Baligh Hamdi was not just a composer. He was a storyteller of emotions, a poet without words, and one of the most influential musical geniuses the Arab world has ever known. Through his melodies, he captured love, pain, joy, longing, and nostalgia with a depth that still resonates decades after his passing. His life was a powerful blend of artistic brilliance and emotional turbulence, and nowhere was this more evident than in his legendary love story with Warda El Jazairia and in immortal songs such as “Kan Ya Ma Kan”.
This is the story of a man who lived intensely, loved deeply, and composed music that became part of the soul of millions.
Early Life: The Birth of a Musical Genius
Baligh Hamdi was born on October 7, 1931, in Cairo, Egypt, into a cultured and intellectually rich family. From an early age, it was clear that Baligh possessed an extraordinary sensitivity to sound and rhythm. Music was not merely a hobby for him; it was a natural language, something instinctive and deeply emotional.
He studied at the Higher Institute of Arabic Music, where he mastered the oud, violin, and music theory. Unlike many composers of his time, Baligh was not limited by tradition. He respected classical Arabic maqamat but was fearless in experimenting, blending folkloric Egyptian rhythms with orchestral arrangements and modern musical structures.
This boldness would later become his signature.
A Revolutionary Composer in the Golden Age of Arabic Music
The 1950s and 1960s were considered the golden age of Arabic music, and Baligh Hamdi stood at its very center. He composed for the greatest voices in Arab history, including Umm Kulthum, Abdel Halim Hafez, Shadia, Fayza Ahmed, and of course, Warda El Jazairia.
What made Baligh different was his emotional honesty. His music felt alive—sometimes joyful, sometimes heartbreaking, but always real. He understood the human heart deeply, and his compositions reflected every shade of emotion.
When Umm Kulthum performed his songs, critics realized that a new musical era had begun. Baligh managed to modernize Arabic music without betraying its soul.
Meeting Warda El Jazairia: Love at First Sound
Baligh Hamdi’s life changed forever when he met Warda El Jazairia, the Algerian-born singer whose voice carried both strength and vulnerability. Warda was not just another singer—she was a force of nature. Her voice had power, warmth, and an unmistakable emotional intensity.
From their very first collaboration, there was an undeniable chemistry. Baligh didn’t just compose for Warda—he composed with her soul in mind. Every melody he wrote for her felt personal, intimate, almost confessional.
Soon, their professional relationship transformed into a deep and passionate love affair.
A Love Story Between Genius and Fire
The love between Baligh Hamdi and Warda El Jazairia was intense, dramatic, and unforgettable—much like their music. They married in the early 1970s, becoming one of the most iconic artistic couples in the Arab world.
Their relationship was filled with passion, creativity, jealousy, and conflict. Baligh was known for his restless spirit, while Warda was strong, proud, and emotionally demanding. They loved each other fiercely, but they also hurt each other deeply.
Despite the turmoil, some of the most beautiful songs in Arabic music history were born from this emotional storm.
“Kan Ya Ma Kan”: A Musical Fairytale
Among all their collaborations, “Kan Ya Ma Kan” stands as one of the most poetic and emotionally powerful songs Baligh Hamdi ever composed for Warda.
The title, which translates to “Once Upon a Time”, immediately evokes nostalgia, memory, and lost love. From the very first notes, the song feels like a musical fairytale—gentle, melancholic, and deeply human.
Baligh’s composition in “Kan Ya Ma Kan” is masterful. The melody flows like a story being told at night, with subtle rises and falls that mirror emotional recollection. Warda’s voice enters softly, almost as if she is speaking to herself, remembering a love that once was.
The song is not just about love—it is about time, loss, and the fragility of happiness.
Many listeners believe that “Kan Ya Ma Kan” was a reflection of Baligh and Warda’s own relationship—a love remembered more than lived, a dream that couldn’t fully survive reality.
Music Born from Pain and Separation
Eventually, Baligh Hamdi and Warda El Jazairia divorced. The separation was painful, public, and emotionally devastating for both. Yet even after their divorce, their artistic bond remained unbroken.
Baligh continued to compose for Warda, proving that true artistic love can survive personal heartbreak. Their later songs carried a deeper sadness, a mature sorrow that resonated strongly with audiences.
This ability to transform pain into beauty was one of Baligh’s greatest gifts.
A Life of Excess and Loneliness
Behind the success and fame, Baligh Hamdi lived a complex and often troubled life. He was known for his generosity, spontaneity, and love of nightlife, but also for periods of deep isolation.
In his later years, Baligh faced legal troubles and personal struggles that pushed him away from Egypt. He spent much of his final period in Paris, far from the land and culture that inspired his music.
Despite everything, his creativity never truly faded.
Death and Immortality
Baligh Hamdi passed away on September 12, 1993, in Paris, at the age of 61. His death marked the end of an era, but not the end of his influence.
Today, his music is still played, studied, and loved across the Arab world and beyond. Young musicians continue to draw inspiration from his fearless creativity and emotional depth.
Legacy: More Than Music
Baligh Hamdi left behind more than songs. He left behind emotions, memories, and stories that continue to live in the hearts of millions. His love with Warda El Jazairia remains one of the most iconic romances in Arabic music history, and songs like “Kan Ya Ma Kan” continue to remind us that love—no matter how painful—can be eternal through art.
Baligh once said, “Music is not notes, it is life.”
And indeed, his music still lives.
Final Thought
Baligh Hamdi’s life was a melody—sometimes joyful, sometimes tragic, but always unforgettable. His love for Warda El Jazairia, immortalized through timeless songs, proves that true art is born when the heart is fully exposed.
Once upon a time… Kan Ya Ma Kan…
And that time will never truly end.