One Lebanon at Forum De Beirut

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May 2015

Concert Forum de Beyrouth

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Forum de Beyrouth Beirut Suburb Concert One Lebanon at Forum De Beirut Lebanon

Emotions in motions, this was the temper and the tempo of the second edition of the "ONE LEBANON, United for Tomorrow" concert that took place this weekend at the Forum de Beyrouth.

An euphoric and ever growing estimated crowd of around 10,000 people of all ages, mainly youth, captured by the gleeful spirit of 35 celebrities, responded for the second year in a row to the call of Tania Kassis, Founder and President of ONE LEBANON.

Amongst the audience, we noted the presence of MP Robert Fadel, CEO of ABC, the official partner of ONE LEBANON for 2015, British Ambassador Tom Fletcher, Mr. and Mrs. Fouad Makhzoumi, Mme May Chidiac, Mr. Bachir Khodr, Mohafez of Baalback, the Ambassadors of Venezuela H.E. Mrs. Zoed Karam and Belgium H.E. M. Alex Lenaerts, Mrs Sigrid Kaag, United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon, and ONE LEBANON's Board Members Dr. Fouad Zmokhol, Mrs Lina Moukheiber, M.Ziad Mikati and Mrs Lamia Darouni.

The internationally rated show started with the ONE LEBANON anthem written and composed by Marwan Khoury, with the musical arrangement of Michel Fadel. Tania Kassis, whose dream of uniting celebrities for the sake of a united audience and united Lebanon appeared first, followed by one celebrity at a time, each entering the stage in solo while singing one part of the song and ending-up collectively with one voice, one message, for ONE LEBANON: "nihna jayin al kelme mejtem'in wel mousika rouh ma elha lawn wou din" (here we come together, all in harmony over the message, because music has a colorless and secular soul).

The celebrities were from all ages; it was simply startling to see superstars of the war generation such as internationally acclaimed Elias Rahbani, crooner Nicolas Osta, rock star Ghassan Rahbani, and Re-Mi Bandali (in her come back 30 years later) intermingle on stage with younger generation stars like Tania Kassis, arranger Michel Fadel, Melhem Zein, Joseph Attieh, Anthony Touma, Aline Lahoud, Saad Ramadan, Omar Dean (X-Factor Australia finalist of Lebanese origins), Carlos Azar, Nizar Francis, Mike Massy, Brigitte Yaghi, Maguy Bou Ghosn, Michel Abou Sleiman, Nicolas Mouawad, Tony Abou Jaoude, Nada Abou Farhat, Tony Issa, Maritta Assi Hallani, Zeina Daccache, Joseph Hoayek, Bruno Tabbal, Grace Ayanian, Elie Rustom, Silvio Chiha, Charbel Ragy, Rahaf Abdallah, the rappers Mn-el-Ekher, rock band The Coolcumbers as well as Wissam Breidy, in a surprising and moving appearance.

They performed on stage in duos, trios or in group, to sing and carry out a message of love, reconciliation and unity. The basic principle and philosophy behind ONE LEBANON is to never sing alone in solo, but to come together as one voice.

In remembrance of the 40th year of the civil war, the "Bosta" that symbolized the beginning of the conflict, gradually changed colors from dark red to a spectrum of joyful and happy colors. Throughout the show graffiti artist EpS was drawing colorful graffiti on this same "Bosta" on the theme "Be the change" while the repertoire evolved from "Les Miserables, Ouwwe, Mahabbe, Outouna el Toufouli, Let the Sunshine In" to "I lived, Kholset Senet el 2000, The Show Must Go On, Watani and Te'ala wou Tet'ammar". In the end, we are all riding on the same bus; and this same bus will shape up our common destiny. The "Bosta" has become the trademark and signature of ONE LEBANON, ending the show with a painted colorful message stating "I will be the Change", ONE LEBANON's declared slogan for its upcoming Youth Festival.

The high moments of the show were brought out with "Atouna el Toufouli' sang by Re-Mi and the choirs of Tania Kassis and the International College, Elias Rahbani dancing with Joseph Attieh and Nicolas el Osta on a medley of his most famous songs, a wonderful duet between Tania Kassis and Melhem Zein on Tania's latest hit song "Watani", as well as upbeat English songs such as "Burn" (Ellie Goulding) and "I Lived" (One Republic) which were interpreted by Anthony Touma, Maritta Assi Hallani, Tony Abou Jaoude, The Coolcumbers & former X-Factor finalist Australian Singer Omar Dean who travelled from Melbourne to be part of this exceptional event.

The evening could not have been complete without a distinct tribute to recently departed Sabah which was performed by Aline Lahoud and Maguy Bou Ghosn, and another one to Wadih el Safi that assembled for the first time on a same stage the wonderful voices of Melhem Zein, Joseph Attieh, Nicolas Osta, Saad Ramadan and Carlos Azar.

The concert ended with a splendid finale that brought together all the celebrities singing a medley in honor of the Lebanese Army, noting that part this year's concert profits will be granted to the Children of the Lebanese Army Martyrs fund. A night to remember for the youth who had never heard of the Ein-el-Remmeneh "Bosta", and a night of healing and reconciliation to the older generation who, by the end of the show, transformed the darkness of the Bosta into a colorful symbol of life and unity.