Yo Shaheen,

I got 8 out of 10. What's the prize?

As for "far from the usual rants, real issues or stereotypes" ... weeeeeeeeell, I'd say those 10 clips yield at least 3 good, long rants about real issues AND stereotypes.

And for what it's worth - here a YouTube clip of 50Cent's concert in Beirut last summer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFNE-GKy__s

Check out all the people with cameras ...

Enjoy,

--MSK

In that case rant!

To express itself, fun and joie de vivre in MENA does not necessarily have to embrace a western format (clubbing, raving or street racing). It is also rooted in local forms of expression. Since I come from Morocco, the first things that come to my mind are the Gnawa, chikhat, or street performers of jamaa el fna, but also the 70's and 80's Egyptian popular plays of Adel Imam or Sameer Ghanem. Take a look at this video for example:
http://sublimereason.com/rs/?p=26

The words are in Moroccan Arabic and they might surprise more than one. It's about getting drunk and having sex.

I'll gladly do a translation if anyone's interested.

MSK,

I'd be curious as to the ones you missed. Plus, what would be a better place to rant than an entry pretending to avoid it?

Fayçal,

you're definitely right. The reason I didn't include the non-Western format is - besides me being a complete ignoramus there - the point of this entry was more stressing the apparent similarities with the West than the differences. Countering the clash of civilizations stereotypes.

Amusing song you linked to btw. A translation would definitely be welcome for those who don't understand, so go ahead.

Another vote for translation!

hmm i wonder if i've been in that club in hammamet (tunisia)...

did anyone else notice most of the (few) locals in the hammamet video had the look of "WTF IS THIS" on their faces? i guess the beach gigolos don't go to many techno parties.

btw, who wants to bet that all of the locally acquired drugs were, in fact, fake?

DrDougfir,

when did you last go to Tunisia? I don't know the Hammamet region very well, but in Sousse or Tunis, such partying is very common and part of every week-end's activity. In fact, clubs and parties are so extravagantly prepared there they make Parisian partying look like a meeting of nerds under valium.

Shaheen: 2004-2005. hammamet is like sousse and djerba. lots of tourists with the various local hangers-on. the great white whales of europe come down to turn into great red whales.

i went to some parties and whatnot, don't get me wrong, but i, as a rule, stayed away from the zone touristique. it was much more interesting to go to places like thala, zaafraine, and jendouba.

however, i did go to some interesting "cultural" activities put on by ben ali. they had a jazz festival at the basillica in carthage which was quite nice. also, there were some great oud and vocalist concerts (um kulthum covers and related pieces) in the opera house across from the cathedral in downtown tunis. one of my professors (whose husband was also one of my bosses), in addition to her teaching duties, sung professionally (including a few concerts i attended around town). ahhh those were the days... especially the after-parties with the elite of the tunis social scene.

i could go on at length, especially about a few of the night clubs i went into as part of my work-related duties. (anyone been to the night club in la marsa with the crazy electric palm tree and the subterranean disco that had the 70's vomit all over it?)

oh, and we can't forget the big jazz festival in tabarka every year. didn't get the chance to go to it but judging by the stadium they have, it must be quite the party. the zone touristique must simply burst at the scenes with hippies, beat poets, and other such ne'r-dowells.

(and, side note: the cellos for sale and rent in tunisia are all pieces of crap!)

Kha. ami commissaire.

I might add that the source is a source of further entertainment, in particular the Fes, Fes, Fes video. Perhaps instead of wondering if women are getting stoned to death the hysterics should ponder why girl bands shoot videos on horses, although I have to say I haven't ever seen quite such a thing before.

Indeed, simofes' gallery at dailymotion is pretty rich and the songs not only deserve a translation into English but a whole school of thought. Is there anyway we can post these videos on the rightwing websites? If the fascists watch this stuff, their heads might explode. "Aren't the Muslims planning their invasion of the USA ?"

Anyways, here is the translation of the Taixo + Berkaniya song. I said that the song is about sex and drinking and it is, but what really struck me while translating was the last line. A girl saying: I just want some bread and meat.
It's shocking not only because I don't see a western girl saying that, I don't see a bourgeois arab girl saying it either. This rabelaisian gluttony is really only acceptable within the innards of popular culture (culture populaire).

Taixor (the guy) : Leave your door open; I am planning on spending the night. You know I am crazy. I am wild about girls.
Berkaniya (the girl) : Consider it your home. Do come, you are very welcome. If the door’s locked just knock and I’ll open it.

Taixor : I am afraid of the neighbors ! If they tell my wife, she’s going to make a scene.
Berkaniya : Come at midnight when everyone’s asleep. Don’t bring the car. That way you don’t make any noise.
Taixor : I will take the bus and walk the rest of the way. If the police catch us, tell them that I am your husband.
Berkaniya: Don’t worry about the cops or the gendarmes. My uncle is a superintendent. He’ll settle the situation.
Taixor : I will bring a Coke or some juices, and if I can maybe some beers too.
Berkaniya : I don’t want to drink. Just bring enough for you. I just crave some bread and some kefta (ground meat)

Taixor : I will bring a Coke or some juices, and if I can maybe some beers too.

It's "I will bring a Coke or some juices, and if I can vodka and maybe some beers too". (nitpicking).

"oula l'foot kan" It sounds like Vodka but it means : "and If time exists", "and If we have any time". Often used in Morocco to replace "Inch'Allah".

Ah, Moroccan, the language of the sikoun.

As for "right wing" - mate me is no leftist. Call them Islamophobic if you want, but don't mistake that as synonym for Right.

Ah, Moroccan, the language of the sikoun.

Right, and I'm not getting used to it despite having family speaking it...

Thanks for the correction Fayçal.

Mate, I've been around Moroccans for a decade, and their accent has influenced mine to the extent non-Maghrebines swear I have to be one. But for fuck's sake, half the time I can't follow chaabi drdja lingo. No fucking vowels at all. And then the Chleuh....

Interesting note supra re gluttony - the bread and meat said poverty to me. Of course there is also the strong gender divide on drinking, far more than in the Machreq (holding social class and religion constant). Always puzzled me, as on one hand the Maghrebines are far more relaxed, entre eux, about drinking, as well as women, yet there is this strange gender divide on this issue.

Or perhaps my experience is biased.

Non-Maghrebines swear you're Moroccan as soon as they hear a missing vowel...

Always puzzled me, as on one hand the Maghrebines are far more relaxed, entre eux, about drinking, as well as women, yet there is this strange gender divide on this issue.

Wierd, I never noticed such a behavior. But then, in such occasions, I never sat but with the westernized kind.

Re the hearing, I think also if you hit the Qaf like a rock. (and perhaps have developed the habit of nounism, such that to everyone else you sound like you're using a royal we, "nekteb....")

Re the drinking, women item: I think I expressed myself poorly. Let me retry.

Comparatively, re imbibing, it's long struck me that say comparing Westernised to Westernised (holding religion constant as well) there's a far greater number of Machreqi chicas that will drink hard stuff than Maghrebi - in a bar scene.

I could be very wrong, it's terribly impressionistic, but there it is. Of course there's also more smoking in Cairo, Amman, Beirut, etc. than Casa, Tunis or Djzair.

Yep, gf is Lebanese and I didn't notice such a difference from her environment, or from other friends/trips related to the Mashreq at least.

Curiously though, I have seen the divide you're talking about in rural Spain so I wouldn't be surprised it's there in the Maghreb too, I just might have missed it (plus you're right re smoke).