feelings of everyday people - on personal as well as political matters,”
breaking the facade of the largely politically correct songs of the golden
age, and choosing instead to speak to people’s immediate realities.¹ A
prominent example would be Egyptian singer Ahmed Adaweya, of the 70s
and 80s, well-known for the politically charged content of his songs and
specialism in the Mawwal style. Sha’abi continued even into the early
2000s, but was largely overshadowed by the mainstream pop sound in
the region. Egyptian singer Shaaban Abdel Rahim was considered one of
the more notable figures, with anti-war hits like “Bin Bin Bin Bin Laden”
and “The Attack on Iraq.”
Songs of the golden age were anywhere bet