GETTING REAL WITH RIDA

Rida El Abdallah is one of Iraq’s most popular homegrown pop stars….

The music Rida El Abdallah blends classical Arabic maqamat with popular contemporary styles and his lyrics address social and political issues by exploring the dynamics of human relationships. Rida was born in Baghdad and began singing the music of Iraq at an early age. He studied music at a conservatory in Baghdad and was on his way to becoming a composer, performer, oud player and even an artistic critic of the Saddam Hussein’s regime–his songs during the 1991 Gulf War urged citizens to put down their guns and play instruments in their place–when he graduated from the Academy of Arts, Music and Theater and was drafted for his eighteen month compulsory military service.

From this point Rida’s life takes a horrifying turn. His story is a rough one and not necessarily appropriate for kids (or, for that matter, for grownups), but you should absolutely read the biography on his website. In a nation that has endured trauma after trauma, Rida’s trials are sadly all too familiar to his fans. On the other hand, so is his determination to survive so he can continue to sing.