Review: The Best Kept Secret

Khaled Al- Haber: 30 years of excellence, an artist for this time and every time.

Abu Shreek was flipping through the channels around the year of 1999 when he stumbled across a concert on the Lebanese satellite channel LBC. The lead vocalist was a different- looking guy, with a shaggy afro hair, a thick mustache and an acoustic guitar hanging on his chest. A Palestinian flag around his shoulders and an ecstatic crowd singing along every lyric, while waving red, Lebanese and Palestinian flags. After listening to a couple of songs, Abu Shreek was instantly hooked and could not listen to anything else for the next three years, despite the fact that nobody around him shared the passion for this artist extraordinaire.

Khaled Al Haber (خالد الهبر), a fierce young fighter on the frontlines alongside his Palestinian and Lebanese comrades against the Zionists in 1982, and an enthusiastic artist whose patriotic and love songs, dedicated to his comrades, his hometowns and to the sites of the heroic battles, fueled the passion of the resistance. His harsh voice and his innovative tunes (one of the few to introduce Jazz themes in Arabic music) turned out to be not very appealing to the musically-challenged and theme-ignorant casual Arab fan, but that won’t divert him from the artistic path he committed to, even if it meant obscurity. In a time when prostitution musical “art” does not require more than a cheap exposed thigh in a pornographic video to achieve instant stardom, Khaled has 30 years of musical excellence, yet remains relatively unknown among the incompetent masses! Abu Shreek was very happy to find out the Khlaed was the guest on an Al-Jazeera satellite channel program called Doroob (Roads) under the title (Khaled Al Haber: In the shadows of fame).

It is always hard to find his albums, even online. Abu Shreek finally found some of his work on yasaree.net (thanks to jameed “propaganda” links), one of the few probable homes for Khaled. (yasaree.net is an excellent forums site that features a library of valuable books and literature, among other great things). Please browse through this valuable collection of songs (unfortunately in real player format). Abu Shreek does not wish to force his musical taste on you, but these are a few of the songs that he related to and enjoyed.

Min Zaman Kteer (A long time ago): This song is also known as (Sindyaneh 7amra), one of his most famous songs and a fan favourite that is usually recited along word for word in his concerts.

Abu 3aj2a (Mr. Mess?): A song about one of his extra enthusiastic comrades with an up beat that reflects the attitude of this personality.

Shallal Moosee2a (A waterfall of music): A musical masterpiece describing an Arab woman in details alongside a beautiful tune, Khaled’s voice here could be kind of tough on those who are not used to it yet. (Another version without vocals is available in his album (Ma3 il Wa2tt Btinsa (you will forget with time).

Al 7arb il Qadema (The coming war): The ultimate song to describe the current situation.

Rana and Rula: Two different songs about two young ladies that made me envision every troubled/loved lady being named Rula or Rana.

Nasheed il 3ommal (The Anthem of the Workers): A song Abu Shreek yelled walking through the streets of Amman, hoping that of every construction worker, every taxi driver and every working hand living the daily struggle, to have a better day.

Ghiniyyeh 3atiffyyeh (A love song): Dedicated from Abu Shreek to the all the lady “comradettes”.

Each and every song of his work is a classic, and this is only a sample.
Khaled Al Haber is one of three people Abu Shreek would like to meet in his lifetime. He is definitely on the same level of all the greats who employed music to relate to the issues of the abused and oppressed average Arab and his major struggles. On behalf of those who apprecaite his work: Thanks.