Once upon a time, Egypt was home to some of the best poets and singers who together created musical masterpieces that elevated the heartaches of a nation during politically dire times.

Now, as Egypt marks its fourth year in a row with barely any political stability, it seems that today’s singers have taken it upon their shoulders to reassure the nation. Only this time, we lack poets and all the available singers are pop artists. Cue the collective groan.

On Feb. 26, an operetta entitled "Misr Orayba" (Egypt is Near) was released and caught on like wild fire on social media. The song features many celebrities from Egypt and the Gulf countries and was intended to promote tourism in Egypt.

Within a day or two of the video's release, Facebook and Twitter were crammed with comments on the song that varied widely between applause for the artistic making of the video and great dissent for how Egyptians were portrayed, in addition to utter disregard to Northern Africans and tourists of other nationalities.

The "operetta" also sparked a lot of controversy for what some considered a political message rather than an invitation to visit Egypt.

"Misr Orayba" is not the first time we've seen celebrities join hands to support the political standpoints in Egypt, represented often in the Egyptian president, Abdel-Fattah El Sisi.

After Mohamed Morsi was removed from office, Egypt was hit with what seems to be an endless series of patriotic disasters presented under the umbrella of art. The first of which was, of course, Teslam El Ayady. The alleged operetta strongly praises the military.

Afterward, in July 2014, another operetta was released to fight terrorism . Given that none of my friends had the strength to watch the musical horrors of this video till the end, some speculated it may have been successful at scaring away the terrorists.

While everyone prayed with their hearts for the celebrities to just stop being patriotic, Egyptians were once more presented with material fit only for mockery. Again, celebrities were on air multiple times a day to scare terrorists away through this most vigorous video .

I'm not sure how much more pop-art politics Egyptians will be able to handle, so let's hope this trend comes to an end soon.

Over the past decade, the live music scene in Cairo has grown, with more venues opening around the city that cater to a variety of musical genres and interests. Below are some of the spaces you should keep an eye on if you are visiting Cairo or are lucky enough to live there.

Located at the western end of Al-Azhar Park, which overlooks Old Cairo to one side and the Citadel to another, El Genaina Theatre is a semi-open-air theater big enough to host 500 art and music enthusiasts.

Since the theater was opened in 2005 under the umbrella of Al Mawred Al Thaqafy, or the Culture Resource, it has hosted some of the most iconic artists from Egypt, the Middle East and the world. Among the most famous festivals that take place in El Genaina and other spaces across al-Azhar Park is the Cairo Jazz Festival.

Since it first opened its gates in 2003, the Sawy Culture Wheel has hosted several festivals and incubated many musical talents. Some of those talents have gone on to achieve fame, while others had short-lived careers.

It also sponsors several social campaigns and provides space for workshops as well as other forms of cultural interests.

The Cairo Opera House is one of the most iconic places to attend all sorts of performances, from music to dance. Varying between classical symphonies, ballets and other cultural performances, the Cairo Opera House is a must-visit for both tourists and locals.

In an nontraditional trajectory, Beit El Raseef started off as a magazine that compiled the different cultural events taking place across Cairo.

In 2013, Beit El Raseef was created after two successful festivals organized by El Raseef, the magazine, in 2012. Not only does it host musical performances, it offers workshops on many arts and crafts, as well as providing a space for people to sell their wares.

Located in the heart of downtown Cairo, VENT attracts a different crowd of music enthusiasts. While it used to feature more live music, VENT now hosts many DJ nights.

VENT is also a bar, so only those over 21 can attend. They are one of the only Cairo venues that serves alcohol and allows hijabis, so props to them for that.

Dedicated to the alternative music scene, The Music Tent features both local and regional bands. Despite only being open for a short time, it has succeeded in attracting attention.

Located in New Cairo at Cairo Festival City where an art scene barely exists, The Music Tent targets a niche, more alternative market. We like.

Situated in Agouza, Cairo Jazz Club is a mainstay of the live music scene in Cairo. Unlike what its name suggests, Cairo Jazz Club hosts bands and performers from all genres of music.

CJC also has a bar, so no one under 21 is allowed. They also have the "no hijabs" rule. Again: not cool.