Kadim Al Sahir | |
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كاظم الساهر | |
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| Born | Kadim Jabbar Al Samarai كاظم جبار إبراهيم السامرائي (1957-09-12)12 September 1957 (age 68) |
| Occupations | Singer, composer, songwriter |
| Years active | 1980–present |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | Classical crossover,Arab pop,operatic pop,folk pop,world |
| Labels | Al Nazaer Media Group, Stallions Records, Relax-In,Rotana Music Group, Platinum Records |
Musical artist | |
Kadim Jabbar Al Samarai (Arabic:كاظم جبار إبراهيم السامرائي; born 12 September 1957),[1] better known by his stage nameKadim Al Sahir (Arabic:كاظم الساهر), is anIraqi singer and composer. DubbedThe Caesar, he has earned numerous local, regional, and international awards.[2] One of the most famous singers in theArab world, Al-Sahir has sold more than 100 million albums and written more than 40 hit songs, including "Ana Wa Layla" (Me and Layla), "Salamtak Men Al Ah" (Get Well Soon) and "La Titnahad" (Don't Sigh).[3]
By 1988, he gained popularity in many Arab countries with compositions such as "Ladghat El-Hayya" and "Abart El-Shat". His musical career was hindered by the outbreak of theGulf War in 1990. After leaving Iraq, his songs and titles championed the Iraqi people while they lived underSaddam Hussein's rule and Western sanctions.[4] In 2011, he was named a goodwill ambassador by theUNICEF.[5]
Al-Sahir has performed a wide range ofArabic music from pop to classical and singing in most Arabic dialects.[6] His music is known for fusing traditional Arabic melodies with diverse international music forms. He has collaborated with international stars such asQuincy Jones,Sarah Brightman,Lenny Kravitz, and had frequent partnerships with the revered Syrian poetNizar Qabbani. His romantic poetry in music has established him as acultural icon.[7]
He appeared as a judge in the television showThe Voice: Ahla Sawt from 2012 to 2015, alongsideAssi El Hallani,Sherine, andSaber Rebai.[8] In 2020, he appeared on the frontpage ofVogue Man Arabia.[9]
Al Sahir was born inMosul,Iraq on September 12, 1957,[10] to aSunni father and aShia mother fromNajaf. His father lived inBaghdad but was aSamarra native from the tribe of Darraj. Kadhem Al Sahir grew up and spent a large part of his life in Al-Hurrya neighborhood in Baghdad. Growing up in a low-income household in Mosul, he saw his mother struggle to raise eight children.[11]
Apart from his mother, Al Sahir's family were never supportive of his direction in becoming a musician. They had no faith in him that he would become successful, and instead wanted him to become a doctor or a lawyer. Al Sahir's brother once took him to different places where people usually sang, and told him it was his choice to sing in a respectful way, or he could choose to do it the bad way. He said that the only way to achieve success is for one to respect his music and respect himself.[12]
In 1980, Al-Sahir started teaching music. Two years later, he pursued studies at theInstitute of Music of Baghdad.[13]
Although Al-Sahir generally steers clear ofpolitical themes, his 1987 song "Ladghat al-Hayaa" (“The Snake Bite”)—aired onIraqi television a year before theIran–Iraq War ended—sparked controversy because its lyrics were interpreted as a critique of the conflict. Broadcast officials demanded that he alter the lyrics or face the song being banned.[11] In 1996, Al Saher met and formed a songwriting partnership with Syrian poetNizar Qabbani, who wrote thelyrics to his music.[14]
Nizar Qabbani, who previously wrote lyrics for superstars of the 1960s and 1970s likeAbdel Halim Hafez andNajat Al Saghira,[15] wrote the lyrics to more than 30 of Al Sahir's songs, including “Zidini Ashqan” (“Love Me More”), “Hal Endak Shak” (“Do You Have a Doubt”), and “Ahibini Bella Ukad” (“Love Me With No Constraints”), among many others.[16] In addition to Qabbani's poems, Al Sahir sang both political and romantic songs for Iraq andBaghdad, highlighting the feelings of the citizens of Iraq as well as their tragedies. In 1995, Al Sahir travelled toNorthern England to film the music video for his notable sentimental ballad “Ha Habibi” ("Hey, My Beloved") in theSunny Bank andConiston Water area of theLake District.[17]
In November 1996, Al Sahir traveled to Germany to film his music video for “Zidini Ashqan” infreezing conditions at locations including Schloss Landsberg inRatingen, as well asLeverkusen andBurscheid. The music video was directed by Jordanian filmmaker Hussein Daibis, with assistance from Lebanese director Saeed Al-Marouk and a German crew, and produced by theArab Radio and Television Network (ART).[18]
Al Sahir continued to release albums and tour, having become a big name in Middle Eastern music. Hisballads grew bigger and more romantic, but he would also write classically influenced works, even when they might hurt his popularity. In 1998, Al Sahir filmed "Quli Ohiboka" ("Tell Me You Love Me") at theSpanish Steps and Castello di Tor Crescenza inRome, Italy.
