Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Beirut (Live) Overdose

By Joseph El-Khoury


Beirut was brought to the East End of London last Sunday... that is if you believe the organisers of the event ‘Beirut Live’ held at the Vibe Bar in Brick Lane. The venue was funky enough and the crowd suitably dressed. There was no entrance fee, which is unusual for a people obsessed with exclusivity, and the event seemed to attract a mixed audience, from various generations and backgrounds. I suspect that Westerners in attendance would have had to know at least one Lebanese person, (not counting the head waiter at Maroush on the Edgware Road) since as far as I know Beirut is still yet to trigger sustained international interest.

I have to say that I have generally low expectations of events organised by Arabs for Arabs (yes the Lebanese are Arabs!). Having been to a few of these along the years I usually yawn past the speeches and mutual acknowledgment of greatness hoping for one glare of brilliance in the midst of a sea of mediocrity. Beirut Live was not different, except that brilliance was nowhere to be seen. Art was on display intensively promoted by Jana Zeineddine, our Cleopatra for the evening, and the ‘artists’ themselves. As I mingled around attempting to avoid the centrepiece of recycled cottage cheese tubs, I realised I was not the only one with a baffled look on my face. I felt relieved at the thought that my failure to connect with the abstract symbolism displayed on the walls was a shared response. While some photographs (Karen Kalou, Ayla Hibri) were pleasant enough to look at, the rest just did not deserve to be exhibited...anywhere...ever!

We soon moved to the show. The chosen theme of Beirut as opposed to Lebanon was very revealing. The artists and performers all come from privileged cosmopolitan background, having spent a significant amount for time abroad and having acquired lifestyles, behaviours and beliefs that have no relevance to the broader Lebanese reality. While this in itself is not unheard of in other societies. (I.e. London vs. the rest of the UK) presenting themselves as ambassadors of the suffering people of Lebanon was of bad taste. The proceedings kicked on with Zeina El-Khalil and her book. Reading one excerpt from ‘Beirut, I love you!’ she definitely showed an ability to combine words and syllables together in a striking manner. I was less sure whether it all made any sense on paper. The clichés of sex and death, love and war she introduced were explored ad nauseaum as the night progressed, despite the fact that many of the performers were still pre-pubescent by the time the real civil war (1975-1990) had ended. But if Zeina El Khalil’s only sin was melodrama the show went downhill from there. Nadine Khoury was definitely subdued with her brand of minimalist singing. She was not helped by the failing sound system and the apparent absence of any technical support. Her attempts at wooing the audience by asking them to shut up did not go well with some. You wouldn’t mind hearing it from a well established artist...but with all my respects to Miss Khoury, Amy Winehouse she isn’t! Mr Hibry was unnoticeable with his insistence on “going back” and a nihilistic performance. Mazen Zahreddine destroyed my hopes for a dawn of Lebanese stand up comedy. Frequently Blurting obscenities in a manic Shakespearean style he revisited the now abused theme of sex and death unconvincingly and worse...unamusingly. By the time the rapper Rayyes Beyk arrived on stage the mention of the word ‘Beirut’ was enough t make me sick and I decided to join some friends on a cigarette break although I don’t smoke.

Writing this piece was a painful exercise, since I am a proud Lebanese. But the Lebanon I am proud of was decidedly absent on Sunday night.

18 comments:

Qwaider قويدر said...

I stopped even bothering with these events long time ago. It's sad, and very painful to see people celebrating mediocrity like that. It happens every year. The pushy attitude, the guilt rides, the you're not good enough speeches, the what have you done for your country lately, and of course the casual you're a Kafir and traitor "jokes".
I don't call it being "anti-social" I just call it, preferring my peace of mind!

sasa said...

I'm glad to say you missed the best bit. While there was a lot to be cynical about (the sound system, and Nadine's directions to the other rooms if you want to chat), Zeina's book and Karen Kalou's photography stood out for me. But Rayess Bek stole the show. I will write about it soon - I have always despised his brand of 'Arab-rap', but Sunday night changed my mind.

