To listen to Ziad Rahbani was to listen to a musical genius who was far and beyond ahead of his time.
Rahbani passed away in his home today at the age of 69, leaving behind a legacy that pushed the boundaries of musical composition, satirical theater, and a distinctly Lebanese sound that reverberated across the country and the entire Middle East and North Africa.
His loss is a gut-punch to the Lebanese creative community and to music across the region. We lost a once-in-a-generation talent who transcended his craft, whose music is still covered and reinterpreted by artists in the Middle East and North Africa.
For Lebanon specifically, its people lost a passionate and fierce fighter for the country. Today, Lebanon mourns the soul of the country, the heartbeat of its people. Lebanon lost one of the few figures who truly understood its communities.
A cultural phenomenon in his own right, Rahbani, the eldest son of Lebanese icon Fairuz and composer Assi Rahbani, set the standard for Arabic music composition in the 1970s and 1980s by both incorporating elements of jazz and funk into traditional Arabic melodies and by daring to challenge the political status quo in Lebanon during the country’s civil war through poignant, satirical lyrics.
With Fairuz, the rebellious genius ushered in a new era for her through his jazz composition and lyrical introspection, giving the iconic singer a more political tone than she had previously done.
Far beyond music, Rahbani took his satire to theater and film, with one of his most notable movies “Film Ameriki Tawil” (The American Motion Picture) parodying Lebanon during the civil war and reflecting different facets of Lebanese society.
Rahbani was a champion of left-wing communist political theory and ideology, and his music reflected such. His critique of Lebanon never came from a place of spite, but from a place of love for his country and for his people. He believed Lebanon could be better.
In a country where sectarian divisions still plague political discourse, Rahbani maintained his status as a widely-beloved figure in Lebanon, perhaps his greatest feat.
In tribute to Rahbani, Rolling Stone MENA compiled a list of essential songs by the artist.
“Bala Wala Chi”
“Shou Hal Ayyam”
“Khalas”
“Ana Moush Kafer”
“Kifak Inta”
“Sa’alouni El Nas”
“Sallimleh Alayh”
“Eh Fi Amel”
“Walla’t Ktir”
“Esmaa Ya Reda”
