You are here

  • Home
  • Billboard Arabia Music Awards celebrates regional music scene

Billboard Arabia Music Awards celebrates regional music scene

Billboard Arabia Music Awards celebrates regional music scene
Elyanna won the Best Upcoming Artist award. (Supplied)
Short Url

https://arab.news/pdy8e

Updated 15 December 2024
Rahaf Jambi
Follow

Billboard Arabia Music Awards celebrates regional music scene

Billboard Arabia Music Awards celebrates regional music scene
Updated 15 December 2024
Rahaf Jambi
Follow

RIYADH: The Billboard Arabia Music Awards took place in Riyadh on Wednesday night to honor the most-streamed songs and popular artists in the region, including Palestinian Chilean singer Elyanna who is on a world tour with British rock band Coldplay.

Focusing on digital data from global music and video platforms while spotlighting Arabic music, the event attracted numerous celebrities and music enthusiasts, including Jara, billed as Saudi Arabia's first female rapper.

"Hala Walla! My name is Jara, and I’m thrilled to be at the inaugural Billboard Music Awards in Saudi Arabia. This moment is incredibly special to me, especially as I’m one of the nominees for Best Female Hip Hop Artist in the Middle East. Whether we win or not, I’m just so excited to be part of this celebration today." Jara told Arab News ahead of the ceremony.

The awards saw notable winners, including the Song of the Year award that went to “Tamer Ashour;” the Artist of the Year prize won by Sherine Abdulwahab; the Favorite Artist that was won by Amr Diab; the Best Khaliji Song prize that went to “Ayedh;” the Best Khaliji Artist award that went to Abdulmajeed Abdullah; the Best Khaliji Female Artist award won by Omaima Talib; the Best Egyptian Song nod that went to “Tamer Ashour;” the Best Levantine Song that was won by "Wain;" and the Best Female Artist from the Levant that went to Nancy Ajram. Meanwhile the Best Moroccan Song award went to Saad Al-Mujarrad’s "Guli Mata," and the Best Indie Artist nod that went to Cairokee.

Topics: Billboard Arabia Music Awards

Hend Sabri to host acting masterclass in Jeddah

Hend Sabri to host acting masterclass in Jeddah
Updated 14 January 2025
Arab News
Follow

Hend Sabri to host acting masterclass in Jeddah

Hend Sabri to host acting masterclass in Jeddah
Updated 14 January 2025
Arab News

JEDDAH: Actress Hend Sabri is set to host a masterclass organized by the Saudi Ministry of Culture’s Film Commission on Jan. 17.
The Egyptian Tunisian actress was featured on the BBC’s 100 Women list for 2024, featuring the British broadcaster’s 100 most influential women.
The BBC described Sabri “as one of the most famous women in Arab cinema” in its listing. In 2019, the actress became the first Arab woman to serve as a judge at the Venice Film Festival.
With titles such as “Finding Ola” and the Oscar-nominated “Four Daughters” under her belt, Sabri is well placed to speak to industry insiders at the event in Jeddah on Friday.
According to the Film Commission, she will discuss the interplay between actors and directors and how the former can employ various acting techniques to serve the filmmaker’s vision.
The session is the latest in a stellar lineup of activities for those involved in Saudi Arabia’s burgeoning film scene — last week, Saudi actresses Sumaya Rida, Adwa Bader and Mila Al-Zahrani participated in a workshop hosted by the California-based drama school Ivana Chubbuck Studio in Riyadh. 
The workshop is part of the Ministry of Culture and the Film Commission’s Filmmakers Program, which runs until the end of January.

Ivana Chubbuck, founder and director of the studio, is a US acting coach and creator of the widely adopted Chubbuck Technique, known for its role in Oscar-winning and nominated performances. 
She heads the drama school in Los Angeles and conducts acting workshops worldwide.
Chubbuck has worked with renowned actors such as Charlize Theron, Brad Pitt, Sylvester Stallone, Terrence Howard, James Franco, Jake Gyllenhaal, Elisabeth Shue, Catherine Keener, Halle Berry, and Jared Leto, among others. 
She is also the author of the best-selling book “The Power of the Actor,” published by Penguin Books’ Gotham division, which has been translated into 20 languages.

