Kadim Al Sahir facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kadim Al Sahir
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| كاظم الساهر | |
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| Born |
Kadim Jabbar Al Samarai
كاظم جبار إبراهيم السامرائي 12 September 1957 |
| Occupation | Singer, composer, songwriter |
| Years active | 1980–present |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | Classical crossover, Arab pop, operatic pop, folk pop, world |
| Labels | Al Nazaer Media Group, Stallions Records, Relax-In, Rotana Music Group, Platinum Records |
| Associated acts | Sarah Brightman, Lenny Kravitz |
Kadim Al Sahir (born September 12, 1957) is a very famous singer and composer from Iraq. People often call him The Caesar because he is so important in music. He has won many awards and is one of the most well-known singers in the Arab world. Kadim Al Sahir has sold over 100 million albums and created more than 40 hit songs. Some of his popular songs include "Ana Wa Layla" (Me and Layla) and "Salamtak Men Al Ah" (Get Well Soon).
Kadim Al Sahir started teaching music in 1980. Later, he studied at the Institute of Music in Baghdad. By 1988, his music became popular in many Arab countries. His career faced challenges when the Gulf War began in 1990. After leaving Iraq, his songs often supported the Iraqi people during difficult times. In 2011, UNICEF chose him as a goodwill ambassador, which means he helps promote good causes.
Kadim Al Sahir sings many types of Arabic music, from pop to classical. He is known for mixing traditional Arabic sounds with music from around the world. He has worked with famous international artists like Quincy Jones, Sarah Brightman, and Lenny Kravitz. He also often worked with the Syrian poet Nizar Qabbani, who wrote many of his song lyrics. Kadim Al Sahir's romantic songs have made him a true music icon. From 2012 to 2015, he was a judge on the TV show The Voice: Ahla Sawt. In 2020, he was featured on the cover of Vogue Man Arabia.
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About Kadim Al Sahir
Kadim Al Sahir was born in Mosul, Iraq, on September 12, 1957. He grew up in the Al-Hurrya neighborhood in Baghdad.
His family did not always support his dream of becoming a musician. They hoped he would become a doctor or a lawyer instead. However, his brother encouraged him to pursue music in a respectful way. He taught Kadim that success comes from respecting both his music and himself.
Kadim Al Sahir left Iraq in the early 1990s after the Gulf War. He lived in different cities like Cairo, Dubai, Beirut, and Paris. As of 2022, he lives with his family in Rabat, Morocco. He has two sons, Wisam and Omar, and is also a grandfather to Wisam's daughter, Sana. In February 2019, he officially changed his last name from Al Samarai to Al Sahir.
His Music Career
Early Success (1995–2000)
Kadim Al Sahir moved to Lebanon where he met Syrian poet Nizar Qabbani in 1996. They became a great songwriting team. Qabbani wrote the words for over 30 of Al Sahir's songs. Kadim Al Sahir sang about both love and political topics, especially about Iraq and the feelings of its people.
He continued to release albums and perform concerts, becoming a huge star in Middle Eastern music. His love songs became very popular, but he also created classical music, even if it meant less fame.
By 1998, he had released ten albums. He was seen as a respected artist, not just a pop star. This led to more international fame. He won a UNICEF award for his song "Tathakkar". He performed this song in the U.S. for the Congress and the United Nations. The next year, he recorded a special song for the Pope with the Italian Symphony Orchestra.
Kadim Al Sahir has released many albums and toured a lot. He is a very successful superstar and a respected musician. His fame grew even more through working with European and North American artists like Sarah Brightman and Lenny Kravitz. He continues to live abroad, sometimes in Cairo, Dubai, Paris, or Toronto.
Working with Other Artists (2004–Present)
After the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003, Kadim Al Sahir's music began to reflect the situation in Iraq. He sang in classical Arabic, often about the challenges Iraq faced during the war. His success showed how people supported Iraq through his music.
In 2004, Al Sahir worked with Lenny Kravitz on an anti-war song called "We Want Peace." Soon after, he released "The War Is Over" (Entahat al harab) with Sarah Brightman. These songs were produced by Dergham Owainati from EMI Music Arabia.
He also worked with Grammy Award-winning producers KC Porter and Quincy Jones. His song "Love & Compassion" (Hob Wa Haneen) was featured on a special album honoring artists who made a big difference internationally. This song included singer Paula Cole and was produced by KC Porter.
