The place
The Al - Andalus Garden Theatre Hall, Cairo.
The Time
The evening of 18th June 1953 at 11 p.m.
The Occasion
The celebration of the 1st Anniversary of the July 23rd Revolution.
The singers participating that night: Farid El Atrache, Shadya, Mohamed Fawzi, AbdulAziz Mahmoud...and others. An historical broadcast had just taken place! the seclaration of the abolition the monarchy and the creation of the Repuplic of Egypt. One hour later that great legend of the Egyptian theatre Yousif Wahba, appeared on the stage and, in his wonderfully distinctive voice, introduced to the audience a new singer: Abdel Halim Hafez.
Abdel Halim began to sing Safeini Marah Wa Jafeini Marrah (You may keep me in your mind at one time, you may turn away from me at another...but do not forget me altogether).
Finishing the first passage of the song, Abdel Halim noticed that there was no reaction from the audience, no applause. He began to feel confused. His memory went back to that evening when he stood before the audience in Alexandria and they had pelted him with tomatoes, finding his voice not to their liking... He began to feel that his carrer as a singer was ending before it had started. Nonetheless hi continued.
He sang on through to the last verse; and, suddenly, uproar broke out. Unending clapping, cries of admiration. He had found acceptance at last. The audience begged for the song to be repeated; and the next song and so on through the sevening. He had triumphed at last.
After the show Abdel Halim found himself walking alongside the Nile in the company of Mohammed Al Mouji. Between the two of them they had scarcely enough money for a sandwich but happiness reigned for both.
The promoter of the Alexandria show came to Abdel Halim offering him a contract to appear again but at twenty times more per night than he had been paid. He accepted at once. And so he came to perform again and his second show as in marked contrast to his first appearance. The prooter promptly doubled his last offer and so Hafez found himself singing at 200 pounds per night. But what was more important to him was regaining his self-esteem and wining over the admiration of the Alexandria audience.
From that moment on, his career never looked back and he mounted the lasser of celebrity and glory even faster.
His work includes:
- 16 feature films, the first being “Lahn AL-Wafa” and the last “Abi Fouk Al Shagara”.
-17 films and TV programmes, 93 Song for the movies, 50 filmed songs, 5 Feature films, 3 Broadcast programmes, 2 Broadcast serials and 260 songs.
Abdel Halim starred in the first Egyptian colour Cinemascope picture Dalilah. He concluded contracts for starring in 5 films but these were not released due to his failing health.
These were: Wa Tamdi Al Ayyam / D’ani Li Waladi / La / Rassassa Fi / Al Kalb and Tayeh Being Al Sama Wa Al Arad / Milestones in the career of Abdel Halim Hafez:
- On 21st June 1929 he was born in the village of Al-Hilwat, in the province of Al-Sharkia, the 4th child of Sheikh Ali Ismael Shabana following after Ismael, Aliah and Mohamed. His mother died during his delivery. His father was to die five years later.
- On 3rd December 1940 he began to suffer the symptoms of bilharzia. This dreaful disease continued to eat into his gaunt body until it finally overwhelmed him on 30th march 1977.
- In 1945 both he and his friend, the singer Ibrahim, were enrolled in the Arabian music
Institue. He was to study the oboe.
- In May 1948 he graduated from the institue along with his colleagues Kamal Al Taweil, Ahmed Fouad Hassan, Fayda Kamil and Ali Ismael.
- On 5th October 1948 he started teaching at the Tanta School.
- On 10th January 1949 he was appointed to the desk of oboe in the Radio Symphony Orchestra and, on 8th September his third film Ayyam Wa Layali was screened.
- On 14th July 1959 he founded, in association with the camera director, Waheed Farid, a film production company which they called Aflam Al-Alam Al-Arabi.
- In 1960 he formed, Alongside Mohamed Abdel Wahab and Magdi El Amroussi, A recording company called Soutelphan and which the later continues to direct to this day.
- On 17th February 1969 his last film Abi Fouk Al-Shagara was screened co-starring Nadia Lutfi. A huge success, the film ran for over a year.
1. ALA HESB WEDAD (According to the wishes of my heart)
According to the wishes of my heart I shall say farewell to my beloved. I gave my life for him, that too according to the wishes of my heart. My enduring patienceran out when my sweetheart left me and nothing will bring him back again. I have to accept my destiny and if he did come back one day there will be good times with him, once again, according to the wishes of my heart.
I will go with the wind, uncontrolled and I know not whither I go. To my home? Or will the wind drop? Life teases us... good days and lovely songs may return ... and there will be good times with him. once again. according to the wishes of my heart.
