Guest: Yuri
Mrakadi
Date : Fri, May 18 2001
Time: 05:00 PM GMT
Place: Yuri
Mrakadi Room (Bas Kermelak)
Join our live chat with the singer of Arabiyon Ana in cooperation with ART Music
Channel: Bas Kermelak & Joumana
05:00
PM
06:15
PM
Yuri Mrakadi:
Welcome everybody it's Yuri.
THE EMPEROR: Hello Mr. Yuri.
Yuri Mrakadi: I am Yuri only Yuri.
Sally: Hi Yuri.
MadGirl15: Hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii.
Dona: Hi Yuri.
MadGirl15: Hi there.
Soso: How are u?
Yuri Mrakadi: Hi evrybody.
Truturt: Are u originally Lebanese ?
Yuri Mrakadi: Yes lebanese.
Yoyo: How old are u?
Yuri Mrakadi: 31 and I feel old.
Cannor: Do you sing in English and French too or just in Arabic?
Yuri Mrakadi: I started singing in English and French a long time ago. I even had a rock band in Dallas.
TEENA: Hello Mr.Yuri..... well, you have been a singer for a long time, haven’t you?
Yuri Mrakadi: Mr. yuri!!!!!!!!! I am Yuri. Guys I am Yuri, please don't call me Mr. Yuri. And yes TEENA, I started singing a long time ago in English then French and now Arabic.
Jerusalemgirl: What is ur horoscope?
Yuri Mrakadi: Sagittarius (Qaws).
Truturt: How do u feel about what is happening in occupied Jerusalem?
Yuri Mrakadi: I feel sick.
Sexy Fadi 26: Yuri is a Russian name.....why did u choose it?
Yuri Mrakadi: Not at all, Omar El Sherif in Dr. Zhivago was Yuri. Plus I was very young when they chose it.
Teena: So, what do you think about our modern Arabic songs...do you think it’s bad?
Yuri Mrakadi: The modern Arabic songs are very good. Actually there are no modern songs; there are good songs and bad ones.
Elias_palestine4ever: Hi Yori+Joumana 1-who is your favorite Lebanese singer(female+male)? 2-what is your lucky number? 3-can we see you in a duet with Joe Achqar? Thanks Yuri and we welcome you here - Elias from Palestine.
Yuri Mrakadi: Dear Elias, 1-Wadee’ Al-Safi 2-Lucky number, no idea 3-I hate duets.
Sloom: What was the most difficult situation u faced in ur life?
Yuri Mrakadi: The war in Lebanon.
Yoyo: What are your hobbies besides singing?
Yuri Mrakadi: Eating Ice-Cream.
Truturt: What was the last song you made?
Yuri Mrakadi: “Majnounou Hawa”.
Sloom: What’s your favorite song of the ones you made?
Yuri Mrakadi: “Maza Akoulou li Ouzouni”. And I'm shooting the video next week.
Cannor: When will your next album be ready?
Yuri Mrakadi: Jan 2002.
Truturt: What do you think of Marcel Khalifa?
Yuri Mrakadi: He is a great musician.
Cannor: Hello, I've known you from your lovely song: “Arabiyon Ana”, do you have any other patriotic themes ??
Yuri Mrakadi: Unfortunately no, and “Arabiyon Ana” is a love song.
Cannor: Well, It did seem like an Arabian patriotic song to me :)
Yuri Mrakadi: It belongs to everybody, if u think so, u got it.
D®agon: What did u study? And did u want to become a singer or was it a coincidence?
Yuri Mrakadi: I studied audio-visual, and yes, I’ve always ken baddi ousbih fannnnnnan, (wanted to be a singer).
El-misrey: Yuri, honestly, who are your favorite Egyptian singers (among the recent ones)? And what do u think about Mohammed Muneer?
Yuri Mrakadi: Najat El Saghirat, and Mohammed is cool.
Jumana: Have you always wanted to be a singer?