Chubbuck’s Riyadh workshop was also attended by Saudi actor and comedian Fahad Albutairi, who shared a carousel of images from the event on Instagram. Among the pictures was a signed note from Chubbuck that read: “Fahad, you are so talented and (I) look forward to continuing our journey together.”

 

Topics: hend sabri

Related

Celebrity-loved jeweler Azza Fahmy has ‘a strong connection’ with Saudi Arabia
Lifestyle
Celebrity-loved jeweler Azza Fahmy has ‘a strong connection’ with Saudi Arabia
Esports World Cup to host Neymar celebrity gaming match in Riyadh
Sport
Esports World Cup to host Neymar celebrity gaming match in Riyadh

Saudi star Abdul Majeed Abdullah featured in inaugural Billboard Global No. 1s series

Saudi star Abdul Majeed Abdullah featured in inaugural Billboard Global No. 1s series
Updated 14 January 2025
Arab News
Follow

Saudi star Abdul Majeed Abdullah featured in inaugural Billboard Global No. 1s series

Saudi star Abdul Majeed Abdullah featured in inaugural Billboard Global No. 1s series
Updated 14 January 2025
Arab News

DUBAI: Saudi icon Abdul Majeed Abdullah is the first Arab to feature in Billboard’s inaugural Global No. 1s series, alongside international superstars such as British pop singer Dua Lipa, Chinese singer-songwriter Yang Kun and Indian performer Diljit Dosanjh, among others.

The series aims to honour artists who have significantly shaped the global music scene. Its inaugural rollout featured 12 cover stories that highlighted last year’s chart-topping artists from around the world. 

Saudi icon Abdul Majeed Abdullah is the first Arab to feature in Billboard’s inaugural Global No. 1s series. (Supplied)

This recognition comes shortly after the inaugural Billboard Arabia Music Awards ceremony that took place in Riyadh in December. During the event, the Saudi performer was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award, along with the Artist of the Year in the Khaleeji Dialect trophy and the Best Artist in the Khaleeji Dialect award.

“Abdul Majeed Abdullah’s inclusion in our inaugural Billboard Global No. 1s series marks a significant recognition for an Arab artist and highlights the growing presence of Saudi and Arabic music on the global stage,” Hannah Karp, Billboard’s Editorial Director, said in a released statement “This series is a powerful demonstration of Billboard’s global reach and impact, celebrating the artists who shape music culture around the world.”

Rami Zeidan, Managing Director of Billboard Arabia, added: "The presence of Saudi and Arabic music, represented by Abdul Majeed Abdullah, is a source of pride, showcasing the remarkable journey of Arabic music to the world’s most prominent platforms." He highlighted the ambitious role played by Billboard Arabia and its newly launched awards in spotlighting the achievements of Arab artists and fostering connections with global platforms and partnerships.

Since the launch of the Billboard Arabia charts in December 2023, Abdullah has consistently appeared on both the Billboard Arabia Hot 100 and Billboard Arabia Artist 100 charts.

The Global No. 1s series features covers from Billboard Korea, Billboard Italia, Billboard Philippines, Billboard Español, Billboard Argentina, Billboard Canada, Billboard Georgia and Billboard Arabia. Spotlighted stars included IU, an icon of South Korean music and cinema; Geolier, Italy’s breakout hip-hop star; BINI, a Filipino girl group; Edgar Barrera, the award-winning Mexican songwriter and producer; Valentino Merlo & The La Planta, Argentina’s genre-defying artists; Diljit Dosanjh, Canada’s celebrated Punjabi artist; Giorgi Gigashvili, Georgia’s classical prodigy.

