The Passing of Ziad Rahbani at the Age of 69 Joud Said: "The True Genius… You Will Remain a Symbol of Genuine Freedom"

On Saturday the Arab artistic and cultural world lost one of its most daring and influential figures: Lebanese musician and composer Ziad Rahbani, who passed away at the age of 69 after a battle with illness. His departure is not merely the loss of a person, but the silencing of an extraordinary voice that had always refused to compromise—both in art and in thought.

A Heartfelt Farewell from Joud Said: “Our Truest One Has Gone”

Syrian director Joud Said was among the first to mourn Ziad Rahbani, sharing heartfelt words on Instagram along with photos of the late artist. He wrote: “He never compromised—neither in opinion nor in music. A true genius, you will remain a symbol of real freedom.”

Followers reacted intensely, recalling the rare legacy of a man whose artistic and political courage created an unmatched presence in the cultural landscape.

The Son of Fairuz—But a Path All His Own

Born in early 1956, Ziad was raised in an extraordinary artistic household, yet he never settled for merely being the “son of Fairuz and Assi.” He boldly carved a confrontational, fearless artistic path of his own, far from the shadows of his lineage.

His explosive debut came at the age of seventeen when he composed the iconic song “Sa'alouni El Nass” for his mother during his father's illness—marking the beginning of a journey filled with rebellion and innovation.

Ziad's Theatre: A Mirror Reflecting a Broken Nation

With Ziad, the stage became a space for confession, sarcasm, and resistance. He wrote and directed theatrical works that exposed the fragility of Lebanese and Arab realities with unfiltered boldness. Among his most famous plays:

• “Bennesbeh Labokra Chou?”
• “A Long American Movie”
• “Nazl El Sourour”
• “Shi Fashil”
• “Bi Khousous El Karameh Wel Shaab El Anid”

In his texts, he blended biting humor with political analysis, making his theatre an extension of the street and the people’s frustrations.

Music Beyond Boundaries: Jazz Meets the East

Ziad was far more than a composer—he was a musical revolutionary who fused Western jazz with Eastern maqams and classical influences to create a sound all his own. He composed groundbreaking songs for Fairuz, reshaping her image with pieces such as:

• “Aoudek Rannan”
• “Kifak Inta”
• “Bala Wala Chi”

He also sang works that became anthems of an entire generation’s anxiety, including:

• “Ana Mesh Kafir”
• “Rajeen Ya Hawa”
• “Ismak Bel Sotor”
• “Eh Fi Amal” — which Fairuz later turned into a full album in 2010.

A Weighty Legacy… and an Irreplaceable Absence

With Ziad Rahbani’s passing, we lose far more than a melody, a lyric, or a laugh—we lose a complete intellectual and artistic project. He was the artist who said “no” when everyone else said “yes,” composing with the ink of protest and authenticity. His works will live on, and his memory will remain a testament to a time when freedom—at least in music—was still possible.