Samira Said

{{Short description|Moroccan-Egyptian actress and singer (born 1958)}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Samira Said

| native_name = {{lang|ar|سميرة سعيد}}

| image = Beirut International Awards Festivals (BIAF) honored Samira Said in 2011.jpg

| image_size =

| caption = Said at the 2011 Beirut International Awards Festivals (BIAF)

| birth_name = Samira Abdelrazak Bensaïd{{citation|url=https://ledesk.ma/culture/samira-said-tease-ses-fans-avec-un-mysterieux-nouveau-projet/|title=Samira Said tease ses fans avec un mystérieux nouveau project|website=ledesk.ma}}

| other_names =

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1958|1|10|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Rabat, Morocco

| death_date =

| death_place =

| occupation = {{hlist|Singer|songwriter|record producer|actress|entrepreneur}}

| years_active = {{nowrap|1968–present}}

| spouse = {{plain list|

{{marriage|Hany Mehanna|1988|1994}}
Mustafa Naboulsy

}}

| children = 1

| module = {{Infobox musical artist

| embed = yes

| genre = Egyptian, Arab pop

| label = {{ublist|Mazzika|Alam El Phan|Rotana Records}}

}}

| website =

}}

Samira Abdelrazak Bensaïd ({{langx|ar|سميرة عبد الرزاق بنسعيد|Samīra ʿAbd ar-Razzāq ibn Saʿīd}}; born 10 January 1958), professionally known as Samira Said ({{langx|ar|سميرة سعيد|Samīra Saʿīd|links=no}}), is a Moroccan-Egyptian singer who has lived in Egypt for more than 40 years and is known for her Egyptian Arabic genre. She represented Morocco in the Eurovision Song Contest 1980, and is to date the only Moroccan entrant in the contest.

Career

File:Eurovision Song Contest 1980 postcards - Samira Bensaïd 19.png]]

Samira Said was born in 1958 in Rabat, in Morocco,{{cite web | last=libvoice.net|title=سميرة سعيد| url=http://www.libvoice.net/articles/view/thread/id/9763| access-date=6 November 2011}} to a father from Rabat and a mother from Fez.{{cite web |url=https://www.saudi24news.com/2021/02/samira-saeed-reveals-why-her-fathers-family-refused-to-enter-the-field.html |title=Samira Saeed reveals why her father's family refused to enter the field |website=saudi24news.com |date=19 February 2021 }} She began singing at the age of nine{{citation needed|date=November 2022}}, and was discovered on the music program, Mawaheb, broadcast on Moroccan TV. She then moved to Egypt where her fame around the Arab world began. She has dual nationality in Morocco and Egypt,{{citation|url=https://www.albawaba.com/entertainment/samira-saeed-548257|title=Such the dutiful citizen! Samira Saeed takes voting very seriously, no matter the country she resides.|quote=Samira had announced from the polling center where she cast her vote, that it is the civil duty of every Egyptian citizen to vote for the amended constitution.|website=albawaba}} her resident home, as she moved to Cairo in 1977.{{Citation needed|date=November 2022}} All her albums are in Egyptian Arabic, but she has also recorded some songs in Moroccan Arabic, such as "Kifash Tlakina" ("How we Met"), "Fayetli sheftek shi marra" ("I've seen you once"), "Sarkouh" ("They Stole Him"), and "Al Behhara" ("Mariners"). Her singles included "Maghlouba" ("Beaten") and "Wa'ady" ("My Love"). In 1980 she represented her native Morocco in the Eurovision Song Contest singing a hit song in Netherlands at that time called Bitaqat Hub, placing 18th out of the 19 contestants.

Said has recorded many Arabic hits that were ranked highly in Egypt, such as "Ben Lef" ("The Circle of Life"), "Sayidati Sadati" (Ladies and Gentlemen"), "Malich 3inwan" ("Ready When You Are") and "Akher Hawa" ("Last Love"). She worked with the Egyptian composer Mohamed El Mougi, and sang and acted in the film Saaktob Ismak Ala Arrimal ("I Will Write Your Name in the Sand"), which included her singing "Yadamiiti Haddi" ("Tears, Fall from My Eyes"). Other recordings include "Lilet El Ouns" ("Magnificent Get-Together"), "Ech Gab Li Gab" ("A Cut about the Rest"), "Amrak Aagib" ("I Don't Get You"), and "Menghir Sabab" ("For No Reason").

