Since my Corleone-imitating, megalomanic father has upheld a ban on Arabic satellite television for the last 20 years of my life, and since that has resulted in a limited exposure to Arabic TV programming, I take every opportunity to feast my haram-ly-deprived-eyes on Arabic Music video channels every time I stay with family in Middle Eastern countries. Melody TV cracks me up with their innovative commercials and Rotana helps get me out of my Arabic musician Golden Age comfort zone with its focus on its up-in-coming artists.
But once in a while, besides the classic Arabic music video types, you encounter one disturbing to a Haifa Wahbe “bous el-wawa” degree of inappropriateness. In my opinion, Diana Haddad’s shamefully catchy “Ya 3eibo” is that video for 2009:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ebBhbTl_W_I]
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- Muslim Music Videos: Outlandish and Kareem Salaama
- Arabic Music Played at Nordstrom’s Junior’s Section in Brea, CA!!!
- The Hitchhiker’s Guide to Arabic Music 2008
- Even MORE Disturbing than Busta Rhymes “A-rab Money”
You have no idea what you're talking about and I blame your "megalomanic father" (as you so elegantly put it) for depriving of such a rich musical heritage, as far as music styles and videos are concerned. I would be careful to criticize the video and therefore the music too quickly. If you knew ANYTHING about Diana Haddad's career these past few years, you'd realize that for having ditched her original Debke-esque style (as seen in the video) for crappy 5aleejee and then to classically bring it "back" onto the musical scene shows everyone (especially her fans) her ability to give the people what they want. I think you need to open your eyes, learn a little about who singers are and what they've been doing just a little bit more before you come out swinging and hating!
Posted by Sanae Al-Maroufi | March 11, 2009, 12:58 pmSanae, I agree with everything you said, I grew up with Diana, I love her White Bedouin dialect as they call it. But the video is simply terrible, the shot is in 24 hours. got some no talents to do the video and the debka scenes. Diana looks out of shape. but the song is a hit, it does bring old fond memoirs of Diana! Her 5aleeji is OK if you are into that sort of thing. You know she released this song last month in a press conference and the press and the fans raved about it. the clip kills that spirit….that's how I see it.
Posted by Hanitizer | March 11, 2009, 2:06 pmI agree with Hanitizer-I like the song (perhaps I spoke too hastily by using such language as "shame" to describe my reaction to it or perhaps, my reaction video was too intimately married to the video's disappointing direction), but I still stand by the intent behind writing this post: the video is disturbing.
Posted by maytha | March 11, 2009, 2:39 pmWhen I first heard this song, i LOVED it and loved it even MORE because it was Diana Haddad singing it. She's an aamazing artist. She has had a wonderful career and a series of hits before she became a pioneer and became the first Lebanese to make a full-gulf style album. And for that she deserves much appreciation, even if you are not into 'that kind of music' which I'm not, but to say 'crappy khaliji' is immature and unnecessary. Maytha, my dad is like yours but it's not like we need the living room t.v to watch arabic music videos, if we wanted to be exposed we defintely can. The only thing distrubing about this song and video is the fact that she is tackling a disturbing issue in the Arab world: old men chasing after young girls and ditching their own wives. That actually makes the video socially relavent and that is why she is a great artist. Plus shes beautiful and I'm not sure there is any resemblence to Haifa Wehbi's 'laiki el wawa' video. And Sanaa, I don't think your last statement was very nice, I'm not khaliji but I'm offended by your comments.
Posted by Lena Dirbashi | March 11, 2009, 6:52 pmI take the "crappy" 5aliji music back Lena. I did not mean to offend anyone. Like you, I just can't see the connections between Haifa and Diana. Haifa is just trashy and Diana is decent and I really like Diana, but to compare her to Haifa is just nonsense. One is semi-bint al-shaari3 (the guys only like her for her body) and Diana actually sings and her music gets her places because she has talent AND skin, so she doesn't have to rely on her body alone to rise to stardom, fahma? I was offended that such connections between the two were being made in the first place. Yes, the video is not the greatest, but it's not the worst. I just think she deserves more credit for the video than she is given by the writer and commentators of this article. My ancestors are from Khaleej, but I am Algerian. I'm sorry if I offended anyone. 5aleejee is not stupid or anything. I just meant that for Diana to leave her style for another less-Diana style, was not the best nor smartest path to have taken. Much love to all
Posted by Sanae Al-Maroufi | March 11, 2009, 9:07 pmDisturbing? No! Not her best video? Yes! Diana out of shape? Maybe . . . but, no! She looks great! She put on a few pounds, but it's her curviness that adds to her overall beauty. My wife has put on a few pounds these past six years, but I love her for it. It's a sign of grace and in one word: beauty!
Posted by Mounir El Aloui | March 11, 2009, 9:49 pm