A day with Marcel Khalife

AMCHIT, Lebanon- The iconic Lebanese artist Marcel Khalifeh sang for Palestine, and turned the wonderful poems of the legendary Mahmoud Darwish into songs that became part of the national identity of the Palestinians and Arabs.
Today, Marcel took me and family friends Jamal Saidi and his wife Samar to tour the coastal village of Amchit, north of Beirut, where the infamous singer was born, where he lives, and where his heart is.
He still speaks with pain about the time when he was expelled from Amchit for 18 years for going against the tide during the civil war in the seventies by sympathizing with the Lebanese left and the Palestinians.
Marcel recalled his childhood memories as we drove through the beautiful small village with breathtaking scenery of the coast and mountains, and its old houses. Unlike in Beirut, modernity has not replaced the historical nature of the village.
“Look at this house, its windows, the palm trees. Look at the old stones, the beauty of the nature. How I love it,” Marcel said in his soft voice.
“Stop the car here, this is my first school. He walked over to the school and showed us his class, the school playground, and pointed to an old tree that stood from the days of his childhood.
Like a child, full of life, excited and eager to share his love for the village, its multifaceted religious and cultural history that inspired his first love for music and creativity.
“My village, isn’t it beautiful. Look at the nice coast. I run along the Cornish every morning when I’m here,” he said.
“This old house is the house of my first music teacher. I used to wait four hours for him outside this house until he would wake up from sleep, and when he would call me in, he would ask me if I had waited long, I would reply that I had just arrived,” Marcel said with a smile.
“There in that house I was born…There in that church I sang as a child…There on that street I walked under the rain…There…There…There….”
The celebrated composer, singer, artist, musician, has promoted change through music. Not only did he sing patriotic songs, but through his creative mixture between the Western and Arabic art, he has made important contributions in shaping the Arab musical culture.
He said he has used music as a means to highlight the civilized image of the Arabs.
What is intriguing about Marcel is his down to earth, humble nature. For the Arab masses, he is a legendary artist who has appealed to all people of all ages. In addition to the many awards he received, Marcel was the first Arab named UNESCO artist for peace in 2005.
He has succeeded in transforming the complex poetry of Mahmoud Darwish into folkloric songs. Darwish once told me that Marcel had for years turned his poetry into songs before the two men met, but he did not mind and loved them. The two later became great friends.
Marcel spoke endlessly about Darwish in a way that reflected the bond between them, and about his personal deep loss and that of the world when Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after a heart surgery.
He also spoke sadly about the death of his mother at the age of 39, when he was only 15. His mother, he said, had recognized his musical talent at an early age and encouraged him.
One of his grandfathers was a baker, the other a fisherman and flutist.
His house in Amchit belonged to his family. He lived in it since he was seven. He had given me and my friends the tour of the village before going home having that day just arrived from Syria where he gave a concert.
“My life is in a plane and in hotels,” he said, dragging his suitcase inside his house where his wife Yolla was waiting.
Asked if he was tired of travelling, he said:
“I have a message to convey.”