I don’t know how it took me so long to find this, but now that it’s here I’ve been repeating it ad infinitum. It’s fantastic. Beirut-born Maysa Karaa has got to be one of the greatest Arabic language singers of all time, at least among American classic rock fans. Karaa has created an exquisite, exotic career niche for herself by releasing Arabic versions of old time rock songs like “White Rabbit” and “Comfortably Numb.” (There is also this interesting duet with Marcus Nand, “You Become My World.”) But her cover of Bob Seger’s “Turn the Page” (below) recorded with Don Was’ Detroit All-Star Revue as they recreated the songs of Seger’s 1976 juggernaut Live Bullet album may be her most delicious cover yet.
Can Arabic-language pop conquer America? A Tarzana ingénue and her power manager say ‘inshallah’
