Wust El-Balad
Encyclopedia
Wust El-Balad is an Egyptian Soft rock
band, founded in Cairo
in 1999 by 2 of its current members, Ahmed Omran
and Hany Adel. Currently the band consists of 7 members.
The band is considered to be the most successful rock act in Egypt
, and the whole Arab world
, as it's the first band in the region to gain such a huge success and acclaim such a large following.
The band has finally released it debut album in 2007 and the second one in 2011.
The band's name in Arabic means "Downtown".
Their first appearance as Wust El Balad was at Al Mashrabeya Gallery, followed by their first paid performance at the Berlitz Language Center. Ever since that moment, Wust El Balad was a regular performer at all galleries, cultural centers, bars, special events and hotels, and even abroad. Their music blends the Egyptian traditional style with the modern musical touch. They mix music played with purely oriental instruments, such as oud
, with western styles of music, such as those played with "guitar" and "Piano."
Their vision then was to reach the average person that can't afford to hear them in bars or galleries, and so they were the first band to play in the Egyptian street, experiencing one of the most amazing concerts, playing in Al Alfi Street to the local community during
the French festival "Les Français aiment l'Egypte."
They have also played in Bagdad street in 2005 in the celebration of Heliopolis
's 100th anniversary, and ever since then, they play there every year as a celebration of the Spring.
During the Revolution of 2011 (shortly after the departure of Hosni Mubarak
), Hany Adel, with Amir Eid released a song, "Sout El Horreya" ("The Sound of Freedom") that became very popular on YouTube
and elsewhere.
Article By: Fouad Mohammed
Soft rock
Soft rock is a style of music which uses the techniques of rock music to compose a softer, more toned-down sound. Soft rock songs generally tend to focus on themes like love, everyday life and relationships. The genre tends to make heavy use of acoustic guitars, pianos, synthesizers and sometimes...
band, founded in Cairo
Cairo
Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
in 1999 by 2 of its current members, Ahmed Omran
Ahmed Omran
Ahmed Omran is an Egyptian footballer. He currently plays for El Gouna FC in the Egyptian Premier League. He was a member of the Egyptian U-20 squad that won the title of the 2003 African Youth Championship held in Burkina Faso.-Club career:...
and Hany Adel. Currently the band consists of 7 members.
The band is considered to be the most successful rock act in Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
, and the whole Arab world
Arab world
The Arab world refers to Arabic-speaking states, territories and populations in North Africa, Western Asia and elsewhere.The standard definition of the Arab world comprises the 22 states and territories of the Arab League stretching from the Atlantic Ocean in the west to the Arabian Sea in the...
, as it's the first band in the region to gain such a huge success and acclaim such a large following.
The band has finally released it debut album in 2007 and the second one in 2011.
The band's name in Arabic means "Downtown".
History
Later after Omran and Adel formed the band, 6 more members joined, each with his own musical background, blending it all together.Their first appearance as Wust El Balad was at Al Mashrabeya Gallery, followed by their first paid performance at the Berlitz Language Center. Ever since that moment, Wust El Balad was a regular performer at all galleries, cultural centers, bars, special events and hotels, and even abroad. Their music blends the Egyptian traditional style with the modern musical touch. They mix music played with purely oriental instruments, such as oud
Oud
The oud is a pear-shaped stringed instrument commonly used in North African and Middle Eastern music. The modern oud and the European lute both descend from a common ancestor via diverging paths...
, with western styles of music, such as those played with "guitar" and "Piano."
Their vision then was to reach the average person that can't afford to hear them in bars or galleries, and so they were the first band to play in the Egyptian street, experiencing one of the most amazing concerts, playing in Al Alfi Street to the local community during
the French festival "Les Français aiment l'Egypte."
They have also played in Bagdad street in 2005 in the celebration of Heliopolis
Heliopolis (Cairo Suburb)
Modern Heliopolis is a district in Cairo, Egypt. The city was established in 1905 by the Heliopolis Oasis Company, headed by the Belgian industrialist Édouard Louis Joseph, Baron Empain, as well as Boghos Nubar, son of the Egyptian Prime Minister Nubar Pasha.-History:The Baron Empain, a well known...
's 100th anniversary, and ever since then, they play there every year as a celebration of the Spring.
During the Revolution of 2011 (shortly after the departure of Hosni Mubarak
Hosni Mubarak
Muhammad Hosni Sayyid Mubarak is a former Egyptian politician and military commander. He served as the fourth President of Egypt from 1981 to 2011....
), Hany Adel, with Amir Eid released a song, "Sout El Horreya" ("The Sound of Freedom") that became very popular on YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
and elsewhere.
Article By: Fouad Mohammed
Line-up
- Ahmed Omran, (One of the co-founders of the band, he plays the oudOudThe oud is a pear-shaped stringed instrument commonly used in North African and Middle Eastern music. The modern oud and the European lute both descend from a common ancestor via diverging paths...
and the fluteFluteThe flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. Unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is an aerophone or reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air across an opening...
). - Hany Adel, (The other co-founder of the band, he plays the guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
and does vocals). - Adham El-Said, (Vocals).
- Mohammed Gamal El-Din (Nicknamed Mizo, plays percussion and drums).
- Ahmed Omer, (Bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
). - Asaad Nessim, (Spanish guitar).
- Ehab Abdel-Hameed (Nicknames Bob, plays percussion).
Discography
- Wust El-BaladWust El-Balad (album)Wust El-Balad , is the self-titled debut album by Egyptian Soft rock band Wust El-Balad, released in 2007.-Track listing:#"Arabily" - 4:18 #"Wust El Balad" - 4:24...
(2007) - RubabekyaRubabekya (album)Rubabekya is an album by the Egyptian Soft rock band Wust El-Balad, released in 2011.-Track listing:#"Robabekya" - 4:35#"Kol Youm" - 6:05#"Ala Hesb Wedadak" - 4:06#"Soal Wahed" - 4:43#"Men Gowa Al Qahera" - 3:05#"Aly" - 4:04#"Ya Jzera" - 5:26...
(2011)