Month: August 2022

She does not know about you, but Bambi adores Byzantine chants. Maybe because they remind her of her parents, of their charming Saint George Greek Orthodox church, or of childhood memories.

Anyhow, before sleep last night, quite randomly while searching Youtube for other purposes, Bambi discovered a young singer from Lebanon: Ms. Ribale Wehbe. How talented! Bambi could not help not to wonder if her parents knew her.

Ms. Ribale Wehbi studied musicology at the Antonine University. She plays the oud and the guitar. However, as she explained accurately (in French) in the interview below in Rumania where she participated in a musical competition, Byzantine music does not use any instrument. If Bambi recalls well, the entire church musical liturgy is based on 8 melodies only.

Of note, Bambi will clarify that two of the pieces below are for Easter and Epiphany, respectively, while another one is a famous psalm. As for the very last song, it is not from the Byzantine liturgy. It is actually an Arabic translation of a famous English Christmas Western carol.

To conclude this post, Bambi is already a fan of your talent, Ms. Ribale Wehbe. Thank you for these beautiful spiritual or just artistic moments (depending on how one wants to perceive them). Best wishes for your professional career… and bless your angelic voice!

It is with great sadness, through a Lebanese-American internet radio station, that Bambi learned about the recent death of Maestro Ihsan Al Mounzer. What a huge loss to the world of music!

Renowned Lebanese Maestro Ihsan Al Mounzer Just Passed Away

Bambi’s heart goes to Mr. Al Mounzer’s family as well as to to all his friends, colleagues, and fans around the world, including but not limited to Lebanon, Italy, Norway, and, Denmark.

According to Al Jazeera, Mr. Ihsan Al Mounzer pioneered the “belly dance disco, a genre that fuses Western and Middle Eastern music” (https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2020/11/23/ihsan-al-mounzer-the-godfather-of-belly-dance-disco). If you wish, below you can find a compilation of some of his famous compositions, hoping you will enjoy discovering OR re-listening to them.

May Mr. Al Mounzer’s memory be eternal… just like his inspiring musical legacy! ?

Many thanks to journalist Roula Douglas for re-tweeting the moving picture of a billboard originally tweeted by Mr. Philippe Bustros, the Managing Director at AGC Equity Partners.

At the precise moment of posting the above, Bambi received a personalized message from her sister (the journalist mentioned above), along with today’s inspirational quote, which happens to be VERY relevant for this post. It is by Mr. Pablo Casals and it is valid for all the countries of the world, including Canada too. It goes like this:

“The love of one’s country is a splendid thing. But why should love stop at the border“?

Related to the above, please do not let anyone fool you into thinking that loving, or being grateful for your country, is a bad thing in life. It is actually healthy, not toxic. It is genuine, not racist.

In the tragic case of Lebanon, what is beyond bad is how the officials of this country do not have an ounce of love/respect for their country and for its people. Of note, among the damage costs listed above, there is the further damage to the country’s basic infrastructure: The electricity sector in Lebanon, notoriously known to be dysfunctional. Today more than ever :(! Bambi is planning a future post on the daily life of two unnamed seniors living in Beirut.

To conclude this post on a musical note, Bambi will leave you with a moving interpretation of “Elle s’appelle Beyrouth” of the most talented and generous Mr. Khaled (featuring Mr. Rodge), by SOS Children’s village, Lebanon. As a reminder, if Bambi is not mistaken, Khaled may have been the first (international) singer who composed a song to Beirut shortly after August 4, 2020. All the benefits went to the Lebanese Red Cross (a per the older post below). As written on YouTube in the description of these talented kids’ performance: ” We remember with a sad heart, but we sing with hope that our beloved Beirut ?? will witness better days”. May “their” Beirut heal, get justice, rise, and shine again.

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Beirut explosions: Thank you Rai Singer Cheb Khaled for your new single”Her name is Beirut”!

Thanks to the talented French singer, Mr. Grégoire, for his 2011 Album entitled “Le même soleil” [The Same Sun] that Bambi just discovered (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Le_M%C3%AAme_Soleil).

First of all, Bambi will start by sharing with you his Soleil” song, immediately followed by an English translation of its deep lyrics filled with truth and sensitivity (https://lyricsaround.com/en/gregoire/soleil/):

“We don’t have the same flag or the same skin colour.

We don’t have the same language, the same culture, the same images.

We don’t have the same roots, the same idols who fascinate us.

But each of us is alive, with the same colour of blood.

And we all have the same sun and the same moon at our sleep.

And we all have a hand to give,Can we really wait?

We don’t have the same customs, same rituals, or same costumes.

We don’t have the same stories but their mixtures have made history.

We don’t have the same parents, but we’re all still kids.

And all of them gone mad, but born so wise.

And we all have the same sun and the same moon at our sleep.

And we all have a hand to give. Can we really wait?

Because we all have the same planet begging us to be less stupid.

And we all have a hand to give,Can we really wait?

Humans with our differences and our powers to make a chance.

Because we all have the same sun and the same moon at our sleep.

And we all have a hand to give,Can we really wait?

Because we all have the same planet begging us to be less stupid.

And we all have a hand to give. Can we really wait?

Because we all have the same sun and the same moon at our sleep.

And we all have a hand to give. Can we really wait?

Because we all have the same sun.

And we all have a hand to give. Can we still just wait?”

