Difference between revisions of "MofA Week 10."

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'''Music and Politics: hegemony, and resistance'''
 
'''Music and Politics: hegemony, and resistance'''
  
−
 
−
= General considerations =
 
  
 
'''Distinguish:'''
 
'''Distinguish:'''
  
 
* music of hegemony and music of resistance
 
* music of hegemony and music of resistance
−
** national anthems
 
−
** revolutionary songs
 
 
* explicitly political and implicitly political music
 
* explicitly political and implicitly political music
−
** overt, literal statements, with political intent (e.g. Shaykh Imam)
 
−
** covert, symbolic statements, with political intent (e.g. Ahmed Adawiyya, Idir)
 
−
** music that takes on political valences, without overt political intent (e.g. Saudi Qur'anic recitation signifying conservative Islam; Lebanese female singers' clips signifying liberalism/globalization)
 
 
* the music of politics and the politics of music
 
* the music of politics and the politics of music
  
−
'''Music'''...
 
  
−
* ...encodes political messages (explicit or implicit) regarding
+
= Music and nationalism =
−
** political values (general, abstract)
+
 
−
** political situations (specific individuals, structures of power)
+
* Muhammad Fawzy (read Frishkopf article)
−
* ...helps shape the broader political landscape
+
 
−
** Music is relatively limited form of discourse
+
[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEydMJeOF9w National anthem of Algeria], composed by the Egyptian Muhammad Fawzy.
−
*** Produced slowly, by specialists
+
 
−
*** Hard to engage in musical dialogs, discourses
+
Kassaman or Qassaman (The Pledge) is the national anthem of Algeria. It was adopted in 1963, shortly after independence from France. The lyrics are by Mufdi Zakariah (written in 1956 while imprisoned by French colonial forces) and the music is by Egyptian composer Mohamed Fawzi.<br>
−
*** Much of music's social force is non-referential
+
<br>
−
** but lyrics contain referential content
+
Lyrics & Translation:<br>
−
**  factors compensating for discursive limitations:
+
<br>
−
*** music's affective power, imbuing a felt sense of truth
+
Qassaman Binnazilat Ilmahiqat<br>
−
*** music's social power, gathering people in groups (live or mediated), nucleating subcultures
+
Waddimaa Izzakiyat Ittahirat<br>
−
** and non-discursivity is perhaps a form of coercive power (as Marxist anthropologist Maurice Bloch famously wrote:  "you can't argue with a song")
+
Walbonood Illamiaat Ilkhafiqat<br>
 +
F'Iljibal Ishshamikhat Ishshahiqat<br>
 +
Nahno Thurna Fahayaton Aw ma mamaat<br>
 +
Wa Aqadna Alazma An Tahya Aljazair<br>
 +
Fashhadoo! Fashhadoo! Fashhadoo!<br>
 +
<br>
 +
We swear by the lightning that destroys,<br>
 +
By the streams of generous blood being shed,<br>
 +
By the bright flags that wave,<br>
 +
Flying proudly on the high mountains,<br>
 +
That we have risen up, and whether we live or die,<br>
 +
We are resolved that Algeria shall live -<br>
 +
So be our witness -be our witness - be our witness!<br>
 +
<br>
 +
Nahno Jondon Fi Sabil Il hakki Thorna<br>
 +
Wa Ila Isstiqlalina Bilharbi Kumna.<br>
 +
Lam Yakon Yossgha Lana Lamma Natakna<br>
 +
Fattakhathna Rannat Albaroodi Wazna.<br>
 +
Wa Azafna Naghamat Alrashshashi Lahna<br>
 +
Wa Aqadna Alazmat An Tahya Aljazair.<br>
 +
Fashhadoo! Fashhadoo! Fashhadoo!<br>
 +
<br>
 +
We are soldiers in revolt for truth<br>
 +
And we have fought for our independence.<br>
 +
When we spoke, none listened to us,<br>
 +
So we have taken the noise of gunpowder as our rhythm<br>
 +
And the sound of machine guns as our melody,<br>
 +
We are resolved that Algeria shall live -<br>
 +
So be our witness -be our witness -be our witness!<br>
 +
<br>
 +
Nahno min Abtalina Nadfaoo Jonda<br>
 +
Wa Ala Ashlaina Nassnaoo Majda.<br>
 +
Wa Ala Arouahena Nassaado Kholda.<br>
 +
Wa Ala Hamatina Narfao Bandaa.<br>
 +
Gabhato' Ltahreeri Aataynaki Ahda<br>
 +
Wa Aqadna Alazma An Tahya Aljazair.<br>
 +
Fashhadoo! Fashhadoo! Fashhadoo!<br>
 +
<br>
 +
From our heroes we shall make an army come to being,<br>
 +
From our dead we shall build up a glory,<br>
 +
Our spirits shall ascend to immortality<br>
 +
And on our shoulders we shall raise the standard.<br>
 +
To the nation's Liberation Front we have sworn an oath,<br>
 +
We are resolved that Algeria shall live -<br>
 +
So be our witness -be our witness -be our witness!<br>
 +
<br>
 +
Sarkhato 'lawtani min Sah Ilfida<br>
 +
Issmaooha Wasstageebo Linnida<br>
 +
Waktobooha Bidimaa Ilshohadaa<br>
 +
Wakraooha Libany Iljeeli ghada.<br>
 +
Kad Madadna Laka Ya Majdo Yada<br>
 +
Wa Aqadna Alazma An Tahya Aljazair.<br>
 +
Fashhadoo! Fashhadoo! Fashhadoo!<br>
 +
<br>
 +
The cry of the Fatherland sounds from the battlefields.<br>
 +
Listen to it and answer the call!<br>
 +
Let it be written with the blood of martyrs<br>
 +
And be read to future generations.<br>
 +
Oh, Glory, we have held out our hand to you,<br>
 +
We are resolved that Algeria shall live -<br>
 +
So be our witness -be our witness -be our witness!
 +
 
