Name	Amr Diab
Background	solo_singer
Birth name	Amr Abdel Basset Abdel Azeez Diab
Alias	Father of Mediterranean music (Hadaba)
Birth date	October 11, 1961
Origin	Port Said, Egypt
Instrument	Vocal, Guitar
Genre	Mediterranean
Occupation	Singer, composer, arranger, actor
Years active	1983–present
Website| url	www.amrdiab.net/
Nationality	Egyptian
Nickname	The Empror
Father	Abdul Basset Diab
Spouse	Sherine Rida (1989-1992)

Amr Abdel Basset Abdel Azeez Diab (; born October 11, 1961) is an Egyptian singer and composer of geel music; the contemporary face of Egyptian el-geel pop music, according to World Music. Diab is the best-selling Arab recording artist of all time, according to Let's Go Egypt. He was awarded the World Music Award for Best Selling Middle Eastern Artist four times: 1998, 2002, 2007 and 2009. He has also sold over 50 million albums worldwide. He is currently the top singer in the Arab world, and considered a living legend by many of his fans in the Arab world.

Amr Diab is known as the Father of Mediterranean Music. He has created his own style which is often termed "Mediterranean Music" or "Mediterranean Sound", a blend of Western and Egyptian rhythms.

In The Mediterranean in Music, David Cooper and Kevin Dawe referred to his music as "the new breed of Mediterranean music".

According to author Michael Frishkopf, Amr Diab has produced a new concept of Mediterranean music, especially in his international hit, "Nour El Ain".

According to the BBC, Diab "has ruled the Arab music world, especially Egypt and the Middle East, since the mid '80s, continually breaking sales records".

Musical career

In 1983, Diab released his first studio album, Ya Tareeq. Diab released three more albums between 1984 and 1987. 1988's "Mayaal" garnered huge success all around the Middle East. It was produced, arranged and remixed by German musicians, Frank Von Dem Bottlenberg and Jörg Evers, with various releases. More success followed in the following years including the albums Shawakkna, Matkhafesh, and We Yloumouni.

Amr Diab quickly developed fame for his new style of "Pan-Mediterranean" Arabic music, fusing touches of flamenco and raï with western pop with traditional Arabic rhythms. By 1992, he became the first Arabic artist to start making high-tech music videos. and by July 3, 2009 Wayah had sold more than 1.5 million copies in the first week. Later on Amr Diab's administration announced that the album has become the highest selling album in Diab's career. This album sold 3 million copies.

On October 18, 2009 Amr Diab won four 2009 African Music Awards in the following categories: best artist, best album, best vocalist and best song for "Wayah" and Amr Diab has been nominated by the Big Apple Music Awards

Aslaha Betefre' (2010)

Amr Diab has released a mini album for the first time in his career history, produced by Rotana, in July 2010. The mini album contains 1 song with 3 arrangements (Original song + Club Mix + Karaoke).

Music videos

Diab is one of the first singers to popularize music videos in the Arabs World and the first Egyptian singer to appear in music videos. His third movie was released in 1993, and was named Deahk We La'ab (Laughter and Fun). The film premiered in the Egyptian Film Festival in 1993. Amr played alongside international Egyptian movie star Omar Sharif (Lawrence of Arabia, Doctor Zhivago) and Yousra in the movie. Overall, Diab did not experience the same level of success in film that he had with his music career. Since 1993, Diab has focused on his singing career.

Endorsements

Amr Diab has taken part in an internationally known Pepsi commercial featuring four other pop musicians: Beyoncé Knowles, Pink, Jennifer Lopez, and Britney Spears. In the US version, Enrique Iglesias takes the role of Caesar. But in the pan Arab version, the four American singers were retained but the male figure was replaced with Diab. This was not the first Pepsi commercial Diab has done; he also filmed commercials featuring his songs "Ana Aktar Wahed" (I'm the most), "Allem Alby" (teach my heart) and "Khad Alby Ma'aa" (She took my heart with her). Diab also appeared in a commercial alongside Jennifer Lopez, singing The Troggs hit "Wild Thing". In 2009 Pepsi decided not to renew his contract. In 2010 he was the star of "Hayat" bottled water campaign.

