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 is a famous singer and composer from Iraq. He was born on September 12, 1957, with the name Kadim Jabbar Al Samarai. People often call him The Caesar because he is so well-known.
Kadim Al Sahir has won many awards. He is one of the most popular singers in the Arab world. He has sold over 100 million albums. He has also written more than 40 hit songs. Some of his famous songs include "Ana Wa Layla" (Me and Layla) and "Salamtak Men Al Ah" (Get Well Soon).
He started teaching music in 1980. Later, he studied at the Institute of Music of Baghdad. By 1988, he became very popular in many Arab countries. In 2011, UNICEF named him a goodwill ambassador. This means he helps promote good causes for children.
Kadim Al Sahir sings many types of Arabic music. His songs mix traditional Arabic sounds with music from other parts of the world. He has worked with famous international artists. These include Sarah Brightman and Lenny Kravitz. He also often worked with the Syrian poet Nizar Qabbani. His romantic songs have made him a cultural 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 magazine.
Contents
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 wanted him to be a doctor or a lawyer instead. His brother encouraged him to pursue music in a respectful way. He told Kadim that respecting his music and himself was key to success.
Kadim Al Sahir left Iraq in the early 1990s. This was after the Gulf War. He lived in different cities like Cairo, Dubai, Beirut, and Paris. Since 2022, he has settled with his family in Rabat, Morocco. He has two sons, Wisam and Omar. He is also a grandfather to Wisam's daughter, Sana.
In February 2019, Kadim officially changed his last name. He changed it from Al Samarai to Al Sahir.
His Music Career
Kadim Al Sahir moved to Lebanon later on. There, he met Syrian poet Nizar Qabbani in 1996. Qabbani wrote lyrics for over 30 of Al Sahir's songs. Qabbani had also written for other famous singers before.
Al Sahir's songs often spoke about Iraq and Baghdad. They shared the feelings and experiences of the Iraqi people. He released many albums and went on tours. He became a very big name in Middle Eastern music. His romantic ballads became very popular. He also wrote songs with a classical music style.
By 1998, he had released ten albums. He was seen as a respected artist, not just a pop star. His growing fame led to international recognition. He won a UNICEF award for his song "Tathakkar". He performed this song in the U.S. for Congress and the United Nations. This was an important cultural exchange after the Gulf War. The next year, he recorded a song to honor the Pope. He performed it with the Italian Symphony Orchestra.
Al Sahir continued to release albums and tour a lot. He became a very successful superstar and a respected musician. He worked with European and North American artists. These included Sarah Brightman and Lenny Kravitz. He continues to live abroad, spending time in Cairo, Dubai, Paris, and Toronto.
Working with International Artists
After the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003, Kadim Al Sahir's music changed. It began to focus on the situation in Iraq during wartime. His songs often spoke about the challenges Iraq faced. His music helped people show support for Iraq.
In 2004, Al Sahir worked with Lenny Kravitz. They released an anti-war song called "We Want Peace." Soon after, he released "The War Is Over" (Entahat al harab) with Sarah Brightman. This song was on her album Harem and his album Hafiat Al-Kadamain.
In 2004, Al Sahir also worked with Grammy Award-winning producers. These included KC Porter and Quincy Jones. His song "Love & Compassion" (Hob Wa Haneen) was the main song for a special collection. This collection honored artists who made a big difference with international audiences. The song featured singer Paula Cole and artist Karina Pasian.
In 2004, he performed in a worldwide concert called "We are the Future." This concert was produced by Quincy Jones. It was held in Rome to help children around the world. In December 2004, he performed at the opening of the Gulf Football Championship. He was also the first Arab artist to be part of Unity. This was the official album for the 2004 Summer Olympics.
He released his album Ila Tilmitha on November 11, 2004. This album included songs with Moroccan singer Asma Lamnawar. Kadim Al Sahir helped introduce her to the Arab world. The album also had the hit song "Ahbeni," written by Nizar Qabbani.
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. The money raised from the song went to charities that support arts and culture. The song was produced by Quincy Jones and RedOne.
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He became a coach on MBC The Voice Kids. His team member, Lynn Hayek, won the first season in 2016.
In 2020, he performed his first online concert. This was due to the pandemic.
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
World Tours and Concerts
Kadim Al Sahir travels around the world to perform. He sings for his fans, many of whom are from Arab countries. He has performed in many places, including the USA, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Australia, and England. Some major venues 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 and Alicia Keys. Famous producer Quincy Jones introduced him to the large crowd of over 500,000 people.
- Hammersmith Apollo in January 2019
See also
In Spanish: Kazem Al Sahir para niños
