How this Texas karaoke night celebrates Arabic culture
Every other week, people from all across the greater Houston area gather to let their voices be heard — in Arabic — at a karaoke night.
Hani Kashou, from Maestro Karaoke, runs the show at Dandanah Café & Grill and gives singers like Rebal Shurbaji a chance to sing out, loud and proud. Kashou said it's also a great way to expose Houston to Arabic culture.
Shurbaji, who's a rising star at this bi-monthly event, said he's loved singing since he was young.
"If you give me a good chance to sing, I'll sing 24 hours," he told Houston Public Media's "Mockingbird & Armadillo" arts series.
Shurbaji said he's thankful for the karaoke night, which attracts almost 100 people every week from the Arab community and the larger Houston area. Shurbaji said his go-to song is called "Lebnan rah yerjaa," which means "Lebanon will rise again."
"As a Lebanese immigrant, [the song] demonstrates a great connection between immigrants and their homeland," Shurbaji told Houston Public Media.
Kashou made a Spotify playlist of the most popular Arabic songs sung during the karaoke night.
This report originally appeared on Houston Public Media's "Mockingbird & Armadillo."
Support Canvas
Sustain our coverage of culture, arts and literature.
The NFL, Apple Music and Roc Nation announced Sunday that Usher would lead the halftime festivities from Allegiant Stadium in…
The husband-and-wife creative duo behind the 12-member Tedeschi Trucks Band have been called two of the best roots musicians of…
On the 50th anniversary of that match against Bobby Riggs -- still the most-watched in tennis history -- King moved…
Ruth Simmons grew up in a deeply segregated part of Texas to become one of the country's most distinguished educators,…
The global art market totals nearly $70 billion, with returns in recent decades that outpace bonds, according to some estimates.…
Promoters have scrapped the remaining dates in a string of live gigs by Russell Brand after British police say they…
Drew Barrymore, who drew criticism for taping new episodes of her daytime talk show despite the ongoing writers and actors…
This Hispanic Heritage Month, we return to our "Hidden Histories" series with a look at the legacy of Jose Sarria,…
Drew Barrymore -- a daughter of a proud acting dynasty -- is making new batches of her syndicated talk show…
Many of the major music streaming services are now offering spatial music playlists with more immersive versions of some of…
Hope Boykin and Teri Ayanna Wright are a duo who bring together prose and dance. Boykin is both a choreographer…
Los Angeles Judge Charlaine Olmedo handed down the sentence to the 47-year-old Masterson at a hearing on Thursday. Masterson was…
In a series of reports, Jeffrey Brown has looked at the intersection of arts and health. Recently, he traveled to…
Gardening and community gardens can help immigrant and refugee communities supplement their pantries by growing their own culturally appropriate food…
The album is the Stones' first since the death of drummer Charlie Watts in 2021.