Lebanese singer Alissa has opened fire on her colleague Amal Hijazi after the latter accused her of being too seductive and sexual in her music videos, saying that Amal’s videos are anything but innocent. Alissa stressed that Amal’s allegations are absurd in the sense that in her duet “Ainak” she appeared laying next to Fuedel, a matter which proves her video clips are all about seduction and being appealing to the opposite sex.
According to the London based daily, Al Hayat, in a personal interview Alissa expressed anger towards Amal for saying that she refuses to be compared to Alissa and relies on her voice and the emotions it expresses and not her outer appearance. Alissa noted that she had watched Amal’s videos and they all showed her wearing very sexy cloths and her moves were very much seductive and with regards to her depending on her voice, Alissa stressed that she does not mind being regarded as very attractive, but she does not depend on that alone for her voice has been noted to be very strong and full of emotions and that is the main reason behind her rising success.
Recently, Amal had revealed that she strongly refuses to be compared to Alissa, Nancy Ajram, and Haifa Wahbi, saying she does not rely on her outer looks and seduction techniques to gain popularity, but rather focuses on her feelings to send out her message to people’s hearts. The singer added that not once throughout her singing career has she acquired such measures as her colleagues like making sexually intimidating music videos to reach popularity and has solely depended on her talent to sing and her self respect.
Alissa has announced that anyone wishing to watch her latest music video “Agmal Ihsas” (The Best Feeling) should be at least 18-years-old and anyone under this age should refrain from watching the clip that calls for mature viewers only. The singer’s announcement came after her song was banned from a number of local and satellite channels due to the fact that the scenes were termed as inappropriate for an Arab audience. The song had created the most commotion in Egypt, with parliament officials calling for a ban of the song. Upon a visit made by Alissa to Egypt to record some of her new songs, she insisted that those who do not feel they are mature enough for such music videos should simply change the channel. The singer added that she is fully convinced with the theme of the song and does not feel she acted in any way that may offend anyone.
Alissa noted that if she was not convinced with the idea of the song she would not have acted it out, and that she considers Salim to be an artist in what he does. She added that the nature of music videos calls for modernization and a little bit of daring to always present audience with new ideas making them wait anxiously for the second work. Alissa stressed that the song is a romantic one and so the atmosphere must reflect this concept of romance or else the entire meaning will be lost.
The singer also insisted that there is no such thing as a seductive singer or sexuality being the reason behind popularity. To her a person who sings is a singer and is talented enough to be liked by listeners for looks do not last long and it’s the core of someone’s voice that reaches people’s hearts.
Alissa has signed an agreement with the international soft drink company Pepsi Cola becoming the official spokesperson for the company in the Middle East. The agreement between Alissa and Pepsi is part of the company’s strategic plan to expand the popularity of Arab singers and their music making it reach the entire globe.
According to the London based daily, Al Sharq Al Awsat, Alissa will appear as the first spokesperson displaying Pepsi’s new soft drink “Pepsi X” in a new commercial with a song “Aribli” (Come Closer), written especially for her and is scheduled to be aired on all local and satellite TV stations in the very near future. Through this step the singer will have officially become part of Pepsi’s star family that includes some of the most well-known names of the Arab world and abroad like, American singer Madonna, Britney Spears, Enrice Igleasis, and Arab singers Nawal Al Zoughbi and Amr Diab.
Pepsi’s regional marketing manager stressed that Alissa was chosen specifically to represent Pepsi’s new energy drink is due to the fact that she enjoys such a lively and outgoing personality, and stands for everything that is natural and energetic, which is what the drink signifies. Earlier, Alissa had denied the news of signing an agreement with Pepsi wanting to keep it a secret until all the arrangement are complete.
Alissa had also announced that she intends on repeating the experience of singing a duet and is currently holding talks with a prominent and well-known Arab singer, but refused to give out his name until all preparations are complete. The singer had stressed that she owes her success to the interest of large corporate companies, which have made it a point to sponsor singers and music festivals.
Alissa noted that her career objective is to become known on a wider scale in the Arab world and the West. She is always extra careful in the songs she chooses for her albums and the style she presents herself with to the audience.
Alissa is currently preparing to shoot television commercials for Pepsi Cola, owned by PepsiCo Inc., the world's No. 2 soft drink company, behind Coca-Cola Co. Earlier, Alissa had denied the news of signing an agreement with Pepsi wanting to keep it a secret until all the arrangement are complete. –Albawaba.com
© 2003 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
