Ziad Rahbani, the beloved Lebanese musician, playwright, and son of legendary singer Fairouz, passed away at 69 after years of health struggles. Known for his sharp humor, emotional depth, and fearless take on politics and society, Ziad created a style all his own, one that spoke to the everyday struggles, hopes, and heartbreaks of people across the Arab world
His death has left a big void in Lebanese culture. Ziad had been mostly out of the public eye in recent years, even missing a tribute in his honor at the Arab Music Festival in Egypt last year.
Ziad Rahbani: A unique voice shaped by a legendary family
Born in 1956, Ziad Rahbani was the son of the famous singer Fairouz and the late composer Assi Rahbani. Growing up in a creative family influenced him deeply, but he still managed to carve out his own path. He became one of the most innovative figures in Arabic music and left a strong mark on political theater, known for bold, deep, and sharply satirical plays.
Ziad Rahbani’s career took off when he composed the song “Sa’alouni El Nas” for his mother Fairouz in 1973. He was still a teenager at the time. The lyrics, written by Mansour Rahbani, expressed Fairouz’s feelings during the absence of her husband, Assi Rahbani, who was in the hospital.
He first appeared on stage alongside his mother in the play “Al Mahatta”, where he played the role of a policeman, a role he later repeated in “Mais El Reem.” He went on to write his first play “Sahriyyeh”, followed by several well-known works like “A Long American Film”, “Shi Fashil”, and “Bennesbeh La Bukra Shou?”
These plays used humor and bold storytelling to reflect on Lebanese society and explore the challenges faced by people living through war and contradictions in the Arab world.
In addition to his work in musical theater, Ziad continued composing songs for Fairouz. Their creative partnership produced memorable songs like “Andi Si’a Fik”, “Daa’ Aklak”, “Habbo Baadon”, “Ana Andi Haneen”, and “Al Bosta.”
Outside of his collaborations with Fairouz, Ziad released songs that carried his own distinct musical identity, including “Ana Mosh Kafir”, “Hudou’ Nisbi”, “Bala Wala Shi”, “Bima Inno”, and “Al Aql Zeeneh.”
Ziad Rahbani was a multi-talented artist, a writer, composer, musician, and playwright. He blended jazz and Western styles with traditional Arabic music, creating a unique sound that stayed true to his roots while pushing boundaries.
With his passing, Lebanon and the Arab world have lost one of their most influential and creative artistic voices.
Though he was the son of music legends Fairouz and Assi Rahbani, Ziad didn’t follow in their shadow, he made his own way, developing a bold and experimental approach to both music and lyrics.
Unique and daring
Ziad was one of the most daring artists of his time. He tackled social, political, and even religious taboos with honesty, awareness, and humility.
His work touched people from all backgrounds, and even members of the church were moved by his art. He composed well-known hymns such as “Glory to You, O Christ,” “The World is Hungry,” “My God, I Lift My Hands to You,” and “My Lord.”
Economist and Rahbani family heritage researcher John Toubaal said that Ziad grew up in a very special musical environment influenced by church music, especially Syriac and Byzantine traditions.
His father Assi and uncle Mansour were deeply shaped by these traditions, which they learned from Father Paul Al-Ashqar, a monk from the Antonine Order who taught them the foundations of this music.
According to John, Ziad was born gifted. He learned to play the piano by the age of six, and by thirteen, he had already written a collection of spiritual reflections titled “My Friend God.”
Before turning eighteen, he had composed dozens of songs for his aunt Huda, singer Marwan Mahfouz, and eventually his mother Fairouz.
By the time he was twenty, Ziad had composed five spiritual hymns, some with lyrics he wrote himself, for a religious album that also featured two pieces by composer Bechara El Khoury.
Toubaal described the album as “remarkable,” noting how Ziad blended traditional Byzantine and Maronite church music with modern elements. One standout hymn, “Nahnu Sahiroun” (“We Are Watching”) was composed in a jazz style, combining sacred traditions with contemporary rhythm.
Ziad was passionate about musical experimentation. Toubaal called him a “musical chemist” because he loved mixing Eastern and Western scales.
One notable example was his rearrangement of the hymn “Ya Maryam Al-Bakr” (originally from Aleppo), which Fairouz performed. Another was his modern arrangement of the famous song “Ana La Habibi wa Habibi Elé,” whose lyrics are inspired by the Song of Songs from the Bible.
Toubaal emphasized that Ziad was above all “a human being in the fullest sense,” and that his music carried deep emotional and human themes, joy, pain, love, and loss.
Artists and fan mourn Ziad Rahbani: “A genius whose music touches us all”
News of Ziad Rahbani’s death sparked an outpouring of sadness across the Arab world’s artistic and cultural scene.
Many expressed shock and sorrow over the loss of a man whose work left a deep mark on generations of listeners and creators alike. On Instagram Stories, singer Majida El Roumi paid tribute to him, calling him a genius and writing, “A salute to your creativity, and music of peace to your rebellious soul.”
Lebanese actor and playwright Georges Khabbaz shared a tribute to Ziad Rahbani on Instagram, highlighting the impact Ziad had on Lebanon and its people. He wrote:
“You were and will always be the story of a country… the story of a people… the story of a human being. Your music runs in our blood, your plays live in our hearts, and your vision is still in front of us. Thank you for all the art that was ahead of its time.”
Rodayna Raydan is a Lebanese-British journalist. You can follow her on Twitter @Rodayna_462
The views in this story reflect those of the author alone and do not necessarily reflect the beliefs of NOW.
