Egyptian star scores anti-war hit

Egyptian star scores anti-war hit

Abdel-Rehim's song attacks the US invasion of Iraq

An Egyptian pop star is enjoying a regional hit with an anti-war song that attacks the US and Saddam Hussein.

The song Hitting Iraq has propelled sales of singer Shaaban Abdel-Rehim's album of the same name to 100,000, according to his producer Alaa Wahba.

An estimated one million bootleg copies have also been sold of the album, which was released in February, Mr Wahba added.

In a style that has been dubbed Egyptian rap, Abdel-Rehim sings: "Will you (America) disarm? Why not.

"It would be great. Inspect Iraq? Go ahead and inspect Israel. Enough with (American) ploys.

Shaaban's songs are like jokes and he knows that he is not a singer but closer to a clown

Music critic Essam Zakaraya

"From the beginning he (the Iraqi) is the victim, if he (Saddam) had listened to us once, nobody would have invaded.

"We (Arab leaders) sent hundreds of letters. Wish he (Saddam) had listened to us."

But Abdel-Rehim - who also had a hit with his 2001 song I Hate Israel - has been dismissed by many as a "clown".

"Shaaban's songs are like jokes and he knows that he is not a singer but closer to a clown," said Egyptian music critic Essam Zakaraya.

Superficial lyrics

"I don't like him personally, I think he has no talent, but his songs coming at a crucial time in the Middle East gave him this fame," said Sonia Fadoul, 23, a Jordanian administrative assistant.

Abdel-Rehim is renowned for dressing in red shoes and white trousers with two watches on one wrist to show off his newfound wealth.

But Zakaray added: "Shaaban gives Arabs relief by singing with his superficial lyrics and silly talk about the Palestinian or Iraqi issue."

Even the writer of Hitting Iraq, and several of Abdel-Rehim's other hits, is critical of the singer.

Islam Khalid said he had to teach Abdel-Rehim the meaning of terms he used in the song.