UQAR) owes Dr. Frédéric Bastien (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fr%C3%A9d%C3%A9ric_Bastien) apologies for having prevented him from giving a talk on its campus. It also owes Québeckers an explanation as to why other politically-oriented talks are regularly offered on its campus, but not this one? Is it because Dr. Bastien has criticized in the past extreme multiculturalism, which lends itself to movements like wokeism. Student associations have been highly critical of him because of the latter ( ttps://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/1890283/conference-liberte-academique-universitaire-historien-frederic-bastien-universite-rimouski)?

Should the UQAR apologize to the general public for having been yet another Canadian university attacking academic freedom? Today it is the turn of Dr. Bastien. Tomorrow whom? And the day after tomorrow whom?

Isn’t enough enough, Canada? Indeed, it is about time to start re-committing to the principle of freedom, as a value or a principle. Bambi means by this a respect for the freedom of expression for ALL and respect of the rights of ALL. It is only when we return to principles for the sake of principles that our rights will be truly protected and respected. This means respect of freedom (i.e., Academic-Freedom-Freedom of expression) for ALL of us, not just the most powerful people, regardless of whom they are, at a particular time in history. In other terms, when one of us is under attack, we are all at risk of being under attack in the future. Make no mistake, it can happen to you too. it is just a question of time.

All this being said, Bambi sends her FULL solidarity to Dr. Bastien who filed a complained to the Commission des droits de la personne. Good for him! Bravo also to the CEGEP of Rimouski for welcoming him on its campus to give his talk!

On a more personal note, too bad Bambi is busy now, she would have gladly driven all the way to Rimouski to listen to this outstanding historian, lecturer, and journalist. She enjoys reading him and learning from him. It is her hope that younger Canadian generations will learn how to learn from all conferences and historical or scientific point of views. It is surely not by censoring our intellectuals that our universities will teach them how to build their critical sense and widen their horizons.

To conclude this post on a musical note, two songs come to Bambi’s mind. Both are on the value of freedom, thanks to Mr. Georges Moustaki (Ma Liberté sub-titled in English) and Ms. Nana Mouskouri’s song for liberty.

How can life be so cruel?

This post will be brief. It is an expression of a heartache, a thought, a prayer…

According to l’Orient le jour citing ANSA (https://www.lorientlejour.com/article/1302419/crash-dun-helicoptere-macron-exprime-sa-solidarite-avec-la-fille-dune-victime-libanaise.html), in a tragic helicopter crash that took place yesterday on Mount Cusna, Tamara’s dad lost his life, along with the Italian pilot and five other businessmen (including four Turkish and one Lebanese peer, Mr. Chadi Kreidi). May the memory of all the victims be eternal and may God know how to comfort their loved ones.

To come back to Ms. Tamara Tayah, when she was just 11 years old (less than two years ago), she lost her mother to the surrealistic Beirut port explosion. Back then, Mr. Macron gave her a big comforting hug during his trip to Lebanon. To thank him and honour the memory of her mother, she offered him a handmade jewellery by her. Bambi had an older post on this moving story (post shown further below). As a reminder, the French President reached out to the devastated residents of Beirut, after the surrealistic blast, before any Lebanese politician; none of them went to to comfort their “own” people.

Today, Mr. Macron expressed his heartfelt condolences to Tamara by writing the following on social media (Meta, formerly Facebook), as reported by l’Orient Le Jour: “If I got involved, if I remained mobilized for Lebanon and that I remain fully mobilized today, it is for Tamara and the hope that she embodies, that of Lebanese youth“… “On September 1, 2020 in Beirut, I heard many moving testimonies. There is one that particularly touched me, it is that of little Tamara”… “In an accident in Italy, Tamara lost her dad. I want to tell her that I share her pain and that my thoughts are with her in this terrible ordeal. More than ever with all my heart with her”.

Thank you Mr. Macron for your humanity and care for Tamara. If she may, Bambi would like to join the French President in sending her heart to you Tamara (without having had the chance to hug you in life). She does not have any meaningful word in neither Arabic nor French. Just a song-prayer for your dad through the moving (French) words and beautiful voice of Mr. Nicola Ciccone. It is entitled “Oh toi mon père“. Bless your grieving heart… You take good care Tamara, please.

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Mr. Macron hugs 11-year-old Tamara after she offered him a handmade jewellery by her mother who died in the Beirut explosion. If only for her, will he succeed in pressuring the corrupt Lebanese authorities to reform and collaborate in the investigation?