Film review: ‘The Trouble with Harry’

Photo/Supplied
Photo/Supplied
Updated 13 January 2025
Jasmine Bager
Follow

Film review: ‘The Trouble with Harry’

Photo/Supplied
  • Each character harbors their own suspicions and motivations and none know about the other
Updated 13 January 2025
Jasmine Bager

Author: Alfred Hitchcock

Celebrating 70 years since its release this year is one of my favorite Alfred Hitchcock films, “The Trouble with Harry.”

Released in 1955, it is a unique entry in Hitchcock’s filmography, blending dark comedy and dry humor with elements of mystery juxtaposed with bright, saturated colors.

Set in a picturesque New England countryside during the peak of autumn, the story begins when a young boy, Arnie Rogers (played by Jerry Mathers), hears gunshots while playing alone in the woods. He rushes to see what the commotion is about — with his own toy gun in hand — and stumbles upon a dead body, Harry.

He runs away in haste. Meanwhile, separately, others in the town are also serendipitously out with guns in the woods, each for their own shrouded reasons.

What follows is a series of comedic misunderstandings and moral dilemmas as the townspeople, including Capt. Albert Wiles (Edmund Gwenn), Jennifer Rogers (Shirley MacLaine, in her film debut), and Miss Ivy Gravely (Mildred Natwick), become entangled in Harry’s fate.

With each twist, viewers are drawn further into the tangled web of confusion, secrecy and wry wit. Who really shot Harry? And moreover, who is Harry to begin with?

Each character harbors their own suspicions and motivations and none know about the other.

Shot on location in Vermont and on studio sets in California, the film’s autumnal hues are a visual delight and a huge aesthetic departure from what we have known Hitchcock films to look like.

Cinematographer Robert Burks captures the vibrant fall foliage with painterly precision, creating a backdrop so striking, it almost becomes a character itself.

Notably, the film also features an evocative musical score by Bernard Herrmann, marking his first collaboration with Hitchcock — a partnership that would go on to define some of cinema’s most iconic soundscapes. It adds so much sonically to this visibly absurd set of circumstances.

Adapted from Jack Trevor Story’s 1949 novel of the same name, the film marked a significant departure from the high-stakes thrillers Hitchcock was known for.

While “The Trouble with Harry” was not a box-office hit upon its initial release, it found renewed appreciation in later years and is now regarded, seven decades later, as one of Hitchcock’s most underrated works. Its subtle satire and offbeat narrative offer a refreshing counterpoint to Hitchcock’s darker masterpieces.

 

Topics: “The Trouble with Harry”

Related

Film Review: ‘Confess, Fletch’
Lifestyle
Film Review: ‘Confess, Fletch’
Film Review: ‘Austenland’
Entertainment
Film Review: ‘Austenland’

REVIEW: Coldplay blends emotional highs of 25-year catalog with visual artistry in Abu Dhabi

REVIEW: Coldplay blends emotional highs of 25-year catalog with visual artistry in Abu Dhabi
Updated 13 January 2025
Shyama Krishna Kumar
Follow

REVIEW: Coldplay blends emotional highs of 25-year catalog with visual artistry in Abu Dhabi

REVIEW: Coldplay blends emotional highs of 25-year catalog with visual artistry in Abu Dhabi
Updated 13 January 2025
Shyama Krishna Kumar

DUBAI: The biggest rock tour of all time (amassing $1 billion and counting) graced Abu Dhabi’s Zayed Sports Stadium this week in a dizzying flurry of fireworks displays, endless streams of confetti, and celestial bodies that floated over audiences’ heads ever so gracefully.

British rockers Coldplay brought their lauded “Music of the Spheres” tour to the UAE, delivering an unforgettable evening that showcased the band’s enduring appeal and innovative artistry.

The seamless production, relying heavily on visuals and everything from streamers to pyrotechnics, was led by the band’s lead vocalist Chris Martin, who deftly deployed his practiced charisma to work the crowd into a frenzy.

In addition to speaking in fluent Arabic multiple times, Martin went beyond the prescribed amount of obligatory shoutouts to include thoughtful audience interaction.

