Sabah (singer)

Jeanette Georges Feghali, known professionally as Sabah, was a Lebanese singer and actress. Over a seven-decade career in entertainment mainly spanning Egypt and Lebanon, her influence continuously spread across the wider Arab world and regarded her as one of the greatest icons ever known to the region. More popular for her songs, she sang both folkloric and Westernized genres, while in films she took on mostly comedic and romantic roles.
Over the years of her professional life, she had come to be known by several other nicknames, the most notable of which being Al-Shahroura, Shams al-Shomous, Al-Sabbouha, and Al-Ustura, as well as "The Notorious Diva".

Early life

Sabah was born to a Maronite family in Wadi Chahrour, Baabda District, as the youngest of three daughters. During her childhood, she was harassed by her father who had hoped for a son. Her brother eventually killed their mother, suspecting her of having an affair. Sabah was the sister of famous Lebanese actress Lamia Feghali and a maternal first cousin of famous Lebanese singer and actress Alexandra Nicholas Badran, known as Nour Al Hoda. She grew up in the nearby town of Bdadoun, Aley District.

Career

Sabah emerged in a period when the field of Arab singers included many notable talents, such as Umm Kulthum, Nagat El Saghira, Warda Al-Jazairia, Shadia, Fairuz, among others.
Sabah began singing at a young age and released her first song in Lebanon in 1940 at the age of 13. In the early 1940s, she was invited to Egypt by actress and producer Assia Dagher. Sabah acted alongside Dagher in her first movie, El-Qalb Luh Wahid, released in 1945, which brought her regional fame. She then became widely known by her character's name, Sabah, which means "morning" in Arabic.
Sabah was active in Egyptian cinema and resided in Egypt for two decades. Among her most popular films were The Night is Ours, My Father Deceived Me, That's What Love Is, Soft Hands, Three Women, Paris and Love, and The Second Man, where she played a cabaret singer seeking to avenge her brother's death at the hands of a smuggling ring. In the 1990s, Sabah and her former husband, Fadi Lubnan, produced a documentary about her life. Titled The Journey of My Life, the documentary aired on Future Television.
Throughout her music career, Sabah recorded over 3,000 songs, collaborating with numerous renowned Egyptian composers, including the late Mohammed Abdel Wahab. She specialized in the Lebanese folk tradition known as mawwāl, and among her most famous songs were "Zay el-Assal" and "Akhadou el-Reeh". Sabah released more than 50 albums and appeared in 98 films. Known for her youthful spirit and vibrant performances, she became a symbolic figure of the "belle époque" and the "joie de vivre" in the Levant and the Arab world. Despite the Lebanese civil war, she continued to sing at weddings in Lebanon.
Until 2009, Sabah performed in concerts and on television, including appearances on programs like Star Academy. She collaborated closely with singer Rola Saad in remaking some of her previous hits, such as "Yana Yana". The accompanying video, which pays tribute to Sabah as "the notorious diva", received significant airplay on Arabic music channels. Additionally, Sabah hosted the TV show Akher Man Yalam on 31 May 2010.
During the 2011 Beiteddine Art Festival, a performance was staged that retraced Sabah's journey as a singer and movie star. Rouwaida Attieh played the title role, alongside more than 40 singers and dancers, paying tribute to Sabah's contributions.
In 2010, Sabah retired from public life for health reasons, which resulted in paralysis affecting one of her arms and legs.

Personal life

Sabah held passports from Lebanon, Egypt, Jordan, and the United States.
She married Lebanese businessman Najib Chammas at the age of 18 and later married nine more times. Her notable spouses include Egyptian actor Rushdy Abaza, Egyptian musician Anwar Mansy, Egyptian television presenter Ahmed Farraj, Lebanese politician Youssef "Joe" Hammoud, and Lebanese author-director Wassim Tabbara. Hammoud reportedly divorced Sabah in the 1970s following a scandal related to a performance in which she wore revealing shorts. Her second-to-last marriage, which lasted 17 years, was to the much-younger Lebanese artist Fadi Lubnan. Her final marriage took place in 2013, at the age of 85, to Joseph Gharib.
She had two children: Sabah Chammas, from her marriage to Najib Chammas, and Howayda Mansy, from her marriage to Anwar Mansy. Sabah Chammas is a medical doctor, while Howayda Mansy is known as a singer, actress, and socialite. Both of Sabah's children reside in the United States. Sabah was also the paternal aunt of Brazilian congresswoman Jandira Feghali and her brother Ricardo Feghali, a member of the band Roupa Nova, through her brother Albert.
After selling her house in Hazmieh, which she felt as "too big and cold for only one person", Sabah relocated to the nearby Hotel Comfort in Baabda, Mount Lebanon, a hillside city with views of Beirut and the Mediterranean Sea. Later, she resided in another hotel adjacent to Baabda.

