[Review] : Maher Zain
Props to Mr Zubli Zain (aka QV and QM’s dad) for the phrase for the LJ cut text. His real name is Zubli Zainordin. It was a joke that he made while interviewing Maher Zain and his showcase manager. Maher Zain, Zubli Zain. Get it?
Maher Zain is a Swedish singer who is Lebanese by origin. From what I know about him was that he used to work at RedOne as a music producer. After that, he worked an his album at Awakening Records.
Maher Zain happened to be one the people whose nasheed songs actually appeal to me. It was calming, soothing, simple and straight to the point (tear-jerking also). To be frank, I only listen to Raihan, Saujana (and sometimes Hijjaz) for nasheed. Other groups are either use too much ‘cinta’ (love) in their song titles that turn me off, too electronic (Rabbani) or just don’t appeal to me.
For the first case, I understand that their message is about love of Allah but this is just me. I get turned off by the word ‘cinta’ in song titles quite often and this doesn’t apply only to nasheed but other songs as well (Siti is an exception because I found out about the song title too late, meaning that I already liked the song before I found out about the song title).
Second case, call me an old fuddy-duddy but I prefer traditional melody of percussions in nashhed songs (like Raihan). However, I would like to congratulate Maher Zain for successfully breaking the stereotype for me. I find his piano accompaniment in The Chosen One soothing and well-suited. In my opinion, obvious use of autotunes and digitalized voice in nasheed are a turn-off. I don’t mind vocal-corrections though. It actually took time for me to recognize that Intifada by Rabbani is a nasheed song. Well, you can thank the digital keyboard riff. I thought that I was listening to a Backstreet Boy song.
I’m not bashing Rabbani. I actually applauded their efforts to experiment. I like the gamelan accompaniment in it. Yes, I like the song. It’s just the digital keyboard riff that I’m (still) not used to.
Back to Maher Zain, I first knew about him through the song and MV Insha Allah. I almost cried watching it, especially the drug addict and Israeli beating up Palestinian scene. I liked it and post the MV on my Facebook. Then, my friends started to post his MVs for other songs which sadly I didn’t even bother to watch them.
It actually took Mr Zubli Zain for me to watch and listen to The Chosen One. It’s been my favourite ever since. Maher Zain seem to take Malaysia by storm. Every Malaysians from different age groups dig his music. Even my friend, Hrisson who is a Christian digs Maher Zain! And, Maher Zain was at The Curve for a fanmeeting at Rock Corner on the 9th October (which I missed)! Gee, now I know why I wanted to go to the Curve on Saturday instead of on Sunday. Oh well. Upin and Ipin is okay I guess.
Maher Zain is definitely a phenomena in Malaysia. I mean, his showcase tickets actually sold out! And, that cause utter disappointment among my friends. Well, there’s always next year, Insha Allah. And, Insha Allah I won’t miss the fanmeeting.
To end this post, Maher Zain is definitely worth the listen. I recommend the song The Chosen One. Just get ready with a box of tissues, okay. You’ll need it, unless you’re the type that considers yourself ‘too cool to cry’ just like your truly.
Note: Cross-posted in Wordpress. So, no plagiarism allegations, okay.
Maher Zain is a Swedish singer who is Lebanese by origin. From what I know about him was that he used to work at RedOne as a music producer. After that, he worked an his album at Awakening Records.
Maher Zain happened to be one the people whose nasheed songs actually appeal to me. It was calming, soothing, simple and straight to the point (tear-jerking also). To be frank, I only listen to Raihan, Saujana (and sometimes Hijjaz) for nasheed. Other groups are either use too much ‘cinta’ (love) in their song titles that turn me off, too electronic (Rabbani) or just don’t appeal to me.
For the first case, I understand that their message is about love of Allah but this is just me. I get turned off by the word ‘cinta’ in song titles quite often and this doesn’t apply only to nasheed but other songs as well (Siti is an exception because I found out about the song title too late, meaning that I already liked the song before I found out about the song title).
Second case, call me an old fuddy-duddy but I prefer traditional melody of percussions in nashhed songs (like Raihan). However, I would like to congratulate Maher Zain for successfully breaking the stereotype for me. I find his piano accompaniment in The Chosen One soothing and well-suited. In my opinion, obvious use of autotunes and digitalized voice in nasheed are a turn-off. I don’t mind vocal-corrections though. It actually took time for me to recognize that Intifada by Rabbani is a nasheed song. Well, you can thank the digital keyboard riff. I thought that I was listening to a Backstreet Boy song.
I’m not bashing Rabbani. I actually applauded their efforts to experiment. I like the gamelan accompaniment in it. Yes, I like the song. It’s just the digital keyboard riff that I’m (still) not used to.
Back to Maher Zain, I first knew about him through the song and MV Insha Allah. I almost cried watching it, especially the drug addict and Israeli beating up Palestinian scene. I liked it and post the MV on my Facebook. Then, my friends started to post his MVs for other songs which sadly I didn’t even bother to watch them.
It actually took Mr Zubli Zain for me to watch and listen to The Chosen One. It’s been my favourite ever since. Maher Zain seem to take Malaysia by storm. Every Malaysians from different age groups dig his music. Even my friend, Hrisson who is a Christian digs Maher Zain! And, Maher Zain was at The Curve for a fanmeeting at Rock Corner on the 9th October (which I missed)! Gee, now I know why I wanted to go to the Curve on Saturday instead of on Sunday. Oh well. Upin and Ipin is okay I guess.
Maher Zain is definitely a phenomena in Malaysia. I mean, his showcase tickets actually sold out! And, that cause utter disappointment among my friends. Well, there’s always next year, Insha Allah. And, Insha Allah I won’t miss the fanmeeting.
To end this post, Maher Zain is definitely worth the listen. I recommend the song The Chosen One. Just get ready with a box of tissues, okay. You’ll need it, unless you’re the type that considers yourself ‘too cool to cry’ just like your truly.
Note: Cross-posted in Wordpress. So, no plagiarism allegations, okay.