For Those Living In Iraq During The 1970s

MortSahlFan

MortSahlFan

New member
Shlama. For years I've been curious about this, but I'm curious if there are/were archives of the listening public in Iraq (or if you want to narrow it down). And not just Fairuz and Oum Khalthoum, but I'm very curious what kind of English-speaking music would be played on mainstream radio (vs. college/independent radio), or if there was an equivalency of a Billboard Charts, or bands/artists who were very popular in Iraq during the 70s.

Maybe you can ask your parents? My father loves Pink Floyd, and my mother loves The Bee Gees.

I'd love to ask the same question about movies. I'm a musician and a film buff. I especially love 50/60s Egyptian movies.. Henry Barakat, Faten Hamama, Omar Sharif, writing of Naguib Mahfouz, some great stuff -- "Chit-chat on the Nile", "Cairo '30", "Cairo Station", "The River of Love" - seems like Russian writers were loved the most. Location has to play a part, but I think it's because many Assyrian/Chaldeans were Communists/Socialists, so they represented a defense against the Western Empire.

Saddam loved "The Godfather" and some say it was instrumental in his form of government, and my parents both love this movie, as do I.. I also love all the previous stuff mentioned, without even knowing they enjoyed it. It was only until after I mentioned it (and surpassed) that I knew this information.

Storytelling is becoming a lost art all over the world unfortunately. I've had a lot of family pass away in the last few years, and there's so much information that's gone forever... It's like the loss of archives, due to war, fires, time, etc... history is lost forever, but I'm thankful this still exists, even after a hiatus.

Thanks!
 
My parents, who grew up in the 70s and 80s in Iraq, listened to or were aware of The Bee Gees, The Beatles, Michael Jackson, Prince, George Michael, Annie Lenox, Madonna, Queen, Lionel Richie, Julio Iglesias, Diana Ross, Abba, Elvis Presley (and some others I forgot).

I disagree with Assyrians being against the western empire. Assyrian band singers in Iraq back then sang American/English music during slow dancing. English language music was just very popular in general.
 
Cascade said:
My parents, who grew up in the 70s and 80s in Iraq, listened to or were aware of The Bee Gees, The Beatles, Michael Jackson, Prince, George Michael, Annie Lenox, Madonna, Queen, Lionel Richie, Julio Iglesias, Diana Ross, Abba, Elvis Presley (and some others I forgot).

I disagree with Assyrians being against the western empire. Assyrian band singers in Iraq back then sang American/English music during slow dancing. English language music was just very popular in general.
Click to expand...

I never insinuated any bias towards the West.. My parents love American movies more than any other, mostly because Qasim was only around to oversea social criticism in film for a few years, never having their own industry.. My parents left in the late 70s early 80s.. I know my mom likes Iglesias, "Bohemian Rhapsody" (my great uncle said, "Bismillah is Arabic"), my uncle loved Elvis and The Beatles.

When I was little, we had a "King Biba" tape.. Loved the cassette. No one has any idea where it's at...

Anyway, thanks for your reply :)
 
I was born in Iraq 1980, so missed the 70s by a hair. But I can tell you some of what my mom’s generation used to listen to: Elvis, Paul Anka, Beetles and a lot of Frank Sinatra.

The later generation likes Michael Jackson, George Michael, Madonna, Queen, Dianna Ross and others.

And even though I left Iraq when I was 12.5 (1993) like most people back home, we were fascinated by Egyptian drama and hardly missed any soap opera or movie. Maybe not as far as the 50/60s, but for sure watched a lot of movies from later eras. My all time favourite actor is Farid Shawqy (وحش الشاشة) in addition to many others, most of whom have unfortunately passed away last 10 years.

Ashoor
 
ASHOOR said:
I was born in Iraq 1980, so missed the 70s by a hair. But I can tell you some of what my mom’s generation used to listen to: Elvis, Paul Anka, Beetles and a lot of Frank Sinatra.

The later generation likes Michael Jackson, George Michael, Madonna, Queen, Dianna Ross and others.

And even though I left Iraq when I was 12.5 (1993) like most people back home, we were fascinated by Egyptian drama and hardly missed any soap opera or movie. Maybe not as far as the 50/60s, but for sure watched a lot of movies from later eras. My all time favourite actor is Farid Shawqy (وحش الشاشة) in addition to many others, most of whom have unfortunately passed away last 10 years.

Ashoor
Click to expand...

Nice... The Egyptians definitely seem to dominate the culture. I wonder if it had anything to do with it being more "exotic"? Besides all the money they put in their industry.. It's sad that Iraq didn't have one, albeit the few years with Qassim.

I asked my parents again, and unfortunately they were both on the phone (one will repeat the other) about movies... Dr. Zhivago, Gone With The Wind

My parents both seem to love the song "Hotel California"... My dad loves "Spanish Caravan" by The Doors.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top