Music of Iraq - Pop Music

Pop Music

Pop music in Iraq more often than not means musical motifs and lyrics dating back centuries but performed with a mix of traditional and modern instruments. Kadim Al Sahir, for example, may be nicknamed "the Elvis of the Middle East," but he sings in classical Arabic. Popular musician Ilham al-Madfai features the electric guitar and saxophone, but uses the instruments to reinterpret age-old folk songs.

Until the fall of Saddam Hussein, the most popular radio station was the Voice of Youth, which used to play the popular music of Iraq to continue the culture of the country. The station also played a mix of rock, hip hop and pop music from artists such as Eminem to R.E.M., and both disc jockeys and callers spoke exclusively in English, all of which had to be imported via Jordan due to international economic sanctions. The Corrs and Westlife are especially popular. Iraq has also produced a major pan-Arab pop star-in-exile in Kazem al Saher, whose songs include "Ladghat E-Hayya", which was banned by Saddam Hussein for its racy lyrical content.

Other modern Iraqi singers include Ali Al Essawi whose song "makhtooba" became huge hit in the Arab world and made him famous throughout the region. Major artists include Shatha Hassoun, Rahma Mezher, Majid Al Muhandis, Hussam Al Rassam, Rida Al Abdullah and Iraq's very own boyband Unknown to No One, as well as Acrassicauda (Iraq's first heavy metal band). There are also ethnic Assyrian singers such as Klodia Hanna, Ashur Bet Sargis and Linda George as well as a number of Kurdish, Turcoman, Yazidi, Roma and Armenian musicians such as Seta Hagopian.