Trends in Arabic Music - Essay Example

?Introduction The music image and style that is seen in various regions is one which reflects the social acceptance and trends. When looking at Arabic music, it can be seen that the popular musical trends also create alterations in the identity and image of society. The popular music of the area is one which can be assessed with several different types of music which are now accepted in various regions of the Arabic countries. When closely examining these, it can be seen that there are mainstream musical styles as well as music which is based on the cultural style and heritage of the country. Both styles are creating a different understanding and image of music that is within the nation. Trends in Arabic Music The Arabic music that is now heard is known for the rich styles, evolution of popular trends and different implications within the entertainment industry. Recently, the popular music has expanded into international reaches that are able to present the ideologies of the culture. This moves into the folkloric elements, which use specific instrumentation and rhythms which are known throughout Arabia. These musical productions are combined with the newer elements of technology, specifically with the ability to present the music through performances, television and other multimedia images. Combining these factors has allowed the trends in Arabic music to expand and to move into the popular ideologies that reflect the culture while allowing the music to be one which is equal to the popular concepts that are now used within society (Aziz, 1). There are several divisions with the popular Arabic music which continue to set trends throughout the region. The first is known as Rai, which is the most accepted type of music in the world today, specifically because it associates with the folk type instruments and rhythms while combining with the technology of today. This is combined with the Sudanese and Nubian rhythms that are within the society, both which consist of fast paced rhythms, polyphonic accents and movements in the music that are specific to the Arabic culture. The rise of Arabic popular music; however, was led by the Egyptian style music through pop stars such as Amr Diab. This has created a hybrid of the Rai and specific rhythms while combining the tribal sounds with the up to date electronics known to many as the new world music (Werner, 1). Creating a Musical Style The overall trends in popular music have also led to specific styles which are now identified as Arabic in nature. This consists of both images and sounds which are used among Arabic music and which distinguish the various features of those that are listening to the music. The first part of this is based on combining the current situations with the ideologies of musical style within the region. The strong commitment to religion, secular beliefs with love and fulfillment in life and leisure activities is the main themes which are presented among those interested in the popular music. This is combined with the ideologies of art, leisure and entertainment as reflecting the ideas of society specifically with making statements about the beliefs and conditions which are in the region. The musical style is then able to create a hybrid component with the folkloric elements that drive the rhythm and sound while creating a style that is reflective of the themes of religion and relationships within the Arabic world (Neiuwkerk, 169). Another component which is now reflected in the musical style is coming from the ideal of moving into globalization. Many of the musical styles are now reflecting the elements of hybrid forms of art and transcultural realities. There are several popular trends which are showing this with the musical styles that are present within society. For instance, reality TV is creating a sense of critical transculturalism, which is based on political, economic and cultural changes of the time. Politically and economically, the Arabic world has changed into one which is intertwined with the associations of the Western world and has built into a global network which exchanges ideals. However, the cultural relationships to this remain the same, specifically with the aspects of music, dance and the proponents of identity which continue to drive the ideals forward in society. The structure of the culture is one which is then able to create a hybrid relationship between these two elements while associating with the interactions between culture and the changing structures that are a part of the society (Chakravartty, Zhao, 190). Another concept which has opened into popular music and the current trends is based on the artistic production, which has combined elements of innovation with the traditions acceptable to the music of the time. The style has evolved from the introduction of technology. During the early 1900s, Arabic music was focused on providing performances which were elements of the folkloric style to the audience. However, by the 1950s, the TV and media was able to move into creating a sense of the popular, meaning that there was an introduction to the ideology of music as pop stars. Solo singers began to emerge, as well as changes with electronics which were able to highlight the stardom that was a part of the music. These elements were furthered until the late 1970s when audio cassettes began to