Lydia Canaan

Lydia Canaan a Lebanese singer (mezzo-soprano), songwriter, poet, a leading and a pioneering figure in the Middle Eastern music scene, whom the Arab media hailed as the First Female Rock Star in the Middle East, a feminist and a big supporter of humanitarian and social causes from Brummana, Lebanon,
Born and raised in Lebanon during the Civil War, daughter of the family Canaan from Mount Lebanon, she is listed as a Celebrity in her native town of Brummana and studied at the famous British Brummana High School.
From a young age music and singing were an essential part of her life. Canaan grew up in a conservative family, her father did not entertain the idea of his daughter becoming an artist, so she was deprived of a musical education. However, Canaan developed early on a tremendous and unusual talent to write poetry and lyrics in English, although her Lebanese upbringing ensured that she knew Arabic and French as well and compose songs without the help of any instrument, storing everything in her memory.
Since her first public appearance, then known as Angel, she staged over 25 sell-out concerts in the country from 1984 until 1988, despite risks and dangers by warring militias and armies, recorded her songs for radio and topped the charts in Lebanon, as anthems of the youth reflecting their pain and resentment of war and violence. A rebel, defying all dangers to her life from war and social stigmas from family and society, with her extraordinary courage and determination, Canaan became a symbol of hope, peace and tolerance for the young generation.
1983 Canaan, a pre-teenager, joined the Rock band Equation as the lead singer. 1987 she went solo until she left Lebanon in 1989.
After a successful career in Lebanon pioneering as the First Female Rock Star of the Middle East, Canaan settled in Zurich/Switzerland (where part of her family lived), worked with writers, musicians and producers in Switzerland, UK and US, like David Richards (producer of Montreux Jazz Festival, Queen, Chris Rea, David Bowie), Roger Taylor (drummer of Queen, recorded a duet "Love and Lust"), Robin Scott (group M with world hit "Pop Muzik", recorded duets "Spiritual Man", "The Bridge", "Guardian Angel"), Barry Blue (producer/songwriter for Dina Carroll, Patricia Kaas), The Rapino Brothers (producers of Kylie Minogue, Take That, Corona), Michael Jay (songwriter of Celine Dion), Noel Cohen (songwriter of Phyllis Hyman), Keith "Plex" Barnhart (songwriter of Chaka Khan), Tommy Mandel (keyboarder of Bryan Adams, Ian Hunter Band).
In Dec 1990 Canaan gave an interview and her songs were played on Radio Z, Zurich/Switzerland
In Feb 1991 Canaan gave an interview and her video clip "Hey Richie", filmed in Lebanon, was aired on Super Channel, London/UK.
1993 Canaan gave an interview and a duet performance with Robin Scott of the song "Spiritual Man" on Channel 4, London/UK.
Canaan was signed for 2 years to London based production company Spinny Music of Jim Beach (manager of Queen, Freddie Mercury) to write and record her own songs (lyrics and music), produced by David Richards (producer of Queen, David Bowie, Chris Rea, Montreux Jazz Festival) at Mountain Studios in Montreux/Switzerland.
In Feb 1995 Canaan's single "Beautiful Life" was presented to the media at the MIDEM, Cannes/France.
Canaan's international release of "Beautiful Life" from London/UK by Pulse-8 Records in spring 1995, gained critical acclaim from the UK and US music press (Billboard, Music Week, Music Monitor etc.), comparing her with Celine Dion, Cher and Tina Turner, followed by a radio promo tour in the UK, radio airplay in the UK, Europe, South Africa and the Middle East.
Canaan performed "Beautiful Life" at the launch of MTV Europe in the Middle East, held in Beirut/Lebanon with the participation of Pato Banton, Urban Cookie Collective and Rozalla on Friday May 12, 1995. Brent Hansen (President & CEO of MTV & VH1 Europe) called Canaan "an extraordinary talent both as a singer and as a performer, with an incredible range of voice and an asset to the flourishing musical community".
