Quote:
Originally Posted by FAX
So, here's the question ... Mr. Frankie, you are familiar with the ways and doings of the Middle East and I was wondering if Arab peeps like Rock & Roll music? I assume that fundamentalist Islam would likely prohibit Rock & Roll and might saw the very tittaws off anyone who listened to it, but then again, maybe not. Plus, there are some countries that are more liberal and seem to enjoy some aspects of Western culture. So, do peeps there like Rock & Roll?
FAX
|
Well Mr. FAX, in the pre-revolutionary Iran that I grew up in we generally had an eclectic taste for music. So within the following general answer I hope you will find yours. A typical Iranian teenager (my peer group) enjoyed mostly music ranging from Iranian pop to European pop. As for the American/British music which included Rock & Roll, we all had huge collections of 45s. My own included a lot of 50s and 60s pop and Rock, as well as the blues, etc. We loved Ray Charles and I purchased any new Aretha Franklin without even pre-listening. I also had a lot of Beatles, the Mamas and the Papas, Rolling Stones, and (yes) the Monkees as well as Otis Redding, Jimi Hendrix, etc. Now Iran is not an Arab country but in many of the more modern ones, from all indications, this was the norm as well. Now fast forward to today’s Iran. It’s clear to me (as a more interested observer) that today’s Iranian teens and their parents (teens of my generation) have maintained the same tastes and habits in their music preferences. In other words, “Nothing has changed.” Yes the regime forces people into more restrictions, but people still have their collections of western music and movies. Only in a more discreet manner. Religious fundamentalism by its nature is usually against freer forms of expression. But people still do what they’ll do. The answer, then, is generally YES, depending on the societal upbringing of certain Middle Eastern countries’ middle class culture. Some, like Saudi Arabia, I’m sure, lag in that area more than say Iran, Syria or Lebanon, but Rock & Roll is alive and well in the Middle East.