change the mixtures of electronics and folk music into more popular trends which were easier to produce and listen to within the Arabic world. This not only changed the styles of music, but also increased the amount of music available, specifically because audiences were able to access the music easily. Today, the trends include music products which have developed into the contemporary styles with the folk elements which are still a foundation of the music from the 1950s (Frishkopf, 80). Musical Images Along with the styles that have developed into popular elements are also images which are well – known throughout the Egypt world and which reflect the same hybrid concepts. The reflection is one which shows the fast paced world of technology and the components of politics and economics which have led many into the globalized and Western world of style. However, there are elements of Arabic style that are in the different representations of pop stars and which create a specific influence over the way in which the music is presented. These become a reflection of the culture and show what is acceptable from those that are looking at the music as a part of the cultural and social acceptance. The representation of musical images of pop stars is first seen through the male representations. Figure 1 shows some of the most popular stars that are now singing Arabic music. Figure 1: Male Pop Singers The images include three of the most popular stars, Amir daab, Ahmed Sherif and Tamer Hosny. When looking at each of these styles, it can be seen that the economic influence is Western, fast paced and is based on the contemporary styles. Each of the male musicians reflects this through the clothing worn. The tuxedo, sunglasses and the sweater which is hung over a t-shirt are popular images from the West and don’t provide a specific association with the culture. However, the overall image of the singers keeps the Arabic influence while living with the contemporary styles that are now emerging from a global economy. The female singers show the same styles; however, there are more images which are reflective of the folk cultures and styles which are popular to the Arabic world, as seen in Figure 2. Figure 2: Female Pop Singers The three singers include Haifa Waibi, Sofia el Marikh, Tamim and Nancy Ajram. Each of these images shows the cross between the two cultures, specifically with the image and fashion. Haifa Waibi does this through the intricate patterns on the clothes which state the Arabic style; however, the see-through clothing and the jeans are strictly Western. Sofia El Marikh shows this with the conservative style as well as the jewelry which has specific symbols from the Arabic culture. However, she also has a Western feel with the looks and image presented. Tamim and Nancy Ajram show this same style. Both use the colors, patterns and the folk styles of the Middle East, such as with Nancy’s belly dancing out of the smoke and with the Middle Eastern symbols in the background and with Tamim carrying the colors of the Middle East in the background. However, the hair styles, clothing of Ajram’s first outfit and Tamim’s outfit and the more subtle displays are all based on the Western and global characteristics. Similar to the men, there is a fashion which is based on the Western and global styles while keeping some of the old and folk elements of Arabic music. Art and Society The images and style which is presented in the pop stars is one which is not only important to note because of the changing movements into contemporary arts. While society has a general acceptance of the popular styles, there are also questions about the authenticity of being Arabic music and whether there are portions of the image and style which are being lost to new technologies, identities and the Western influences which are coming from the economy. The concept of identity is one of the main questions which are arising, specifically because it blurs the exoticism and the national lines of the Arabic world. The exotic nature and the national identity of those in the culture are seen specifically through the folk styles, music and the fashion statements which occurred in the past. However, the emergence of technology, inclusion of television and the opening into the new world of music has caused some of this to be lost. While many of these components are accepted by the younger generations as popular music, others continue to question the concept of creating a cosmopolitan music which loses parts of the identity in popular culture (Regev, 1). The concept of losing a part of the folk music and culture of the Arabic world because of the rise of globalization is creating further conflicts based on changing identities. The trends and ideals of what is selling now with popular trends is one which is creating a divide within the Arabic culture. From one viewpoint, there is a sense of high cultural identity, specifically which is based on the pop stars and the exhibition of the identity of those within society. This is followed by the trends that are rejecting the movement into a global culture and which disapproves of the elitist class, specifically because there is the belief that the culture is changing. The images become a cue to society that there is an alteration and a loss of the older culture, specifically as the folk styles, older trends of the Arabic