I will not submit to destiny, nor retire to my room, defeated but instead will tell everyone that I am going back to my sweetheart. We will sing together of enchanted times and weave the tissue of happiness and say to my sweetheart how happy is his return, according to the wishes of my heart.
2. DAY AL KANADIL (The light of the lamps)
The light of the lamps along the street reminded me of a wonderful date with my swetheart and the nights we spent together accompanied by the lamps which stayed awake with us throughout. Oh, Street of Mystery! I have walked your length both in pain and happiness. A long empty night I walked alone enquiring about the road to my destinations. Beneath the lamps we chatted, the soft breeze blew against us and we talked more and more while tears welled up in our eyes ...
The light of lamps along the street reminded me of a wonderful date with my sweetheart ..etc.
Oh, Street of Passion ! We are consumed in love and the years passed by leaving you and me together facing the strange breeze of our days to come. Beneath the lamps we chatted, the soft breeze blew against us and we talked more and more while tears welled up in our eyes ...
The light of the lamps along the street reminded me of a wondeful date ...etc.
3. ALWAY ... (The wind...)
The wind, the wind, ... On behalf of my lover did the wind knock upon my door saying that beauty was coming ... but the wind was lying for it pushed against my door and left without a response. It brought me neither letter nor any blame for, to my mother, the wind is unsafe.
I swear that I have never said Aah ... ! Nor suffered from your love but the charm in your eyes has forced me to react towards the neighbourhood. Tell me "Who is like you ?" None is like you ! Because of your radiant light the moon failed to cast its shadow ... the wind, the wind ...
My heart awakens at dawn and begins to sing for you with longing and passion. It hears the nightingale who remained awake singing and praying for you. Tell me "Who is like you ?" None is like you ! etc.
I will spread light in your path and surround it with roses and every day I will walk along this path beside which I shall plant my hopes for I shall spend my life on it, waiting for you to come.
Tell me "Who is like you ?" None is like you ~ Because of your radiant light the moon failed to cast its shadow ... the wind, the wind ...
4. AEZ ALNASS (All life long ... the dearest)
All through our lives we meet others and become acquainted; we feel comfortable with some of them but not with others.
The years pass, the colour of night is changed, and we may forget some. But the beloved is never forgotten ...those who are dearest to us.
Throughout life the years pass, time passes, unaware of our feelings or existence but, when we live a moment of love, this gives us happiness. Who can forget the first spark of love ? Does one ever forget it ?Glance back in your life recalling "I fell in love" and then you are reminded "I was defeated in love." Who can forget those nights of passion with their aftermath of sweetness and warmth ? Or the first touch of the hand ? We may forget many people but we remain closest to each other, you and me, my darling, all life long.
My darling sweetheart, my soul, my heart's eye that enables me to see ... to see you even when after among the crowds of thousands of people, if, my sweetheart, the span of our lives hides certain misfortunes that may befall us, there are still times on the path of love that provide us with precious moments and in those moments we forget ... everyone !
5. DEHK WA LEEB (Laughter and play)
Laughter, play, love, seriousness - thus we live our days - and nights. Enjoy this in your youth, live by the soul, the mind and the heart. You will find life to be a great merry-go-round and a great dream. Laugh at times, play at others, be serious for some moments but always love for ever. Live your days to the full, stay young, be happy, dance, sing as much as you can for the rare moment that escapes us may not return again. Live your days with laghter, at play, in love, in seriousness: live your dreams with smilles in mind, body and soul. Live your days - and your nights.
Oh, World, never did I see you as beautiful as today nor did I ever sing to you such a beautiful song as I do now to tell that love has captured my heart ! I find myself in the Spring of love and I asked my heart to let me love more, and more, and more and to forget the old days and the nights of sadness ! If you live like this then. World, you'll remains as beautiful as ever. Never did I sing you such a beautiful song.
Live your days in laughter, at play, in seriousness and in love. Live your dreams with smiles in your mind, in your eyes, in your soul and in your heart. Live your days - and your nights this way.
1. Ala Hesb Wedad [According to the Wishes of My Heart] - Abdel Halim Hafez, Hamdy, Baligh
2. Day al Kanadil [The Light of Lamps] - Abdel Halim Hafez, Rahbani Brothers
3. Alway... [The Wind...] - Abdel Halim Hafez, Jawdat, Saleh
4. Aes Alnass [All Life Long... the DeArest] - Abdel Halim Hafez, Aziz, Morsi Gameel
5. Dehk Wa Leeb [Laughter and Play] - Abdel Halim Hafez, Aziz, Morsi Gameel
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