hasanhujairi[dot]com

Well, the wonderful Kamilya Jubran had a concert in Bahrain on Monday, March 5th. I went nearly an hour and a half before the performance because I wanted good seats and didn’t want to risk it. I arrived (along with my parents) so early, that we got the best seats in the house - in the first row, dead ahead of her and her Oud.

I thought it would be a relaxing evening of absolutely inspiring music. I was partially right because she (the performer) was absolutely talented and wonderful. Unfortunately, I forgot about the audience making up the other half of the experience of going to a concert or any performance of any nature.

In the small hall in which she performed there were no microphones. Any calculations of logic would lead one to think that if she sang loud enough, and the audience were QUIET enough - things would go well. Well, the audience weren’t all that quiet.

When she started talking and introducing her music, some *** in the third row yelled out at her “Hey, are you talking to the entire audience or only to the ten who are sitting in the front row?”. She ignored him. People kept whispering and shifting, until it got to an annoying murmur that kept overshadowing her lovely music. In the middle of her first song that monkey from the third row got up and LEFT the hall, making as much noise as possible, disrupting her. It was rude and annoying.

This continued for the first half an hour of her set; in which other people kept leaving in the middle of her performance; which is rude to someone as talented and special as her. At any rate; it was Sartre who said “Hell is other people”. (Agree with Existentialism or not, he does make a worthy point).

As for her music; it was - well - if I were to describe it - Bjork singing Bob Dylan IN ARABIC. While playing the Oud. The poetry she chose was very powerful and unique. I thought it was something special. Sadly, most of the audience didn’t get it, because they were too busy whispering to their neighbours about other things that couldn’t wait till after the performance.

This really disappointed me.

Kamilya, thank you for the music and I’m sorry about the reception you got the other day.