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Greetings from Riyadh
Written by Jimmy
Well. This is different. Flew into Riyadh this morning for a little business circuit around Saudi Arabia, Dubai, and Abu Dhabi. It’s a triple bagger for my ‘all the countries I’ve visited list’ as I’m a virgin traveller to all three.
The Saudis are pretty ambivalent about their music, with some traditionalists finding it all very sinful. They have a soft spot for a few artists though, one of which is Talal Maddah, who ‘gave his all’ to music, dying on stage performing live on TV. [ This is a significantly better showing then all of our rock acts that tend to die late at night in a pool of their own sick, or rather more glamorously crash into hill sides in small aircraft]. Here’s one of his songs
His music inspired Al-Farabi, a modern group named after the great Arab philospher and musician. I love their music and it feels so right and so much what we’re trying to inspire with the Singing Wells Project. Here’s Taxim:
And here’s Land of the Arabs, featuring Mashshaer:
Well, the Saudis may be ambivalent, but I think they can safely embrace this music. It’s stunning. And Al-Farabi, the philosopher, seems worth a second glance in a future blog.
Off to Abu Dhabi tomorrow evening. Will report new musical discoveries…
Jimmy
Riyadh