By 1998, he had ten albums under his belt and was lauded as an artist, not just a pop star. That prestige brought him wider fame and a growing international reputation that won him aUNICEF award for his song "Tathakkar", which he performed in the U.S. forCongress and the United Nations–one of the first real post-Gulf War cultural exchanges. The following year, he recorded a tribute to thePope with theItalian Symphony Orchestra. Releasing numerous albums and touring extensively in this era, Al Sahir became both a high-grossing superstar and a respected musical artist. In 2000, Al Sahir traveled toLos Angeles to film the music video for “La Titnahad” (“Don’t Sigh”) at a storefront onBeverly Boulevard in theFairfax District. Kadim Al Sahir's music video for "Akrahouha" ("I Hate Her") was filmed in Venice, Italy, featuring Al Sahir singing along the city's iconic canals.
Following theU.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003, Al Sahir's music changed to reflect new regional and global attention to Iraq during wartime. As scholar Christopher Phillips writes inEveryday Arab Identity (2012):
"Although Iraqi singers were not historically that well known due to their isolation from the wider Arab world during Saddam Hussein’s rule, Kathem al-Saher made a name for himself after 2003, singing in classical Arabic, often about the destruction of Iraq under occupation and war. His success might indicate a certain level of Arab solidarity, with viewers opting to show their support for Iraq through the purchase of songs depicting its misfortune."[19]
In 2004, Al Sahir collaborated withLenny Kravitz and released an anti-war song atRock The Vote, titled "We Want Peace", and shortly afterward released a song entitled "The War Is Over" (Entahat al harab) withSarah Brightman, which was released on her albumHarem and his albumHafiat Al-Kadamain. Both of these international duets were executive produced by Dergham Owainati, ofEMI Music Arabia, for Kadim's part.
In 2004, Al Sahir continued to work with various international artists includingGrammy Award-winning producersKC Porter, andQuincy Jones. His collaboration "Love & Compassion" (Hob Wa Haneen) was the title track for theArab American National Museum Collector's edition honoring the artists that have made the most significant difference with international audiences. The track features Grammy winning singer/songwriterPaula Cole,Def Jam recording artistKarina Pasian, andLuis Conte and was produced byKC Porter andDawn Elder.[20]
In 2004, he participated in the worldwide broadcast concert special "We are the Future" produced by Quincy Jones and coordinated by Dawn Elder at the Roman Maximos Stadium in Rome for the benefit of the children of the world. In December 2004, he participated in the opening of the Gulf Football Championship (Khaleeji 17) in which he performed the return of Iraq Operette which was broadcast live on 10 satellite channels. Additionally, in 2004, he was the first Arab artist to participate inUnity, the official album of the2004 Summer Olympics.
Releasing his albumIla Tilmitha on November 11, 2004. The album contains collaborations with the MoroccanAsma Lamnawar whom Kadim Al Sahir discovered earlier and introduced to the Arab world in her first due song with Kadim "ashko ayaman". The album also included the song "Ahbeni," written by poet Nizar Qabbani, shot as a video clip by Husien Duibes; it became a major hit in the year 2004 alongside the song "Ila Tilmitha."
UNICEF named Al Sahir as the newGoodwill Ambassador for Iraq for the year 2011. For Al Sahir, this was a compelling reason to visit his country after 14 years.[21]
He sang Bokra ("Tomorrow"), a charity single that was released on November 11, 2011, at 11:11 pm, along withRim Banna,Akon,Tamer Hosni,Diana Karazon,Marwan Khoury,Latifa,Souad Massi,Hani Mitwassi,Saber El Robai,Wa'ed,Sherine, and other Arab artists. The single distributed the proceeds of its donations to various organisations, especially institutions and charities with arts and culture programs. The eight-minute song was written byMajida Al-Roumi and was produced byQuincy Jones andRedOne.
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He debuted as a coach for MBCThe Voice Kids, and his team member Lynn Hayek from Lebanon was the winning contestant in the Season 1 Finale held on March 5, 2016.
In collaboration with an Abu Dhabi cultural foundation, he performed solo in his first virtual hybrid concert in 2020 due to thepandemic.[22] Al Sahir emphasized his commitment to innovation, stating he will not perform without introducing new material. This aligns with his legacy as a pioneer of Arabic music, blending classical and modern styles.[23]
After his concert in the Saudi city ofAl-Taif in July 2018, several pro-government Saudi commentators speculated that Qatar might revoke his citizenship due to theongoing blockade imposed on the gas-rich emirate by Saudi Arabia and its allies. In the months following the blockade's start in June 2017, Al-Sahir was reported to have performed at a private event in Qatar. This led some Saudis to speculate that his planned concerts in Saudi Arabia would be cancelled—but they proceeded as scheduled.[11]
Al Sahir left Iraq in the early 1990s after theGulf War, and moved toLebanon, before resettling inCairo. Al Sahir did not have a permanent residence and frequently moved, mainly betweenCairo,Dubai,Toronto,Beirut, andParis, though as of 2022 he settled with his family inRabat,Morocco. He has two sons, Wisam and Omar Al Sahir, both of them married.[24] Kadim is also a grandfather to Wisam's daughter Sana.[25] Al Sahir has remained unmarried since his divorce from his first wife, whom he married at 19.[11]
In February 2019, Kadim officially asked to change his last name from Al Samarai to Al Sahir.[26] Al Sahir hasbothQatari andCanadian citizenship.[11]
Kadim Al Sahir tours around the world performing for his mostly Arab fans. He has performed in many countries, including the USA, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Australia, and England. Major venues include:
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