Death

Rumors of Sabah's death circulated days before she died. Amused by the rumors, Sabah said, "Even in my death, I'm making people busy." She died on 26 November 2014, at approximately 3:00 a.m., sixteen days after celebrating her 87th birthday, at her residence in Hotel Brazilia, due to unspecified reasons. The news was first published by Clauda Akl, daughter of her sister Lamia Feghaly. It was mentioned that Sabah expressed a wish for people not to mourn her and to dance the dabke at her funeral, stating "I've lived enough." Following her death, her hairdresser and husband Joseph Gharib shared in an interview that Sabah had a fondness for wearing red lipstick during her final days.
Sabah's funeral was held four days after her death at St. George Cathedral in downtown Beirut. Her family, Lebanese officials, and numerous Arab delegates attended the ceremony. Outside the cathedral, the official Lebanese Army band performed the national anthem, followed by several songs from Sabah's extensive repertoire. Additionally, a group of dancers dressed in traditional attire performed to her music, which played through loudspeakers.
During the funeral mass, Sabah's coffin, draped in a flag, was placed near the altar alongside a large photograph of the singer during her younger years. Following the service, mourners escorted the casket to a waiting hearse outside. People expressed their respects by applauding, throwing flowers, and reaching out to touch the coffin and take photographs. Sabah's body was transported through several towns to the church in her hometown of Bdadoun, where she was laid to rest.

Legacy

The TV drama Al Shahrourah, based on Sabah's life, aired during Ramadan in 2011, with actress and singer Carole Samaha portraying her. Sabah generally responded positively to the series, though she noted some inaccuracies, such as the portrayal of her father in traditional Lebanese attire. Months before her death, Lebanese journalist Rima Njeim hosted a live TV episode on MTV Lebanon honoring Sabah.
Her music is included in music classes in Lebanon. In 2015, graffiti artists Halwani and the brothers Omar and Mohammad Kabbani created monumental murals on buildings in Beirut to commemorate Sabah. These artworks celebrated her for challenging gender-based and other social taboos, and for offering an alternative to the dominant images of political leaders and their slogans in Lebanese culture.
On 10 November 2017, Google honored what would have been her 90th birthday with a Google Doodle. In Marvel's Moon Knight TV series, her song "Saat Saat" from the 1980 Egyptian movie A Night When The Moon Cried is featured at the end of Episode 5.
On 6 September 2023, the Alexandria Film Festival announced the results of a poll it conducted to compile a list of the top 100 Egyptian musical films. Approximately 32 film critics and cinematographers participated in this poll. Sabah appeared in six of the selected films, including "Love Street", "The Unmarried Mother", "Bolbol Afandi", "Soft Hands", "Leila Baka Feha Al Qamar", and "He Stole My Wife".

Awards

In 2004, Sabah was recognized at the Alexandria Song Festival and the Cairo Film Festival. Additionally, she was honored with a statue in Beirut during the same year.
In 2010, she received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Dubai International Film Festival.
She received multiple honors from the Lebanese Republic, including the National Order of the Cedar medal.

Work

Sabah released more than 50 albums and appeared in 98 films, along with over 20 stage plays. She was known for having a vast repertoire of over 3,500 songs.

Selected filmography

1986 Ayyam El Lulu ايام اللولو aka = Days Of The Lulu
1972 Paris wal Hob باريس والحب aka = Paris and Love
1970 Kanet Ayyam كانت ايام aka = It Were Days
1970 Nar El Shoq نار الشوق aka = Fire Of Longing
1969 Easabet El Nesa عصابة النساء aka = Gang Of Women
1968 Thalath Nesaa ثلاث نساء aka = Three Women
1966 Mawwal El Aqdam El Zahabiyyah موال الاقدام الذهبية aka = Popular Song Of Golden Feet
1963 El Aydi el naema الايدى الناعمة aka = The Soft Hands
1963 El Motamaradah المطاردة aka = The Chase
1961 El Hub Keda الحب كده aka = That's What Love Is
1961 Goz merti جوز مراتى aka = Husband Of My Wife
1960 El Ragol El Thani الرجل الثانى aka = The Second Man
1959 El Ataba El Khadra العتبه الخضرا aka = The Green Threshold
1958 Shari' El Hobb شارع الحب aka = Love Street
1958 Sallem Al Habayib سلم ع الحبايب aka = Say Hello To Lovers
1956 Izayy Ansak ازاى انساك aka = How To Forget You
1956 Wahabtak Hayati وهبتك حياتى aka = I Gave You My Life
1954 Khataf merati خطف مراتى aka = He Kidnapped My Wife
1953 Lahn Hobbi لحن حبى aka = Melody Of My Heart
1953 Zalamuni El Habayib ظلمونى الحبايب aka = Were Unjust To Me, The Lovers
1951 Khada'ni Abi خدعنى ابى aka = My Father Deceived Me
1950 Ana Satuta انا ستوته aka = I'm Sattutah
1949 Al lailu lana الليل لنا aka = The Night is Ours
1948 Sabah El kher صباح الخير aka = Good Morning
1947 Albi W Sefi قلبى و سيفى aka = My Heart And My Sword
1947 lebnani Fi El gam'ah لبنانى فى الجامعة aka = Lebanese In University

