The new song, released on 11 June on Rotana's YouTube channel, features lyrics by Hala El-Zayyat, music by Ahmed Zaeem, and an arrangement by Amr Abdel Fattah.
Scoring more than 1.5 million views to date, the song reached #7 on Trending for music in Egypt.
The song was released shortly after Mounir signed an artistic contract with Rotana Music Group and would be the first composition from Mounir's long-anticipated new album.
The song does not have a fully developed music video. Its visuals rely mainly on a main photo of The King, as the singer is often referred to by his fans, intercalated with some photographs showing Mounir at various stages of his life.
Those visuals - alongside the lyrics - potentially set the tone for the upcoming releases, Malamehna reflects Mounir's trademark introspective, humanistic style, blending vulnerability with questions about life's deeper meanings.
"Every time we capture our features, [they] don't always reflect who we are… Sometimes we seem like we resemble our souls, sometimes we look different. Sometimes in the picture, we look calmer, and sometimes, in the crowd, we seem alone. Sometimes our features look faded," Mounir sings, with lyrics pointing to how we often fail to recognize ourselves fully and how our eyes do not manage to look deep into our souls.
The song immediately garnered a lot of comments from Mounir's fans, who appreciated the music and lyrics.
"Why am I happy? Why are my eyes tearing up…" asks one commentator on social media. "Each song by Mounir carries words that reach straight to the heart through his voice."
Another fan wrote, "Mounir's voice carries within it the essence of authenticity, heritage, the scent of Egypt's streets, and the kindness of the Nubian people. Thank you, King, for your refined work that touches every generation."
The King
Born on 10 October 1954 in Manshiyat Nubia, a village in Aswan, south of Egypt, Mohamed Mounir's music and unique voice have captivated millions across the Arab world for decades.
Mounir has become one of Egypt's most iconic singers, known for blending Nubian roots with modern genres, like pop and jazz.
As his popularity grew significantly, Mounir quickly became beloved by many fans. Mounir's musical wealth encompasses 20 albums and countless singles.
Among his best-known albums are Almouni Aineki (1977), Shababeek (1981), which solidified his collaboration with the jazz musician Yehia Khalil and became among the essential footprints in his career, Bari (1986), Leila Ya Samra (1993), Fi Ishq El Banat (2000), Ahmar Shafayef (2003), and Embareh Kan Omri Eshreen (2005), among others.
Each of Mounir's albums showcases his ability to blend Nubian sounds with modern music. His lyrics often tackle love, freedom, retrospection, and social justice themes, resonating with audiences across generations.
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