Ammon News -
AMMONNEWS - Young Jordanian star Hani Metwasi joined leading Arabic artists from across the Middle East and North Africa in Doha last week to lend his voice to the charity single ‘Tomorrow-Bokra’ – a re-adaptation of Quincy Jones’ Grammy-winning single entitled ‘Tomorrow (A Better You, A Better Me)’ – one of the most popular global anthems of hope for the future. Legendary producer Quincy Jones has collaborated with UAE social entrepreneur Badr Jafar to jointly produce the charity single.

The recording process began in May in Rabat under the patronage of HM King Mohammed VI of Morocco with the support of the Mawazine Festival, and continued in Doha between October 11-13, in collaboration with Associate Producers, Doha Film Institute (DFI) and the Qatar Museums Authority.

On 11.11.11 (11th November 2011) the ‘Tomorrow-Bokra’ song will premiere live around the world via global TV simulcast, regionally with MBC and on-line with YouTube-Google at an exclusive VIP event at the One&Only, The Palm, Dubai. The date was chosen to reflect a sense of oneness between all Arab countries and to serve as a beacon of hope for the future of the Middle East and North Africa region at a crucial time in its history. CNN is the Global Media Partner and Sony Music is the Record Label Partner.

All donations from the ‘Tomorrow-Bokra’ project will benefit the Arab children of the Middle East and North Africa region, by providing educational scholarships in arts and culture programs and funding initiatives in music and the arts.

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), the official partnering organization of the ‘Tomorrow-Bokra’ project, will support existing education facilities through their School Feeding Programs in 7 Arab countries including Yemen, Iraq, Syria, Palestine, Jordan, Egypt and Sudan.

“This song could not have come at a better time for the Arab World,” said Badr Jafar, Executive Producer of the charity single. “Almost three decades ago Quincy Jones’ single ‘We are the World’ saw artists from across the globe inspire a generation to do something about the food crisis in Africa. Music and the arts have the ability to bring together people from across the world, inspire action and promote solidarity and this song gives voice to what the people of the Middle East region hope for – a brighter, more prosperous future.”

“By fostering school enrollment among the poorest communities of the region through our school feeding programs, WFP provides unprivileged children with a chance to receive a proper education and ultimately a dignifying access to arts and culture,” said Monica Marshall, WFP’s Head of Global Private Partnerships. “We are thrilled to nurture a new generation of Arab talent for the ‘Tomorrow-Bokra’ Project.”
The ‘Tomorrow-Bokra’ Arabic lyrics were written by legendary Lebanese singer Majida El Roumi and the Arabic music adaptation is by Kadim Al Sahir. Grammy Award-winning producer RedOne, (a.k.a Nadir Khayat) who has worked with international superstars such as Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez, Akon and Enrique Iglesias, is Producer of the track, while Malek Akkad (son of Moustafa Al Akkad the Director of ‘The Message’), will be directing the music video and documentary film.

The recording session in Doha featured leading Arab artists including: Marwan Khoury (Lebanon), Fahad Al Kubaissi (Qatar), Waed (Saudi Arabia), Mashael (Saudi Arabia), Fayez Al Saeed (UAE), Tamer Hosny (Egypt), Sherine Abdel Wahab (Egypt), Latifa (Tunis), Ahmed Al Jumairi (Bahrain), Hani Mitwasi (Jordan) and Nassif Zaitoun (Syria).

The musical collaboration targets the region’s youth and aims to raise awareness, a platform for tolerance and communication, serve as a symbol of unity between the Arab nations and a means to bridge the gap with the Western world.