Jordanian Diana Karazone crowned Superstar of the Arab World

Published August 18th, 2003 - 03:00 GMT

Jordanian singer Diana Karazone, one of the finalists who competed for the Lebanese satellite television channel Future, was crowned Superstar of the Arab World defeating her Syrian counterpart Rwaida Attia. The total amount of people who voted from around the Arab world were estimated at 4,800,000 of which 52% went to Diana.

Jordanians have expressed excessive joy as Diana's name was announced and began holding celebrations in the streets of the capital Amman, in addition to people joyfully honking car horns screaming out Diana's name and launching fireworks.

The entire Arab world had been anxiously waiting for today’s announcement of the winner of Superstar, and finally the question of who will go home with the title was answered when Diana was announced as the winner. Last night, the two women competing for the title Diana Karazone from Jordan and Rwaida Attia from Syria held their last performances in the competition, which was marked as one of the most intriguing episodes. Each one sang three songs and at the end performed a duet for a song by Lebanese diva Fairouz. Diana and Rwaida expressed throughout the show that they are very calm. Despite their calmness, both eagerly requested viewers to vote for them through the internet, SMS, or by calling the program.

Today, Future TV aired a 12 hour non-stop special broadcast of Superstar, up to the moment when voting ballots were closed and the winner was announced. The broadcast consisted of biographies of the two remaining contestants in addition to a behind the scenes look at the show itself.

According to several news sources, the competition for the title has heated up tremendously and become in more ways than one a challenge between viewers throughout the Arab world on whom they will choose to be the winner. The matter had become an extra sensitive issue especially in Jordan and Syria with campaigns calling for a patriotic stance to be taken and people requested to make a vote for the one representing their country.

The episode was a very intriguing one with a joint performance by all twelve finalists who competed. The organizers of the show have made arrangements to bring back all previous contestants from throughout the Arab world to make the finale of the show a grand one.

Jordanians from all walks of life, as well as companies, state television and the press have all put their weight behind Karazone for the show's final segment Sunday. Mobile providers Fastlink and MobileCom had given their full support to 19-year-old Karazone. Both have dedicated a media campaign to her, with advertisements appearing daily in the press urging Jordanians to rally around the young singer.

MobileCom ads show Karazone wearing a long traditional embroidered dress with the caption: “A beautiful Jordanian dream” or “Give your vote to Diana for our happiness to be complete.” MobileCom executive Hazem Massarweh told AFP the company set aside JD20,000 to promote Karazone “because we want to encourage our local talent.”

Fastlink also had urged Jordanians through SMS messages on their mobile phones to vote for the singer, publishing ads saying: “Give your voice to the most beautiful voice.” In the run-up to Sunday's finale, Jordanian newspapers and Jordan television had joined the fray by dedicating an entire program to Karazone with clips showing her asking for support. –Albawaba.com