Monday, August 13, 2007

Saudi Arabia Makes First Music Video

Saudi Arabia Makes First Music Video
By DONNA ABU-NASR


DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) - The Arab world's hugely popular music video industry often features sexy performers in revealing clothes crooning about love.

But the first clip to be fully produced in Saudi Arabia has a message of a different kind: You can be cool and devout.

The video is unusual because it was made in a country where the religious establishment considers music un-Islamic and bans it in public places. And the main cast includes a Saudi woman, something rare in a work produced inside the kingdom.

But in a sign of Saudi impatience with the restrictions, ``Malak Ghair Allah'' or ``You Only Have God to Count On'' was a hit when it was launched at a popular mall in the western seaport of Jiddah last week. Hundreds of people showed up to watch it on a giant screen in the mall's main hall.

``People didn't stop clapping. Some had tears in their eyes,'' Kaswara al-Khatib, the video's director, told The Associated Press in a telephone interview.

The video is expected to air on most of the Middle East's more than 30 music satellite TV channels this week. Despite fears among the Saudi clergy over the corrupting influence of music videos, the clip had implicit government approval. The credits thank ``those who helped make this work a success,'' including the Information Ministry.

``You Only Have God to Count On'' uses upbeat music to tell the story of a successful man who had strayed from the path of true Islam. He smokes, flirts with women even though he's engaged and doesn't join his colleagues at work in performing the five daily Muslim prayers.

Things slowly start to go bad: He has a flat tire and problems at work and his fiancee leaves him when she sees him talking to another woman. He then has a serious accident while recklessly driving his motorcycle. After he recovers, the man starts to pray, stops smoking, wins back his fiancee and excels at work.

Significantly, the man sports a hip goatee and doesn't grow the big, bushy beard favored by fundamentalist Muslims. He still wears T-shirts and jeans and sticks to his old friends, including a man who favors the much-frowned-upon ponytails.

``I wanted the youths to understand that it's not the looks that count. It's what inside that matters,'' al-Khatib said.

``The video also has this message: Don't give up and think, 'I sinned, therefore I'm going to hell,''' the director added. ``Think that there's a God and he is always there to help you.''

While there's no lack of production crews, dancers and singers in Lebanon, Egypt and other Arab countries that produce music videos, things are different in Saudi Arabia. The kingdom follows the strictest school of Islam that bans the mixing of the sexes and all forms of entertainment, including music in restaurants, concerts and movie theaters.

Al-Khatib, 37, who heads an advertising agency, has previously produced music videos, but this is the first that is an all-Saudi work. It was filmed along Jiddah's boardwalk on the Red Sea, a popular hangout for youths.

The lyrics of the song, performed by Muhammed al-Haddad, say in part: ``If things go bad ... if your dreams have been lost ... you only have God to count on.''

Al-Khatib said that for the lead female part, he had to get permission from the parents of Ruwaina al-Jihani before he could cast her in the role of the fiancee.

``They consulted with the extended family before giving their consent,'' said al-Khatib.

Al-Jihani appeared covered in the traditional black cloak and headcover, with only her face showing. One shot showed her all in white at her engagement.

Al-Khatib said that while music is controversial in Saudi Arabia, he has heard fatwas (religious edicts) from non-Saudi clerics who say music for a good cause should not be illegal.

Plus, al-Khatib said he wanted to give Saudi youths an alternative to music videos produced abroad but popular on satellite TV.

``The problem is not the music. It's how you utilize it,'' said the director.

``We wanted to talk to them in their own language,'' he added. ``Instead of saying, 'Don't listen to music,' we're saying, 'Listen to music that's good for you.''

24 comments:

PH said...

That is a good video, thanks for sharing. By the way were did you get the link from ? Did you know the songs lyrics are more a form of religious poetry than that of a typical song :P.

salaam

ibeebarbie said...

Salam PH,
The article link came from my homepage when I log in. I didn't know that about the song lyrics but gathered something to the effect of it being of a religious teaching.

If you or someone would like to translate for me, I'd greatly appreciate it.

PH said...

"If you or someone would like to translate for me, I'd greatly appreciate it."

I would but you will have to give me some time to translate it ... as you know I have to play it back a number of times to get it correct :P.

ibeebarbie said...

:-) No problem - I'm patient.

dusk till dawn said...

its excellent vidoe clip.its very spiritousl song, thanx for posting it,very hard to be translated, i think u have to do it with google.and if PH can do gr8.

ibeebarbie said...

Salam Dusk Till Dawn,

It's moments like these when I wish I knew Arabic. Without knowing the words, the music still moves me. :-)

Anglo-Libyan said...

salam ibeebarbie

very interesting information about Saudi, I liked the song, does have a good message, thank you.

Fatima said...

love the song!!! :D and my sister is hooked lol.

ibeebarbie said...

Salam Fatima,
I loved the song as well, but know I will love it even more when I understand the meaning... LOL! Tell your sister I'm hooked as well. :o)

Lost-Libyan said...

seems interesting...couldnt stream the video here at work, we ll try it out at home! :P

Happymoi said...