Sasa, the Syria News Wire.

Afifov said...

Joe, I think you hit the nail on the head when you shed light on Lebanese (performers and organizers alike) trying to reflect Lebanese suffering when they themselves come from priviliged cosmopolitan background (like you and me do also). I know the organizers and a couple of performers, and two things are at play, is that they could not understand the Lebanese grass roots even if they wanted to, because they were never part of, but to an extent it is with good intentions. Yet these intentions don't go very far, because we all know that in search of "fame" if you want to call it that, within the exclusive Lebanese (or cosmopolitan) circles you mentioned, rapping or signing about Monot street doesn't exactly give them the "cool status" that they pursue, when showing that they are "of the people" may do. The one thing I disagree is Mazen Zahreddine, who in my opinion came the closest to actually capturing the real "ground" level in a sarcastic and brilliantly funny manner. I found some subtle references to some habits and practices of the Lebanese man on the street and our (sometimes stupid) traditions of half-educated peopke, that were refreshing. Of course he had some bourgeois misunderstandings but that is unescapable. In his defence, I caught up with him after the show and had a quick chat, and he dropped the "can't afford it" when I asked him about where he performs, in reference that he cannot travel around on his own expense and "perform in New York, London, Paris..." like the rest of our bourgeois-people's-voice artist whose talent is lacking more than their personal pocket...

You choose to be a bit synical, personally, it doesnt really bother me anymore. At least I bump into you or the odd intellectual occasionaly who I have overlapping views with and can understand the Lebanese "delusion" if u want to call it that.

Arab Democracy said...

Thanks for your comment Afif.

I will start by repeating again that I do not enjoy being cynical for the sake of it. The reason why i am being particularly critical of this event is because Lebanon United (the organisers) have had a good record generally over the past few years and certainly have the means and the connections to pull a successful event.

Regarding Mazen, He was sold to the audience as a stand up comic. I don't have a problem with his message as much as with the delivery.(The roaring and gesticulating that went on for too long).

The thing Afif is that we need to be self-critical and judge ourselves harshly sometimes to improve. For too many years the Lebanese have been complacent and tolerated mediocrity in the arts, in politics and in the way things are done on a daily basis.

There is talent out there but organisers of similar events need to go out and look for it.

Always good to see you and have these discussions.


Joe

Hani R. said...

Joe - I'd have to agree, the event seemed slightly amateurish in its scope. But Joe/Afifov -- where on earth did you get the idea that these kids were posing as "ambassadors of the suffering people of Lebanon" ?? I didn't get that at all (neither from the flyer or email or the event.) It was definitely DIY, definitely chaotic, but I felt that each performer was depicting their personal experience of Beirut. I had a chat with the organizers in the interlude, and they said they would have liked to bring more people, if only they'd had the means to. As for Nadine Khoury's shaky performance, I have seen her play on a number occasions and I have to say that the bulk of the failure lay in the hands of the sound engineer (but maybe it's a taste issue, as I personally can't stand Amy Winehouse.) With all due respect, if you hadn't been so quick to dismiss the night as a total failure, you probably would have found Rayess Bek's performance as outstanding as I did. I'm not backing it unconditionally, because it certainly was a bit off, but if we are talking about Arab society, as a Palestinian-Lebanese, I find the over-riding tendency is to dismiss and divide, as opposed to support each other (unlike our Jewish counterparts for instance.) Whether it's the elitists or the salt of the earth, or both standing side by side, I don't personally give a damn, because in the end they raised a lot of money for underprivileged children and came to it with good intentions ...

Hani

Arab Democracy said...

As you said Hani it might be a matter of taste. You say most of the performers brought their own experience and did not try depicting the collective experience.Is that really the case? Do you think a western audience is interested in them as characters or as 'Lebanese' performers. In addition, all the themes explored had to do with war, sectarianism, nostalgia and suffering. I did not learn anything about Mazen Zahredinne as a person,or Nadine Khoury or Hibri...maybe Zeina El-Khalil.