 +
= Shaykh Imam =
 +
 
 +
This Egyptian singer (b. 1918), raised in the singer-shaykh tradition, became Egypt's most well-known political singer after 1962, in collaboration with poet Ahmed Fu'ad Negm.
 +
 
 +
[http://mondediplo.com/2006/05/20prison Bio]
  
 +
[http://mondediplo.com/2006/05/19sheikhimam Article]
  
−
= Music and politics in the pre-Islamic Arab period =
 
  
−
Various pre-Islamic poetic genres--chanted and sung, quickly memorized and disseminated-- effected political functions:
+
== Song: "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTuII5V0pFg Guevara Died]" ==
  
−
* Hija': poetry of critique (for one's enemies)
+
(composed 1967: Ahmed Fu'ad Negm and Shaykh Imam).
−
* Madih: poetry of praise (for one's rulers)
+
[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngw9kyB_7ME Performed by contemporary revival group Eskanderalla.]
−
* Ritha': elegy
 
−
* Mufakhara:  inter-tribal poetic competitions, enabling inter-tribal dialogs, and helping unify polities
 
  
−
The Arabs of pre-Islamic Northern Arabia formed what scholar von Grunebaum termed a ''Kulturnation''; only with Islam would they unite to become a ''Staatsnation''. Public poetic recitation (inshad, nashid, tartil) in a heightened voice may have played a significant role in creating and sustaining the Arab ''Kulturnation'' within such a mobile society. Poetry also served to delineate inter-tribal political boundaries, to support one's own tribal leadership (especially the shaykh al-qabila) and denounce the enemy.
+
[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fcf_1eaokn0 Ahmed Ismail]
  
−
= Music and politics in the golden age of Islamicate civilization =
 
  
−
* [http://www.princeton.edu/~arabic/poetry/ panegyrics] (praise) written by the most famous Arab poet, al-Mutanabbi, for his patron, the Emir (prince) Sayf al-Dawla (916-967, r. 945-967) of Aleppo, ruler of northern Syria under the Hamdanid dynasty (al-Farabi was another prominent figure in Sayf al-Dawla's intellectual circle)
+
Guevara has died, Guevara has died
  
−
= Music and nationalisms: in support of the state =
+
Late-breaking news, all the radios cried
  
−
The patriotic song was generally known as ''nashid watani'' and occurred with increasing frequency following the success of independence movements.  Some sang for the state out of personal feeling, others for economic advantage, sometimes with state sanctions, and sometimes without.
+
And in the churches
  
−
* Umm Kulthum:  sang for the king; criticized post-revolution (1952) and was withdrawn from radio, before returning to sing for Egypt and the Arab nation.
+
And the mosques
  
−
* Muhammad Fawzy: personal/economic vs. state patriotism (read Frishkopf article)
+
In the alleys
  
−
[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEydMJeOF9w National anthem of Algeria], composed by the Egyptian Muhammad Fawzy.
+
And the streets
  
−
[[Text for Algeria's national anthem]]
+
In cafes and the bars:
  
−
* Abdel Halim Hafez: adopted as voice of Gamal Abdel Nasser in the 1950s
+
Guevara has died
  
−
[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOne_BICgzk Sura Sura]
+
Guevara has died
  
−
* Mohamed Abdel Wahab:  pan-Arab nationalist song (1960, composed to celebrate the short-lived union of Egypt and Syria as the United Arab Republic)
+
Voices ply endless ropes of speech...
  
