An Egyptian newspaper recently did a public poll to see who are the most popular figures among Egyptian youth. The results of poll showed that Egyptian singer Ruby and soccer player Khaled Beebo are the most popular and most interesting figures.
According to the London based daily, Al Hayat, Ruby is considered to hold more popularity than political and intellectual figures. Egyptian actor Ahmad Zaki, who is currently being treated for lung cancer, came in third place. Singers Amr Diab, Mohammad Foad and others came in last places, which signifies that their popularity is dying out and that Ruby is stealing the spotlight.
On a different not, the Egyptian Music Syndicate has called a war on songs they have labeled as “pornographic songs” by starting a legal campaign against artists who cross the line of decency. The syndicate has filed a lawsuit against Egyptian singer Ruby, claiming that she is not being a member and is singing without a permit.
The syndicate board formed a fact-finding team to follow Ruby’s concerts and contracts, because all of this constitutes new violations of the law, in an attempt to stop her from singing by force or put her on trial for practicing the profession of singing illegally.
The campaign has reached the People’s Assembly, where the committee of culture and information held a special hearing to discuss ways of confronting the phenomenon and the measures to be taken. The parliamentarians issued a call to the Egyptian people to boycott these songs and a call to the owners of satellite stations to reconsider what they broadcast.
Sharif Sabri, producer and director of Ruby’s songs, counters the attack saying that Ruby has done nothing wrong. He claims that the songs that Ruby sings do not come under the control of the Music Syndicate because they were produced by a company operating in the free zone in Dubai.
Ruby, who is used to attracting a lot of press coverage, both positive and negative, revealed that she is not bothered by what has been written about her and claims she is a simple country girl. Ruby added that during the shooting of her music video, the director is the one controlling the details of the song, including the clothes the dancers and she wears. Ruby stresses that she is not trying to compete with sexually provocative women singers and she gives a sincere performance of what the director asks her to do.
While the parliament and the Music Syndicate are putting forward a unified front against these artists, the Egyptian public remains divided on the matter. It is revealed that the aim of such songs is simply sexual provocation, and they are described as “disgusting” and an assault on modesty. Some people view the songs as normal and find no fault in them stressing that those who don’t want to watch the songs are free not to. –Albawaba.com
© 2004 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
