Meen are the definitive Lebanese anti-band, and while their lyrics are obscure and sometimes outright silly, you can’t help but be moved by their music.
Meen Meen?
We are superheroes. And when we’re not busy saving the world, we work as rock musicians. That’s why Toni keeps his glasses on when he’s on stage. Fouad sometimes has to be reminded not to put his underwear over his trousers before a performance.
Is there a fantastic story behind the name?
Meen is the name of an ancient Lebanese goddess who was worshiped for having killer legs. Legend has it that she lived in Bqeseen, and died under mysterious circumstances. Folklore suggests that she commit suicide by leaping off a ninth-floor balcony, but historians suspect she may have choked on her narghile.
So, beyond insane folklore, where do you get your inspiration?
We don’t get inspired; we just steal ideas from other people.
Moving on. Angry lyrics about vegetables; what’s with the tomatoes?
Haven’t you been at countless performances where you felt you could only express your opinion by pelting the artist with tomatoes?
I tend to enjoy your concerts though. It’s never a normal experience though; are you intentionally atypical, or is it who you are?
Well, obviously. Do you want us to turn up in our superhero costumes? Of course it’s intentional, fool.
Yikes. Do you have any upcoming events planned?
We have a concert planned for the 30th of May in Tournesol Theater, Tayyouneh, and we’re planning for 15 songs or so. It’s a big production event, with more than 6 musicians on stage, more than 12 microphones, 16 guitar strings, 88 piano keys, 300 seats and a 145-horsepower motorcycle! Event starts at 8.30. Check our website for the boring details.
And at least 1 journalist; any albums to look forward to?
Our next concert will be recorded, and that will likely be released in the summer. As for the exact release date we have to consult Madame Catriona on her psychic hotline. Do you have any spare change?
That sounds like an international call. Well, who are some of your favorite artists?
We used to be into boring crap like the Beatles, Iron Maiden and Pink Floyd, but Jad Choueiri’s first single was a revelation and life-changing experience.
Meen’s concerts are some of the best fun I have all year; for more information on Meen the Band check out their website here. Don’t miss their concert on the 30th of May in Tournesol Theater, Tayyouneh. All Rights sold to Time Out Beirut
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Too bad I’ll miss their show… I have no idea what they sound like. You think you could ask them to postpone?
Chirine,
you will be missing an amazing show. want to know how they sound like? check out this clip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPrm46KhTWo
why don’t you write them an email and invite them to perform in Montreal?
@Chirine
Ask him yourself
i m not much into the Lebanese music scene, but i m glad i came across this reading. they sound like fun. i ll definitely keep an eye out. good luck on your efforts guys
me too i’ll miss their show
even though the seem to be kick ass … i especially like their attitude
ask them if they need a guitarist, i’d have some kick ass time with such a band
and i’ll definitely be buying their CD
Hehe, excellent! I’m definitely going to the show!
@darkya
I don’t think they’re much into the scene either, that’s what I like
@JK
Apparently you need to be a superhero to join though, do you have any special powers? (Your bitchin’ Pink Floyd solo doesn’t count)
@Ants
Yalla we’ll go together.
wish i could go to this!! i watched them perform at the fete de la musique (last summer i think it was)i thought they were hilarious and they put on a great performance. glad to see them on your blog, karl!
enjoy the concert everybody..woo banadoura banadoura banadouououououra
*back from week end, belated lunch break*
Man, this is when this kind of review pops up that I realise I’d better get to know what’s happening ’round me for there are quite a lot of interesting people out there. Thanks for helping me in pointing them out^^
Hey these guys seem to be the right mix of arrogant and cool… i mean they sound like real rock stars. alas i too will miss their show, but if they want to do a small venue in lebanon in august, i will bring friends and fill it up. just to hear em play…
thou they did make fun of Floyd and i dont know how i feel about that!
@Toni
Tom & Jerry… man. I couldn’t help but go through a memory check list to confirm I had seen all the episodes included in this video clip.
And now that I know what Meen sounds like, I can really say I’m sorry I’ll be missing the show.
I’d write and invite them to Montreal for a show but I am really not connected to the music world here. But I can ask my younger brother who is very much into it – unless they just wanna come hang out at my parents’ place. They have a nice garden and we can make barbecue, play tag, juggle with tomatoes or play ping (and if you’re good: pong).
88 piano keys… totally sucks I’ll miss the show…
@Karl
man i wanna see these guys just coz of that “sick” attitude! hehehe… Jad Shweiry… Classic sarcasm 101… i thought i saw them sitting at the back of the class enjoying the most beautiful lecture given by the most electrifying professor… no really… am serious… it was fascinating… very…
i hope their music is as fun as their replies!!!
:p
Wow. I couldn’t believe how bad they are. Not fun or good at all. I’m surprised they received those kind of reviews although I, as well as all others, appreciate Lebanese talent and their attempt at humor and tradition mixed in one.
Try the “Tabouli Song.” That is actually quite funny.
Wow nice interview. As usual so witty!! I saw the guys on natalou it was great too!!
I was at their concert at AUB 2 years ago, it was amazing! I am so glad I will be in lebanon for this concert.
