EVEN though it has been more than 2 years since we last met singer Abdul Majeed Abdullah, it does not mean that we have not kept up with his career or his latest release, “Layalina” (Our Nights). The singer received Sayidaty in his new office:
Q: Let’s begin by talking about your new album —“The New Love.” What kind of reactions has it received?.
Generally the reactions have been very good, and as with all other albums of mine there is a range of reactions some complimentary and some critical. This is normal
Q: The song itself, “The New Love” is a traditional one. What made you want to repeat it?
It is a good song with a real meaning. I find that people like such songs and personally, I do too.
Q: Some say that the singer Abdul Majeed Abdullah is living a new love story and so he produced a new song, “The New Love.” What is your response to that?
(With a laugh) Not so. I live in all my songs. I’m like any of the audience who is affected by something beautiful. And any song is an artistic work that I have to love and live or else I wouldn’t sing it.
Q: What made you increase the number of songs?
I don’t count number of songs; rather I count the time each song takes within the range of 55-60 minutes. During that time, I try to display the kinds of song that are most meaningful to me and which I love. In other words, I don’t have a rule about the number of songs on a tape; the rule for me is the length of each song.
Q: Regarding the song’s video clips — What do you think about them and how much satisfaction do you feel in what you see?
I try as much as possible not to cross any of the red lines in front of me. I always remember that I am singing Arabic songs for Arabs and not Western songs for westerners.
Q: Abdul Majeed Abdullah always emphasizes that because he has to go with the flow, girls are used in the video clips but he tries to use them without offending local mores and sensibilities. Nonetheless, in your video clips, you appear with a lot of girls. What’s your comment on this?
I challenge anyone to say that the videos I have recorded depend on indecency or immodesty or that they are improper. As for the number of girls, they are necessary. In the Gulf countries, I am committed to a company that executes and finances the work so they have a say in things. Even with that, there are still lines beyond which I will not go and clothes that I refuse to wear. No doubt I have made mistakes in the past and I am dissatisfied with some of my work but I have learned from those mistakes and have used what I have learned.
Q: In your new tape you presented some new people — the poet Mohammad Abdul Rahman and the music writer, Munthir. Tell us about them.
Honestly-speaking, I think they are very good. I first used the poet in one of my earlier tapes and in my new one, he has 3 songs while another poet, Turki, has 5. Munthir has very good ideas which appeal to me. If I had not found what I liked in their work, I wouldn’t have icluded them because I don’t deal with names but with ideas.
Q: What about Mohammad Abdul Rahman who wrote the words to the song “Hudu’u” (Calmness)?
This song has a new idea in its wording and expresses a person who has found the truth. I think that the words are among the best I’ve every sung and, as usual, the music writer Saleh Al-Shihri was successful. In other words, the poet presented me with a new idea and made it so attractive that I presented it.
Q: In an earlier interview in Sayidaty, Sheikh Dr. Ahmad Al-Kubeisi said, “The singing of Um Kalthum and Mohammad Abdu is ‘halal’ (allowed) and of Haifa is ‘haram’ (prohibited). As a singer, how do you interpret this?
Keep me away from halal and haram; they’re both clear. Look into your heart and you’ll know the halal and the haram.
Q: Dr. Ahmad also said that you went to consult him about retiring. Are you seriously considering this and what are the reasons that would influence you to make such a decision when you are riding the crest of the wave of fame?
I didn’t visit him to ask him aobut retiring but because I like to acquaint myself with intellectuals of his caliber. I have a good realtionship with him; I’ve consulted him about a number of things related to my concerts and video clips and he has always answered thoughtfully and sincerely.
