Amr Diab is one of the biggest Egyptian stars of all time, and he is credited with coining his own Mediterranean music style. The 60-year-old combined western and Arabian methods to create his own distinct sound, and he has won plaudits on the world stage for this. Still, Diab is far from a mainstream act in the west, despite his stunning achievements.
Is there a chance that the rise of the internet could allow future Arabian musicians to earn fame in western markets and progress the great work of Diab?
Diab’s Music Blends Western and Egyptian Styles
Diab has led a remarkable career to date, and he’s still going strong. After establishing himself as one of the top acts from Egypt in the 1980s, he became the first artist from the region to start making music videos in 1992. More recently, he hit the number one spot on the Billboard World Album Charts in 2014. Prior to the release of the album, Shoft El Ayam, no other act from the Arabic world had earned such an accolade.
Diab has been dubbed the “father of Mediterranean music” for his style that combines rhythms and melodies from western and Arabic cultures. He’s also prolific, and over the course of his career has penned the music and lyrics to around 100 songs. Diab has been a revelation in the Middle East, and his music is enjoyed by people from different generations.
Internet Era Making It Easier for Western and Arabic Culture to Merge
There’s no doubt that Diab is a trailblazer in the music industry, and was one of the first musicians to combine influences from western and Arabic cultures. Despite earning recognition for his work, though, he is far from a revered figure in the west. Indeed, people who mainly listen to mainstream music may not have even heard of him. However, this could all be set to change in the future as the internet opens the doorway for more sharing of ideas between cultures.
Before the internet came about, cultures in different countries and regions were much more defined than they are nowadays. But the online realm is a world without borders and one where ideas can be more easily exchanged. Diab’s career got going before the internet was a thing, but anyone following in his footsteps now would be able to leverage the power of the technology to gain attention.
There have been some blends of western and Arabian culture in other areas of entertainment. Gaming, in particular, has become somewhat universal. For example, Prince of Persia is one of the most iconic game franchises of all time, and that uses themes from Middle Eastern traditions. Titles that are popular in North America and Europe are now sweeping across the Arab world as well. PUBG Mobile is the most-played online game in the region, and online casinos are rising in popularity.
In fact, online gambling has become so prevalent in the Arab world that players now turn to review pages to find the best Arabian Casinos for 2021. They can use these tools to find the greatest offers and discover some tips about how to play safely. Players can also use these pages to find games that appeal to them, such as slot games with western themes. This is a testament to the modern melding of cultures from around the world and its great success.
Could More Arabic Musicians Follow in his Footsteps?
Now could be the perfect time for younger Arabian musicians to follow in Diab’s footsteps and merge elements from western and Arabic traditions. It could be possible to make use of the power of the internet and the growing trend of cultural fusions to appeal to people in different markets around the world.
There are a few Arabian musician names that are already gaining traction thanks to the increased exposure in the online world. Lebanese hip-hop artist El Rass and the experimental Kuwait-based singer-songwriter Yousif Yaseen are two up-and-coming names to watch out for.
If you haven’t heard of Diab, you probably won’t regret checking out his unique and infectious music. Although the Egyptian has had a hugely successful career, there’s a chance that new music from his region will gain more traction in the west than Diab enjoyed. This is thanks to the internet and the way it has allowed entertainment from different cultures to unify.