world and the beliefs of the older system are slowly lost to the popular music (Adler, 5). Not only are there conflicts with the changing culture, but also a sense of dichotomy which is created from the pop music. The ideology is one which has been created through the ideal of trend spotting. In the older styles of music, trend spotting was related directly to the national identity and culture of those that were in the Arabic region. However, the current trends are leading to trends that are divided with those who are keeping the old social and cultural order as well as others that are building the trends based on the ideal of the international opening. The dichotomy which is created is based on changing identities in gender, race and with radical trends that are based on the elitist group. There are many who are growing in concern because of these changes, first because it has an undertone which has taken on the same process as Hollywood. This is combined with the trend spotting that is creating a loss in culture while imitating those that don’t reflect the social and cultural definitions and ideologies which are a part of the nation. The division in pop stars is based on these two ideals and beliefs that are within society (Coulby, 15). The changes in folk music and one that is regarded as international is leading to a further split that is now defined as a consumer culture. The culture which is known to move into the global trends and styles is often referred to as the one which holds the traditions and cultures in both the forms of music and with the images presented. However, the consumer culture, which is known for international aspects and for mimicking the ideals of Hollywood, is based on offering the trends to youth while setting the pace for popularity by getting mass consumption of products. The images and the styles reflect this by finding images that will sell quickly and which create a popular image that is easily to attach to. By doing this, there is the ability to create a higher amount of consumption among specific groups. However, this also leads to conflicts, specifically with those in Arabic countries that see this as a loss of culture and identity within the region (Abu – Lughod, 17). Another controversy which has been raised with the continuous trends is with the re-invention of the Arabic identity used in contrast to the popular style. There are several who are in the Arabic culture that are crossing cultures with the religious and secular, specifically by using themes which are religious in nature with adaptations into electronics and dance music. This is furthered with the concept of identity where the ideal of the Islamic belief system is one which is a part of the pop star mentality; however, the other actions aren’t based on this religious trend. The controversies which are arising from this are furthering with the division in the music, specifically with many that believe the images, styles and the messages being sent are controversial and display two ideologies of identity. The culture and identity which is represented then becomes associated with the dichotomy that is a part of the Arabic music (Al – Barghouti, 5). Conclusion The concepts of popular music in Arabic society are now based on the images and styles that are attracting a different level of consumerism within society. As this grows, there is also a representation of both the belief systems of the past, folk music used traditionally and with the movement into the international. This is creating an alteration in how many are looking at the music and the aspects of society and culture based on this. However, this is also creating divisions in the ideology of identity. This is first divided by the social and cultural acceptance, as opposed to the economic and political changes. The economic and political acceptance of globalization is one of the areas which are changing the culture while allowing the culture to remain national. This is leading to dichotomies in the older belief systems of Arabia contrasting with an international culture in terms of identity, acceptance of new forms of music and the popularity that is contrary to the known beliefs that are within the Arabic world. Bibliography Abu – Lughod, L. “Shopping Malls, Consumer Culture and the Reshaping of Public Space in Egypt Theory, Culture and Society.” Indiana University Press, 2006. Adler, W. “Cultural Clues.” World Policy Journal 15 (6), 2008. Al – Barghouti, T. Caliphs and Clips: Music and Media in the Modern World. Routledge: New York, 2009. Aziz, Moataz. “Arabic Music Videos and Its Implications in the Realm of Arab Media.” Global Media Journal 3 (5), 2004. Chakravatty, Paula, Yuezhi Zhao. Global Communications: Toward a Transcultural Political Economy. Rowman Littlefield: UK, 2008. Coulby, D. “Trend Spotting and La Longue Duree.” International Handbook of Comparative Education 15 (6), 2008. Frishkopf, Michael. Music and Media in the Arab World. The American University in Cairo: Egypt, 2009. Nieuwkerk, Karin. “Creating an Islamic Cultural Sphere: Contested Notions of Art, Leisure and Entertainment.” Contemporary Islam 2 (3), 2008. Regev, M. “Pop Rock Music as Expressive Isomorphism: Blurring the National, the Exotic, and the Cosmopolitan.” American Behavioral Scientist 15 (7), 2011. Werner, Louis. “Arab Pop on the World Stage.” Teach Mideast. 5 (1), 1999. Read More