In 2000, she released the song "Lilah Habeebee", ("One Night, My Love"), the album title track, which went on to win for best video in the Arab world in 2001 at the Cairo Arabic Music Festival.{{citation needed|date=November 2013}} At the 15th annual World Music Awards in 2003, Said won a World Music Award based on worldwide sales figures for that year. She won the BBC award for world music[http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio3/world/awards2003/profile_said.shtml Samira Said: Winner in the Middle East Category]; Garth Cartwright; 2002 for the best artist in the Middle East with her album Youm Wara Youm.[http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/68677/2003-world-music-awards-winners Winners of the 2003 World Music Awards]; Oct. 12, 2003; Monaco; Billboard.com; She has won more than 40 awards.[http://www.aujourdhui.ma/maroc-actualite/magazine/lg-fait-chanter-samira-bensaid-7283.html LG Fait Chanter Samira Bensaid] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131111183834/http://www.aujourdhui.ma/maroc-actualite/magazine/lg-fait-chanter-samira-bensaid-7283.html |date=2013-11-11 }}; Aujourd’hui le Maroc; 2004[http://www.hitmarker.com/artists/Samira-Saeid.htm Samira Saeid; the Best-seller Moroccan Singer in Arabic Music History]; hitmarker.com Best Sellers; Stars Cafe Entertainment; 2009

Reception

Halina Hopkis called Said "an emblem of trans-nationality in her moves between Morocco and Egypt as well the different awards and shows she has received and participated in as a representative of the Arabic music community".{{cite web|url=http://urpasheville.org/proceedings/ncur2011/papers/NP51241.pdf |title=Kolleena Ensan: Samira Said's Music as an Interpretation of Moroccan Women's Cultural Identity |work=Halina Hopkins |publisher=Valparaiso University |date=2011-03-31 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131111014134/http://urpasheville.org/proceedings/ncur2011/papers/NP51241.pdf |archive-date=November 11, 2013 }}

In 2003, Said was chosen as the best singer in the Middle East by BBC Radio 3 Awards for World Music.{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio3/world/awards2003/profile_said.shtml|title=Awards for World Music 2003 - Samira Said (Egypt)|publisher=BBC Radio 3|access-date=July 29, 2018}} She won the Rabab D'or prize at the Tétouan's Voix des Femmes Festival in 2008.{{cite news|url=http://www.lexisnexis.com |title=Samira Said Glows in Front of 60,000 Fans |work=Al Bawaba |publisher=Associated Newspapers |date=2009-06-28 |access-date=2009-06-28 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090627043039/http://www.lexisnexis.com/ |archive-date=June 27, 2009 }} She was the winner of the Murex d'Or Award in 2009.{{cite news|url=http://starscene.dailystar.com.lb/social-scene/2009/06/murex-dor-hosts-its-9th-annual-award-ceremony/| title=Star Scene: Murex D'or Hosts its 9th Award Ceremony| publisher=Associated Newspapers| year=2009}}

At the 2009 Timitar Festival in Agadir, Said performed for a crowd of 100,000.{{cite news | url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00p66k5| title=Timitar Festival 2009|work=BBC| publisher=BBC Radio 3| year=2009}} In 2011, the Beirut International Award Festival (BIAF) honored a number of Arab and international singers, including Said.{{cite news|url=http://www.biaf.co/about.html |title=The Beirut International Awards Festivals (BIAF) honored Samira Said |publisher=BIAF |year=2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131111195056/http://www.biaf.co/about.html |archive-date=November 11, 2013 }}{{cite news|url=http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2011/1076/pe1.htm |title=Pack of Cards |work=Al-Ahram Weekly; Issue No. 1076 |publisher=Associated Newspapers |date=15 December 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131111194429/http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2011/1076/pe1.htm |archive-date=November 11, 2013 }}

She has been both credited and criticized for bringing Arab music into the pop-driven, commercially fueled 21st century.{{citation| last=Mowafi| first=Amy| title=Samira Said: The Time of Her Life| url=http://www.enigma-mag.com/interview_archives/?p=183| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120529131505/http://www.enigma-mag.com/interview_archives/?p=183| url-status=dead| archive-date=2012-05-29| date=2010-09-10}}

According to Egyptian newspaper Al Ahram, Said's albums have sold over 60 million copies. Aweeny Beek is the top selling Arabic album in the Middle East and worldwide to date, with over 10 million copies released in 2004.[http://magharebia.com/en_GB/articles/awi/features/2005/02/09/feature-01 Samira Said: A Moroccan Star Shines in the Arab World]; Magharebia.com; 2009-02-05)[http://www.alriyadh.com/2004/12/16/article1196.html Samira Said's record "Ayaam Hayati" Has Been Ranked No. 1 Best-selling Album of 2008]; {{lang|ar|البوم سميرة سعيد يحتل المرتبة الأولى}}; AlRiyadh.com. (2004-12-16)]

Musical style

File:Samira Said performing at Star Academy TV Show, Beirut, Libanon.jpg TV show; Beirut, Lebanon; 8 July 2011]]

Halina Hopkins said that "One reason Said’s music is popular is because of the tonal beauty of her voice against the background instrumentation. The centrality of her voice represents her personal influence in her work.

