International Pop music has also in Saudi Arabia, a lot of Fans. However, should travel to the Stars in fact, in the country to give concerts? Or support, indirectly, the repressive policy of the country?
Nine Studio albums, countless concert performances, millions of Fans in their homeland of South Korea are the members of boy group “Super Junior’s” absolute Megastars. But also in the Gulf, the Koreans have a large fan base. Now, as the first K-Pop occurred as a Band at all in Saudi Arabia. After only a few hours of admission were sold out of the cards. The Show was announced only ten days before the appearance of the Band.
The venue, the King Abdullah Sports City, is crowded with a screaming mass of young Saudis who can’t believe their luck. A few years ago, such an encounter with their favorite musicians would have been unthinkable, today it’s a reality. The Fans were singing along to the Korean lyrics, and moving blue light bars in rhythm to the music.
It is a big event for many young Saudis, and to celebrate this an unforgettable night in the social networks.
Also, the Korean musicians show interest in her new-found fan base that you are facing for the first Time live. You call “I love Saudi Arabia” and welcome you in Arabic with “asalam alaikum”.
The young Koreans are not the first international Stars that occurred before the Saudi audience. In January, Mariah Carey has shared the stage with Sean Paul. With the Black Eyed Peas, Enrique Iglesias, David Guetta other international Stars in the framework of the first formula E race in Diriya near the Saudi capital Riyadh on the stage. Especially David Guettas appearance attracted a veritable Shitstorm in the social media, because he remixed a hymn to the Saudi king Salman.
Maryam Alkhawaja tweeted, had been appearance Guettas “disgusting”. “Leading human rights imprisoned activists, and activists and reports are that they will be tortured”, stated the human rights activist from Bahrain, more. Also, the Chairman of the Human Rights Foundation, the former world chess champion Garry Kasparov, said it was outrageous that artists engage in business with a murderous Regime.
Concerns about human rights violations
Most recently, the American rapper Nicki Minaj said her appearance in Saudi Arabia. “After careful Consideration, I have decided not to play my scheduled concert at the Jeddah World Festival”, wrote the singer in a statement. It was important to support the rights of women, the LGBTQ Community and freedom of expression as a result. The Jeddah World Festival was Minaj in the last week as a guest star for a concert on may 18. July announced. Human rights activists had asked the singer afterwards, not in Saudi Arabia to occur.
These concerns over human rights violations are not unfounded. Saudi Arabia is considered to be one of the most repressive countries in the world. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is trying to modernize the country and to back the king’s house in a positive light. But no political liberalization seems to be provided. The human rights organization Amnesty International criticized the conditions in the conservative country, is sharply.
Also at this concert two years ago in Jeddah, the Royal Highnesses are present
The assassination of the saudi Arabian journalist Jamal Khashoggi showed the world, such as Saudi Arabia, with critics of the regime to be bypassed. The U.S. Senate made the Saudi crown Prince for the murder of the journalist responsible and the German Federal government also imposed sanctions against Riyadh.
These concerns are reason enough to deny yourself as an artist, such performances? Or has to do with the authoritarian politics of the country little to do with the cultural Opening up to? Finally, the Saudi young people want to come to also enjoy the pleasure of music and entertainment. “Stars could take advantage of such an invitation also as a tool to put on the concert, a clear sign and not to say: “I agree with how you deal with human rights!”, Susanne Koelbl, foreign reporter of the news magazine “der Spiegel says.”
Susanne Kölbl often travels to Saudi Arabia, at the beginning of the year she was at a concert in Jeddah
Koelbl sees a clear political Motivation behind these concerts. She was one of the first concerts of this kind in Jeddah and observed a strong presence of the young Prince Mohammed bin Salman, was recorded on Video on the giant screen. Koelbl sees it as a new platform that wants to find the Kingdom for themselves, to present themselves. “The is associated with the collective feeling of happiness that is created to pop concerts,.”
The performances by internationally known musicians for the Regime of great importance. “This Opening from the Kingdom of boredom is finally to a Kingdom, which is also attractive for its own citizens, for the inner Identity is essential. Bin Salman is someone who gives the young Saudis a new culture. The youth loves him,” said Koelbl. Bin Salman take advantage of this modernization, but to spread his message. The message is: entertainment, prosperity and security, explained the expert. This entertainment is to distract but only from the actual oppression.
And yet the strategy of the Saudi appear to be working king’s house. For the month of October has already announced the next Korean music group.