581 Shabola Hearts Obama
Nightclub singer, clown, barometer of popular Egyptian opinion, opinion-maker, propagandist, preacher, snappy dresser, man of tremendous gravity and noted hater of Israel Shaaban Abd al-Rahim was quoted in Al-Hayat a little over a week ago as saying that he likes Barack Obama: “He’s a good man, not a lousy man like Bush.” Aw shucks, Shabola.
The topic came up because he was talking about his new song, a parting shot to President “Troublemaker” Bush (“Damn you, Bush! It was a dark day when you were born,” etc.). Al-Hayat promised that the song would be on the video channels this week. I’m looking forward to it. In the same interview, Shabola also revealed that the Ministry of Health has contracted him to spread awareness about Bird Flu, and that he’s working with televangelist Amr Khaled on a campaign against drug addiction among Egyptian youth. I think he still sings Wednesday nights at a nightclub on al-Haram. Busy man.
This via Gemyhood, now on a New Generation fellowship at Slate, who fed it to a Slate-affiliated blog and sent it to Sandmonkey (where I saw it first). Sandmonkey has some thoughts on what Shabola’s comment on Obama could mean for Obama’s candidacy. My own suspicion is “not much.”
And as much as I would love to hear Shabola’s tribute to Obama (“Oh, Oh, Oh, Obama” sung to the tune of “Bin, Bin, Bin, Bin Laden?”), I doubt Shabola would speak as fondly of Obama if he’d heard his views on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. That is, if he’d seen Obama trying to find out how far down his throat he could get AIPAC’s talking-points without choking on Iran (then urging folks to come together to fight lobbyists and special interest groups).
But all this misses the most interesting part of the Hayat interview: Some day very soon Shabola, made of light and floating over giant, glowering chickens also made of light, will make his triumphant return to millions of Egyptian living rooms.
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Check out the shoes on the dude! The man looks he’s dressed up for a lily-pad orgy at the old toad’s home.
He seems unlikely to make a splash stateside, however.
Comment by MC — March 25, 2008 #
I know. I want those shoes. I’m glad to see the old Shabola back. His somber, man-in-black look from the Prophet-cartoon-song era was disconcerting.
Comment by The Skeptic — March 25, 2008 #
hey how r ya man
hope u like the post !!
but i have one comment
im New Generation visiting Fellow not freedom house fellow
see ya soon man
best
Gemy
Comment by GEMYHOoOD — March 25, 2008 #
Thanks, yes, very glad you saw that article!
And apologies – I’ll make the correction right away.
Enjoy Amrika, ya Uncle! Email me if you want me to hook you up with friends in NYC.
Comment by The Skeptic — March 25, 2008 #
thnx but im in washington DC 🙁
im didnt know u mail :s
Comment by GEMYHOoOD — March 25, 2008 #
But NYC is only 2 hours by train. Go for a weekend! email is blog [at] elijahzarwan [dot] net.
Comment by The Skeptic — March 25, 2008 #
Ha ha Shaben is an interesting guy to say the least
Comment by Arabic Media Shack — March 25, 2008 #
[…] remember, was an early Obama supporter. But his thoughts on Obama’s victory now rhyme: ??? ???? ???? ????? […]
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