Comments on: The Syrian reputation http://bennloxo.com/archives/2008/05/22/the-syrian-reputation/ One hand can't clap: world music for the masses Thu, 11 Mar 2010 02:43:13 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: menachem beginandeggs http://bennloxo.com/archives/2008/05/22/the-syrian-reputation/comment-page-1/#comment-93860 menachem beginandeggs Fri, 27 Jun 2008 01:49:39 +0000 http://bennloxo.com/?p=486#comment-93860 stick to music , you know nothing about politics stick to music , you know nothing about politics

]]> By: Dan Ibrahim http://bennloxo.com/archives/2008/05/22/the-syrian-reputation/comment-page-1/#comment-93833 Dan Ibrahim Tue, 03 Jun 2008 23:31:28 +0000 http://bennloxo.com/?p=486#comment-93833 We were fortunate enough to attend the Desert Festival in Palmyra when we visited Syria. One of the big talents we caught was Shadi Jamil, with a full orchestra. We were also introduced to Georges Wassouf. I'm not sure either of these great singers are Syrian, but certainly the friendliness and interest of Syrians we met were key to our discovery of these talents. We also saw an incredible fashion show at the Roman theater wherein dozens of beautiful Syrians modelled home style fashions while a 5 piece band played on behind them. We were fortunate enough to attend the Desert Festival in Palmyra when we visited Syria.

One of the big talents we caught was Shadi Jamil, with a full orchestra. We were also introduced to Georges Wassouf. I’m not sure either of these great singers are Syrian, but certainly the friendliness and interest of Syrians we met were key to our discovery of these talents.

We also saw an incredible fashion show at the Roman theater wherein dozens of beautiful Syrians modelled home style fashions while a 5 piece band played on behind them.

]]> By: serena http://bennloxo.com/archives/2008/05/22/the-syrian-reputation/comment-page-1/#comment-93828 serena Mon, 26 May 2008 13:07:02 +0000 http://bennloxo.com/?p=486#comment-93828 matt - this blog keeps getting better! i LOVED this post, feeling much the same about damascus myself. before i came to dakar, i was scheming to go & live in damascus for a bit, & i may well still do at some point. that said, i did find damascus the most laidback of syria's towns/cities, as a foreigner; what do you think? (great to hear hewar, by the way!) matt – this blog keeps getting better! i LOVED this post, feeling much the same about damascus myself. before i came to dakar, i was scheming to go & live in damascus for a bit, & i may well still do at some point. that said, i did find damascus the most laidback of syria’s towns/cities, as a foreigner; what do you think?

(great to hear hewar, by the way!)

]]> By: Julian http://bennloxo.com/archives/2008/05/22/the-syrian-reputation/comment-page-1/#comment-93824 Julian Thu, 22 May 2008 23:41:05 +0000 http://bennloxo.com/?p=486#comment-93824 Hi Matt - I used to live in Lebanon, so what you wrote about Beirut really took me back (those girls in BMWs must have been driving round in circles for years now!) and then what you've just written about Damascus reminded me of the other side of things. I spent only a short time in Damascus (sleeping in a half-converted galley kitchen in a hostel just behind your right shoulder where the photo above was taken, in fact!) and loved it. Mind you, did you get into the countryside in Lebanon? Naturally, a very different place. I'm glad you picked up on incognito - it is run by a friend of mine (Tony Sfeir) who, over the years has worked tirelessly to build up an alternative cultural scene in Lebanon. I know he is working on a website at the moment, there are loads of soundclips and a whole bunch of new Levantine artists. Hewar, for example! When it's fully functional, can I post a link here? BTW Do you really have to post about Syrian food? I'm not sure I can bear it, having no chance to eat any here! Nevertheless, "sahtein!" Julian Hi Matt – I used to live in Lebanon, so what you wrote about Beirut really took me back (those girls in BMWs must have been driving round in circles for years now!) and then what you’ve just written about Damascus reminded me of the other side of things. I spent only a short time in Damascus (sleeping in a half-converted galley kitchen in a hostel just behind your right shoulder where the photo above was taken, in fact!) and loved it. Mind you, did you get into the countryside in Lebanon? Naturally, a very different place.

I’m glad you picked up on incognito – it is run by a friend of mine (Tony Sfeir) who, over the years has worked tirelessly to build up an alternative cultural scene in Lebanon. I know he is working on a website at the moment, there are loads of soundclips and a whole bunch of new Levantine artists. Hewar, for example! When it’s fully functional, can I post a link here?

BTW Do you really have to post about Syrian food? I’m not sure I can bear it, having no chance to eat any here!

Nevertheless, “sahtein!”

Julian

]]> By: Bill Jacobson http://bennloxo.com/archives/2008/05/22/the-syrian-reputation/comment-page-1/#comment-93823 Bill Jacobson Thu, 22 May 2008 18:08:53 +0000 http://bennloxo.com/?p=486#comment-93823 Astonishing and beautiful. Thanks so much. Astonishing and beautiful. Thanks so much.

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