I recently discovered the hardest question you can ask an Arab: Fairuz or Umm Kulthum? Taxi drivers in Amman typically answer this question: “This is too hard.” or “You cannot ask this question.”
Fairuz and Umm Kulthum are Arab singers. Umm Kulthum was born in Egypt in 1898 and died in 1975. According to Wikipedia, “More than three decades after her death, she is widely regarded as the greatest female singer in Arab music history.”
Fairuz, a Lebanese singer born in 1935 “is widely considered to be the most famous living singer in the Arab world, and one of the best known of all time.” But you don’t have to take Wikipedia’s word for it…just ask a taxi driver.
The two singers continue to be legendary. In Jordan making someone choose between the two is too hard!
Our van drivers from our last excursion, Khalil and Nedal, are divided on the question. Khalil said, “Wallahi (I swear), Fairuz!”
Nedal, on the other hand, prefers Umm Kulthum, hands down.
By: Clayton – Summer Intern for Engaging Cultures Travel Jordan
I dont know it is really hard it seems to be impossible to choose between them but Fairuz had made more impact like 2 out of 3 people I meet listens to Fairuz every single morning the places I worked in would alway put Fairuz on the Speakers in the morning it’s llike disease
You’re right, Heisenberg. Fairuz is often listened to in the morning, Um Kulthum in the evening.