Lydia Canaan facts for kids

Lydia Canaan (born December 2, 1967) is a singer and songwriter from Lebanon. She is known as one of the first rock stars from the Middle East.

Canaan became famous in Lebanon for performing heavy metal songs during the Lebanese Civil War, a very difficult time in the country's history. She was one of the first artists from the Middle East to sing only in English. Her music videos were among the first by a Middle Eastern artist to be shown on MTV Europe, MTV Southeast Asia, MTV Russia, and MTV Middle East.

Life and Music Career

How It All Started

Lydia Canaan was born and grew up in Brummana, Lebanon, during the Lebanese Civil War. For Canaan, singing, writing lyrics, and dancing were important ways for her to express her feelings during the war.

Her parents did not want her to sing heavy metal music. They also did not let her take music or singing lessons. For her first concert, she had to hide her rock-style leather clothes from her father. She lied about where she was going, changed into her stage outfit, and sang with her band, Equation.

Becoming a Rock Star

In 1984, Canaan, using the stage name Angel, joined the heavy metal band Equation. The band had been looking for a male singer, but her talent and stage presence made her a star among young people in Lebanon. She became known for her unique style, wearing studded leather outfits and dramatic capes. Her school, Brummana High School, even voted her "Best Dressed". The newspaper The Daily Star wrote, "On stage, with her daring looks and style, Canaan became a role model".

The band became very popular, once performing for a crowd of over 15,000 people. Canaan's first original song, "Why All The Hurt", was a No. 1 hit on the radio in Lebanon. She wrote it as a tribute to a friend who had passed away.

Even though there was a war going on, Canaan and her band held over 25 sold-out concerts between 1984 and 1988. A writer for The Gulf Today newspaper noted how amazing it was that she could follow her dreams when nobody knew if they would be safe from one day to the next.

Going Solo

In 1987, Canaan started her solo career. She wrote and performed her own songs, like "To Oblivion and Back" and "A Hard Situation," which became radio hits.

Her fame grew, and she performed in many parts of Lebanon. In the city of Tripoli, she performed for a sold-out crowd with tight security because she had received threats. In 1988, she performed for three sold-out nights at the famous Casino du Liban.

In 1989, Canaan left Lebanon and moved to Zurich, Switzerland, where she became a Swiss citizen. She started working with the famous record producer David Richards, who had also worked with Queen and David Bowie. .....

International Success

In 1995, Canaan released the pop song "Beautiful Life". It was a hit in many countries, and she toured in England to promote it. The song was played on radio stations across the UK, Europe, South Africa, and the Middle East.

On May 12, 1995, she performed "Beautiful Life" at the launch of MTV Europe in Beirut. MTV Europe called her "the diva from the Middle East". The president of MTV Europe, Peter Einstein, said, "All at MTV have fallen in love with Lydia, her songs, and her performance."

Her second single, "The Sound of Love", was released in 1997. Her album, also called The Sound of Love, was finished in 2000. It was sold in many countries in the Middle East.

Speaking and Helping Others

Lydia Canaan has used her fame to help people. Between 2014 and 2017, she gave several speeches at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland. She has also performed at events to support peace and justice. In 2001, she received an award from the United Nations for her work helping others.

In Books and Media

Canaan's life and music have been featured in books. In 2017, the book Rock in a Hard Place: Music and Mayhem in the Middle East told the story of the dangers she faced as a rock music pioneer in Lebanon.

Her song "Libnan" was used in a 2004 commercial by CNN to promote tourism in Lebanon.

Awards and Honors

Lydia Canaan has received many awards for her music and her work to help others.

• 1997: Lebanese International Success Award from the Lebanese Ministry of Tourism.
• 2001: International Year of Volunteers Award from the United Nations.
• 2002: President of Lebanon, Emile Lahoud, thanked her for her positive representation of the country.
• 2014: Lebanese Army Award from the Lebanese Armed Forces.
• 2014: Named a semi-finalist in the UK Songwriting Contest.
• 2016: Silver Medal for Outstanding Achievement from the Global Music Awards.

Music and Videos

Studio Album

The Sound of Love

• This album was recorded in London and New York City. It includes songs like "Beautiful Life", "The Sound of Love", and "Right on the Verge".

Music Videos

• Beautiful Life (1995): Filmed in London, England.
• The Sound of Love (1997): Filmed at a palace in West Wycombe, England.

See also

• Fairuz, "The Cedar of Lebanon"
• Nancy Ajram, "Queen of Arab Pop"
• Julia Boutros, "The Lioness of Lebanon"