Personal life

Said was married to Egyptian musician Hany Mehanna from 1988 to 1994. She then married businessman Mustafa Naboulsy, with whom she had her only son, Shady.{{cite web |url=https://www.albawaba.com/entertainment/how-your-relationship-your-mother-during-home-stay-samira-said-dancing-her-son-full |title=How Is Your Relationship With Your Mother During Home Stay? Samira Said Is Dancing With Her Son In Full Glam! |website=albawaba.com |date=15 April 2020 }}

In multiple interviews, Said has expressed her desire to return to Morocco and live near her family and loved ones.{{cite web | url=https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2017/09/228708/moroccan-singer-samira-said-to-return-permanently-to-morocco | title=Moroccan Singer Samira Said to Return Permanently to Morocco }}

Philanthropy and humanitarian work

Said spearheaded concerts to draw people together after the 2006 riots in immigrant suburbs across France and solidarize between faiths.{{cite news | url= http://www1.albawaba.com/entertainment/samira-saeed-fights-terrorism| title=Samira Saeed Fights Terrorism| work=Al Bawaba |publisher=Associated Newspapers| date=2006-05-09| access-date=2009-12-12}}{{cite news | url= http://www.maghress.com/fr/goagadir/314| title= Concert Pour la Tolérance: Réussi, Oui Mais |work= GoAgadir| publisher=Associated Newspapers| date=2007-11-02| access-date=2007-11-02}}{{cite news| url=http://news.agadir-souss.com/concert-de-la-tolerance-2007-agadir-200709352.html| title=Concert Pour la Tolérance 2007 à Agadir| work=news.agadir-souss.com| publisher=Associated Newspapers| date=2007-09-29| access-date=2007-09-29| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090312080056/http://news.agadir-souss.com/concert-de-la-tolerance-2007-agadir-200709352.html| archive-date=2009-03-12}}

Discography

El hob elli ana a'aycheh (1975)
Ben Lif (1979)
Bitaqat Hub (1980)
Hikaya (1981)
Allemnah el Hob (1982)
Ketr al Kalam (1983)
Methaya'li (1984)
Lilet el Ouns (1984)
Ya Damaiti Haddi (1984)
Ehki ya Shehrazade (1985)
Youm akablak Fih (1985)
Ech gab li gab (1985)
Amrak ajib en (1986)
Ana walla anta (1989)
Moch hatnazel a'anak (1986)
Sibak (1986)
Ya ebn al halel (1987)
Ghariba (1988)
Sibni louahdi (1988)
Ensani (1989)
Ba'adin neta'ateb (1990)
Choft el amar (1991)
Hannitlak (1992)
Khayfa (1992)
a'ach'a (1993)
Enta habibi (1995)
Wallah Mahansak (1995)
Kolli de echa3at (1996)
A'al bal (1998)
Rouhi (1999)
Laila habibi (2001)
Youm Wara Youm (2002){{citation|last=Garth|first=Cartwright| title=Samira Said: Egypt's top female singer| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/393n|date=2002-02-13}}
Awweeni Beek (2004)
Best of Samira Said (1995-2005)
Ayaam Hayati (2008)
Be winner ft. Fnaire (2010)
Khallouh (2010)
Mazal (2013){{citation| last=worldmusicawards| title=Morocco: Samira Saïd Nominated for Worlds Best Song| url=http://vote.worldmusicawards.com/selectnomination.asp?cat=1| date=2013-10-11| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140226201404/http://vote.worldmusicawards.com/selectnomination.asp?cat=1| archive-date=2014-02-26}}{{cite news|title=Moroccan Diva Samira Said Back with a Great Song in "Darija" |publisher=Morocco World News |date=12 October 2013 |url=http://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2013/10/108609/moroccan-diva-samira-said-back-with-a-great-song-in-darija |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131017032310/http://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2013/10/108609/moroccan-diva-samira-said-back-with-a-great-song-in-darija/ |archive-date=October 17, 2013 }}
Ayza Aeesh (2015)
Ensan 'Ali (2021)