Amin El Mahdi invited her into the cultural circles in Cairo. In 1924, she was introduced to the poet
Ahmed Rami, who would later on write 137 songs for her, and would also introduce her to
French literature and become her head mentor in
Arabic literature and literary analysis. The mid-to-late 1920s marked her transition into a professional recording artist and cultural icon. She made her first audio recordings in 1924 for labels like
Odeon Records, but it was her 1927 recordings that truly launched her career. In 1926, she left Odeon Records for
His Master's Voice who would pay her about double per record and even an additional $10,000 salary. Her repertoire expanded into taqatiq (lighthearted love songs) and
monologues. One of her most influential early works was ''In Kunt 'Asamih'' (1927), which blended modern aesthetics with classical artistry. In 1928, she released her first monologue, a new genre for her that featured virtuosic and dramatic themes of romantic loss. The year 1929 is famous for a meeting between Umm-kulthoum and high-profile intellectuals, including the Islamic reformer Sayyid
Rashid Rida and Prince
Shakib Arslan, at a music hall in Cairo, signaling her growing influence beyond entertainment into cultural and social spheres. By the end of the 1920s, Umm-kulthoum had successfully navigated the competitive Cairo music scene to become one of the city's highest-paid performers. She abandoned her masculine attire for conservative but fashionable women's dresses and began securing lucrative contracts with
Gramophone Records, which paid her significant annual fees and royalties. By 1930, she was so well known to the public that she had become a role model for several young female singers. In 1934, Umm-kulthoum sang for the inaugural broadcast of the
Egyptian Radio, the state station. From then on onwards, she performed in a concert on the first Thursday of every month for forty years. During the 1930s, her repertoire took the first of several specific stylistic directions. Her songs were virtuosic, as befitted her newly trained and very capable voice, and romantic and modern in musical style, feeding the prevailing currents in Egyptian popular culture of the time. She worked extensively with texts by romance poet
Ahmad Rami and composer
Mohammad El-Qasabgi, whose songs incorporated European instruments such as the
violoncello and double bass, as well as
harmony. The 1930 song
Madam Teheb Betenker Leih was one of her popular early urban hits. Followed by
Ya Ghaeb An Eyouni, released in 1931, a monologue style song with lyrics by
Ahmed Rami. The 1935 song
Ala Balad El Mahboub was a widely beloved song, where she sang in her first film,
Weddad (1936). Part of her late-30s repertoire showcasing her vocal evolution was
El Noom Yodaeb (1937). An iconic celebratory song typically performed during Eid festivities until the present day is
Ya Leilet El Eid, released primarily in 1939, and added to her 1940 film
Dananeer. In 1944,
King Farouk I of Egypt decorated her with the Supreme Class of the
Order of the Virtues (Nishan el Kamal), During her career, she would act in five more movies, of which four would be directed by
Ahmad Badrakhan Among the army men trapped were the figures who would lead the
1952 Egyptian revolution, prominently
Gamal Abdel Nasser. Following the revolution, the Egyptian Musicians' Union of which she became a member (and eventually president), rejected her because she had sung for the then-deposed King Farouk of Egypt. When Nasser discovered that her songs were banned from being aired on the radio, he reportedly said something to the effect of "What are they, crazy? Do you want Egypt to turn against us?" Later, Nasser would schedule his speeches so they would not interfere with the radio performances of Umm-kulthoum. Some claim that Umm-kulthoum's popularity helped Nasser's political agenda. For example, Nasser's speeches and other government messages were frequently broadcast immediately after Umm-kulthoum's monthly radio concerts. She sang many songs in support of Nasser, with whom she developed a close friendship. One of her songs associated with Nasser—
Wallāhi Zamān, Yā Silāḥī ("It's Been a Long Time, O Weapon of Mine")—was adopted as the Egyptian national anthem from 1960 to 1979, when President Sadat replaced it by the less militant
Bilady, Bilady, Bilady, following peace negotiations with Israel; it remains the
Egyptian anthem to this day. Umm-kulthoum was also known for her continuous contributions to works supporting the
Egyptian military efforts. Umm-kulthoum's monthly concerts were renowned for their ability to clear the streets of some of the world's most populous cities as people rushed home to tune in.