Very nice! Thanks for sharing:):)

ibeebarbie said...

Salam Lost-Libyan,
I think it's great. The fact the I've watched it repeatedly when I generally don't watch or read anything twice was a good indication for me that it was good. Although, damnit, I don't know what it says, but get the very heart of it through the visualization. :-)

Salam Happymoi,
I've missed you dearly. Hope all is well, and your surviving the gatherings. :-)

PH said...

"know I will love it even more when I understand the meaning..."

"Although, damnit, I don't know what it says"

I see your patience is withering :P .. I'm working on it bear with me ( I'm really sorry but I've been having a number of all nighters with friends visiting :) )

salaam

ibeebarbie said...

Salam PH,

Oh poor baby my patience is not withering, and the fact that you carry this burden entirely on yourself to translate for me is sooooooooooooooooo sweet. Is it any wonder you are so loved. :-)

Enjoy those nighters with your friends.

PH said...

"Oh poor baby my patience is not withering"

Are you trying to embarrass me .. if you don't stop I'll start crying ...LOOOOOOOOL

salaam

Highlander said...

Thanks Ibee for posting this article and song. I think it carries an excellent message. The lyrics are simple but powerful. We are all waiting with bathed breath for PH's translation :P and I am going to get this song on my Ipod asap!

ibeebarbie said...

Salam PH,
"if you don't stop I'll start crying" Of course I don't want to see you crying, but will you blushing? LOOOOL

ibeebarbie said...

Salam Highlander,

Welcome to this humble little blog - your presence is greatly appreciated.

Indeed from the video it does seem to portray an excellent reminder to all.

LOL@"We are all waiting with bathed breath for PH's translation :P" Oh no, that's a sensitive nature and we can't have PH crying from the pressure. For the tears that fall from his eyes might stain the page he's translating on or his vision will be blurred and maybe come up with a different word. Either way that can't be good. Besides, it's more fun to see him blush. :P (You're the best PH)

white african said...

sallam ibee

thanks for sharing, i love it...

ibeebarbie said...

Salam White African,
Nice to see you. Thank you - I'm glad you enjoyed it. I LOVE IT!

PH said...

Well before I post my loose translation :p I just want to tell you that anything between asterisk's is a description of what is going on in the video at the time of those words, so you can synchronize between the words and pictures.

OK here go's :

If things turn bad and you feel depressed .

If things turn bad and you feel depressed .

Whether life is shortened or lengthened ( regardless of how long you have left in your life ) you have only God to turn to.

Days are lost from your life ( wasted ) and dream after dream is lost ( unaccomplished ). *here he is dreaming of getting married to his fiance*

Days are lost from your life ( wasted ) and dream after dream is lost ( unaccomplished ).

Halal or Haram, you wasted Gods rights upon you .

Halal or Haram, you wasted Gods rights upon you. *here he is buying/selling stocks while his friends pray and he isn't*

My friend you have been fooled ( allured ) by the fun you had in the past. *here he is smoking with his friends*

A day must come when God will hold you accountable for your actions.

Where are you and your money in life ... you should make the right decisions on what to do with them.

Where are you and your money in life ... you should make the right decisions on what to do with them. *here he is riding his bike then talking to a girl other than his fiance*

Now and not later you should observe Gods teachings and fear him ( not put it off ).

Now and not later you should observe Gods teachings and fear him ( not put it off ).*here his fiance sees him talking to the other girl and throws their engagement ring to the ground*

Your life is measured, you have enough sins as it is ( make the best of it ).

Your life is measured, you have enough sins as it is ( make the best of it ).*here he gets in an accident*

Repeat dishearteningly ( defeated/subdued by life ), God have mercy on me.

Repeat dishearteningly ( defeated/subdued by life ), God have mercy on me. *while he is lying on the ground after the accident*

Fill your time with his memory and return to him for you will find him there for you ( God ). *here he is praying with his friends instead of working on the computer*

He will not disappoint you ( God Forbid ), things will be solved with his help.

He will not disappoint you ( God Forbid ), things will be solved with his help.

btw this is a loose translation and a lot of the meanings are lost in the translation ( I'm not a professional translator ) so everyone, feel free to correct or add anything to my translation.

ibeebarbie said...

In the name of Allah, The Beneficent, The Merciful

The floodgates of tears that now fall on my cheeks cannot be stopped even if I tried - it would be fruitless. The video alone moved me, but the written words move me even deeper, alhamdullilah.

May God bless you always and reward your for your efforts in helping those of us that do not understand this amazing language, Arabic. So poetic, so filled with emotions, so rich in meaning. The humblest of words which I know are not merely adequate enough for what you’ve done are Thank You!

Salam

PH said...

You are more than welcome * me blushing * and I'm glad you liked it and that it made sense I was afraid my translation was too vague :).

salaam

ibeebarbie said...

Salam PH,
Are you able to modify your little avatar guy? Minus the beard with slight blushed cheeks. I want a true depiction of you. You are just so adorable when you blush.:-)