Heavy Metal In Muslim World On NPR's 'Talk Of The Nation'; Audio Available
July 11, 2008A recent segment of the "Talk of the Nation" talk radio program based in the United States, produced by National Public Radio (NPR),focused on a new book about emerging heavy metal/hard rock in conservative Islamic nations. A description of the program topic reads as follows:
"Musician and college professor Mark LeVine spent the past six years jammin' with musicians, and interviewing fans and performers alike at heavy metal concerts all around the Middle East and North Africa. He found kids in Morocco morockin' (ha) with goth make-up and kilts; twentysomethings in Iran with metal shirts and long hair; and Saudi women in hijabs head-banging to their favorite songs. For many of them, playing and listening to heavy metal represents a sort of autonomy, a way of being free, in countries that put limits on artistic expression. Others are weary of defining the music as a subversive, political statement, and simply enjoy the sounds and lyrics of bands like IRON MAIDEN.
"He wrote about the experiences in a book called 'Heavy Metal Islam'. Heavy metal, and Islam — huh? That's what I thought, too. Well, try this one: the most popular heavy metal band in the Muslim world, ORPHANED LAND, is Israeli — wha?! Again, I'm with you. But, in the world Mark presents, music has the power to unite.
"If you're Muslim and a heavy metal fan, what does the music mean to you? And who's your favorite band?"
Listen to "Heavy Metal Rocks in the Muslim World" segment on the "Talk of the Nation" program at this location.
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