Last but not least, this post will end with six pictures taken last week in the Northern part of Lebanon. The first three photos were taken by Karen and the last three by Rana. Bambi thanks them both for their talent and generosity. May they both always know how to appreciate the sunset’s and sunrise’s beautiful shades, even when Lebanon’s (and the world’s) days get dark(er) ❤️❤️.

Ms. Céline Dion’s French song, which is featured in this post, was composed by Mr. Jean-Jacques Goldman. It is being interpreted here by TALENTED youth from Québec (Canada), namely members of “Les petits chanteurs de Laval“.

Here are some of the lyrics of this beautiful melody:

REFRAIN (in the original French)

“S’il suffisait qu’on s’aime, s’il suffisait d’aimer. Si l’on changeait les choses un peu, rien qu’en aimant donner. S’il suffisait qu’on s’aime, s’il suffisait d’aimer, je ferais de ce monde un rêve, une éternité“.

CHORUS (translated into English)

“If it was enough that we love each other, if it was enough to love. If we changed things a little bit, just by loving giving. If it was enough that we love each other, if it was enough to love, I would make this world a dream, an eternity”.

If she may, with all due respect along with a heavy heart, Bambi would like to offer Ms. Dion’s song on love to Isaac’s dad, Mr. Craig P. Oehlers. His tweeted words reported below, and the shared picture, touched her soul. As shown further below, Bambi had honoured his late son in several older posts, including some featuring Isaac’s grieving mom, Ms. Sarah Copland from the United Nations.

May justice be FINALLY served for Isaac and his family… and for ALL the other victims of the Beirut surrealistic port double blast. The 224 victims of this still unaccountable tragedy were of different ages (i.e., toddlers, youth, adults, seniors), nationalities, and from all walks of life. Bambi is thinking of them all, one by one, including but not limited to: the little Alexandra, the young Elias (from her parents’ parish), the beautiful young mother Diana (her parents’ neighbour, sister’s friend, friends’ cousin), the nurses/patients (of a nearby hospital), and an anonymous owner of a store Bambi searched for in that heavily damaged neighbourhood days ago, before leaving Beirut.

To conclude this brief musical post, it is Bambi’s hope that you will enjoy the song in question, even if you do not understand French.

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The Australian embassy in Beirut honours the memory of two-year-old Isaac (son of Ms. Sarah Copland & Mr. Craig Ohlers) with a swing in the garden of the Sursock Museum

ABC Net, RN Drive: “Seeking justice for Isaac, nine months after Beirut blast”

Two-year-old Isaac Oehler lost his life in the Beirut blast. Thanks to his parents for courageously sharing his story

In continuous solidarity with Judge Tarek Bitar and the families of the Beirut blast victims!

United Nations’ “Awake at Night”: Ms Sarah Copland, interviewed by Melissa Fleming

Ms. Sarah Copeland: “My life is on hold, frozen at the moment my son died in the Beirut blast”

Tomorrow it will be August 4, 2022. Yes, it is almost the two-year anniversary of the the surrealistic Beirut port explosion. Twenty-four months have passed… and there is still no resemblance to justice.

Since her arrival to Beirut, almost a month ago, and up to her journey on three airplanes taking her very far away from it, Bambi has been wondering how to pay tribute to her birth city. How can she honour the victims, the grieving families, the injured (many in the coma still!), and all the silent traumatized population of the Lebanese capital?

Well, she has finally decided to: (1) post Fairuz’ Le Beirut song, as interpreted by singer Amrie Saurel and pianist Michel Tardieu today, that is on the eve of this sad anniversary; and (2) to observe 24 hours of silence on her blog. This means that there will be no post on August 4, 2022.

May everyone’s memory be eternal. Peace, safety, dignity, and much love to Beirut… and to the entire Lebanon.

One thing Bambi learned from a recent trip to the Middle East is the following double fact: (1) Lebanon is in a state of a heart-breaking human tragedy; and (2) Lebanese people seem to want to forget about their fate by appreciating their nature.

Indeed, the people of Lebanon seem to love their sunsets. How could they not appreciate them when they are blessed to have the Mediterranean Sea to the west of their tiny country?

Mind you, the residents in the mountains of Lebanon, located in east side of the country, also appreciate their beautiful morning sunrises as well as their dawn and dusk times.

Well today Bambi learned that even European tourists learn to appreciate the fabulous shades of sunsets, as you can see through this post :).

Before sharing Laila’s two beautiful pictures, Bambi would like to thank you Rana for having made both Laila and her discover the Batroun region from the coast up to the mountains with its superb landscapes (a piece of heaven!), delicious fruits, and welcoming people. What a memorable day/night that could have been entitled “Cousins’ adventures while touring Lebanon” :).

You are definitely a VERY talented tourist guide, Rana. The best in Lebanon! You happen to also be a wonderful woman as well as a generous human being. In the near future, Bambi will take the time to share your pictures and video of sunsets facing the Chekka Bay. As you know, the latter is dear to her heart. Indeed, it is filled with our fun beach memories during older trips to Lebanon.

As for you Laila, what can Bambi say about you? You are beautiful inside and out. You are smart yet humble and SO sweet. Your wisdom is inspiring and Bambi will repeat that it was an honour and a pleasure to be your roommate. Thank you for being you and thanks to our dear hosts 🙂 ❤️❤️!

To conclude this post, Bambi will add the following: she loves you, Rana and Laila. She is blessed to call you both her cousins ❤️❤️. To try to make you smile, she will end by offering you the same French kids’ song she once surprised her other beloved cousin “Coco” [Christiane 🙂 ❤️] with on her birthday!