Latifa
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| Latifa لطيفة |
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 Latifa, 2003
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Latifa Bint Alayah Al Arfaoui |
| Born | February 14, 1961 |
| Origin | Manouba, Tunisia |
| Genre(s) | Arab pop music, Classic, Arab Tarab,Khaleeji, Arabic music, Arabesque music, Music of Egypt, Middle Eastern music, Disco, Techno, Raï |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, Actress |
| Years active | 1980s–present |
| Label(s) | La Reine, Universal Music, Warner Brothers, EMI, Virgin Records, Alam Al Phan, LATISOL, Rotana |
| Website | Latifaonline.net |
Latifa Bint Alayah Al Arfaoui (Arabic: لطيفه بنت عليه العرفاوي) (born February 14, 1961 in Manouba, Tunisia), better known as Latifa (لطيفة), is an Arab pop music singer.
The word Latifa is Arabic for "Soft", "Delicate", "Gentle" or "Sensitive".
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[edit] Career highlights
Latifa began her career at a very young age by becoming a prodigy at the age of six.
In 1983, shortly after her father died, Latifa and her family took a trip to Egypt to rest and mourn. During that time, Latifa met composer Baleegh Hamdi, who advised her that she ought to move to Egypt for the sake of her career. But Latifa wanted to concentrate on her education. She returned to Tunisia to finish her high school final exams. Due to financial issues, she couldn't go back to Egypt, so she attended college in Tunisia, studying Dutch literature for a year and a half. Her family decided to help her make her dream come true by sending her to Egypt, so Latifa quit college in Tunisia and joined the Arab Academy of Music in Egypt, from which she earned her bachelor degree. Even with her current busy schedule, Latifa is preparing for her master's degree.Arabic reference
Once when Latifa was singing live on a radio station, composer Mohammed Abdel Wahab happened to hear her. Two days later he went to the Academy to find the girl he had heard on the radio. Latifa was speechless when she discovered he wanted to speak with her. At the time Latifa primarily performed long Tarab songs, but she was interested in doing something new. She began to work with composer Ammar Al Sherai'ei and poet Abdulwahab Muhammed, whom she met during her first visit to the capital, Egypt. Arabic reference
[edit] Latifa performing Arab classic music (Arab Tarab)
Many of Latifa's early albums (1980s) have Arab style. The album Mesa Al Jamal ("Evening Of Beauty") made Latifa famous in Egypt.
[edit] The first transitional period of Latifa's style
Akthar Min Roohi ("More than My Soul"), released in 1986. She began singing Arab pop songs with music by Ammar Al Sherai'ei and lyrics by Abdulwahab Muhammed. The album was hugely successful all over the Arab world. The songs had very original ideas and distinctive styles, and Latifa began making her songs shorter and adding different influences such as tango music. She also shot a music video for the single Ew'ah Tegheer ("Don't Be Jealous") which was extremely popular. The huge success of this album allowed Latifa to buy half the shares of her producer's company and studio, La Reine. Since then, she has co-produced all her own albums and music videos.Second paragraph
Hobbak Hadi ("Frigid Love") was released in 1993. In the title song, Latifa asks directly for more love because she is bored of her lover's "frigid" love; she needs love that moves her. Before the release of this album, no Arab woman had ever used such direct words about her love for a man in popular song.[1]
In 1997, Latifa released the album Al Ghinwa ("The Song"). The actual song Al Ghinwa was considered to be the second part of the song Akthar Min Roohi from a previous album released in 1986. Third paragraph
Latifa then decided to perform a new style of songs called Qasa'ed Fos'ha. Her next album, 1998's Taloomoni Al Donya ("The World Blames Me"), featured Latifa singing lyrics written by the poet Nizar Qabbani.[2]
[edit] The second transitional period of Latifa's style
After spending 10 days in the hospital due to a nervous breakdown, Latifa came back with a hit album, known in the Arab world with the title Wadeh ("Clear") and internationally known with the title Inchallah ("God willing") in 1999. The album was distributed by Universal Music France, and it was the first album in which Latifa performed in another language. The Franco-Arab song "Inchallah" made the Elle Magazine top 5. In the Arab world, "Inchallah" ("God willing"), Kerehtak ("I Hated You") and Wadeh ("Clear") were popular singles. Before the release of this album, no Arabic pop singer had ever sung anything like "I hated you".Fourth paragraph
The 2002 variety album Desert Roses and Arabian Rhythms II featured Latifa performing an Arab Mawwal in the song "Take Me I'm Yours," and singing a small part in both Arabic and English with Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook of the band Squeeze. Fourth paragraph
Because of the album Ma Etrohsh Ba'ed (Don't go away) - produced in the year 2003 by Alam El Phan(Mazzica tv)- Latifa won the World Music Award 2004 for best selling artist in the Middle East and North Africa. Her speech was censored on ABC when she said, "My happiness remains incomplete until Palestine & Iraq are freed".
In 2004, Latifa produced an album distributed by Warner Brothers France, titled Les Plus Belles Chansons De Latifa ("Latifa's Best Songs"). Although the album was mostly a collection of greatest hits, it also featured a brand-new Raï song called "Khalleoni" ("Let Me") that was Latifa's first attempt at Raï.Fifth paragraph
In November, 2006 Latifa re-signed a contract with Rotana to distribute her records all over the Arab world.[3]
[edit] Discography
During her 20+ year career, Latifa has released more than 20 albums and singles.
For full list see, Latifa discography
Translated English titles and Romanization of Arabic by Latifa's official site.
[edit] Most recent
- Ma'alomat Akeeda (Definite information) International release
- Ma'alomat Akeeda (Definite information)
- Ma Etrohsh Ba'ed (Don't go away)
- Wadeh (Clear/Honest)
[edit] International releases
- Les Plus Belles Chansons De Latifa
- Inchallah (God willing)
- Ma Wahashtaksh? (Did you miss me?)
- Wa Akheeran (At last)
[edit] Soundtracks
- Hokom Al Ro'ayan (Reign of the shepherds)
- Sokoot...Ha Ensawwar (Silence…we're rolling)
[edit] Featured in
- Desert Roses 4
- Viva Arabia 4
- Desert Roses 2
- Etre Femme
[edit] Videography
During her career, Latifa released more than 30 music video.
See Latifa videography.
[edit] Actress
In 2001 Latifa played a lead role in the film Sokoot Ha Ensawwar ("Silence... We're Rolling"), directed by Youssef Chahine. She also starred in the play Hokom Al Roa'yaan ("Reign of the Shepherds") in 2004 written by Mansour Rahbani. In 2007 she appeared in the seventh episode of the Arabic version of ER, starring as her self.
[edit] See also
[edit] Sources
- Latifa (her self)
- Latifa's Biography
- Latifa's videography
- Latifa's discography
- World Music Awards 2004 video (uncensored version)
- Arabnights website
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- Latifa's official site (English and Arabic)
- Listen to Latifa's Latest Album : Ma'alomaat Akeeda
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