Canaan is the first artist from the Middle East to have her video clips (filmed in London/UK) on MTV Europe, MTV Asia, MTV Russia and MTV Arabia. "MTV is proud and privileged to play Canaan's video clips." (Peter Einstein, President MTV)
Canaan's recordings, made in New York City at Jay Ward's Dogbrain Music, were exhibited on Billboard's TalentNet (US), topping the charts for months at Number One. Legendary US radio host Casey Kasem praised Canaan's talent and endorsed her songs.
Canaan's song "Without You" was nominated for the soundtrack of the James bond film "The World is Not Enough" in 1999.
Canaan's album "The Sound of Love", distributed by SIDI/XEMA in the Middle East, was released in summer 2000.
Canaan launched her album "The Sound of Love" through a campaign covering all Arab satellite networks (Orbit, Music Now, MBC, ART, LBCI, Future TV, MTV Arabia, MTV Lebanon, Dubai TV, Bahrain TV), local televisions, radio stations and all pan Arab printed press. Canaan performed in Beirut/Lebanon, Dubai/UAE and Manama/Bahrain in support of the album release.
Canaan was the first artist to participate in the chatrooms of Maktoob.com, Radio One (Lebanon) and was featured on many Internet portals (Khaleej.com, Arabiata.com, PlanetArabia.com, ArabToronto.com).
Canaan was received by His Excellency General Emile Lahoud, President of the Republic of Lebanon and his wife on Jan 16, 2002 at the Presidential Palace in Baabda/Lebanon.
Invited by the First Lady Mrs. Andree Lahoud, Canaan performed at the Presidential Palace in Baabda/Lebanon on Mother's Day, Mar 19, 2002 in honor of the wives of the Presidential Guard Officers.
"Libnan", written and performed by Canaan, is the title song of the advertisement Rediscover Lebanon, produced and broadcast by the US cable network CNN to over 1 billion viewers in 2004, commissioned by the Lebanese Government (Ministry of Economy & Trade) to promote Lebanon as tourist destination.
As an artist with a purpose, Canaan is a passionate and devoted supporter of humanitarian, social causes and animal welfare.
Canaan supports the Asian Conservation Awareness Programme (ACAP/WildAid), London/UK, World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Gland/Switzerland, Le Roselet Foundation, Saignelégier/Switzerland and BETA (Beirut for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), Beirut/Lebanon.
Canaan performed at charity and fundraiser events like American Women's Club, Beirut/Lebanon, Salmaniyah Hospital Children Care Unit, Manama/Bahrain, Rotary Club, Adliyah/Bahrain, American Community School (ACS), Beirut/Lebanon, Association Pour La Promotion Feminine, Beirut/Lebanon, CARITAS Liban, Beirut/Lebanon, Centre Renee Wehbe Le Vieillard Malade, Mansourieh/Lebanon, BETA (Beirut for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), Beirut/Lebanon, Lion's Beirut Code Club, Beirut/Lebanon, Unite Lebanon Youth Project (ULYP), Beirut/Lebanon, Arab Resource Center for Popular Arts (ARCPA), Beirut/Lebanon, Social Support Society Active Ageing House, Refugee Camp Burj Al Barajneh, Beirut/Lebanon, NASMA Foundation, Beirut/Lebanon, International Women's Day, Beirut/Lebanon, Association Amour & Partage, Beirut/Lebanon.
Canaan was invited to the American Community School (ACS), Beirut/Lebanon, as the Speaker of the Month.
Beautiful Life was chosen as the theme song for a charity event in South Africa under the auspices of former President of South Africa Nelson Mandela.
Canaan performed at the United Nation's International Volunteers Day in Beirut/Lebanon on Dec 5, 2001 and was awarded for her humanitarian contributions by Yves de San, Head of UNDP/Lebanon.
Canaan performed at the "Summer University of Palestine" in Lebanon, July 2010, organized by Viva Palestina Arabia founded by British MP George Galloway, founder of the Respect Party in the UK, with renowned speakers like Norman Finkelstein, Gabi Baramki, Ghada Karmi, George Galloway and many others, about Palestine, its past and potential future, the culture of the wider Arab region and Lebanon's crucial part in it.
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