Local record labels

Diab's earliest albums were released by Delta Sound. In 1996 Diab moved to Alam Al Phan were he released his greatest hits. In between 2003 and 2004, and after a long successful career with Alam El Phan, Diab officially announced the termination of his contract with Mohsen Gaber (owner of Alam El Phan) and move to Rotana Records.

International record labels

Over 18 international companies have produced studio albums, compilations and exclusive music for Amr Diab across the globe.

Ariola - Germany

Hot Records - Germany

EMI Music - Greece

EMI Music - Arabia

EMI Music - Turkey

EMI Music - Canada [Hemisphere]

EMI Music - Europe

EMI Music - International

World Music Network - USA

George V Records - France

Putumayo World Music - USA

Wagram Music - France

Virgin - International

Nascent - UK

Milano 2000 - Italy

Reverb Music - UK

Toast Records - Italy

Warner Bros. - France

Collaboration with international musicians

Various international musicians have collaborated with Amr Diab:

Stuart Crichton (The founder of Progressive House)

Frank Von Dem Bottlenberg - Germany

Jorg Evers - Germany

Shazz (Didier Delesalle) - France

Klubbheads (Koen Groeneveld and Addy van der Zwan) - Dutch

Phunk Phorce (Leon and Matthew Roberts) - UK

Rhythm Masters (Robert Bruce Chetcuti and Steve McGuinness) - UK

Pete Beachill - UK

Simon Gardner - UK

Andy Greenwood - UK

Kevan Gallagher - UK

Jon Bishop - UK

Juan Cerro - Spain

Angela Dimitriou - Greece

Amr Diab was not mentioned in any academic study.

Amr Diab in movies

Amr Diab's songs have appeared in several films, including: "Wala Ala Baloh" in Divine Intervention (2002) "Awedouni" in The Dancer Upstairs (2002) "El Alem Alah" and "Nour El Ain" in O Clone (2001) "Nafs El Makan" in Double Whammy (2001)

"Tamally Ma'ak" and "Nour El Ain" in the French movie, Coco (2009)

"Nour El Ain" in Malcolm in the Middle TV series (Season 4, Episode 4, Episode name: Stupid Girl), released on 9 January 2000 (USA)

Further reading

Mediterranean Mosaic by Goffredo Plastino

Egypt by Virginia Maxwell, Mary Fitzpatrick, Siona Jenkins, Anthony Sattin

World Music by Simon Broughton, Mark Ellingham, Richard Trillo, Orla Duane, Vanessa Dowell

Teens in Egypt by Barbara A. Somervill

Syria & Lebanon by Terry Carter, Lara Dunston, Andrew Humphreys, Damien Simonis

World Music by Richard Nidel

The Mediterranean in Music by David Cooper, Kevin Dawe

The Middle East by Library Information and Research Service

Let's Go Egypt by Let's Go, Inc., Joey Shabot, Dave Newman, Elizabeth Ogburn, Charlotte Houghteling

Discography

Aslaha Btefre' (Because She makes a difference) - (2010) Single

Wayah (With Her) - (2009)

El Leila De (This Night) (2007)

Kammel Kalamak (Keep Talking) (2005)

Greatest Hits (1996-2003) (2005)

Leily Nahary (Cd-Single) (2004)

Leily Nahary (My Night, My Day) (2004)

Greatest Hits (1986-1995) (2004)

Allem Alby (Teach My Heart) (2003)

Aktar Wahed (The Most One) (2001)

Tamally Maak (Always With You) (2000)

Amarein (Two Moons) (1999)

The Best of Amr Diab (1999)

Awedoony (They Got Me Used To) (1998)

Nour El-Ain (Light Of The Eye - Habibi) (1996)

Ragaeen (We'll Be Back) (1995)

Zekrayat (Memories) (1994)

W Ylomoony (And They Blame Me) (1994)

Ya Omrena (Our Life) (1993)

Ice Cream Fi Gleam (Ice Cream In Gleam) (1992)

Ayamna (Our Days) (1992)

Habiby (Baby) (1991)

