The Internet has made Lebanon famous, as this country could not-so-proudly crown themselves with the second slowest internet connection in the world for quite some time! And now, since the beginning of the year, we have somehow been blessed with a decent Internet connection that would have been totally acceptable anywhere in Europe before 1997, before some moron pulled the plug for the entire country all together, and we had to suffer from a schizophrenic connection less reliable than the water supply during the summer. However, despite the obstacles in the way, more and more videos are being uploaded to YouTube from Lebanon. And finally we get to see everything from tacky beach clubs to classy car crashes, prodigies doing funny tricks and web series. (When we moved down here in the end of 2009, all the visual images that Google provided was of old-school war that everybody except from the Internet seems to wish to forget, and half-naked hot babes showing off on the beaches.)
Anyways, having spent hours loading minutes of videos, 2famous.TV have compiled a list f the coolest videos related to Lebanon. Please vote for your favorite and do not hesitate to tip us if you think we missed out on some of the good stuff that you have come across.
FUNNY
The Lebanese Internet Song – ([answercount 46] votes)
The Lebanese Internet song is a hilarious music video by Raockstar Jay Wud and comedian Nemr Abou Nassar. It’s about the challenges you are faced with in Lebanon because of the slow Internet. As one of Lebanon’s few video blogs 2famous.TV knows too well about this situation. The video was released after the Internet connection reached an all time (s)low this summer. So far the video has 31000 views and as the Internet connection hopefully gets better, even more people will be able to enjoy it. While the powercuts are continuing, unfortunately, it seems this video will continue to stay releavant.
Live Performance
Myriam Klink Antar – my lovely cat – ([answercount 47] votes)
The most famous song about a cat (so far this year) also ended up on youtube. And Miryam Klinks performance of her song about her cat, in a TV studio, became a success on the internet. 123 000 views, 80 likes and 1152 dislikes, might mean that most people watched it because of Klinks curious cat moves rather than her musical talents. Lebanese pop culture is saved!
Politicians Fight on TV – ([answercount 48] votes)
2famous.TV normally avoids political debates since they are supposed to be boring, But there are exceptions. In this video, watched by more than 40 000 people, two politicians end up fighting after one of them claimed Assad had been lying. The other guy then starts throwing stuff at him and then attacks. Perhaps a bit sad, but undoubtedly funny.
Reality Web TV – Lara Kay – ([answercount 49] votes)
Lara Kay has been making her reality show for a while and has reached over 30 000 views on her music video. The quality of the singing is hard for us to judge but Lara totally does things with her own style. In her other videos Lara gives the viewers original tips on how to look good and she films herself on the beach. Lara Kay thinks it is important to look good, and she does. Her honest LebSlut style with huge lips and big boobs gives the audience the impression of getting to know a real diva. Which is true!
Taxi driver – Beirut – ([answercount 50] votes)
The driver from Tripoli is dreaming of Puerto Rico and J-Lo and almost crashes. Might contain swearing.
ACTIVIST VIDEOS
Racism on Beach Clubs – ([answercount 51] votes)
In this video some activists call around to different beach clubs and ask about their policy on maids. The result has caused a debate and although the beach clubs are
just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Lebanese racism, things have started happening.
Ethiopian maid scandal – ([answercount 52] votes)
Here is a grotesque video documenting how a maid is being forced into a car against her will! Very sad video but it will give you an insight in how it can be to be a maid in Lebanon. Like many maids in Lebanon she reportedly committed suicide few days later.
2Famous.TV joined a walk for the rights of domestic workers – ([answercount 53] votes)
BEIRUT
Classic driving – ([answercount 54] votes)
When you search for Beirut Lebanon on youtube you will find this one on the top! It’s a “driving in Beirut with house music” video. If you need to know the roads of Beirut this is the video for you! Aparently 70 000 people have needed that lately.
Music video, General Suleiman – ([answercount 55] votes)
This Zeid and the Wings song actually lead to the arrest of lead singer Zeid Hamdan. The song which is telling “the militia men” to go home, became too much for the Lebanese government and Zeid was put to jail for some days. In the video you can se some of Beirut’s most beautiful and famous characters and places The video also sparked an amazing debate, between Lebanese and Israelis, on Youtube.
