western styles and values in music, or are there
some distinctive elements?
There is much more western influence. There are
more Arabic artists collaborating with American
rappers to keep their sound fresh. Many don’t like
this, while others love it. I’m seeing more artists
steer away from the traditional Arabic ballads to
high tempo sounds that incorporate more western
instruments, and I guess that’s a reflection of the
globalisation of music around the world, and that’s a
Haifa Wehbe
beautiful thing – but sometimes that unique Middle
Eastern sound fades into the background. It’s
important to also note that western influences are
seeping into he video clips of these songs as well.
The female singers particularly are less conservative,
and that’s a shift that’s developed in the last 10
years. There is also more choreographed dancing in
videos and before that wasn’t as prominent.
There are. You can tell the difference between music
from the United Arab Emirates and music from
Lebanon. The Lebanese songs are more drums-based
whereas the lyrics and singing method of Emirati
singers is slower, with a heavier accent that reflects
their dialect. Those reflections of regions also appear
in video clips. The khaliji singers will dress
according to their traditional dress, whereas the
Lebanese singers often reflect a western style.
However, there is a crossover where Lebanese
singers mimic other traditions, which is great for the
fans to see – they love it because it’s ultimately the
Arab world, not exclusive nations that they want to
celebrate in dance and music.
Is there a great deal of Arabic pop that comes
from the diaspora/emigrant communities in
Nancy Ajram
countries like Australia?
Are there any distinctive characteristics to the
There isn’t much of that, however it’s slowly
pop music that comes from various regions of the
changing. There are many young Australians who
Middle East, and do they reflect the culture of
are now signing and trying to break into the music
those regions?
industry through English songs. However, they