Bic Runga's albums, Drive (1996) and Beautiful Collision (2002), have sold seven- and eleven-times platinum respectively in New Zealand, the latter spawning the single 'Get Some Sleep', a top ten hit in Japan and Ireland that also broke into the UK top 40. Beautiful Collision featured at no.32 in Mojo magazine's list of the best albums of 2002 and no.34 in Uncut's annual critics poll for that year.
Bic's ubiquity in New Zealand music belies her relative youth. Three albums into a career that her numerous admirers trust will run for many years to come, she demonstrates the artistic value in trying new ways to bring her songs out into the open and letting them soar on new wings. Bic will tell you that the creation of her third album Birds was a magical experience for her - and you can hear that magic in the songs. Birds is simply her finest musical statement yet.
Marhaba is an Arabic word used in the Middle East as a greeting (in English Hello).
The origin of the word comes from Aramaic, the old Syrian language of Jesus Christ.
It is a combination of two words: MAR + HABA
MAR, meaning God, Lord or Master.
HABA, meaning Love.
So, Marhaba means "God is Love".
The following is the Lord's Prayer in Aramaic, recited by Majida El-Roumi:
Marhaba Bic
May you celebrate the love of God deep within your heart as Jesus brings new meaning to life... Joy, Hope, Peace... because His love is eternal.
May His eternal love shine upon you always!
Nabeel