Iconic Lebanese singer Fairouz wished her adoring fans a happy new year in an online video, in which she is heard singing about the end of one year and the beginning of another.
The brief video was posted on Facebook on New Year's Eve by the singer's daughter Reema Rahbany and later shared by Fairouz's official Facebook page, it has since been viewed more than 250,000 times and received hundreds of comments from fans across the Arab World who were pleasantly surprised by the short clip.
خلصِتْ سِنِي وطَلّت سِنِي.. Posted by Reema Rahbany on Thursday, December 31, 2015
The beloved singer rarely makes public appearances these days, whether online or offline. She turned 80 last November, an occasion which was joyously celebrated by the Arab World's radio stations as they commemorated her timeless songs .
In the video, Fairouz appears in a home setting, decorating a set of candles adorned with festive Christmas decorations and surrounded by family photos in frames, with pouring rain sounding off in the background.
The singer's iconic tranquil voice is also heard as she beautifully sings a few simple lyrics in Lebanese Arabic, saying "the rain has blanketed the world, a year has come to an end, a new year has arrived, we don't know yet what it shall bring."
Fariouz is one of the most renowned singers in the history of Arabic music, she is widely considered a living legend in the region, as well as one of Lebanon's national treasures, often referred to as the "jewel of Lebanon."
Over the course of a career spanning more than six decades, the singer has released more than 800 songs and more than 80 albums, selling more than 80 million records worldwide. She released her last album 'Eh Fih Amal' in 2010.
Her perfectly composed vocals, heart-tugging melodies and signature live performances have earned her a place alongside other Arab legends such as iconic Egyptian singers Umm Kalthoum and Shadia.