They were students of my alma mater, their lead singer lives in my neighborhood, and they represent the musical soul of my town…
What’s not to love about Mashrou3 Leila?
The band, composed of former AUB students, has taken Beirut by storm over the last few years, developing a loyal, mostly eclectic following that appreciates the rawness of their indie music and the candor of their Lebanese words.
Who is Leila? God knows… Do they mean Leila a person or Leila a night? Who cares…
Either way, that project has caught the eyes of many.
Mashrou3 Leila sang to an enchanted full house at the 2010 Byblos International Festival. They celebrated their ongoing success with legions of fans at the launch party of their second album at the Beirut Hippodrome in 2011.
Their music cannot be easily labeled, though it is definitely not your typical Nancy Ajram repertoire. Their words are not censored, so you will hear the occasional curse word, and matters such as war, political assassinations, homosexuality, immigration and sectarianism will be openly discussed.
Leila has a big mouth.
Two albums already under their belt and so many memorable tunes to hum on any given day: from where it all began with Leila’s dance (Raksit Leila) to their skewed view on marriage (Fasateen), from their take on the “events” (3obwa) to their bashing of excessive security measures (3al 7ajez), from their sarcastic dismissal of gossiping (Latlit) to their emotional self-contemplative tune (Inni Mnee7)…
Mashrou3 Leila sing to vent. They sing for change. They raise money for good causes (over USD 20,000 raised to help AIDS patients in Lebanon). Their reach is global with concerts (Qatar, UAE, Egypt, Serbia, Jordan, Holland, France) and fans all around the world.
Are they controversial? Perhaps. Was I able to convince my friends to enjoy their music? No.
But one needs to venture out of a monochromatic lifestyle, look past differences and start to get to know “the other”
(isn’t this a timely piece of advice for Lebanese in general…)
For now, I invite you to enjoy some serious musical prowess coming from the heart of Beirut.
Quoting a Daily Star article:
“Lebanon clearly won’t be enough for the band, but they’d be nothing without it, and that’s not lost on them. No matter where they go, Beirut will always be Mashrou3 Leila’s first love”
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Thank you Mashrou3 Leila for staying true to the core.
Thank you for that much-needed spark.
Thank you for keeping Beirut alive.
Dar El Akhdar
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