−
[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ERFXIntNhQ Watani habibi watani al-akbar] (my beloved homeland, my greatest homeland)
+
Paragon of fighters, now dead and gone
  
−
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jt-_ZsBgevk al-Hulm al-`Arabi] (1998) (contemporary pan-Arab nationalist song, with lots of cynical comments logged on youtube. Includes singers from nearly every Arab country; funded by Prince Walid bin Talal)
+
Aah, sign a hundred for the loss of men!
  
−
Generation after generation will live in the hope of realizing
+
In thickets deep the young swain perished
−
our dream <br>
 
−
As what we say today we will be called to account for <br>
 
−
throughout our lifetime <br>
 
−
It is possible that the darkness of night <br>
 
−
May render us far from one another, but <br>
 
−
The beam of light can <br>
 
−
Reach the farthest of skies <br>
 
−
This has been our dream <br>
 
−
All of our lives: <br>
 
−
An embrace that will contain us all together <br>
 
  
−
= Music and resistance =
+
still atop his firing gun
  
−
== Sayed Darwish ==
+
Dead and giving body to his fight
  
−
[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYceV1LRzrY&feature=related Masr Yamma ya Bahiya]
+
He did it all in silence
  
−
== Shaykh Imam ==
+
No drummers explode in ragged sound
  
−
Imam Mohammad Ahmad Eissa or Sheikh Imam (1918-1995), raised in the singer-shaykh tradition, became Egypt's most well-known political singer after 1962.  Collaborating with poet Ahmed Fu'ad Negm, he became renowned for singing on behalf of the poor and  working classes.
+
No communique goes sailing round
  
−
[http://mondediplo.com/2006/05/20prison Bio]
+
What do you think (your wealth and might live long!),
  
−
[http://mondediplo.com/2006/05/19sheikhimam Article]
+
You antique and twisted gnomes?
  
 +
Your bodies oozing, fed so well
  
−
* Song: "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTuII5V0pFg Guevara Died]"
+
On tasty morsels and trappings
  
−
(composed 1967: Ahmed Fu'ad Negm and Shaykh Imam).
+
You, sitting comfy, cozily warm
  
−
[[Text for Guevara Died]]
+
Tho' firing up your heaters still:
  
−
[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngw9kyB_7ME Performed by contemporary revival group Eskanderalla.][http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fcf_1eaokn0 Performed by Ahmed Ismail]
+
Garish showy dopes
  
−
* Song: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bh4fiRgD38s&feature=related Nixon Baba]
+
With your polished nodding pates...
  
−
* Song: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYceV1LRzrY&feature=related Masr Yamma ya Bahiya]
 
  
−
== Mohamed Nuh ==  
+
== Song:  "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYVMJfbjQwQ O Palestinians]" (1968) ==
  
−
[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBD22Wlslx8 Mohamed Nuh]
+
0 Palestinians, the fusilier has shot you
  
−
== Idir ==
+
With Zionism which kills the doves that live under your
 +
protection
  
−
Hamid Cheriet, aka Idir (b. 1949 in Aït Lahcène, Algeria)is a Kabyle (Berber, Amazigh) singer from Algeria. His songs, evoking Kabyle folklore and sung in the Berber language, have stirred feeling for Berber identity, sometimes evoking outrage.
+
0Palestinians, I want to come and be with you, weapons in
 +
hand
  
−
[http://www.fwalive.ualberta.ca/~michaelf/MENAME/Repertoire/A%20vava%20inouva/] (1976)
+
And I want my hands to go down with yours to smash the
 +
snake's head
  
−
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCpc7ch4nd4
+
And then Hulagu's law will die
  
−
== Songs in support of Palestinian cause ==
+
0 Palestinians, exile has lasted so long
  
