So it is Said

Many happy returns to the very lovely Arabic bombshell Miss Samira Said (or Saeed, depending on who's translating), who turns 51 (or 55, or 54) today!

I fell in love with this woman's voice thanks to one song - coming up - and we have since collected a fine cross-section of her work to add to our extensive World Music section in the music library here at Dolores Delargo Towers.

The song in question is her award-winning duet with another Arabic superstar Cheb Mami - it's one of my eternal faves, Youm Wara Youm:

Samira Said & Cheb Mami - Youm Wara Youm

Facts about Samira Said:

• In 1980 she sang Morocco's first (and so far only) entry in the Eurovision Song Contest.
• She was born Samira Bensaïd in Morocco and acheived great success there , but moved to Egypt in her twenties to expand her career.
• She is one of the most popular artists across the Arab world, singing songs in different dialects varying from Moroccan to Egyptian and Lebanese, and genres such as Tarab, Raï, Jazz and even Disco.
• She was the only Arabic artist to perform in front of Pope John Paul II.
• Lately she divides her time between music and her role as a UNICEF supporter.

We love her.

Samira Said (born 10th January 1962 according to Google, although Wikipedia says 1958 and Last FM says 1959)