Julia Boutros

Julia Boutros جوليا بطرس
Background information
Birth name	Julia Khalil Boutros
Born	(1968-04-01) April 1, 1968 Beirut, Lebanon
Occupations	Singer musician
Instruments	Vocals oud
Years active	1980–present
Spouse	Elias Bou Saab

Boutros in 2016

Julia Boutros (Arabic: جوليا بطرس, romanized: Jūliyā Buṭrus; born April 1, 1968) is a Lebanese singer.

Early life

Boutros was born in Beirut on April 1, 1968, in a Maronite Christian family. Her father is originally from the costal City of Tyre in South Lebanon, while her mother is from Palestine, with an Armenian background. She was educated at the Rosary Sisters Schools where she sang in the school choir. Growing up, she and her brother, fellow musician Ziad Boutros, were heavily influenced by Ziad Rahbani's works.

Career

When she was 12 years old, Boutros recorded her first song, entitled "À Maman", at Elias Al Rahbani Studios. She also recorded two other songs, "C'est la vie" and "Viens dans ma vie". She rose to prominence in the 1980s with a series of songs like "Ghabet Shams El Haq" (The Sun of Justice Has Gone) and "Wein el Malayeen" (Where Are the Millions).

On October 11, 2006, she released a new single titled "Ahibaii" (Dearly Beloved). The lyrics are based on a letter sent by Hezbollah secretary-general Hassan Nasrallah to the fighters in South Lebanon during the 2006 Lebanon War between Hezbollah and Israel. The poet Ghassan Matar adapted the original text. The music is composed by Boutros's brother Ziad and arranged by Michel Fadel.

In December 2023, during the Israel–Hamas war, she sang a song titled "Yamma Mwel Lhawa" (Oh Mother, What's with the Wind?) in support of Palestinians.

Personal life and other ventures

Boutros is married to the former defense minister Elias Bou Saab, with whom she has two sons (Samer and Tarek).

She destined the profits from the sales of "Ahibaii" ($3 million) to help the families of Hezbollah fighters and of all the Lebanese who were killed during the 2006 war. The sum was triple the original aim, which was only $1 million, and the families of Lebanese soldiers killed during 2007 Lebanon conflict also received a portion of the proceeds. Besides support for Hezbollah, she has also given her support for Palestinian armed resistance groups in Gaza with the song "Al-Haq Silahi" (Righteousness Is My Weapon), as well as Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

In July 2007, Lebanese president Émile Lahoud named Boutros an Officer of the National Order of the Cedar for her initiatives and artistic work in support of the national cause.

Awards

• National Order of the Cedar, 2007

Discography

Albums

• 1982 : C'est la vie (This Is the Life)
• 1985 : Ghabet Shams El Haq (The Sun of Justice Has Gone)
• 1987 : Wain Msafer (Where Are You Travelling To?)
• 1989 : Haflet Sour
• 1991 : Hikayet Aatab (A Story of Lament)
• 1994 : Kosass (Stories)
• 1996 : Al Karar (The Decision)
• 1998 : Shi Gharib (Something Unusual)
• 2001 : Bisaraha (Honestly)
• 2004 : La B'ahlamak (Never in Your Dreams)
• 2006 : Ta'awadna Aaleik (We're Used to You)
• 2010 : Live at Casino Du Liban (+DVD)
• 2012 : Yawman Ma (Someday)
• 2012 : Miladak (Your Christmas)
• 2013 : Julia Live at Platea (+DVD)
• 2014 : Hkayet Watan (The Story of a Country)
• 2015 : Julia Live in Concert - Platea 2014 (+DVD)
• 2016 : Ana Meen (Who am I?)
• 2017 : Julia Live at Waterfront City Dbayeh 2016 (+DVD)
• 2019 : Julia Live in Tyre 2018 (+DVD)

External links

• Julia Boutros on Facebook