Egypt's current account gap narrows, but overall BoP records deficit    Egypt's PM reviews debt reduction strategy, eyes more private investment    Egypt hosts international neurosurgery conference to drive medical innovation    Egypt, India discuss expanding industrial, investment partnerships    World Bank proposes Egypt join new global health initiative    Egypt's EDA discusses Johnson & Johnson's plans to expand investment in local pharmaceutical sector    I won't trade my identity to please market: Douzi    Sisi sends letter to Nigerian president affirming strategic ties    Egypt welcomes 25-nation statement urging end to Gaza war    Egypt, Senegal sign pharma MoU to unify regulatory standards    Egyptian pound ticks down in early Tuesday trading    Famine kills more Gaza children as Israel tightens siege amid global outrage    Kuwait's Crown Prince, Egyptian minister discuss strengthening cooperation    Egyptian Drug Authority discusses plans for joint pharmaceutical plant in Zambia    Egypt's FM seeks deeper economic, security ties on five-nation West Africa tour    Two militants killed in foiled plot to revive 'Hasm' operations: Interior ministry    Egypt foils terrorist plot, kills two militants linked to Hasm group    Egypt, Somalia discuss closer environmental cooperation    Egypt exports 175K tons of food in one week    Giza Pyramids' interior lighting updated with new LED system    Egypt's EHA, Huawei discuss enhanced digital health    Foreign, housing ministers discuss Egypt's role in African development push    Korea Culture Week in Egypt to blend K-Pop with traditional arts    Egypt, Uruguay eager to expand trade across key sectors    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Three ancient rock-cut tombs discovered in Aswan    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Egypt's Irrigation Minister urges scientific cooperation to tackle water scarcity    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    Egypt's Democratic Generation Party Evaluates 84 Candidates Ahead of Parliamentary Vote    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Singing it up in Harry's Pub
Published in Daily News Egypt on 19 - 11 - 2006


Karaoke draws a distinguished crowd
CAIRO: A balanced diet, a balanced weekend I thought. On Thursday night it was a rich steaming stew of ideas served up by author and historian, William Dalyrmple at an AUC lecture, and on Friday night, karaoke at Harry's Pub provided the pudding.
Dalyrmple is an authority on the history of Christianity in the Middle East and the development of Islam and its influence on Western civilization. Such a resume makes him the perfect candidate for karaoke. A foreign professional.
On Friday night I met a doctor, two computer engineers, an economic researcher from the Arab League, teachers, a journalist, an Austrian tourist and two financial analysts. All but one are regulars at the British-style pub, located beside the northern car park in the Marriott Hotel, Zamalek.
Just after 11:00 pm, radiologist, Dr Michael Waguih, got the party started with Louis Armstrong's "What a Wonderful World. The affable Waguih has spent the last two years as MC at Harry's, and before that he was a regular himself.
"I was a regular karaoke singer, then a friend asked me to fill in for a month as MC and as you can see, I am still here.
In all that time, Waguih and his right hand man, DJ George Samuel, have ranked Frank Sinatra's "My Way as the most popular tune. Closely followed by the Gloria Gaynor anthem "I Will Survive, and the rhythm and blues standard "Mustang Sally.
Good standard fare, but on Friday I didn't hear any of them. Instead, one of the evening's finest renditions of a song was by the computer engineer, Nader El-Naggar from Nasr City, who sang "Dr Feelgood. The jovial El-Naggar's alter ego kicked in and he was transformed into a dark gothic figure, exuding a primeval sexual energy, complete with air guitar and rock-god pose.
And there it was, Waguih had correctly diagnosed the reason people love karaoke - because karaoke is fantasy. Not to mention that there is a dearth of live Western style music venues in Cairo, so creating your own gig is not a bad option, and that I thought was that.
Then with out warning, Derek Sands exploded onto the stage with the Jerry Lee Lewis number "Great Balls of Fire. Forget the fantasy, Sands who is from Washington, D.C. and works as a journalist with United Press International was taking no prisoners. His body spasmed, gasping for air, his tattooed forearm pointing frenetically like the hand of a clock gone mad, screaming into the microphone he pogoed around like the original wild man, Jerry Lee himself.
Sands, who had received his karaoke training in Japan, has been in Cairo since August and was also singing duets with his Canadian friend, Angela Johnston.
Johnston, hails from Vancouver and ironically sang the Thin Lizzy classic, "The Boys Are Back in Town, telling me that she had never been so aware of being female as she was in Cairo. But that doesn't deter this English language teacher, who said she loves Cairo, "I see order in the chaos.
Any good karaoke night follows the rule of ordered chaos, but the equation wouldn't be complete without a karaoke virgin (which I am still, by the way). It was the first time for Mohamed Labban, from Maadi, when he sang the Brian Adams ballad, "Everything I Do, I Do it For You. His voice maybe a little nervous and his stance a little wooden, but he was great. He was entertaining, he was fun and he was braver than me!
Some people regard Harry's as too smoky and the air conditioning too cold. Though for financial analyst Fuada Sadi from Syria, Harry's is "a real pub. It is laid back and has good music. His friend then offered two tips for the stock market - Raya Holdings and Orascom Telcom.
And like good tips in good pubs everywhere, the best course is to ignore advice given in a pub. A good pub is a local pub where you run into old friends and that is what happened on Friday night. A familiar figure, though sprouting a new beard, and former colleague, Paul Badham. A musician himself, he tells me that the Rugby Club also has karaoke and Bar Kilimanjaro in Maadi runs regular open mic evenings.
No good pub is complete without a good publican. And the manager of Harry's, Alaa Hamid, moves around the crowd greeting regulars and welcoming new faces. He chats to one punter sitting alone, which is very kind, and that is the kind of place Harry's is, your local pub, where every Thursday and Friday night you can enjoy a good ol' fashion sing-along.
Notice Board
Free Australian films at the Cairo Opera House.Strictly Ballroom - Monday Nov. 20, 5:00 pmThe Man From Snowy River - Monday Nov. 20, 7:30 pmNed Kelly - Tuesday Nov. 21, 5:00 pmThe Dish - Tuesday Nov. 21, 7:30 pm
Further info: Australian Embassy - Phone: (202) 575 0444 ext. 103


Clic here to read the story from its source.