Yuri Mrakadi:
That was a hilim and hallak tahakakaal hilm.(That was a dream that came true).
Marianna: Hi Yuri .. I like ur song a lot and we can c that ur "watani
kbeer" (very patriotic)... r u thinking about getting into politics??
Yuri Mrakadi: I love my country and being an Arab but I hate politics.
Jo: Hello Yuri. Your new songs are great. “Arabiyon Ana” is really a great theme...making a lot of effect on the younger generation especially. We would like to know if you can get us original Arabic sheet music...both yours and for some of the old "Golden Age" Singers???? I play Arabic keyboard and piano, my brother plays saxophone, my other brother plays the tableh, and my sister plays flute. We can't find original sheet music anywhere!!!
Yuri Mrakadi: In my new website there will be lots of midi music sheets to download.
Jo: Will these sheets be directly transposed from your music, though, because none of the MIDI I have seen is directly transposed??? And what about song sheets for singers like Fairuz, Wadee’ El Safi, Um Kalthoum, Abdel Haleem, etc.????
Yuri Mrakadi: I can only speak about my own music. And yes they are the originals.
El-misrey: Do u listen to old songs; Um Kalthoum, Abdel Haleem and Farid El Atrash?
Yuri Mrakadi: Yes, I listen to all of them.
EL Hilu: Do you think that Arabic music is becoming more fashionable in the west, particularly after Sting made his hit “Desert Rose” with Sheb Mami?
Yuri Mrakadi: Yes ur right, and I promise u oriental music will conquer the world.
Pluto: What is your favorite thing about being a singer?
Yuri Mrakadi: They always upgrade u to business class.
Tgh: Can the people in Europe buy ur album too?
Yuri Mrakadi: Actually it is playing in Paris, London, Sweden, USA... but the official release in Europe sa yakoun fi awakher aaab, (release in late August).
32: Have u been to the UK for singing? We love u Yuri (gives him a rose).
Yuri Mrakadi: Going there for shooting by the end of May.
Falastiniyeh: Dear Yuri, I was wondering what was the purpose/feeling/motive/ behind writing "Arabiyon Ana"?
Yuri Mrakadi: After years of lost identity, I was so blessed to discover that I am an Arab.
El-misrey: Yuri, what do u mean by “lost identity”? And what woke u up?
Yuri Mrakadi: The birth of my daughter.
**SARAH***: What has been the highlight of ur career so far?
Yuri Mrakadi: Dinning with Sting in Jordan.
Heartbreaker: Hey Yuri, what’s up? Listen, I am from Palestine and I want to be a singer but it is hard here. What’s your advice?
Yuri Mrakadi: Just do it, if u believe, do it.
EL HILU: Would you agree, that some of our modern day Arabic singers are trying to be too American, and thus are not appealing really neither in the Arab world nor in the western world?
Yuri Mrakadi: Yes I do agree.
ROMANO: How many songs do you have?
Yuri Mrakadi: In the album aw bil moutlak?.
Yoyo: All your songs please.
Yuri Mrakadi: 78.
**SARAH***: Do u prefer to sing in English or in Arabic??
Yuri Mrakadi: Foussha fakat (in classical Arabic only), at least for the time being.
Cannor: What do you intend to sing next? Don’t you think that all Arab singers nowadays should support Palestinian Intifada in a way?
Sexy Fadi 26: Are u planning any songs for the Intifada?
Yuri Mrakadi: not for the time being.(musical note).
Sexy Fadi 26: Do u think u are a shining star which soon turns off as most of the other singers or r u building a strong base? And if yes, what are ur plans?
Yuri Mrakadi: I come from an advertising background and I have plans for the next 10 years.
Jumana: Which artists/singers do you listen to? Who are your favorites? Both, Arabic and international.
Yuri Mrakadi: I listen to every kind of music, it depends on my mood.
Gregory: What do u think of Video Clip production in the Arab world and particularly in Lebanon?
Yuri Mrakadi: We are getting there, someday.
