Index IntroductionBiography of an ArtistMusical RatingMeaning and Contemporary RelevanceThe Joy and Tenderness That Are in Your LoveSay no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay It is enough for more than many long generations Your love has filled my heart and thoughts Lighten my night and lengthen my life ~ Umm Kulthum, “The hope of my Life” Introduction Fifty years ago, Umm Kulthum (alternatively 'Oum Kalthoum') was an internationally renowned Egyptian singer. Kulthum had an incredible style and unique vocal ability, which led to her recognition as one of the 'most influential Arab singers of the 20th century. arguably the most important Arab woman in contemporary history" (Brittanica np). As one commentator noted, "Imagine a singer with the virtuosity of Joan Sutherland or Ella Fitzgerald, the public persona of Eleanor Roosevelt and the audience of Elvis and you have Umm Kulthum" (Oxford np). With this eulogy in mind, this discussion paper has examined Umm Kulthum, the near-mythical Egyptian Arab singer, in the context of her biography, her music, and the meaning she brought to both her world and contemporary. To understand Umm Kulthum, like many singers, it is necessary to understand both their musical style and their personal life. The article first focuses on Umm Kulthum's personal and public life, and then turns to an evaluation of her musical style, using the elements of rhythm, instruments, pitch, form and meaning. Finally, the discussion turns to the meaning and impact of Umm Kulthum. The whole discussion is expressed in an evaluation of the most famous songs of Umm Kulthum: "The Hope of My Life" (Amal Hayati). Recorded in 1965, the song essentially represents Umm Kulthum, her musicianship and style, and the contemporary relevance it holds. Biography of an Artist Umm Kulthum's date of birth is not known with certainty, although it is thought to be December 31, 1898 or May 4, 1904 (Brittanica np). What is known is that his father was a “village imam who sang traditional religious songs at weddings and holidays” to make ends meet for his family (Britannica np). While singing was largely despised in Egypt during his childhood, Kulthum was able to study music and poetry when he moved to Cairo with his family in 1923. This was at the invitation of another famous Arab musician, Zakariyya Ahmad: his talents “were noticed by [the] famous oudist,” who then “invited her to Cairo to study under his tutelage” (Stanton 297). It was there that he perfected his talent in singing and playing the oud. From there his success took off. By the 1950s he was a national icon in Egypt and found one of its greatest icons in Gamal Abdel Nasser, the nationalist who overthrew the king and founded his own government in 1952. Throughout the 1950s, Nasser often broadcast his government speeches and propaganda. before and after the Kulthum concerts. Despite her fame, Kulthum remained relatively reserved: she avoided succumbing to the debauchery of the bohemian lifestyle championed by artists and musicians. Rather, it emphasized his humble origins and conservative values” (Stanton 297). As another scholar concludes, the song of Kulthum “accompanied the Arab world in all its national aspirations and catalyzed a sense of Arab unity that managed to transcend (at least on a cultural level) social tensions and political conflicts” (Shohat 305). This is not, of course, Umm Kalthum's biography in its entirety; it simply outlines his origins, his rise to fame, and his influence on Egypt and the Arab world as a whole. It does, however, provide context.