The band opened their two-hour set with the energetic “Higher Power,” immediately energizing the crowd as their wristbands (dubbed Xylobands by fans) ignited in an explosion of color. Over the course of the evening, they delivered a carefully curated setlist that blended old favorites like “Yellow,” “The Scientist,” and “Viva La Vida” with tracks from their latest album, “Music of the Spheres.”

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Coldplay (@coldplay)

Opening act Elyanna, a Palestinian-Chilean artist, delivered a striking performance with songs like “Ganeni” and “Mama Eh.” Her duet with Coldplay on “We Pray” was a standout moment of the night.

Coldplay’s dedication to sustainability remained a core feature of the tour. From the use of renewable energy to power their shows to their pledge to reduce carbon emissions, the band demonstrated their efforts to set new standards for environmentally conscious touring.

Ultimately, Coldplay’s Abu Dhabi show was a masterful display of artistry, theatrics and connection. From the immersive visuals to the emotional highs of their music, the concert felt both intimate and epic — a testament to the band’s ability to unite a global audience through their craft.

Topics: coldplay Music of the Spheres

Rapper Saint Levant teases new music video directed by Lyna Zerrouki

Rapper Saint Levant teases new music video directed by Lyna Zerrouki
Updated 13 January 2025
Arab News
Follow

Rapper Saint Levant teases new music video directed by Lyna Zerrouki

Rapper Saint Levant teases new music video directed by Lyna Zerrouki
Updated 13 January 2025
Arab News

DUBAI: Algerian director Lyna Zerrouki has directed a new music video for rapper Saint Levant for a song titled “Exile.”

Set to release in full on Tuesday, a snippet of the video released on social media on Monday seemed to feature Moroccan Italian model Malika El-Maslouhi falling through the air against a blue background. Arab News has reached out to Saint Levant’s team to confirm the model’s involvement in the new video.

The short video clips released on Monday also features a shot of the camera panning toward Saint Levant, who is illuminated from behind as rolling fog covers the floor.

Saint Levant, a Palestinian French Algerian Serbian rapper, is known for such songs as “From Gaza, With Love” and “5am in Paris.” He performed at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival music festival in California in 2024.

The musician used the opportunity to address the ongoing war in Gaza, saying: “Coachella, my name is Saint Levant and I was born in Jerusalem and raised in Gaza … as I hope all of you are aware, the people of Gaza have been undergoing a brutal, brutal genocide for the past six months. And the people of Palestine have been undergoing a brutal occupation for the past 75 years.”

Born Marwan Abdelhamid in Jerusalem, the singer previously spoke to Arab News about his childhood.

“The actual cultural makeup is my mom is half-French and half-Algerian. My dad is Serbian, half-Palestinian. And they actually both grew up in Algeria. But they decided, in the early 90s, post the Oslo Accords, that Palestine was going to be free.

“So they went back, my dad went to live in Gaza in the early 1980s. And my dad actually built a hotel there and that’s where I grew up,” he said.

“For everyone, childhood is very meaningful. And for me, it was a juxtaposition because I remember the sound of the drones and the sounds of the bones. But more than anything, I remember the warmth, and the smell … and the taste of food and just the odd feeling of soil.”

Latest updates

France’s Macron to visit Lebanon this week
France’s Macron to visit Lebanon this week
Sudan army denies involvement in Al-Jazira state civilian assaults
Sudan army denies involvement in Al-Jazira state civilian assaults
SRMG wins exclusive rights to market ‘Schools Walking Challenge’ program
SRMG wins exclusive rights to market ‘Schools Walking Challenge’ program
KSA welcomes record 18.5m pilgrims in 2024
KSA welcomes record 18.5m pilgrims in 2024
Al-Qaryan Group begins decommissioning project for SABIC subsidiary ‘Ibn Rushd’
Al-Qaryan Group begins decommissioning project for SABIC subsidiary ‘Ibn Rushd’

Search form

Print Edition
Read pdf version Subscribe now
© 2025 SAUDI RESEARCH & PUBLISHING COMPANY, All Rights Reserved And subject to Terms of Use Agreement.