Beirut: The lights were colourful and bright. The sets on the stage kept changing with each song. The enthusiastic audience applauded every time one of the three finalists flexed their vocal muscles for the last time on Friday, one night before the Arab Idol 2014 winner is to be crowned.
Saudi singer Majid Al Madani, 26, Syria’s Hazem Sharif, 21, and Haitham Khalailah, 24, a Palestinian from the 1948 areas, were all highly praised by the show’s judges: Ahlam from the UAE, Nancy Ajram and Wael Kfouri from Lebanon along with Hassan Al Shafe’ei, an Egyptian expert in music production.
“We have been holding this show for three years now, and today is not like any other day,” said Al Shafe’ei at the beginning of the show. “It is a very difficult day for the contestants on both professional and personal levels.”
“Your best asset is your audience,” Ajram told Khalailah, pointing at his vigorously applauding fans.
“People’s love made you reach this stage,” Kfouri told Khalailah adding that he was very proud of him.
“I would give the diamond card to you and to all the ambitious Palestinian youths like you,” Ahlam told him.
During the show, Ahlam is known for giving the contestants cards to evaluate their performances — red, green and yellow — similar to the cards given in football matches. But in the last few episodes, she’s used gold and diamonds cards.
“I would give you ten out of ten for your performance tonight,” Al Shafe’ei told Al Madani. “You are a smart person,” he added referring to his choice in songs.
“He who has never visited Sham [Syria] and doesn’t know what Sham is, you give them the best example,” Wael told Sharif after his performance.
“God willing, your sun will arise and you will become the biggest [singing] star in the Arab world,” said Ahlam to Hazem.
The talents that Arab Idol is bringing are not a “joke” said Al Shafe’ei.
The finals of Arab Idol airs on Saturday, December 13, on MBC1 and MBC Masr at 10pm UAE.
