|
Melhem
Zein
Melhem
Zein
is
from
the
Lebanese
Bekaa,
21
years
old,
and
a
Scorpio.
His
hobbies
include
pool
and
football.
He
studied
law
for
one
year
and
had
to
stop
to
join
the
army
to
finish
his
compulsory
military
service.
At
the
age
of
seven,
Melhem
sang
“Lissa
Faker”
by
Um
Kulthoum
at
a
wedding.
Later
on,
he
was
inspired
by
the
Musician
Mohammad
Abdul
Wahab
and
Nazem
Ghazali.
At
the
age
of
eleven,
he
participated
in
the
Song
Festival
that
was
held
for
all
Lebanese
schools,
and
was
the
first
place
winner
on
the
level
of
Bekaa
Province,
and
the
fourth
place
winner
nationwide.
Melhem
developed
his
inborn
singing
talent
by
studying
music.
So
he
studied
oriental
singing,
principles
of
the
music
scale
at
the
St.
Couer
University
in
Kaslik
and
at
the
Oriental
College.
He
also
participated
in
a
talent
show
and
won
the
Prize
of
Mohammad
Abdul
Wahab
when
he
sang
“Ya
Jaratal
Wadi”.
Melhem
says,
“I’ve
been
raised
to
appreciate
classical
Arabic
music,
and
I
absolutely
cannot
sing
the
modern
styles
of
music
that
are
currently
widespread.”
Below
is
an
interview
conducted
with
Melhem
Zein
immediately
after
winning
28.43%
of
the
votes
of
the
audience…
Today
you
are
participating
in
a
talent
show
for
the
second
time…why?
Because
the
first
time
provided
me
neither
the
opportunity
to
succeed
nor
to
become
famous.
This
is
what
encouraged
me
to
participate
in
Superstar.
Did
you
expect
to
win?
Kind
of…by
eighty
percent
of
the
votes…although
I
felt
some
competition
from
other
participants.
You
are
the
first
Lebanese
participant
who
wins
in
the
show…
But
some
suspected
your
winning
since
you
performed
a
Lebanese
song
that
some
might
not
be
familiar
with
in
the
Arab
countries…
I
sang
“Sarkhat
Batal”
by
Wadih
Essafi…a
song
that
is
not
less
than
40
years
old
and
is
addressed
to
Arab
peoples,
and
also
sung
by
many.
I
think
that
it
was
good
in
revealing
my
vocal
abilities.
In
your
opinion,
what
are
the
reasons
that
caused
the
viewers
to
vote
for
you?
I
don’t
know…at
the
hotel
in
which
I
stayed,
other
participants
and
I
got
many
phone
calls
from
women,
and
they
said
that
they
voted
for
me
because
of
my
“dimples”
(laughing)…Every
one
of
the
audience
chose
me
for
his
own
reason.
We
all
know
that
the
beginning
of
Artist
Assi
Hellani,
who
is
also
from
the
Lebanese
Bekaa,
was
distinguished
by
the
Lebanese
rural
style
of
songs
and
the
traditional
“Hawara”,
are
you
going
to
follow
the
same
style?
The
“Hawara”
song
style
became
famous
in
all
the
regions
of
Lebanon
at
some
point.
Assi,
together
with
the
company
and
the
people
who
supported
him,
made
use
of
the
success
of
this
song
in
a
smart
way.
There
are
some
situations
and
different
issues
that
help
some
artists
in
their
beginnings,
although
I
listen
to
voices
that
are
more
beautiful
than
his…with
all
due
respect…
You
did
not
answer
my
question…
I’m
saying
that
I
have
a
beautiful
voice
in
singing
the
rural
style
of
songs,
Attaba,
Shurouki,
and
Jebbouri,
but
I
should
present
other
styles
of
singing
to
satisfy
the
widest
base
of
audience.
MUSIC
MASTER/WARNER
is
waiting
to
support
you…
I
don’t
mind…
provided
that
I
have
to
interact
with
the
song
that
I’m
performing.
I
like
the
style
of
Singer
Mu’ein
Shreif,
though
my
voice
fits
for
all
styles
of
singing.
What
is
the
bad
habit
that
you’re
going
to
get
rid
of
today?
(laughing)
my
sharp
tongue…kind
of..
Are
you
going
to
reduce
you
“Baalbeck”
accent?
Accent
is
not
an
obstacle
in
one’s
life.
I
think
these
are
misconceptions.
Do
I
have
to
look
like
Ricky
Martin
for
the
audience
to
like
me?
Art
has
to
play
a
significant
role
in
this
case…
If
you
were
asked
to
change
your
physical
appearance
through
surgery,
what
would
you
change?
Maybe
my
nose
little
bit…
I
don’t
know…
Nancy
Zaabalawi
Nancy
Zaabalawi
is
from
Damascus
–
Syria,
21
years
old,
a
Gemini,
who
studied
Arabic
Literature
at
the
University
of
Damascus
before
studying
the
English
Language
and
computer
at
the
American
College.
