Iraqi Music Tinged by Violent, Turbulent Times
With musical trends typically reflecting the times of any particular society, Iraqi music today is increasingly characterized by themes of war and violence.
“The singer was standing next to a cemetery, addressing a sad widow who had just buried her husband. He owes her deceased husband money, he says, so he will kiss her, as a settlement!” This is the subject of an Iraqi song that is widely popular among youth. The song has been harshly criticized by intellectuals and the Iraqi people for satirizing death and its inappropriate lyrics.
This song is no exception. For years, this style of song in Iraq has become more aggressive in terms of its lyrics, melody, the use of drums and even the sounds of bombs and airplanes. In many cases, this style has made use of the vocabulary and suffering of everyday life in Iraq.