Matkhafeesh (Don't Worry) (1990)

Shawaana (Missing You) (1989)

Mayyal (In Love) (1988)

Ya Helwa (Hey Pretty) (1988)

Khalseen (We're Even) (1987)

Hala Hala (Welcome, Welcome) (1986)

We Mneen Ageeb Nas (To Whom I Complain?) (1985)

Ghanny Men Albak (Sing From Your Heart) (1984)

Ya Tareea (O Road) (1983)

References

External links

http://www.diabcafe.com/ - Fans Website

Category:1961 births Category:Living people Category:Egyptian actors Category:Egyptian singers Category:People from Port Said Category:World Music Awards winners

Name	Yu Dafu
Birthdate	December 07, 1896
Birthplace	Fuyang, Zhejiang, China
Deathdate	September 17, 1945
Occupation	Short Story writer and Poet

Yu Dafu () (December 7, 1896—September 17, 1945). Born in Fuyang, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, was a modern Chinese short story writer and poet.

Early years

Yu Dafu's father died at when he was only three, leaving the family poverty-stricken and destitute. He received a number of scholarships through the Chinese government and went on to receive a traditional Chinese education in Hangzhou. Chronologically he studied in Jiangxing-Fu Middle School (before he came to Hangzhou), Hangzhou-Fu Middle School, Yuying Academy (育英学堂, formerly of Zhejiang University).

In 1912, he entered Hangchow University (later its major part merged into Zhejiang University) preparatory through examination. He was there only for a sort period before he was expelled for participation in a student strike.

He then moved to Japan, where he studied economics at the Tokyo Imperial University between 1913 and 1922, where he met other Chinese intellectuals (namely, Guo Moruo, Zhang Ziping and Tian Han). Together, in 1921 they founded the Chuangzao she 創造社 ("Creation Society"), which promoted vernacular and modern literature. One of his earlier works Chenlun 沉淪, also his most famous, published in Japan in 1921. The work had gained immense popularity in China, shocking the world of Chinese literature with its frank dealing with sex, as well as grievances directed at the incompetence of Chinese government at the time.

In 1922, he returned to China as a literary celebrity and worked as the editor of Creation Quarterly, editing journals and writing short stories. In 1923, after an attack of tuberculosis, Yu Dafu directed his attention to the welfare of the masses.

In 1927, he worked as an editor of the Hongshui literary magazine. He later came in conflict with the Communist Party of China and fled back to Japan.

Second Sino-Japanese war

After the start of the Second Sino-Japanese war, he returned to China and worked as a writer of anti-Japanese propaganda in Hangzhou, and later in Zhejiang. From 1938 to 1942, he worked as a literary editor for the newspaper Sin Chew Jit Poh in Singapore.

In 1942 when the Imperial Japanese Army invaded Singapore, he was forced to flee to Sumatra. Known under a different identity, he settled there among other overseas Chinese and began a brewery business with the help of the locals. Later he was forced to help the Japanese military police as an interpreter when it was discovered that he was one of the few "locals" in the area who could speak Japanese.

In 1945, he was arrested by the Kempeitai when his true identity was finally discovered. It is believed that he was executed by the Japanese shortly after the surrender of Japan.

Works

Chenlun 沉淪 "Sinking" (1921)

Riji jiuzhong 日記九種 “Nine Diaries” (1927)

Guoqu 過去 “The Past" (1927)

his first novel?? (1928) (moderately successful)

his second novel?? (1932)

Chuben 出奔 "Flight" (1935)

His most popular work, breaking all Chinese sales records, was Jih-chi chiu-chung "Nine Diaries", which detailed his affair with the writer Wang Ying-hsin. The most critically acclaimed work is Kuo-ch'u or "The Past", written in 1927.

References

Encyclopædia Britannica 2005 Ultimate Reference Suite DVD, article- "Yü Ta-fu"

External links

Category:1896 births Category:1945 deaths Category:Chinese expatriates in Japan Category:Hangzhou High School alumni Category:People from Hangzhou Category:Republic of China poets Category:University of Tokyo alumni Category:Zhejiang University alumni