She
is
currently
working
as
an
executive
secretary
at
the
Syrian
International
School.
Among
her
hobbies
are
singing
and
swimming.
She
wishes
to
work
in
the
field
of
Business.
If
art
were
consistent
with
her
beliefs,
she
would
have
chosen
it
without
hesitation
before
anything
else.
Nancy
maintains,
“Art
is
still
a
source
of
shame
for
girls
in
the
Arab
world.
The
oriental
society
allows
the
girl
to
be
a
nurse
for
instance,
and
to
get
out
of
her
house
in
the
middle
of
the
night
and
come
back
at
7:00
a.m.
But
the
problem
begins
when
the
girl,
in
their
opinion,
sings
for
one
hour
and
returns
home…”
Nancy’s
father
plays
the
guitar,
and
he
is
a
music
teacher
and
a
member
of
the
Artists
Syndicate
in
Syria.
As
a
young
girl,
she
had
the
talent
of
memorizing
the
songs
with
great
speed,
and
later
on,
she
participated
in
a
huge
number
of
children’s
shows
in
the
Syrian
Television
and
other
Arab
channels.
However,
she
stopped
to
pursue
her
studies.
During
the
summer
of
each
year,
Nancy’s
family
used
to
travel
to
Ladikiya
to
spend
the
vacation.
During
their
stay
in
one
of
the
hotels,
Nancy
used
to
sing
in
the
events
that
used
to
be
held
daily
just
for
the
sake
of
fun
not
more…However,
she
impressed
the
hotel
guests
who
started
asking
for
her,
which
encouraged
the
hotel
management
to
sign
a
contract
with
her
last
year
to
sing
for
one
whole
month,
before
starting
to
sing
in
restaurants
and
hotels
in
Damascus.
Nancy
says,
“I
don’t
like
the
audience
to
impose
a
song
on
me
that
I’m
not
convinced
of,
even
if
it
were
by
a
great
or
well-known
artist.
Do
we
sing
for
ourselves
or
the
audience?
For
the
audience
of
course.
However,
what
if
we
ceased
to
interact
with
and
feel
some
songs?
On
the
other
hand,
I
know
for
sure
that
my
voice
is
more
beautiful
in
classical
Arabic
songs,
and
I’m
personally
inclined
to
perform
the
melancholic
style
of
songs,
as
contrary
to
my
joyful
personality.
I
always
laugh
and
I’m
kindhearted…quiet,
secret-keeper,
and
able
to
assume
responsibility.”
Below
is
an
interview
with
Nancy
Zaabalawi
after
winning
15.24%
of
the
audience
votes…
Did
you
expect
to
win?
No…
not
at
all,
because
each
of
the
nine
participants
had
a
special
voice
and
style.
I
even
heard
that
a
large
number
of
people
described
the
episode
as
hot
since
it
combined
very
beautiful
and
competitive
voices.
How
are
you
going
to
prepare
yourself
for
the
final
round
of
the
show?
I
will
undergo
intensive
practice.
I
will
also
try
to
get
rid
of
my
moody
attitude
in
performing
the
songs
that
I
only
like.
I’m
a
Gemini,
which
is
known
for
having
two
contradictory
personalities.
That’s
why
I
wish
to
overcome
my
moodiness,
which
is
characteristic
of
my
daily
life
as
well.
I’m
also
stubborn
and
I
do
what
I
find
convenient
without
changing
my
mind.
The
situation
would
definitely
differ
today
in
the
presence
of
MUSIC
MASTER/WARNER
which
you
signed
a
contract
with
to
supervise
your
music
productions
in
the
case
of
winning
at
the
end..
I
cannot
do
without
the
advice
of
a
team
who
are
more
experienced
in
the
field.
However,
my
personality
also
plays
a
role
and
I
have
to
be
consulted
too.
I
cannot
perform
a
song
and
appear
in
front
of
the
public
with
an
image
that
I’m
not
convinced
of
since
this
issue
will
affect
my
performance
of
the
song
or
my
image
in
general.
Apart
from
your
statements,
you
looked
joyful
and
carefree
when
you
appeared
on
T.V…
I
tried
to
look
spontaneous
and
as
close
to
the
viewer
as
possible.
But
I
was
myself,
exactly
as
I
behave
in
my
daily
life.
Do
you
think
that
beginning
your
career
today
from
Beirut
is
more
important
than
beginning
from
any
other
Arab
city
like
Damascus
or
Cairo
for
instance?
I
did
not
begin
yet…
I’m
still
at
a
very
early
stage.
But
I’m
at
Superstar
and
I
see
that
the
beginning
of
my
career
through
this
show
started
in
Beirut.
Do
you
like
fame?
Not
much…I’m
naturally
shy
in
spite
of
my
singing
in
front
of
the
audience.
I
refuse
to
be
judged
for
my
normal
behaviors
in
my
daily
life
only
because
I
became
under
the
spotlight.
However
my
success
today
gave
me
some
self-confidence.
-
"Superstar",
Second
Phase,
Second
episode |
Business
&