In 2004, he performed in a worldwide concert called "We are the Future" in Rome. This concert, produced by Quincy Jones, helped children around the world. He also performed at the opening of the Gulf Football Championship, which was broadcast live. In 2004, he was the first Arab artist to be part of Unity, the official album for the 2004 Summer Olympics.
His album Ila Tilmitha was released on November 11, 2004. It included songs with Moroccan singer Asma Lamnawar, whom Kadim Al Sahir helped discover. The album also featured "Ahbeni," a song written by Nizar Qabbani, which became a big hit.
UNICEF named Al Sahir a Goodwill Ambassador for Iraq in 2011. This was a strong reason for him to visit his home country after 14 years.
He sang "Bokra" ("Tomorrow"), a charity song released on November 11, 2011. Many Arab artists joined him on this song, including Akon and Sherine. The money raised from the song went to charities that support arts and culture programs. The song was written by Majida Al-Roumi and produced by Quincy Jones.
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Kadim Al Sahir became a coach on MBC The Voice Kids. His team member, Lynn Hayek, won the first season in March 2016.
In 2020, he performed his first virtual concert due to the pandemic. Kadim Al Sahir always tries to bring new ideas to his music. This shows his role as a leader in Arabic music, mixing old and new styles.
Albums
- شجرة الزيتون (The Olive Tree) (1984)
- غزال (Ghazal) (Gazelle) (1989) Music Box International
- العزيز (Al Aziz) (The Beloved) (1990) Al-Nazaer Media Group
- هذا اللون (Hatha Alloun) (This Color) (1992) Stallions Records
- لا يا صديقي (La Ya Sadiki) (No, My Friend) (1993) Music Master
- (Banat Alaebak) (Your Tricks are Over) (1993) Stallions Records
- (Salamtak Min El) Ah (Your Safety From Hardships) (1994) Rotana Records
- بعد الحب (Baad ElHob) (After Love) (1995) [Relax-In Records]
- اغسلي بالبرد (Eghsely Belbarad) (Wash In The Cold) (1996) Rotana Records
- في مدرسة الحب (Fi Madrasat Al Hob) (In the School of Love) (November 23, 1996) Rotana Records
- انا و ليلى (Ana Wa Laila) (Laila and I) (November 28, 1997) Rotana Records
- حبيبتي والمطر (Habibati Wal Matar) (My Love & The Rain) (January 1, 1999) Rotana Records
- الحب المستحيل (Al Hob Al Mustaheel) (The Impossible Love) (July 27, 2000) Rotana Records
- أبحث عنكِ (Abhathu Anki) (Looking For You) (September 28, 2001) Rotana Records
- قصة حبيبين (Qussat Habebain) (A Story of Two Lovers) (January 1, 2002) Rotana Records
- حافية القدمين (Hafiat Al Kadamain) (Barefooted) (June 29, 2003) Rotana Records
- الى تلميذة (Ila Tilmitha) (To a [Female] Student) (November 11, 2004) Rotana Records
- انتهى المشوار (Entaha Almeshwar) (The Journey Is Over) (November 1, 2005) Rotana Records
- يوميات رجل مهزوم (Yawmyat Rajoul Mahzoom) (Diary of a Defeated Man) (March 29, 2007) Rotana Records
- صور (Sowar) (Pictures) (September 29, 2008) Rotana Records
- الرسم بالكلمات (Al Rassem Bil Kalimat) (Drawing with Words) (October 12, 2009) Rotana Records
- (Latizidih Lawa'a) (Don't Add Anguish to Him) (January 2, 2011) Rotana Records
- كتاب الحب (Kitab Al Hob) (The Book of Love) (September 20, 2016) Platinum Records
- مع الحب (Ma'ah Al Hob) (With Love) (February 14, 2024) Kadim Al Sahir
International Concerts
Kadim Al Sahir performs concerts all over the world for his fans, especially those from Arab countries. He has performed in many places, including the USA, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Australia, and England. Some of the famous places he has performed include:
- Royal Albert Hall in 1997, 2004, and 2006
- Sydney Opera House, 2002 and 2022
- Sydney Olympic Park, 2016
- Beacon Theatre in New York, 2003
- The Circus Maximus in Rome on May 16, 2004. He was part of a concert with other artists like Carlos Santana, Alicia Keys, Norah Jones, and Andrea Bocelli. Famous producer Quincy Jones introduced Kadim Al Sahir to the huge crowd of over 500,000 people.
- Hammersmith Apollo in January 2019
See also
In Spanish: Kazem Al Sahir para niños
