Lebanon, 1963. It was the time of flowers, the time of ignoring fear, and our days tasted like honey. It was a time when the land of cedars boasted of being the pearl of the Middle East, the receptacle of international celebrities, a place ogled by tourists from all corners of the world. For its unique identity, for its special welcome, for its unique nature, for its thousand-year-old remains, for its culture, its art and its multiple traditions, and for its capital capital of the world, Beirut, with its earthy character.

Beirut sung by poets, praised by voices around the world. 1963, at the time of the flowers, Enrico Macias, a young singer from Constantine who saw his success increasing, was delighted to obtain a contract in Lebanon, where he was greeted with a bang by the Lebanese public, especially when he sang songs in Arabic. . It was in 1963 that he released his 45 laps at Pathé, with as a flagship song, an ode to “Beirut”.

Macias could have pursued a successful career in the Middle East from the Lebanese capital; but the only downside is his belonging to the Jewish community. Back in France after a successful tour in the Levant, the Arab League asks Macias to deny his Jewish origins in order to be able to continue his activity in Lebanon. His peremptory refusal to the latter was also expressed in music, with the words of his cult song, “Children of all countries”; since then, Enrico Macias, the Algerian singer has been banned in all countries of the Middle East.

However, this musical work which glorifies the beauty of our Lebanese capital in the language of Molière cannot be ignored, and proves once again, that in the world of art, there are no barriers which can exist in the face of the beauty of a song, a poem, a painting or a jewel of the seventh art. Now let’s listen to “Beirut” – Words by Mohamed Jamoussi and Irène Frendo, to music composed by Enrico Macias.

Beirut,
Your horizon calls me, calls me and smiles at me.

Beirut,
Your charm bewitches me, your beauty seduces me.
It is the Eden of all time, which enchants me and which awaits me,
It is the old fairyland of Lebanon.

Beirut,
Your field, full of sweetness, stretches to infinity.

Beirut,
And rise in my heart, in green symphonies.
It’s the song of the old days, repeated by lovers,
It is the slow melody of Lebanon.

Beirut,
Laughing sun in the sky, with a mysterious reflection.

Beirut,
River of honey milk, which descends to us from the heavens
It is Venus of all time, that lovers celebrate,
In the flowered mountain of Lebanon.

Beirut,
I sing to your stars, when all silence reigns there.

Beirut,
The blue that nothing veils, slumbers in your eyes.
I dream a bright dream, which cradles me tenderly,
Through the Thousand and One Nights of Lebanon ……

Marie Josée Rizkallah
Marie-Josée Rizkallah est une artiste libanaise originaire de Deir-el-Qamar. Versée dans le domaine de l’écriture depuis l’enfance, elle est l’auteur de trois recueils de poèmes et possède des écrits dans plusieurs ouvrages collectifs ainsi que dans la presse nationale et internationale. Écrivain bénévole sur le média citoyen Libnanews depuis 2006, dont elle est également cofondatrice, profondément engagée dans la sauvegarde du patrimoine libanais et dans la promotion de l'identité et de l’héritage culturel du Liban, elle a fondé l'association I.C.H.T.A.R. (Identité.Culture.Histoire.Traditions.Arts.Racines) pour le Patrimoine Libanais dont elle est actuellement présidente. Elle défend également des causes nationales qui lui touchent au cœur, loin des équations politiques étriquées. Marie-Josée est également artiste peintre et iconographe de profession, et donne des cours et des conférences sur l'Histoire et la Théologie de l'Icône ainsi que l'Expression artistique. Pour plus de détails, visitez son site: mariejoseerizkallah.com son blog: mjliban.wordpress.com et la page FB d'ICHTAR : https://www.facebook.com/I.C.H.T.A.R.lb/

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