Forgive Me, A Review of Maher Zain’s New Album

I’ve begun to fall in love with Maher Zain’s music ever since the first time I watched and listened to his song “Insha Allah” (the original version not the duet version with Fadly “Padi”) from his first album “Thank You Allah”.  His first album was proved to be successful. When he announced that he would release a new album, my heart said “I can’t wait”. The album was preceded by his new single and video “Number One For Me". A song that is dedicated to all Mothers in the world. So when it was finally released, I  went to a CD store and bought his new album, entitled “Forgive Me”.

Well, unlike his first album, which had many soul and hip hop elements, this album is more pop-oriented though you can still find Arabian sound in songs like “Mawlaya” and “Assalamu Alayka”. Some songs even have a universal theme. Songs like “Number One For Me” or “Freedom” (a single which had been released many months ago) seem to be an evidence which I believe it will also attract the non-Moslem listeners.

In this album, you might not find an emotional ballad like “Insha Allah” but there are still many beautiful songs to listen to like the first track “Ku MilikMu” (an Indonesian interpretation of “I Love You So”) and the title track “Forgive Me”. The song “Paradise” seems like a sequel to “For The Rest Of My Life” and “Masha Allah” seem to be a sequel to “Baraka Allah” from his first album. There is also a song entitled “So Soon" which almost makes me cry when I read the lyrics cause it reminds me to my late parents.

I almost forget one thing. I find an interesting fact in every Maher Zain’s album. Zain is a Moslem and his albums contain Islamic music but not all the musician involved in his albums are Moslems. He often works with Moslem musisian like Billal Hajji (who also works with Backstreet Boys and Lady Gaga) and Mohammad “Moh” Denebi (who works with Michael Learns To Rock), but most musicians work with him are not Moslems. For example you can find Crister Jansson (who often works in Roxette’s albums) playing drums here. You can also find some Non-Moslems backing musicians playing strings and other instruments.

Overall, this album is a nice album. I may give four of five stars.