Jumana: Have you traveled all around the Arab world? What are your favorite Arab cities?
Yuri Mrakadi: Not all of them, but can’t wait to do so.
Looni: Do you participate in live chats a lot or is this your first time? Do you think it's a good way to reach your fans?
Yuri Mrakadi: Honestly, it is the first time, but I like it, yes it is an excellent way to reach the fans.
EL HILU: Do you think that Kathem Al Saher's last song (Kulli sena wa anti 7abeebati) was weak musically?
Yuri Mrakadi: Kathem is very intelligent, I am sure he knows what he's doing.
Yuri Mrakadi: Would u be kind enough, to tell me the country ur talking from guys.
Yoyo: Jordan.
Cannor: Amman, Jordan.
32: England.
EL HILU: I am an Iraqi, speaking from London.
Pluto: UK.
El-misrey: I'm an Egyptian, I live in the USA.
Looni: Spain.
Dona: What would you like to do if you were not a singer?
Yuri Mrakadi: Psychiatrist.
**SARAH***: What song is stuck in ur head at the moment?
Yuri Mrakadi: (giving a cake).
*whispering*angel*.: Hi Yuri, I like ur lyrics, how did u come up with them?
Yuri Mrakadi: No idea whatsoever.
TEENA: Who are your favorite western actor and actress?
Yuri Mrakadi: Gary Oldman/Diya Pitsburn.
Jagal: In which music style does Yuri find himself?
Yuri Mrakadi: Don't know, ask him.
TEENA: What is your favorite movie?
Yuri Mrakadi: “Fight Club”.
32: Yori… tell us what u got in your pocket now (laughing).
Yuri Mrakadi: (aspirin image).
Jo: How are the relationships between you and other Arabic singers? Are they accepting you? Do you think a lot of them are shayfeen bi haloon (arrogant)? Or are they nice in real life? How are you in real life? :) : ) : )
Yuri Mrakadi: Deep inside they are good, if ur good they all accept u.
El-misrey: Yuri, do u watch Arab movies? And who is your favorite actor and actress?
Yuri Mrakadi: Used to, Faten Hamama.
Jagal: Do you practice any kind of sports?
Yuri Mrakadi: Swimming, eating...
TEENA: what is your favorite food?
Yuri Mrakadi: Ice cream.
LOLA: What would you say has been your biggest inspiration thus far?
Yuri Mrakadi: Gio.
THE: What is your favorite animal?
Yuri Mrakadi: Baby bop.
!b@by f@ce: Describe your dream girl.
Yuri Mrakadi: The whale ate her.
THE: Would you like the Arab countries to unite?
Yuri Mrakadi: They'd better do.
32: Tell us a joke Yuri (laughing).
Yuri Mrakadi: Joke.
lana: loooooooooool
32:loooooooooooooooool
Falastiniyeh: Dear Yuri, greetings from Jerusalem. I actually joined thinking I could get my mind off the things happening across the country at this moment. I really congratulate you on your success, great music and great performance.
Yuri Mrakadi: Thanks, I really appreciate it.
Koutayba: Yuri, what measures are you taking to disable the piracy of your music on the net?
Yuri Mrakadi: I am with EMI and hope they'll do something very soon.
!b@by f@ce: If u look in the mirror do u ever think: WOW, I look good?
Yuri Mrakadi: Never thought of it.
Yuri Mrakadi: Thanks guys, I had fun, thank u for liking my music, I promise to give u more stuff, take care and be happy in ur life, I am not.
lana: byyyyye.
TEENA: Goodbye Yuri, wish you all the best in your life.
lana: Good luck YURI.
Yuri Mrakadi: Love u all, and check out my new website www.yurimrakadi.com where we can always chat.
Jagal: Can we get your e-mail address?
Dona: May I know your e-mail if you don’t mind?
Yuri Mrakadi: Sure, it is <yuri@inco.com.lb>
Yuri Mrakadi: I love arabia.