Overnight Lebanese singer Nancy Ajram managed to become one of the most popular rising singers in the music industry with sponsors rushing to cut deals with her to hold concerts. Her popularity saw an increasing rise in Egypt as her songs are overheard in every coffee shop, pub, and public places. Nancy has become to be known as the singer who uses seduction to gain popularity in her video clips and does so by wearing the least amount of cloths being referred to as the Shakira of the Middle East.
Many have stated that Nancy's body language and movements is the main reason behind her rising success and that her voice is just a secondary factor. Nancy refuses to accept the image people have drawn of her and stresses that she does not use her body to gain her popularity. The singer added that her appearance in her music videos is no less than that of regular actresses and singers and that her voice is the main reason behind her success. Nancy also added that the only body part she uses for seducing her viewers are her eyes, saying that eyes can display so much meaning without uttering one word.
Nancy added that if she did not posses any talent, Egyptian comedian actor Adel Imam would not have given her an offer to star in his popular play "The Bodyguard" as the replacement for Egyptian actress Shireen Saif Nasr, who suddenly pulled out. Nancy turned down the offer saying that she does not intend on staying in Egypt in the mean time and will be returning to Lebanon. Nancy also included her biggest proof of her talent to sing when she won the musical video award for best Arabic singer in Sharm El Sheikh-Egypt.
A Bahraini criminal court released 10 citizens who were being held in prison for holding riots over Ajram’s concert. Protests were held by individuals who are against having Nancy sing in their country stressing that she should not have been allowed to enter.
Police forces had captivated dozens of citizens between the ages of 16 and 25, who were holding protests right before Nancy’s concert in Manama. Protesters also attempted to block all streets that lead to the arena where Nancy was performing trying to stop people from going, but they were faced with tear gas thrown at them by Bahraini police.
The riots occurred after a Bahraini parliament official with the support of his colleagues submitted an urgent request to be presented at their next session calling for the banning of Ajram. The request specifically stated that Nancy should be forbidden from entering Bahrain and disqualified from participating in a musical event.
Recently, Egyptian female parliament members joined hands with Islamist members and ordered that a new law be formed to ban the airing of Ajram’s music videos on all local and satellite Egyptian channels. The members also called for the banning of any music video that displays women dancing with barely any clothes as an attempt to seduce and attract viewers.
The women in parliament feel that these types of music videos are a negative influence on viewers especially the young males. It was also suggested that a restriction be placed on the production of music videos making sure that what is being produced is appropriate for the Arab audience. It was added that numerous complaints from women and men were sent to parliament demanding that immediate action be taken with regards to the extent that some music videos have gone.
Female parliament members also noted that these types of videos that only strive to arouse audience sexually loose the true value of art and music. They added that numerous family disputes have occurred due to these clips, which have caused for jealousy to appear on women due to their husbands’ concentration on the women dancing in them.
Previously it was rumored that an official request by the Egyptian Parliament had been released demanding the ban of Ajram’s songs. The Parliament has ordered that all satellite and local TV stations stop the airing of Nancy’s songs, especially “Akhasmak Aah” (I’ll Upset You Yes), due to the nature of its content and the manner in which the music video is shot. –Albawaba.com
© 2003 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