Ghannili Shwaya Shwaya (1944), from the 1945 film
Sallama, achieved phenomenal success, and
El-Awela Fil Gharam is considered one of her most famous classics.
Dalile Ihtarar (1944) is also a prominent song of the mid-1940s. Her song
Ya Sabah Al-Khair (1947), which appeared in
Fatimah, is still played in the streets of Egypt every morning. The album
El-Ward Gameel (1946) is another important recording from the mid-1940s. ,
Baghdad in 1946. In 1946, Umm-kulthoum defied all odds by presenting a religious poem in classical Arabic:
Salou Qalbi ["Ask My Heart"], written by
Ahmad Shawqi and composed by Riad Al Sunbati. The 1958 song
Thawrat Al-Shakk ["The Revolution of Doubt"] was a dramatic piece. In 1959, she sang
Hagartak, this song represents the emotional depth of her collaborations with composer Riad Al Sunbati and poet Ahmad Rami. In 1960, she performed
Howa Saheeh El Hawa Ghallab, becoming a popular classic with music by Zakaria Ahmed. Followed by the 1961 song
Hayyart Alby ["You Confused My Heart"], composed by Riad Al Sunbati. Performing well known performances worldwide such as her significant concerts in
Lebanon in 1962, and in
Kuwait in 1963. Her performances usually lasted for up to five hours, during which three songs were sung.
Later career Around 1965, Umm-kulthoum started collaborating with composer
Mohammed Abdel Wahab. Her first song composed by Abdel Wahab was
Inta Omri ["You Are My Life"], and later became one of her iconic songs. In 1969 it was followed by another, ''Asbaha al-Ana 'indi Bunduqiyyah'' ["I now have a rifle"]. Her songs took on a more soul-searching quality in 1967, following the
Six-Day War.
Hadeeth el Rouh ["Sermon of the Soul"], which is a translation of the poet Mohammad Iqbal's "Shikwa", set a very reflective tone. Generals in the audience are said to have been left in tears. Following the formation of the
United Arab Emirates (UAE) in 1971, she staged several concerts upon the invitation of its first president
Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan to celebrate the event. In the 1970s, she performed famous recordings such as
Daret El Ayam in 1970, and El Tholathya El Moqadasa ["The Holy Trilogy"] (1972).
El Hob Kollo (1970), remains one of her most popular romantic ballads. The 1970 song
Daret El Ayam ["And the Days Passed"], is a signature collaboration with composer Mohamed Abdel Wahab.
Aghadan Alqak ["Will I Meet You Tomorrow?"] features lyrics by Sudanese poet
Elhadi Adam and music by Mohamed Abdel Wahab, released in 1971.
Leilet Hob ["A Night of Love"] (1972), was another grand composition by Mohamed Abdel Wahab.
Hakam Alayna Al Hawa (1973), was the final song Umm-kulthoum recorded before her health declined. Umm-kulthoum also sang for composers Mohammad El Mougi,
Sayed Mekawy, and
Baligh Hamdi. greeting Umm-kulthoum in
October War victory celebrations, 1974 Despite her immense support, Umm-kulthoum was unable to perform a song specifically celebrating the
October war victory due to her deteriorating health at the time. She did, however, appear alongside President
Anwar Sadat in November 1973 during a visit to wounded soldiers at Maadi Military Hospital, where she received a kiss of gratitude from the president in appreciation of her national role. She also attended the events commemorating the victory, and President Sadat honored Umm-kulthoum for her efforts in supporting the war effort by sending her an official letter of appreciation for her national services to her country. ==Personal life==