My favorite quote was from one of the performers who said, "We used to sing for Saddam." (Meaning they sang his praises, not that they actually sang in front of him.)
USWest has it absolutely right. Imagine if the USA were judged around the world as standing for whatever the rappers say. I get irritated every time there is some story about a 'popular song' in the Arab media that is anti-Israeli. It's not foreign policy. Nor is there any reason to think that a popular song reflects the inner thoughts of the ruling class (Macarena? Living La Vida Loca? Everything by Eminem?) I'm not doubting that anti-Israeli sentiment is huge in the Arab world. I just think judging political beliefs by listening to the Top 40 is asinine.
I am not sure what post LTG was reading, but no comment in this thread even mentioned any lyrics, let alone used them to interpret the, "inner thoughts of the ruling class."
I suspect we were all struck by the inherent contradiction of a Hizbollah Boy Band... that is, a fundamentalist Islamic group prompoting an Arab version of what even most Westerners feel is one of the most worthess and decadent expressions of Western culture.
My favorite quote was from one of the performers who said, "We used to sing for Saddam." (Meaning they sang his praises, not that they actually sang in front of him.)
ReplyDeleteCan't be any worse than our Rappers going on about drug lords and king pins.
ReplyDelete// posted by USWest
What's the name of the group? "New Bombers on the Block"? "Kickin' It With Katuscha"?
ReplyDelete// posted by Raised By Republicans
"Kickin' it with Katscha" is great. I love it.
ReplyDeleteMy modest contributions to the suggestion pool: "NO-town", "Goyzone", "'N HYding"
USWest has it absolutely right. Imagine if the USA were judged around the world as standing for whatever the rappers say. I get irritated every time there is some story about a 'popular song' in the Arab media that is anti-Israeli. It's not foreign policy. Nor is there any reason to think that a popular song reflects the inner thoughts of the ruling class (Macarena? Living La Vida Loca? Everything by Eminem?) I'm not doubting that anti-Israeli sentiment is huge in the Arab world. I just think judging political beliefs by listening to the Top 40 is asinine.
ReplyDelete// posted by LTG
What about cartoons?
ReplyDelete// posted by RBR
I am not sure what post LTG was reading, but no comment in this thread even mentioned any lyrics, let alone used them to interpret the, "inner thoughts of the ruling class."
ReplyDeleteI suspect we were all struck by the inherent contradiction of a Hizbollah Boy Band... that is, a fundamentalist Islamic group prompoting an Arab version of what even most Westerners feel is one of the most worthess and decadent expressions of Western culture.