Four Fantastic Saudi Musicians, Old and New

How many musicians and bands do you know from Saudi Arabia? Have you heard of Abadi al-Johar or Hamza Hawsawi, for example? To be honest, the diversity and depth of Saudi music might surprise you. Not to mention the number of famous groups and singers.

Today on Other Things, we explore songs from four different Saudi artists, individuals with a variety of styles and skills. For instance, one is an oud player who’s been popular for decades. While another is a new star, who grew famous on TV in 2015. Read below to learn about these great musicians and listen to songs that highlight their unique voices, charming melodies and rhythmic beats.

Abadi Al-Johar

Abadi al-Johar, born in Jeddah in 1953, is renown for his uncanny ability on the Arabian oud. Nicknamed the Octopus of the Oud, al-Johar uses his picking and technical skill on the instrument to punctuate the stanzas of his vast collection of songs. He continues to perform to this day, and has recorded more than 50 studio albums. Check out al-Johar’s latest songs and popular hits on his YouTube channel.

The song above Eyonak Akher Amali (Your Eyes Are My Last Hope) features an exquisite intro on the oud. You’ll also notice that this video, recorded live in Riyadh, provokes strong reactions from the audience. They cry out at the start of every chorus, as the lyrics put feelings of love into words: “I adored you even before I saw you. And when I saw you, my life became like a dream. I want your eyelashes to cover me, I want you to be closer than my breath…”

Abdul Majeed Abdullah

Abdul Majeed Abdullah is another long-lasting constant among famous Saudi musicians. Born in Jizan in 1962, he became famous in the 1980s and his career has skyrocketed ever since.

This song Yama Hawalt (Oh, I Tried) was recorded live in Kuwait in 2017. It features a full orchestra, including talented drummers and a chorus of backup singers. The audience is fully engaged too, clapping and singing along in unison: “Oh, I tried to leave, but I couldn’t. I tried to forget him, but I didn’t forget….” If you like this song, be sure to check out more of Abdullah’s music here.

Abdulrahman Mohammed

Born in Medina, Abdulrahman Mohammed is a newer star who became famous in 2004 through the Arab television show Superstars. This music competition attracted talent from across the Arab world. And Mohammed placed 9th out of the 80 semi-finalists featured on the show. A few years later, Mohammed founded a YouTube channel, publishing videos and live recordings that mix Arab and Western influences.

This song is called Isabak Ishq (Did You Fall in Love), although Mohammed translates the title as Craziness. The lyrics are a Classical poem by the Umayyad caliph Yazid bin Muawiyah, who died in 683 AD. Mohammed sings this beautifully, bending his voice with accompaniment and harmonies by Mohab Omer on guitar. The music video went viral and now has over 200 million views. You can watch and listen to it here.

Hamza Hawsawi

Hamza Hawsawi, the youngest of these four Saudi musicians, was born in 1991 in Jeddah. In 2015, he won Season 4 of the singing competition “X Factor Arabia,” broadcast across the Arab world by the satellite channel MBC. Hawsawi sang in English throughout the show, smoothly crooning popular songs like “I’m Not the Only One” by Sam Smith, “All of Me” from John Legend, and “Beat It” by Michael Jackson.

Hawsawi released this song “Love A Little” in 2017, a few years after his victory. I love the simpleness of the video, which concentrates on his soaring voice, accented by the piano. If you like this song, check out more on Hawsawi’s YouTube channel.

What Next?

Which of these Saudi musicians did you like best? What did you think of their different songs? I love the diverse rhythms and musical styles, not to mention their fantastic voices and contagious energy. Tell us what you thought using the comment section below or send me a quick email here.

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Of course, the blog Other Things has many other posts to explore too. Recently we’ve covered four historic sites in Bahrain, studied and savored delicious drinks from Egypt’s cafes, marveled at the brilliant illustrations in the Persian Book of Kings, and listened to music from another part of the Middle East — Lebanese songs from the early 2000’s. Check out these fantastic posts as well!