Marcel Khalife sings in UNESCO, receives presidential recognition

BEIRUT - Alternative Staff

January 2003

Throughout three concerts held in the UNESCO palace in December, Lebanese leftist singer Marcel Khalife marked his return to the origins of his musical successes: patriotic songs.

After his attempts to switch from the popular audience, which made his fame during the civil war, to a more elitist one more interested in music than Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish’s poetry, Khalife seems to have resolved to go back to his roots.

Along with vocalist Umayma Khalil, who had accompanied him since his beginnings, and a band of four musicians, Khalife selected several songs from his old repertoire most of which were written by Darwish.

This audience welcomed such a choice. “This is the Marcel we know, this is the genre we have been waiting for for several years” said Layal, 30, a bank employee, in referrence to the “musical” period Marcel went into after the civil war.

“I understand that Marcel could have wanted to switch audience and redefine his musical orientations. My problem was that at some point, I felt that he had totally forgotten what made his success: patriotic songs he performed in precarious concerts held in the Safa football playground in Beirut. Today I can say that I am relieved as Marcel is back” said Joseph, one of Marcel’s fans.

Information minister Ghazi Aridi, who introduced Khalife in one of his UNESCO concerts, announced that the Lebanese government decided to decorate Khalife with Order of the Cedars, Officer Standing.

Ali, 40, commented on this announcement “some say the national political parties won the war over Lebanese oriented ones. The medal Marcel earned today is maybe the only thing the left won in this war”.

Dima, 26, commented: “Marcel earned this medal. I am living abroad and every time I hear Marcel Khalife’s songs I remember my country and my family. This is enough proof that this man represents Lebanon.”