@Silver
Silver what are you talking about? ur tabouli techno shit sucks! meen ROCKS! woo banadoura banadoura banadouououououraaaaa!! atyab min el khyar!!
The Tabouli song is funny because it’s actually witty and catchy and that’s what you look for in a good song. Meen are a bad attempt at humor. The music is bad and they’re voices aren’t that great either. So nothing to listen to. And I’m actually tired of hearing singers take stabs at how bad the conditions in Lebanon are. We get it, we know, sing about something else.
love the tune in Toni’s link
@Karl: superpowers? please mon’ , I’m made of superpowers… and besides, I alone could bring a whole addition of 6 strings to their arsenal… YEAH YOU HEARD THAT RIGHT… 6 WHOLE STRINGS..
@Silver
Silver. you have the right to not like meen,nobody here will judge your art taste, but you can’t say that meen’s music is bad or that they don’t have nice voices. who made you the music expert here? when I saw the band performing 2 years ago i couldn’t believe my eyes! they are so incredibly talented and tight! and not m3a2adeen! their tunes are so catchy I still sing them noting that i never had the chance to see them performing since. And fuad’s voice is so touching! and so full of energy!
And Meen is not a “funny” band. They are in fact so deep. I had tears in my eyes when they performed “kamlo el harb”.
And finally, if there is a band that sings non-traditional subjects, that would be meen. woo banadoura banadoura banadouououououraaaaa!! sla7ak bi idak sarrrr!!
kaaaaaaarl
if your going to the concert plz don’t forget to call me…
this interview made me laugh my ass off lol
meen meen? it’s catchy, i cant stop saying meen meen
can’t wait to see them live on stage.
I hope they’ll forget to remind Fouad not to put his underwear over his trousers before a performance
Okay can I have the link to this Banadoura song? It’s being sung at every other message and I can’t sing along!
woo. This post got quite popular while I was away.
@JK
JK, you want to play with us? you got it man. Send me an email to toni @ meentheband [dot] com maybe you record a ass kicking solo on our next album.
@Ants
@IJ
Thanks Guys.
Ants,IJ, I will keep invitation tickets for the next concert for you. I will contact Karl and will keep the tickets with him.
@wliknayla
Nayla, wlik join our mailing list on the website
http://www.meentheband.com
and our facebook page
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Meen-Lebanese-Rock/6075343722?sid=c0d0798ef7410b80329a46f7633bc86a&ref=search
so you stay updated with our upcoming events. and this is the facebook event page for the next concert, so join everyone
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=55212607079&ref=ts
@Hala
Girl!! You rock! Do you have long legs? because if so, I really would love to invite you for an ice cream.
But take it easy, meen can’t please everyone. I understand you are coming to the concert? excellent!!
@nash
Man, pink floyd is one of our favorite bands.
@Chirine
Chirine, I like your bbq idea. Banadoura is not posted online i think. It used to be on youtube but i removed it cos the quality wasn’t that good. But send me an email and i will send by email both the studio and the live versions. also check the banadoura compilation on http://cdbaby.com/cd/banadoura
@darkya
@Agénor
Thanks guys. Agenor, I like ur avatar.
Actually Hala, I am the music expert. If you don’t believe me, confirm it with Karl.
But in retrospect, the singers themselves seem like cool guys. Like their comments unfortunately not their music.
@Chirine
?
Why postpone… Why not simply throw another one
I am definitely gonna be there, and that not just for banadoura
Haha Wizarat is AMAZING!! The idea behind the band is too cool, and we actually need more stuff like this in Lebanon.
She is quite the music expert, heavily into the fields of editing and vocalization. I will however respectfully disagree with her assessment of Meen, although it’ll certainly get me a kung fu chop in the kidney. They’re not for everyone, but I’ll be playing with tomatoes just as well.
I couldn’t make it to their previous concert in Tayyouneh, but I had the chance to see them yesterday at “la fete de la musique”. WOW! Brilliant! I can’t remember when’s the last time I had so much fun watching a band perform!
Between “Em George”, “Pussy Cat”, “Joungar” and “Banadoura”, I did shed a few tears of joy and laughing
Great band! And I want to wish them all the best! Let us know when the album is out!
Cheers!
Banadouuurah Banadouuurrrah Banadouuurraaaah…atyab min el Khyaaaar!
And for those who were there…..TAHIYATE!!
Pussy Cat drives me crazy, it cracks me up. Joungar I had to record on my phone. I can’t wait for the album either, but it seems they have some technical delays.
so glad to hear you guys enjoyed it! i was studying and saw a lot of facebook updates relating to meen and manson called me on his fancy shmancy iphone to skype and told me it was a lot of fun. it’s always great to see people excited about a local band, even if they aren’t the musical geniuses of the century, they certainly brought something new and hit a lot of people at their wavelength. did you see the incompetents(fadi’s joint band project, amine plays drums with them)?
trek is the coolest there is.
I saw the band for the first time at la fete de la musique. what a performance!!! i can’t wait to have the album in my hand!
@wliknayla wliknayla, i saw faddi tabbal with youmna, on the same stage as Meen. they were quite boring! or maybe it is not my style of music.