Selected discography

Release year	Original Title	Translation	Label	Main songwriter/producer	Notable Songs
1957	Alhan Bilady	Favourite Oriental Melodies	Voix de l'Orient	Folk	Ya Huwaidalak Abu Al-zuluf
1957	Ghanni Maa Sabah	Sing with Sabah	Voix de l'Orient	Folk	Tayyib Tayyib
1959	Ajmal Aghani Sabah	Sabah Sings Love Songs	Voix de l'Orient	Philémon Wehbé	Al-iza'a Al 'Asfuriyya
1960	Mawsam El 'Ezz	Baalbeck International Festival	Voix de l'Orient	Assi & Mansour Rahbani Wadih El Safi Philémon Wehbé
1960	Ain Al Roumane - Musical	The Village	Voix de l'Orient	Assi & Mansour Rahbani	Finjan Qahwa Al Tayir
1963	Share' Al Hob - Soundtrack From Ezzel Dine Zulficar's Motion Picture	Street of Love	Orient	Hussein Al Sayed Munir Mourad	Rahat Leialee Wa Jat Leialee
1964	Ash-Shallal - Musical	The Cascade	Voix de l'Orient	Walid Gholmieh Younes El Ebn	Ya Mrouj
1964	Fatinat Ajjamahir	Girl for the Masses	Voix de l'Orient	Assi & Mansour Rahbani Mohamed Abdel Wahab Zaki Nassif Philémon Wehbé	Sana Helwa
1966	Dawaleeb Al Hawa - Musical	The Pinwheels	Voix de l'Orient	Assi & Mansour Rahbani Philémon Wehbé	Esmy Hala
1966	Shams El Shoumous - Musical	Sun of Suns	Voix de l'Orient	Assi & Mansour Rahbani Philémon Wehbé	Allo Beirut
1967	Sabah		Philips	Philémon Wehbé Elias Rahbani Michel Tohme	Al Bassata
1968	Al Al'aa	Baalbeck Festival	Philips	Romeo Lahoud	Ya Ahl Al Al'aa
1969	Sabah		Philips	Mohamed Abdel Wahab Philémon Wehbé Michel Tohme Halim El Roumi	Jary Ya Jary Ya Msafer
1970	Al Wahm - Musical	Illusion	Philips	Najib Hankash Maurice Awad	Nehnal Hawa
1972	Ahlan Wa Sahlan Wa Marhaba	Hello and Welcome	Voix de l'Orient	Walid Gholmieh Younes El Ebn	Al Bassata
1974	Sett El Kol - Musical	The First Lady	Voice of Lebanon	Philémon Wehbé Michel Tohme	Ya Dalaa Dallaa
1974	Helwe Ktir - Musical	So Beautiful	Voice of Lebanon	Nicolas El Deek Michel Tohme	Marhaba Ya Habayeb Bawsa
1974	Oghniyat min Lubnan	Songs of Lebanon	Cairophon		Rabie Loubnana
1976	Sabah in Paris		Voice of Lebanon	Toufic Barakat Nour Al Mallah	Dek El Kaf
1977	Shahr El 'Asal - Musical	Honeymoon	Voice of Lebanon	Melhem Barakat Elie Choueiri	Men Aboukra Hala Hala
1977	Sabah		Voice of Lebanon	Melhem Barakat Farid El Atrache Romeo Lahoud	Helwet Lebnan Zay El Amar
1977	Allah Makom Ya Chabab	God Be with You Guys	Duniaphon	Melhem Barakat Farid El Atrache Romeo Lahoud	Allah Makom Ya Chabab Zein El Abidin
1977	Wetdallou Bikheir - Musical	May You Be in Good Health	Duniaphon	Zaki Nassif	Ward El Janaen
1979	Live Performances		Voix de l'Orient	Michel Tohme Philémon Wehbé	Marhabtein W Marhabtein
1980	Ghnany 'Al Bal	Souvenirs	Voix de l'Orient	Wadih El Safi Philémon Wehbé	Altaf Diney Aatouni Derbake
1980	Leyla Beky Feeha Al Amar - Soundtrack From Ahmed Yehya's Motion Picture	The Night the Moon Cried	Sout El Hob	Mohamed Abdel Wahab Omar Batiesha	Yalla Naish El Hayat
1982	Wadi Shamsine	Sings Elias Rahbani	Rahbania	Elias Rahbani	Waadouni W Natarouni Rakesni Hayk
1985	Sabah in Hollywood		Sphinx	Ma'moun El Shinnawi Samy Farag	Ahlan Wa Sahlan
1985	Ayam El Loulou	Days of Loulou	Relax-In	Elie Choueiri	Ayam El Loulou
1988	Yalla Naish El Hayat	Let's Live This Life	Relax-In	Jamal Salama	Yalla Naish El Hayat
1993	Khatwa Khatwa	Step by Step	Relax-In		Khatwa Khatwa Shoufo Shoufo
1996	La Tiaanidni	Don't Hate Me	Disco 99		La Tiaanidni