Bob Azzam
Encyclopedia
Bob Azzam was a Lebanese
singer. With his international hit
song "Mustapha
", Azzam achieved success in France in the 1960s. The track peaked at #23 in the UK Singles Chart
, spending fourteen weeks in that chart
. Azzam had a degree in electronic engineering, and has been regarded as the man behind the chamber of echoes "Hors-studio" or "off-studio".
and in English
. In 1960, he released two songs in France that were influenced by oriental music, "ya Mustafa
" (Chérie je t'aime, chérie je t'adore, como la salsa de pomodoro) and "Fais-moi du couscous, chérie". The same year, he received the Grand Prix du Disque
for the song "Viens à Juan les Pins".
After this era, his success began to decline. However, Azzam continued his career by touring with his orchestra, and opened his own night club in Geneva
.
Jonathan Richman
, Rachid Taha
and, most recently, La Bande à Basile have all performed covers
of the songs "Mustafa" and "Fais-moi du couscous, chérie".
Lebanese people
The Lebanese people are a nation and ethnic group of Levantine people originating in what is today the country of Lebanon, including those who had inhabited Mount Lebanon prior to the creation of the modern Lebanese state....
singer. With his international hit
Hit record
A hit record is a sound recording, usually in the form of a single or album, that sells a large number of copies or otherwise becomes broadly popular or well-known, through airplay, club play, inclusion in a film or stage play soundtrack, causing it to have "hit" one of the popular chart listings...
song "Mustapha
Ya Mustafa
Ya Mustafa, also spelled Ya Mustapha , is a famous Egyptian song of unclear origin, whose lyrics are composed in 3 different languages: Arabic, French and Italian. There are also versions in the Greek and Turkish languages, where they are very popular in the respective countries . The music of the...
", Azzam achieved success in France in the 1960s. The track peaked at #23 in the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
, spending fourteen weeks in that chart
Record chart
A record chart is a ranking of recorded music according to popularity during a given period of time. Examples of music charts are the Hit parade, Hot 100 or Top 40....
. Azzam had a degree in electronic engineering, and has been regarded as the man behind the chamber of echoes "Hors-studio" or "off-studio".
Biography
Azzam began his career in Italy in the late 1950s, with his band, singing in ItalianItalian language
Italian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia...
and in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
. In 1960, he released two songs in France that were influenced by oriental music, "ya Mustafa
Ya Mustafa
Ya Mustafa, also spelled Ya Mustapha , is a famous Egyptian song of unclear origin, whose lyrics are composed in 3 different languages: Arabic, French and Italian. There are also versions in the Greek and Turkish languages, where they are very popular in the respective countries . The music of the...
" (Chérie je t'aime, chérie je t'adore, como la salsa de pomodoro) and "Fais-moi du couscous, chérie". The same year, he received the Grand Prix du Disque
Grand Prix du Disque
The Grand Prix du Disque is the premier French award for musical recordings. The award was inaugurated by l'Académie Charles Cros in 1948 and offers prizes in various categories. The categories vary from year to year, and multiple awards are often made in any one category in the same year...
for the song "Viens à Juan les Pins".
After this era, his success began to decline. However, Azzam continued his career by touring with his orchestra, and opened his own night club in Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
.
Jonathan Richman
Jonathan Richman
Jonathan Michael Richman is an American singer, songwriter and guitarist. In 1970 he founded The Modern Lovers, an influential proto-punk band. Since the mid-1970s, Richman has worked either solo or with low-key, generally acoustic backing...
, Rachid Taha
Rachid Taha
Rachid Taha is an Algerian singer and activist based in France who has been described as "sonically adventurous." His music is influenced by many different styles such as rock, electronic, punk and raï.-Early life:Taha was born in 1958 in Sig , Algeria, although a second source suggests he was...
and, most recently, La Bande à Basile have all performed covers
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of the songs "Mustafa" and "Fais-moi du couscous, chérie".