The first gay band in Lebanon

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[ Falyakon ]- [mashrou' leila]

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Heyoo, it's you buddy bell here and today we are going to discuss something related to my own country for the first time.... Lebanon.

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Let me first give some background check about this band, it is called mashrou' Leila. This band was originally formed by the students of the AUB University which is the most prestigious university in all of Lebanon. The band was formed in 2008 as a music workshop.

Violinist Haig Papazian, guitarist Andre Chedid and pianist Omaya Malaeb posted an open invitation to musicians looking to relieve stress through music. Dozens of people showed up but only 7 remained to form the currently known Mashrou' Leila.

They started with small events at the campus and small venues and slowly gained ground in the music field. Until they played at the music festival in 2008 and sparked many controversies due to their critical and unabashed lyrics on the Lebanese society, failed love, sexuality and politics.

Over the years, unfortunately the band decreased to become only 4 .

So far they have released 5 albums:

❐Mashrou' Leila

❐El Hal Romancy

❐Raasuk

    ❐Ibn El Leil

     ❐The Beirut School

In their album Ibn El Leil, the band broke many silenced topics throughout their songs. Using allusions and references to pop figures and mythological figures of God's and demons.

They explained that the song "maghawir" narrates the story of a club shooting based on 2 real shootings that happened in Beirut within the same week taking the lives on many young victims.

While the song "Tayf (ghost)" explains the shuttered gay club. And "Bint El Khandaq" tells the story of a friend who learned that as hard as it is being a women in Lebanon, it is hard being brown is the west.

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Since then the band acquired enormous fame, charting 11 on the billboard charts and 1st on local iTunes channels.

Most of you by now are probably wondering what does this have to do with the lgbt community? well... the lead vocalist of the band is openly gay, and he is the FIRST ever openly gay artist in Lebanon. This caused the band to receive extreme hate and backlash.

If you understand Arabic you'll notice that in their songs the pronouns change throughout each line. That is so everyone can relate to the song regardless of gender. Even in their latest video Radio Romance, you will not be able to identify the characters in the video, their appearance shift and changes in each scene.

Let me note first that Lebanon is a religious, traditional country, it is unique due to having over 18 different religions! Muslims and Christians are the majority. The lgbt, women power, drugs, mental illness, all of those topics and more are deeply buried. But this band has discussed them all through their songs, so you can imagine why they are so hated.

It all started in 2010 when Hamed sinno a member waved an lgbt flag during the Byblos Festival. This was the first public display of an lgbt pride flag in Lebanon. It was ground breaking.

In their concert in Egypt, many of the audience were arrested for the mere act of waving an lgbt flag. A man was even sentenced to six years in jail!

In 2019, they were supposed to be playing at the Byblos Festival Concert. Unfortunately the church officials called for the cancelation of the show by an online homophobic campaign claiming the band songs are promoting homosexuality and violating Christian sensitivities through certain lyrics which said "I shall drink in the name of the God and the son". The band leader explained it was a drawing comparative between mythology (Dionysian) and religion work. The band was attacked, threatened, accused of false acts all deemed to be untrue. The church even decided to take legal action and demanded a public apology.

The band was forced to apologize and remove many songs and lyrics, causing many rallies to start in their name.

Eventually, the show ended up being canceled to prevent bloodshed.

This incident was the start of many movement, not only in Lebanon but in the entire Middle East. Lgbt flags being raised for the first time in history at various moments. People coming out, artistd ing the cause and insane social media campaigns.

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As we enter a new stage, this band gave us hope and strength. The courage it took to break the norms and defy traditions. They showed the Arabic lgbt community that there is hope for a better future for us. They inspired us to make change, to fight back, to make our voices heard. Marches in the name of the lgbt has been growing. It all started thanks to them.

This is one of my favorite music bands, and I will continue to them and I hope you do too.

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This is your buddy bell, g out

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