Amal al atrash biography of george michael

Had she been murdered? Who had killed her? Had she been operating as a double agent? Envied by the queen and — some would say — by Umm Kulthum herself, she died in a mysterious car accident. Who killed her? Until today, no one knows. This life already makes her an icon. A photograph of Asmahan from the s. Yet much of her life remains a mystery.

Even her age is uncertain, with estimates of the year of her birth ranging from to In contrast, her legacy endures. She is revered as a cultural icon more than ever before, with her representation in the arts manifesting itself in all forms of expression. Her vocal range, her formidable character, her glamour, her alleged espionage, and her on-screen persona resonate as loudly today as they ever did.

Born into the al-Atrash clan of southern Syria in the early years of the 20th century, Asmahan had been expected to conform to cultural tradition. That meant a life of dedication to a Druze husband and the raising of children, not the sinful life of a singer and entertainer. It seemed a shame to Hosni that the Asmahan brand should go to waste, and so the thirteen-year-old was saddled with the name of a dead girl, which she would carry with her for the rest of her life.

In hindsight, this episode stands out as a grim omen of what was to come for Amal, but for the time being, the legacy of her unlucky namesake was swept away in the thrill of the present. Within a year, she was performing at the national opera house, with a debut album released under her new name. Yet her openness to new artistic forms never stopped her from engaging with her own heritage.

Asmahan mastered the divergent traditions of the Arab world: alongside popular songs in the Egyptian dialect, she sang folk songs in the slow Syrian mawwal style, and poetry in classical Arabic. She went on to star opposite legendary singer and composer Mohamed Abdel Wahab in a theatre adaptation of Qais and Laylathe quintessential Arab love story, which predates Romeo and Juliet by centuries.

Offstage, however, Amal al-Atrash had bigger fish to fry. After months of ultimatums, Amal agreed to marry Hassan ingiving up performance forever in exchange for a life of devotion to her husband and the national cause. In return for the loss of her independent livelihood, she made her cousin promise that the pair would split their time between Cairo and Damascus, rather than return to the family home in Jabal al-Druze.

Amal spent six years raising her daughter in the mountains as her husband absented himself in the name of patriotism, watching her prime years as a singer wither away before her eyes. But I was created for another purpose. I prefer the work of Farid, and the work of Umm Kulthum, and of art. When her first film, Intisar al-Shabab, was screened in Syria, a Druze boy shot at her face on the cinema screen in disgust - but in Cairo, the film was an instant success.

Cinema afforded her the perfect platform from which to relaunch her career as her voice was reaching its artistic peak. Her films generated catchy five-minute hits, composed by Farid, which could be reproduced on record or radio, winning her a wider audience at a time when mass media was exploding in the Arab world. Even Umm Kulthum herself was now admitting that Asmahan was her only contender.

In order to receive waivers for the high cost of tuition, 'Alia registered them under the alias Kusah meaning "courgette" rather than trying to convince school officials that members of the wealthy [ citation needed ] al-Atrash family were destitute.

Amal al atrash biography of george michael: While songs of early stars such

This allowed her to cover the costs of her children's school's tuition, and a nicer apartment on Habib Shalabi Street. Amal's vocal talent was discovered at an early age. Once, when her brother Farid received one of Egypt's most famous composers, Dawood Hosni, in their home, the latter overheard her singing in her room, and insisted on seeing her immediately.

He then asked her to sing again. He was much impressed by the performance, and suggested the stage name of Asmahan to her. Amal began using that name. Asmahan rose to fame quickly: she was not even fourteen or seventeen, since her birth date is disputed years old when she was introduced to the public at a concert at the prestigious Cairo Opera House.

At fourteen, Asmahan was invited by an Egyptian record company to make her first album, featuring her first song "Ya Nar Fouadi" by Farid Ghosn. A variety of teachers advanced her vocal and musical studies.

Amal al atrash biography of george michael: A Druze princess actually named

Hosni volunteered to instruct Asmahan on how to play the oud ; Qasabgi comments however on the mature level of her sight reading and musicality by the time she performed his work, some years later. However, her brothers wanted her to marry and return to Syria. Her cousin, Hassan al-Atrash travelled to Egypt, bringing with him a different cousin interested in Asmahan, however, once Hassan, who had already married five times, saw Asmahan, he pursued her and she returned to Syria for at least four years, interrupting her musical career.

Since Asmahan sang in Egypt, the lyrics of her songs were written in classical Arabic and in a more colloquial Arabic, but she also sang in the Eastern dialect of Arabic. Asmahan was said to have preciously replicated songs by Umm Kulthoum. Asmahan's older brother, Fuad, and other Druze relatives considered a career in entertainment for a girl to be disgraceful.

The clearly defined divisions, along religious lines, of the Syrian countryside did not operate in Egypt. During the period when she was married to her cousin, Hassan, and then later inwhen she remarried him and returned to Egypt, her musical career came to a standstill. When the marriage first broke up, she left for Egypt immediately, even before she had obtained the bill of divorce.

When her first film, Intisar al-Shababwas released in Syria, one young Druze shot at the screen when the character played by Asmahan appeared. InAsmahan's cousin, Hassan al-Atrash, came to Cairo and proposed marriage, requesting that Asmahan abandon her musical career.

Amal al atrash biography of george michael: She was named Amal

Asmahan gave birth to her daughter, Kamellia. Eventually, Asmahan missed her career and her life in Cairo; [ 29 ] and inshe and Hassan were divorced. In her final confrontation with her cousin at Mena House Hotel in Gizashe told him, "I stood with you for independence and liberation, I did. But, I was created for another purpose. I prefer the work of Farid, and the work of Umm Kulthum, and of art.

Inshe returned to Syria in a dramatic and secret journey under the auspices of the British. Hassan agreed to meet with her, and used the occasion to successfully entreat her to remarry him. During the time they were married, she twice attempted suicide. Tabloid newspapers suggested that this was so that she could obtain a second divorce from Hassan; however, it seemed he actually agreed due to her visits to King David HotelJerusalem where wild rumours attached to her behaviour and overspending.

Her third and final marriage was to the Egyptian director Ahmed Salem, supposedly to facilitate her return to Egypt over impositions by government authorities. Wife of Ahmad Salim — married about [location unknown]. Mother of Kamellia al-Atrash. Died 14 Jul at age 31 in Mansoura, Dakahlia, Egypt. Profile last modified 16 Nov Created 30 Jul Is Amal your ancestor?

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Amal al atrash biography of george michael: Amal al-Atrash better known by

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