 +
That the desert is moaning from the refugees and the
 +
victims
  
−
* "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYVMJfbjQwQ O Palestinians] - Shaykh Imam (1968)
+
And the land remains nostalgic for its peasants who watered it
−
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZVJuNca9mY Oh Jerusalem] - Fayruz (b. 1935)
 
  
−
[[Text for O Palestinians]]
+
Revolution is the goal, and victory shall be your first step
  
−
= Politics and Egyptian shaabi music =  
+
= Politics and Egyptian shaabi =  
  
 
[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uorHKl0Uv3k Shaaban Abdel Rahim]
 
[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uorHKl0Uv3k Shaaban Abdel Rahim]
  
−
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZ5Xk3pmqgI
+
= Music and Palestine =
 +
 
 +
* Palestinian rap group [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqbDiN2uYcQ DAM]
 +
 
 +
 
 +
 
 +
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jt-_ZsBgevk al-Hulm al-`Arabi]
 +
 
 +
Generation after generation will live in the hope of realizing
 +
our dream
 +
 
 +
As what we say today we will be called to account for
 +
throughout our lifetime
 +
 
 +
It is possible that the darkness of night
 +
 
 +
May render us far from one another, but
 +
 
 +
The beam of light can
 +
 
 +
Reach the farthest of skies
  
−
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hh91s-7wwNw
+
This has been our dream
  
−
== Political rap ==
+
All of our lives:
  
−
* Palestinian rap group DAM and their most famous song, [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqbDiN2uYcQ Meen Erhabi (Who's the Terrorist?)]
+
An embrace that will contain us all together
  
−
== Marcel Khalife ==
+
= Marcel Khalife =
  
 
''Musical activism, musical controversy''
 
''Musical activism, musical controversy''
Line 163: Line 232:
 
Mahsa:
 
Mahsa:
  
−
Justina: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLI36kvvu9k  <br>
+
Justina:
−
This song is by Djur Djura - a Algerian woman, b. 1949 (?) raised in France, who sings about Women's rights and feminist issues a lot.  <br>
 
  
−
Manya:
+
Manya: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIo6lyP9tTE&feature=related
  
 
Adrienne:
 
Adrienne:

Revision as of 00:30, 18 November 2010

Music and Politics: hegemony, and resistance


Distinguish:

  • music of hegemony and music of resistance
  • explicitly political and implicitly political music
  • the music of politics and the politics of music


Music and nationalism

  • Muhammad Fawzy (read Frishkopf article)

National anthem of Algeria, composed by the Egyptian Muhammad Fawzy.

Kassaman or Qassaman (The Pledge) is the national anthem of Algeria. It was adopted in 1963, shortly after independence from France. The lyrics are by Mufdi Zakariah (written in 1956 while imprisoned by French colonial forces) and the music is by Egyptian composer Mohamed Fawzi.

Lyrics & Translation:

Qassaman Binnazilat Ilmahiqat
Waddimaa Izzakiyat Ittahirat
Walbonood Illamiaat Ilkhafiqat
F'Iljibal Ishshamikhat Ishshahiqat
Nahno Thurna Fahayaton Aw ma mamaat
Wa Aqadna Alazma An Tahya Aljazair
Fashhadoo! Fashhadoo! Fashhadoo!

We swear by the lightning that destroys,
By the streams of generous blood being shed,
By the bright flags that wave,
Flying proudly on the high mountains,
That we have risen up, and whether we live or die,
We are resolved that Algeria shall live -
So be our witness -be our witness - be our witness!

Nahno Jondon Fi Sabil Il hakki Thorna
Wa Ila Isstiqlalina Bilharbi Kumna.
Lam Yakon Yossgha Lana Lamma Natakna
Fattakhathna Rannat Albaroodi Wazna.
Wa Azafna Naghamat Alrashshashi Lahna
Wa Aqadna Alazmat An Tahya Aljazair.
Fashhadoo! Fashhadoo! Fashhadoo!

We are soldiers in revolt for truth
And we have fought for our independence.
When we spoke, none listened to us,
So we have taken the noise of gunpowder as our rhythm
And the sound of machine guns as our melody,
We are resolved that Algeria shall live -
So be our witness -be our witness -be our witness!

