Dana Hourani’s new song Enti Ana is an ode to her hometown, Beirut

By Cynthia Jreige

The song’s opening and its references to Lebanese musical monuments Sabah and Fairuz is joined by a dialogue between extremes: “war and peace, light and dark, victory and loss, heart and mind“. Dana’s ethereal vocals contrast with a percussion-piano based instrumental that transport the listener more deeply as the song goes on.  “You play and you lose everything then call for another round“: the lyrics depict a sensitive reality, the reality of a Beirut that is suffering but always willing to heal its wounds.

Nadim Hobeika, the music video’s director, signs here his third collaboration with Hourani and delivers a beautiful clip that adds to the intensity of the song with intricate choreography and “a symbolic representation of the stages and struggles of a woman’s life.”

About these women, Dana knows that one has been through utmost suffering, for many years, but even more so recently and acknowledges: “I cannot sing ‘Enti Ana’ without thinking of my ultimate source of inspiration – my home, Beirut – which, for me, is the greatest and strongest woman of all.”

This release follows Hourani’s previous track “Zuruni”, a remake of an Arabic classic and the first-ever Arabic indie song to reach the number one sport on the Official Lebanese Top 20 as well as propelling itself onto Anghami’s Top 5 in Jordan, Syria, Lebanon and Palestine. It’s safe to say that Hourani’s musical career is on the highway to success.