Brigitte Yaghi's blend of musical genres attracts big sponsorship

By Nohad Topalian in Beirut
For Al-Shorfa.com
2010-01-22

[FILE] Super Star contestant Brigitte Yaghi is the new face of Pepsi.

Brigitte Yaghi's new single "Albi w Omri," which blends Eastern and Western genres, has put the young Lebanese singer in the international limelight.

Brigitte continues to rise as a star with her recent contract with Pepsi. The vibrant Lebanese performer spoke to Al Shorfa about her current work.

Al Shorfa: Your new single "Albi w Omri" is quite a leap for you. Tell us about it.

Brigitte Yaghi: The lyrics were written by Amir Tohme and the music was composed by Ricky Stuart, who used to work with Michael Jackson. The song was produced by Jean-Marie Riachi, and directed by Ray Kay who also works with Rihanna and Britney Spears. This is my debut with Pepsi and it does take me to another level.

Al Shorfa: How did you like working with a foreign team?

Brigitte: Working with a foreign professional team is wonderful, which is what catapulted me to global stardom. The sponsoring company is also doing its best to present me in the best manner possible, away from all triteness and banality. They featured the real me by trying to highlight my personality.

Al Shorfa: Why were you selected to be the face of Pepsi?

Brigitte: I was selected based on my role in the movie "Bahr El Noujoum," which was sponsored by Pepsi. It seems like they were looking for a young face with a distinct character free of affectation. They contacted the executive producer and Jean-Marie Riachi, and we ended up signing a contract. Needless to say, this contract with an international company is every artist's dream.

Al Shorfa: Back to your hit single. What triggered that interesting blend between Eastern and Western music?

Brigitte: The sponsoring company was keen on infusing Eastern music to preserve the spirit of the East. That explains the loud drums in the song, although the rhythm is mostly Western.

Al Shorfa: From "Super Star" to Future TV's "Layunak," and finally to "Albi w Omri" -- three milestones and yet you prefer to keep a low profile?

Brigitte: Though I generally keep a low profile, but my few public appearances still made a good impression on people. I spent a long time learning, and it was not easy to make it to where I am today. I am currently finalizing my first album, which should be released soon.

Al Shorfa: What should we look out for in your new album?

Brigitte: The album includes 11 songs, six of which are in the Egyptian dialect: "Homa Yomain," "Kamelt Ma'ak," "Sahran Ana," "Saybalak Albi," and "Betwehim."

The remaining five songs are in the Lebanese dialect: "Sarek Rohi," "Bethib," "Safar Habibi," "Albi Sarakh Habitak," and "Lola Hobak," which I already shot a video clip for with director Said El Marouk. In this album, I worked with songwriters Amir Tohme, Nizar Francis, Wissam Sabri, Mounir Abou Assaf, Haitham El Shoumali, and Ahmad Madi. As for composers, I worked with Tamer Ali, Khaled Ezz, Haitham El Shoumali, Jean-Marie Riachi, Wissam El Amir, Haitham Zayyad, as well as Ricky Stuart. The music composition was is by Jean-Marie Riachi, Tony Saba, and Boudy Naoum.

Al Shorfa: What do you take after your father, Abdo Yaghi, who was also an artist?

Brigitte: In addition to the voice, I take after his character, except that he has a kind heart, and I am a bit harder. He is always by my side, and I always ask for his advice because of his 35 years of experience in the art field. He constantly advises me to respect time and the band members and to try not to make mistakes or turn my back on stage. In short, he is harsh on me when I make a mistake.

Al Shorfa: Does your heart scream just as the title of one of your songs “Albi Sarakh Habitak” suggests?

Brigitte: My heart is constantly screaming and I particularly like that song because the lyrics are great. I am just focusing on my work nowadays, and I prefer not to discuss my private life.

Bookmarking

Please comment on this article so that we can improve the experience of viewing this website.