We'll know the region is a truly different place when we see an Iraqi Idol being crowned, but in the meantime the success of SuperStar, the Arab world's answer to American Idol on Lebanese satellite channel Future TV, is a pulsating arrow pointing in the right direction.
For where a silly, shallow, modern singing contest can thrive, with aspirants seeking so temporal and decadent a thing as stardom and an audience of over 30 million going nuts over the process, there is hope against the deadening strictures of political and dogmatic religious oppression. It is also extremely significant that the results on the show are in the voting hands of the viewers, and the influence of this normative expression of unfettered democracy on the greater culture should not be underestimated.
On last night's show, Tunisian Aymen Lasseeg was eliminated by the voters, leaving a final showdown looming between Shahd Barmada from Syria and Ibrahim El Hakmi from Saudi Arabia, but many are the cries and large is the controversy!
Tunisian blogger Subzero relates that "Lasseeg thought of withdrawing today after he got feedback from Tunisia that people were not able to vote all night long yesterday and early today. He only cooled down when he heard that the [phone] lines were opened at around 11AM today."
But he still lost - sound familiar?
Note this unfailingly polite but adamant comment from one "wafaa" on the blog: "I pls u to read this for all world at future tv next week, Aymen (future programe attendant) pls read this for all, the vote this week didnot show the truth. I am very sorry to see the nice programe to miss the correct way by avoiding the star of this year (Aymen) we believe the email voting is not the only governing rule used in selecting the winers but we are quite sure the programe commetee has a strong role in geting Aymen out and leaving the unqualified persons proceeding wich made the programe out of taste."
Article comments
1 - Matthew T. Sussman
Judging from that picture, it looks like every ethnicity of American Idol has their Clay and Ruben.
2 - Eric Olsen
hilarity! I noticed that too
3 - PatFish
and the influence of this normative expression of unfettered democracy on the greater culture should not be underestimated.
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I think you're right as rain...see above the line.
An interesting turn of events to be sure.
4 - Eric Olsen
thanks Pat, there are very good signs if we care to see them
5 - Elessar
Yes it is a sign..but in the same time look at the harm this brings as well: the destortion of their values and the loose of culture, of identity, of diversity.
6 - Dave Nalle
How soon we forget, Eric. I wrote an article last year on Iraq Star an Ameircan Idol type show from Iraq which I believe may feed into the Arab Idol show. The original article is here on BC.
It was the top rated show on Iraqi TV through the winter. I'm trying to track down any coverage I can on who won it.
Dave
7 - Eric Olsen
as far as I can tell, they are doing it their own way: the songs are in Arabic, etc - every culture should have their own thriving, silly, giddy pop culture as a sign of its health
8 - Fisso82
you all have a worng view about the arabic program "super star" I know that most of you didn't even hear any arabic song in their lifes.
as an arabic person, I tell you that this program has a lot of good things in it, and the most important things is that it bringing life for a lot of the best arabic songs ever been made.
and this program, eventhough it's the arabic version of the American Idol but it's completely an arbic program, the preformers sing only arabic songs and they also can wear their country's customs if they like.
for tunisian contestant Ayman we knew -as arabic listeners- that he will be eliminated because he is not that good as the other two, but to tell you the truth, I don't know who will be the arabic star because the two contestants who left are very good and each one of them have a great sound.