Fair enough for their raising money effort but I am puzzled by the DYI excuse when they have been organising shows since 2006...and quite successfully.

Finally, it is by being self-critical that we raise above mediocrity. This is an attitude we are yet to develop as Arabs. You only have to look at an Arab league meeting to realise that a mutual pat on the back has long been the usual currency with the consequences that we know.I know that the organisers could have done a better job and hopefully they will.

Hani R. said...

Right Joe... But since you (and several of your acquaintances above) detached and distanced yourself so categorically from the performers, I hardly felt any sense of being "self-critical" in your piece. I also know a few of those involved, and they are hardly the delusional, self-congratulatory, oblivious Arabs you describe. It is true that the banner of "Beirut Live" seemed misleading (because those involved hardly constitute or represent Beirut demographically!) but that aside, if we are talking about mediocrity, I think there is also something to be said about an audience that is so quick to judge, to make stereotypes, and to project their own visions onto a project and people they know very little about. Anyway, everyone is entitled to an opinion, but I did have a difficult time gleaning any constructive criticism from your piece, except "they can do better than this." Like you said, hopefully they will be more of these in future, and successful ones at that.

Hani

Arab Democracy said...

The commentators above are not acquaintances. And Afifov, whom I know personally disagreed with me. So I'm afraid I will have to reject your collective accusations.

As far as I know, an artist should be judged by his art/performance, not his intentions.And that is how I judged the event. You insinuate that I am a mediocre commentator, but if I was you wouldn't have bothered responding. My impression is that you disagree with my opinion and here lies the beauty of democracy (Arab or just plain):It allows and encourages debate.

Regards

Joseph

Afifov said...

Hani,

I'd like to stop you on your mention that the performers and/or organizers are delusional, self-congratulatory, oblivious Arabs. The topic here is not the individuals but the community to which, accept or deny it, they belong to, which is the bourgeoisie if you want to call it in French. I'd prefer to use the word "detached" rather than delusional. Like it or not, they, or me for that matter, belong to the "average joe" in Lebanon. It's like working for a charity for the disabled. You have great intentions, and much appreciated, but not being disabled myself, I can never fully understand what it is like to be disabled: how it feels, who it makes you, and how it shapes you.

Thats really what I believe, and find common ground with Joe, although, he may be more cynical, when i choose to be more of a devil's advocate, for a lack of a better expression.

Mu said...

I've been to at least half a dozen Lebanon United fundraising events since 2007, and Beirut Live was by far the most fun I'd had. Why? The general atmosphere, not the talent.
The performers, apart from Rayyess and Zehreddine, were for the most part disappointing. I did not like Zeina El Khalil's book excerpts, I thought they were amateurish, gimmicky, self-indulgant and frivoluous. I found the bass player's piece horrendous. The artwork in the back was also not inspiring.

Still, it was a very enjoyable night. The choice of venue deserves praise. The ability to move from space to space, from gallery to bar to stage and even wonder off outside where hundreds more were enjoying music and drinks was a major element in the night's success. The fact that it was free entry yet managed to raise money is also commendable.

In the spirit of constructive criticism, here's what would need to improve for future:
1. Organizaers must more seriously review the talent (both performance & art display) through a committee funtion of sorts
2. Double the rehersal time to better avoid sound/stage malfunction

Both these things usually improve with experience. And finanlly, respect to one half of the organizing team: Samar Hammam, who was nine months pregnant at the event and gave birth 5 days later. If that's not talent I don't know what is!

Arab Democracy said...

It certainly shows dedication. :)

I agree with you that the organising team have built an image of reliability, originality and initiative. I am sure they will add quality to their repertoire at the next round.

J

Anonymous said...

Should we cast our vote on whether we think exercising cynism and sarcasm is painful to you?

Marwan -

Arab Democracy said...

Is it to you?

J

Anonymous said...

You're good, but not that good ;)

Marwan -

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Arab Democracy said...

All comments above were removed at the request of the author and not for reasons of censorship.

Arabdemocracy