A Question For Mr. Frankie.

[FAX]

I was going to PM this interrogatory to Mr. Frankie, then I decided that there might be some other Planeteers interested in the answer. Or, if Mr. Frankie doesn't know the answer, we can all make fun of him and stuff.

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

Disclaimers: Sorry if repost.

[Fairplay]

American indians love this song.

[BigRedChief]

I lived and traveled in the middle east for a year and a half. Sure, there are some rock and roll clubs around but they mainly cater to westerners and those Arabs(mainly men) who want to hang with westerners.

But mainly the flavor of music that orginated in the west thats most popular in in the middle east is pop and light rock and more recently rap.

I once saw Dire Straits with 500,000 people in Jerusalem.

[Fairplay]

Little children don't like this video.

Parental guidance with kiddies please.

[Manila-Chief]

Originally Posted by SLAG

It honestly depends where in the Middle east you are..

In Iraq - Saudi Arabia - Qutar - Oman... you will find the most restrictions and most distain for it.

I was in Amman Jordan for 3 weeks and Heard many Cab Drivers listen to Rap and Rock and roll - there were 2 English Radio Stations I Could even pick up a boot leg Slim Shady Tape/CD if I needed
Damascus was not quite as free but a much better town over all rather than Amman

Often times, in many countries, the cab drive will try to have a radio station on or play music that they think the passenger will like. Doesn't mean they like it. They are just trying to help their business.

[SLAG]

Originally Posted by Manila-Chief

Often times, in many countries, the cab drive will try to have a radio station on or play music that they think the passenger will like. Doesn't mean they like it. They are just trying to help their business.

sounds like a good business move to me

[RJ]

Think of the Middle East as a Footloose re-make waiting to happen.

I'll betcha there's some toe tapping going on beneath those burkhas.

I also hear they're nekkid under there.

["Bob" Dobbs]

Didn't Osama Bin Laden have like a huge thing for Whitney Houston? Not rock, I know, but odd.

[Frankie]

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.