Nahno min Abtalina Nadfaoo Jonda
Wa Ala Ashlaina Nassnaoo Majda.
Wa Ala Arouahena Nassaado Kholda.
Wa Ala Hamatina Narfao Bandaa.
Gabhato' Ltahreeri Aataynaki Ahda
Wa Aqadna Alazma An Tahya Aljazair.
Fashhadoo! Fashhadoo! Fashhadoo!

From our heroes we shall make an army come to being,
From our dead we shall build up a glory,
Our spirits shall ascend to immortality
And on our shoulders we shall raise the standard.
To the nation's Liberation Front we have sworn an oath,
We are resolved that Algeria shall live -
So be our witness -be our witness -be our witness!

Sarkhato 'lawtani min Sah Ilfida
Issmaooha Wasstageebo Linnida
Waktobooha Bidimaa Ilshohadaa
Wakraooha Libany Iljeeli ghada.
Kad Madadna Laka Ya Majdo Yada
Wa Aqadna Alazma An Tahya Aljazair.
Fashhadoo! Fashhadoo! Fashhadoo!

The cry of the Fatherland sounds from the battlefields.
Listen to it and answer the call!
Let it be written with the blood of martyrs
And be read to future generations.
Oh, Glory, we have held out our hand to you,
We are resolved that Algeria shall live -
So be our witness -be our witness -be our witness!

Shaykh Imam

This Egyptian singer (b. 1918), raised in the singer-shaykh tradition, became Egypt's most well-known political singer after 1962, in collaboration with poet Ahmed Fu'ad Negm.

Bio

Article


Song: "Guevara Died"

(composed 1967: Ahmed Fu'ad Negm and Shaykh Imam). Performed by contemporary revival group Eskanderalla.

Ahmed Ismail


Guevara has died, Guevara has died

Late-breaking news, all the radios cried

And in the churches

And the mosques

In the alleys

And the streets

In cafes and the bars:

Guevara has died

Guevara has died

Voices ply endless ropes of speech...

Paragon of fighters, now dead and gone

Aah, sign a hundred for the loss of men!

In thickets deep the young swain perished

still atop his firing gun

Dead and giving body to his fight

He did it all in silence

No drummers explode in ragged sound

No communique goes sailing round

What do you think (your wealth and might live long!),

You antique and twisted gnomes?

Your bodies oozing, fed so well

On tasty morsels and trappings

You, sitting comfy, cozily warm

Tho' firing up your heaters still:

Garish showy dopes

With your polished nodding pates...


Song: "O Palestinians" (1968)

0 Palestinians, the fusilier has shot you

With Zionism which kills the doves that live under your protection

0Palestinians, I want to come and be with you, weapons in hand

And I want my hands to go down with yours to smash the snake's head

And then Hulagu's law will die

0 Palestinians, exile has lasted so long

That the desert is moaning from the refugees and the victims

And the land remains nostalgic for its peasants who watered it

Revolution is the goal, and victory shall be your first step

Politics and Egyptian shaabi

Shaaban Abdel Rahim

Music and Palestine

  • Palestinian rap group DAM


Generation after generation will live in the hope of realizing our dream

As what we say today we will be called to account for throughout our lifetime

It is possible that the darkness of night

May render us far from one another, but

The beam of light can

Reach the farthest of skies

This has been our dream

All of our lives:

An embrace that will contain us all together

Marcel Khalife

Musical activism, musical controversy

Political songs, in collaboration with Mahmoud Darwish (Voyageur)

Music and freedom of expression: "I am Joseph, oh my father"

Criticism from the left: politics of musical aesthetics (Colla, Elliott and Robert Blecher. (1996) A New World Order, a New Marcel Khalife. Middle East Report, No. 199, Turkey: Insolvent Ideologies, Fractured State. (Apr. - Jun., 1996), pp. 43-44.)

Politics and videoclips (your input here)

Everyone please select a Youtube video and insert link here, along with a line or two of comment - we'll watch and discuss on Thursday Nov 18.

You can select clips to be analyzed for nationalistic sentiment, or search for national anthems of the various Arab countries, or look for implicit themes of power (in domestic relations, say), or select clips which address political themes explicitly. I realize not knowing Arabic may be an impediment, but you can select/discuss based on imagery, and you'll find many clips with translations included. (To get started, try searching for "Arab political music", or look for music by artists mentioned above.) You'll learn a lot by reading the clip's comments (if they're in English).

Amanda:

Patrick:

Mahsa:

Justina:

Manya: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIo6lyP9tTE&feature=related

Adrienne:

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