Computer games on rooftop, Counterstrike simulation in Burj Hammoud – ([answercount 56] votes)
In this video some kids re-enacts some scenes from counterstrike on a roof top in Burj Hamoud. Making all the silly moves and using the sounds from the video game this video now have been watched by 14 000 people on YouTube.
SPORTS
Skateboard – Beirut – ([answercount 57] votes)
Skaters always hava a different perspective of the city, and Beirut is no exeption. There is a lot of more spots in Beirut and we are looking farward to seeing more skateboard videos in the future.
Ping Pong – Beirut – ([answercount 58] votes)
One of Lebanons hopes for this years Olympics in London was the girl portrayed in this mini-documentary where you get to meet the ping-pong family of Lebanon. The documentary is made by the award winning Rebecca Lloyd-Evans.
Work Out Videos – Beirut Rooftop Workout Workshop – ([answercount 59] votes)
2Famous.TV made the Rooftop Work out Work shop sessions last year! A great way to see Beirut from the rooftop, and a great way to get in shape without losing face!
CLASSICS
Beach Club – ([answercount 60] votes)
One of the first things you always get searching for Lebanon is the classic beach party video. This is a genre believed to spring out of Lebanon where it started with still-pic slideshows and music, before it evolved to video and house music. There is nothing impressive about this beach video except the amount of commercials they managed to put into it. This Beirut Nightlife made video still has an impressive 138 000 hits.
The Remix:
Cool dude fixes his beard – ([answercount 61] votes)
Guys with long beards has been very popular for a long time all over the world and here is a tribute to one impressive beard. To the song “I am sexy and I know it” we get to learn how to treat a beard.
Accident – ([answercount 62] votes)
Don’t you just hate it when you get run over and then stuck on top of a car and it doesn’t stop? Hard to believe it went well.
Baby Video – ([answercount 63] votes)
This kid knows more capitals than most university graduates, and he is only 2 years old. Impressive pronunciation and surprising punch line. Koolest kid in Town!
Kitten video – ([answercount 64] votes)
Videos of Kittens often go totally viral. People just love watching kittens do crazy stuff. When Mr Matias from 2 Famous tried to get the kitten named Jørgen to go viral, the cat pisses in a chair.
HISTORICAL
Documentary Trailer – The Hashhish Connection – 1988 – ([answercount 65] votes)
In this documentary from the civil war, you get to meet some farmers producing hashish in Lebanon during the civil war. They tell about their struggle and how they fight anyone who comes to cut down their crops. Pretty much like today.
Beirut – Slideshow Before and After the Civil War – ([answercount 66] votes)
This 10 minuttes video has more than 100 000 views. It shows war photos from Beirut in the beginning and then pictures of how Beirut looks like today.
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WEB-SERIES:
Beirut I love you – Web-drama – ([answercount 67] votes)
Beirut I love you was a short movie that was put on youtube and then picked up two years later by LBC and made into a mini series. The series is down to earth and gives a funny, realistic picture of Lebanon. The actors are really talented and although we at the 2famous.TV office don’t have time to download it in HD, it looks good.
Walk of Causes – Web Documentary / adventure / travel – ([answercount 68] votes)
The Walk of Causes is an epic web documentary series where two guys walk across Lebanon from North to South. Every episode is dedicated to different causes and you get to se how the Lebanese people welcome to foreigners in their villiges.
Shankaboot – Web-drama – ([answercount 69] votes)
Shankaboot was the first arab web series, and it has won a lot of prizes. It quickly became a hit and now the shankaboot youtube channel has more than 1,3 million hits. Famous for it realistic acting this web drama also has lead to ongoing workshops and events.
The Censorship Bureau – MAMNOU3 – Web-Comedy – ([answercount 70] votes)
A documentary crew gets acsess to Lebanons Censorship department. This series is a very funny look into the bureaucracy of Lebanon.
Nanbel – Web-Satire – ([answercount 71] votes)
In this dark and controversial comedy you get to experience funny situations that could have taken place in Lebanon. The series is full of awesome actors and 2famous.TV spesially recommend episode 2!
