Haifa Wehbe: No 2012 regrets

Haifa Wehbe is optimistic about 2013 Beirut – Sleiman Asfahany Only hours before performing at a New Year’s Eve concert in Beirut, Lebanese singer Haifa Wehbe has told Arabstoday that she has "no regrets" over 2012 "because everyone in this life is given their share, and I believe in fate and God’s will." She claimed that her album, Maleket Jamal el-Koun (Miss Universe), "was done justice to by the public and she was let down by (her record company) Rotana." Reflecting back on the year, Wahbe said, "2012 held a lot of successes for me, and a lot of sadness too. No one on this earth can decide their own destiny and life as a whole is built on fate. I’ve been sad and I’ve also been happy, but I have kept on going with God’s grace. As they say, what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, and this is what happened in my case. I have faced all obstacles and relied on God and people’s love to push ahead," she said. The Lebanese singer added said she is strong person, and won't let the last 12 months bring her down. "I’m so accustomed to moving forward and I don’t really like holding on to sad memories. I am optimistic in every every step I take. An artist suffers many pressures in their public life, and this is our reality as artists, especially in light of the successive crises we’ve been having in the Arab world. Artists are more affected by events than others due to their extra sensitivity toward tragedies." Speaking about her latest album, Wahbe said, "it was done justice to based on the public’s taste and they enjoyed it due by their appreciation of music." She added that the album was somewhat "shortchanged by Rotana,” and that "the people’s reaction overshadowed everything at once." The singer described the album as "one of the closest to my heart," which she said "expressed my musical development," especially in terms of being "musically open to the world." Wehbe also told Arabstoday about some of the musical disagreements she had in 2012. "Differences of opinion are always possible and happen to everyone on earth," she said. "I’m not the first artist to whom this has happened to. What is most important is that I don’t bear any grudges and always forgive, except in some cases in which the language of forgiveness can’t be used because it is not worth it. I’m grateful to God that I believe in living a pure life, which is why I am met with good fortune everywhere," she explained. "Any disagreement has to come from somewhere and one has to leave the room for reconciliation at any time, but that option doesn’t seem to be available to some people." Discussing the political situation in the Arab World for the first time, Wahbe said, "my heart genuinely breaks for every victim that falls in any Arab country. We Arabs are emotional people, and I hope with all my heart that politics will move beyond this stage of settling scores at the expense of people’s lives, which are the most important to me, especially the children who have nothing to do with the grown-up's wars." She declared her sadness at events, adding, "I am sad about what’s going on and 2012 may have left a bad imprint on our psyches because of the bloodbath that took place in a number of sister Arab countries." Haifa Wehbe's unique appeal has made her a special phenomenon ever since she first appeared in the public limelight. She divides opinions, but has kept her place firmly in the public arena, going from strength to strength despite setbacks.