Palestinian-American Amira Jazeera Owned the Stage in First Headliner Concert
- Anderson Longenecker
- 5 minutes ago
- 4 min read
Rising Palestinian-American pop artist Amira Jazeera electrified the stage at Chicago's Burlington Bar, showcasing her powerful voice to a crowd of eager fans. She truly lit up the stage. With supporting openings from drag queen Bae Root and singer-songwriter Tommy Bravos, the energy filled the room and created a special night for everyone attending.
Amira Jazeera released her first single "Whoever" in 2019, a soulful pop and R&B ballad. Based in Chicago and signed to Levantine Music, an independent record label focused on Arab musicians, Amira has released various singles and EPs, including “Werk It Bitch” (2023). Her self-produced debut album, The Amira Diaries, was recorded right in her bedroom and released on April 25. Amira has been building a vibrant pop catalogue, synthesizing Y2K pop and Arabic percussion to create dreamy sounds with catchy beats.
The night started off strong with Lebanese drag queen Bae Root taking the stage, hyping up the crowd and turning the audience into her runway. With a dazzling outfit, pink feather fans, and powerful dance moves, Bae Root had everyone cheering and ready for the rest of the night.
Next up, Greek-American musician Tommy Bravos set a mystical tone with his band, playing "Worship," "Armor," and "Adonis." He introduced each song, talking about the meaning behind each of them. Leading the crowd in a chant to accompany “Like No Other,” Tommy kept up the energy of the night, taking the audience on a transcendental pop journey.
After a second performance by Bae Root, the room started to fill again in anticipation for Amira. Suddenly the self-proclaimed "pop princess" herself hopped onto stage, kicking off her set with a party pop track, "Hypnotizing." The crowd danced along as the beat took over. Amira greeted the audience with a smile, expressing how happy she was to be performing and that this was her first time headlining. She asked, "Are you ready to make some magic?" The audience cheered as the band started playing her 2020 single "Magic."
The singer teased the next song, asking everyone, "Can I tell you guys a secret?" After some enthusiastic answers from the crowd, she asked again, "But for real though, can I? Just kidding!" She immediately launched into singing her fourth song from The Amira Diaries, "Secret Boi."
Following her own remix of Gwen Stefani's "Cool," Amira performed more from her latest album: "Solitude," "Deadline," and "Luv U Down." Amira's strong vocals and potent energy filled the Burlington Bar. The live band added an extra touch of rock to the pop songs, highlighting the percussion.
Bumping up the energy, Amira performed her hot girl single "Werk It Bitch." The crowd chanted along to the refrain: “I’m that bitch / And I’m rich / Get my way / Yes I slay.” Everyone clapped to the beat and made room for a runway as Bae Root appeared again for another dance number.
Amira returned to the stage in a flowing pink dress, remarking that it was her first time doing a quick change. She asked if everyone was okay waiting for the next song, chuckling that she forgot her gloves. Her brother split the crowd, bringing her a matching set of pink gloves and a tiara, crowning her a true princess. The siblings shared a hug on stage in a touching moment.
She continued the set, showing off her beautiful voice in vocal run after vocal run with her song "Believe in Love Again" and a lovely rendition of Selena Quintanilla's "Dreaming of You." Keeping up the atmosphere, Amira performed more songs from The Amira Diaries: the upbeat love song "Perfect 4 Me," the addictive fan-favorite "Still Thinkin' Bout Me," and the break-up record "Leaving Tonight."
Amira wound down the night with "Teardrops." She took a moment to dedicate the song to people who are grieving, sharing that music is her way to cope and how she wrote the song as a way to deal with the ongoing genocide in Palestine. As Amira sang, the crowd gradually illuminated the room with their phone flashlights, like a vigil, swaying gently to the music as Amira's powerful voice washed over everyone.
"The angels are crying
The flowers are dying
These teardrops know me well"
At the end of the show, Amira thanked everyone, expressing gratitude for being allowed to follow her dreams and make music. But the crowd didn't let the show end there, chanting "one more song!" Amira laughed, clearly touched by the enthusiasm. After a quick deliberation with the band, they played "Still Thinkin' Bout Me" once more, with the crowd singing along over the speakers.
Amira's stunning and rich performance gave fans a night to remember. It was clear from her energy that she was truly happy to be there. Dedicating her performance to her Palestinian and queer communities, Amira uplifts people through her words, even beyond her music. This concert showcased how Amira is a performer at heart, and we are so excited to see more from Amira in the future!
What is your favorite song from Amira Jazeera? What do you think of The Amira Dairies? Let us know in the comments below or by reaching out to us on Instagram or X.
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Edited by Sam Chacko
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