Meen (band)
Encyclopedia
MEEN is a Lebanese rock
band founded by Fouad and Toni Yammine in 2006. The band is best known for its humorous and sarcastic style, and most notably for performing in native Lebanese, not traditional Arabic.
, where, for the first time, the band performed for a small crowd of 300 persons. Soon, the band was touring in other Lebanese Universities. Late 2006, Meen's single Banadoura were published in the Banadoura compilation, a lebanese compilation featuring lebanese underground music for the latest 20 years.
In 2007, Meen wrote and released “Yalla Nerkoud”, the official song of that year’s Beirut Marathon
and performed the song on the finish line the day of the event and the performance was broadcasted live on most lebanese TV channels.
In 2008, the An-Nahar
national newspaper contacted Meen and asked them to compose songs for the yearly memorial event of Gebran Tueni
. Meen wrote five songs for the event, and all were released as an album entitled “Adar el A7rar” (Destiny of the Free). Meen performed the songs live in an event that was boradcasted live on all lebanese TV stations.
In 2009, the band released the album “Teer w 3aleh ya Balon” with 5 original songs composed and recorded for the children’s play of the same name.
In May 2009, the band performed in a big concert at the heart of the city at "theatre tournesol". This event was recorded and later released as a live album, on December 8, comprising thirteen original songs in pure Meen style. On the same date, Meen also released an 8 tracks studio christmas album entitled "Min L Manjam 3al marrekh.
And in less than two weeks, both albums were in the top 20 virgin megastore best sellers (At number 2 and number 11) making the band the best selling artist in lebanon during 2009 christmas season.
In 2010, Meen was touring all around the country and performing in private and public events and festivals.
In August 2011, Meen launched their latest album, 3arouset Bkeseen.
Meen’s song topics are varied and are usually quite mordant and sometimes critical of the political climate in Lebanon. In their single, “Kamlo l 7arb” (“Continue the War”), released in 2006, Meen mockingly sings on in a beautiful ballade “let the war carry one, and let the children die”.
Another fan favorite, “Nasheed el Banadoura” (“Anthem of the Tomato”), invites people to use tomatoes as weapons for an artistic revolution.
, the riq
, the oud
, and others, the music
is mainly considered rock
/blues
, with a traditional rock
composition of two guitars, one bass guitar
, drums
and a synth.
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band founded by Fouad and Toni Yammine in 2006. The band is best known for its humorous and sarcastic style, and most notably for performing in native Lebanese, not traditional Arabic.
Projects and involvements
In 2006, Meen had its very first concert at the Saint Joseph University in BeirutBeirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
, where, for the first time, the band performed for a small crowd of 300 persons. Soon, the band was touring in other Lebanese Universities. Late 2006, Meen's single Banadoura were published in the Banadoura compilation, a lebanese compilation featuring lebanese underground music for the latest 20 years.
In 2007, Meen wrote and released “Yalla Nerkoud”, the official song of that year’s Beirut Marathon
Beirut Marathon
The Beirut International Marathon is an annual event in Beirut. The first ever BIM was held on October 19, 2003 and attracted over 6,000 runners from 49 different countries and tens of thousands of spectators in Lebanon and around the world...
and performed the song on the finish line the day of the event and the performance was broadcasted live on most lebanese TV channels.
In 2008, the An-Nahar
An-Nahar
An-Nahar , is the leading Arabic-language daily newspaper in Lebanon.It was first published on August 4, 1933 as a four-page, hand-set paper. The paper provided a platform for various free thinkers to express their views during the years of the Syria occupation of Lebanon. The paper can be best...
national newspaper contacted Meen and asked them to compose songs for the yearly memorial event of Gebran Tueni
Gebran Tueni
Gebran Ghassan Tueni was a Lebanese politician and the former editor and publisher of the mass circulation An-Nahar daily newspaper in Beirut, Lebanon....
. Meen wrote five songs for the event, and all were released as an album entitled “Adar el A7rar” (Destiny of the Free). Meen performed the songs live in an event that was boradcasted live on all lebanese TV stations.
In 2009, the band released the album “Teer w 3aleh ya Balon” with 5 original songs composed and recorded for the children’s play of the same name.
In May 2009, the band performed in a big concert at the heart of the city at "theatre tournesol". This event was recorded and later released as a live album, on December 8, comprising thirteen original songs in pure Meen style. On the same date, Meen also released an 8 tracks studio christmas album entitled "Min L Manjam 3al marrekh.
And in less than two weeks, both albums were in the top 20 virgin megastore best sellers (At number 2 and number 11) making the band the best selling artist in lebanon during 2009 christmas season.
In 2010, Meen was touring all around the country and performing in private and public events and festivals.
In August 2011, Meen launched their latest album, 3arouset Bkeseen.
Lyrics and songs topics
As stated in numerous interviews, Meen fervently promotes the Lebanese dialect versus the culturally adopted traditional Arabic. The band members consider it only normal to sing in the spoken language of everyday conversations, even including the occasional English or French words that naturally occur in them. Their lyrics reflect this unique and rare approach.Meen’s song topics are varied and are usually quite mordant and sometimes critical of the political climate in Lebanon. In their single, “Kamlo l 7arb” (“Continue the War”), released in 2006, Meen mockingly sings on in a beautiful ballade “let the war carry one, and let the children die”.
Another fan favorite, “Nasheed el Banadoura” (“Anthem of the Tomato”), invites people to use tomatoes as weapons for an artistic revolution.
Music and style
Meen’s music style is purely western. Even though oriental instruments are occasionally used, like the buzukBuzuk
Buzuk may refer to:* Albanian word for Bouzouki, a chordophone used in folk music* Andrija Buzuk, 1891-1894 provincial superior of the Franciscan province Bosna Argentina...
, the riq
Riq
The riq is a type of tambourine used as a traditional instrument in Arabic music. It is an important instrument in both folk and classical music throughout the Arabic-speaking world...
, the 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...
, and others, the music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
is mainly considered rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
/blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
, with a traditional rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
composition of two guitars, one bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, drums
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
and a synth.
Creative Commons
Meen is the first lebanese band to release its music under the Creative Commons Licence since 2006.Discography
- 3arouset Bkeseen (2011)
- Live (2009)
- Mni L Manjam 3al Marreekh (2009)
- Teer w 3aleh ya balon (2009)
- La Gebran - Kadar L a7rar (2007)
- Yalla nerqoud (2007)
- Ma3 Meen (2006)
- Banadoura compilation (2006)
- Qamlo L 7arb (2006)