Background Reading:
- Roll of music in activism in the Arab world: This article describes how music has become a dynamic part of activism in the Arab-speaking world. By bringing people together, music spreads messages that unites and shapes collective voices for change.
Music can’t stop a war machine: This article from August 2024 shares how the Palestinian hip-hop collective DAM is inherently political. Their catalogue, which consists of 100+ singles and three albums explores discrimination, displacement, and state violence, is an archive of the Palestinian experience.
The Rise of Arabizi: The Voice of the Arab Diaspora: This Rolling Stone article highlights the rise of a new music genre “Arabizi”, that blends Arabic and Western influences and represents the identities of the Arab diaspora. Arabizi bridges East and West through its mix of languages, styles, sounds, which resonates with younger generations who embrace multifaceted identities. The movement also reflects broader political and social realities, as displacement and diaspora fuel a creative blending of cultural elements.
The 50 Best Arabic Pop Songs of the 21st Century: This ranking of the 50 best pop songs of the 21st century attempts to reflect the enormous diversity in the Arab world. The list includes Egyptian dance-pop, Algerian folk music, and romantic ballads from Iraq and Saudi Arabia.
Interviews, etc.:
Breaking down Rolling Stone’s 50 Best Arabic Pop Songs of the 21st Century: Music journalist Danny Hajjar, who authored Rolling Stone’s list of 50 best Arabic pop songs of the 21st century, breaks down the logic behind his choices for the ranking.
Arabesque: Georges Collinet, host of NPR’s Afropop Worldwide, explores the rich history and culture of the music of the Arab World. Arabic musicians and scholars demonstrate the sounds of string, wind and percussion instruments that directly influenced the development of musical instruments common to the modern Western world. The importance of universal musical concepts, such as improvisation, ornamentation and audience participation are discussed in the context of the Arab World, as are the ideas of musical nationality and folk tradition in the face of modern cultural globalization.
Music Performances:
- Elyanna - Olive Branch (music video): Palestinian singer-songwriter, Elyanna, released her song Olive Branch (Ghosn Zeytoun) in December 2023 in response to the ongoing conflict in Palestine.
- Saint Levant - Deira ft. MC Abdul: This article in Variety gives the background behind the song and music video for Deira. As described in the article, Saint Levant and MC Abdul, two Palestinian musicians, used the traditional Shaabi Arab music style to pay peaceful tribute to the people and culture of Gaza. The song’s style is inspired by Dahmane El Harrachi, who is considered a great master of Algerian chaabi, a type of traditional folk music. Through this mix Palestinian and Algerian culture, Levants says the song represents the two cultures of his parents.
- 47SOUL: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert: Shamstep is the creation of 47SOUL. At its heart is Arab roots music laced with dub, reggae and electronic dance music, including dubstep. It's positive-force music with freedom, celebration and hope for the people of the Sham region (Palestine, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria). 47SOUL's message of equality is meant for all the world. This is music without borders, mixing old and new, acoustic and electronic from a band formed in Amman Jordan, singing in Arabic and English.
- Rahim AlHaj: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert: Ancestor to the lute and the guitar, the oud is an ancient stringed instrument commonly played throughout the Middle East, North Africa and countries like Greece and Turkey. The oud has charmed audiences for more than 5,000 years, and the tradition continues with this reverent performance by one of the world's best players, Rahim AlHaj. Born in Baghdad, AlHaj possesses a life story as powerful as his music. He learned to play the oud at age 9, and later graduated with honors and a degree in music composition from the Institute of Music in Baghdad. He also earned a degree in Arabic literature from Mustunsiriya University in Baghdad. Active in the underground revolutionary movement, AlHaj wrote protest songs opposing Saddam Hussein's repressive regime. He was imprisoned twice, once for a year and a half, and was regularly beaten by his captors. In 1991, AlHaj was forced to leave Iraq because of his political activism, and ultimately found a home in New Mexico.