MTV in the Middle East
I’ve often wondered what it would take for MTV to clean up its act. Now, we know. The aging music network wants Middle Eastern eyeballs, and it’ll do anything to cater to its audience–including toning down raunchy content and covering up scantily-clad hostesses. If it were America, the libs in charge of MTV would consider this caving in to Neanderthal social conservatives. In the Middle East, it’s considered doing smart business and paying cultural respect:
MTV is hoping hip-hop and reality television tailored and sanitized for a more conservative Middle East will draw young Arabs away from dozens of locally produced music video channels that already dominate the market.
MTV Arabia, which launched over the weekend, will feature 60 percent international music and 40 percent Arabic music, along with local adaptations of the channel’s popular nonmusic shows.
But MTV, which is known for airing provocative videos featuring scantily clad women, says the Arab version of the pop-culture channel will show less bare skin and profanity.
“When we come to people’s homes, we want to earn their respect,” said Abdullatif al-Sayegh, chief executive of Arab Media Group, which along with Viacom’s MTV Networks International owns MTV Arabia. He explained that there will be “culturally sensitive editors going through content of the programming.”
Snortingly (yes, it’s not a real word, but it fits), MTV believes it can peddle hip-hop and R&B videos to the Arab world–as well as a special version of “Pimp My Ride”–without offending anyone in the home of the Religion of Perpetual Outrage:
Over the past few years, there has been an explosion of satellite channels in the region that feature soulful male crooners from the Gulf and female singers from Lebanon and Syria. MTV officials say this is why their channel is focusing on hip-hop and R&B, two music genres that are underserved despite being popular throughout the region.
But to please a more conservative audience, MTV Arabia will tailor some of its programming and keep provocative hip-hop videos to a minimum.
“We hope to provide a platform for Arab youth to break boundaries without disrespecting their tradition and culture,” said Bhavneet Singh, managing director of the Emerging Markets Group, part of MTV Networks International…
…MTV Arabia also will broadcast an Arabic version of the popular car-makeover show “Pimp My Ride,” as well as “Al Helm” (”The Dream”), which is based on the show “Made,” in which MTV transforms awkward teenagers into the successful models or rap stars of their dreams.
Shows in Arabic will be subtitled in English for foreign viewers, channel officials said.
Wonder if any beloved Jihad Rap artists will make it on the channel?
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- Blogs of War: MTV Middle East: Pimp My VBIED
- JammieWearingFool
- Balloon Juice
- So, Will We See Osama on “Pimp My Jihad”? : The Sundries Shack
- Argghhh! The Home Of Two Of Jonah's Military Guys..
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Categories: Music
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What the falafel are they thinking? Debauching the middle East’s daughters with hip-gyrating antics? Heads will roll…literally.
It will be known as “pimp my camel.” Sorry I just couldn’t resist. It just popped into my mind as soon as I read the passage.
But seriously I have no idea why they would want to cater to those living in the 6th century. They must really be getting desperate for viewers since they quiet playing music videos and went into their unreal reality shows. I am so glad we have blocked this channel from our satellite TV service.
That was SO snortworthy…
I don’t see this a bad development. Even if the programming is partly arabic, a portion of the content will serve as an influx of western culture, even if it silly shows like “Pimp my ride”. Giving the muslim population a view of the world outside the middle east can be a great long term step in fighting the control of the imams.
I don’t really want Snoop Diggity Dawg or Pimp My Ride to be the part of our culture that influences them. I’d rather they didn’t add hip-hop to jihad.
Boomer-
LMAO…literally!!! Thank God my mouth wasn’t full…
A lot of good that’s done in Iran…
You’re kidding - right? I just added it to my vocab!
right_on:
Iranian students are already speaking up against their government.
When dealing with a population steeped in a radical mindset, there’s nothing you can do for the current generation that was raised that way. The best you can do for a long term solution is to hijack the attention of the younger generation away from the imams and ayatollahs.
And yes, giving them access to snoop dogg may just help do that.
J-Lo in a Burqua ?????
I agree with John #5. Have you seen what’s on MTV lately? My girls are not allowed to watch it. They don’t even play much music anymore. MTV doesn’t represent the best of our culture, but it does show us some of the worst examples. I wish they’d clean up some of the programming for the people here at home, but that would be “censorship” in their liberal minds.
Maybe we can foist some quality Pauly Shore entertainment on them too…a generation of adulation for “The Weasel” will surely dampen any thoughts of jihad…”No more weeezing the juice!!”
Its a win-win situation. With the writer’s strike drying up the supply of scripted shows, Jackass Arabia would ease the shortage of creative material - not to mention that the show would be very easy to make…
Feo-
There has been general discontent with the Islamic regime in Iran for several decades now. This is a Islamo-radical establishment that oppresses it’s people. Dissent is met with extreme predjudice. Don’t expect change without physical outside assistance.
By the way, my best friend is an immigrant from Iran, who became an American citizen. His father, now deceased, was in the highest levels of the Shah’s government (Secratary of State, Secretary of the Interior, Solicitor Gereral). Much of my political insight about Iran, comes from hours of discussions with him.
How about Real World: Baghdad? Members of al Qaeda live together in a “safe house” plotting death to America, before discovering the SEALs in their pool. Hilarity ensues…
I meant “Secretary General.”
In my life, at least since I have become truly aware of the content on television and its significance, I have seen very little evidence that many channels care about earning the respect of the viewers. They certainly don’t seem too concerned with the cleanliness of their content unless it means they can’t sneak something past the censors.
Do you think Madonna will update her “like a Virgin” video for them?
Pimp my Camel, cracks me up.
HA!
What does the “M” stand for in Mtv? It seems like i used to know…
Uhhh…are you sure we aren’t looking at this ‘bassackwards?’ This could, very well, be resulting from a Pro-Arab “front” peddling their influence to a medium that they know seems to shape young people worldwide (as disturbing as that may be).
Perhaps it isn’t the Middle East that is the demographic being targeted here. Perhaps, instead, it is more subtle assimilation geared towards shaping the Sharia future of the rest of the world.
Cut to the chase, as Savage once said, and start airlifting porno mags and millions of bottles of airplane liquor over the entire Middle East.
More “open meat” for Hamdoogie and the boyz. Woof-woof.
MTV is the beginning of the end for the Imams and their control over Muslim bodies.
Sex- the great moral solvent of the ages.
Buh-Bye!!!
I forgot about that guy. I wish it had stayed that way.
Can’t even picture in my mind what a LoRider Camel would look like or how it would work.
I don’t question your political insight.
If anything we’ve learned from Iraq, is that physical outside assistance is meaningless without significant internal cooperation/sympathy.
I’ll submit to you that any muslim teenager who’s out listening to Puff Daddy or Brittney Spears is not paying too much attention to his local imam.
Yes, I know it’s mostly garbage. But let’s face it, you won’t attract as much attention from the younger crowd with Masterpiece Theatre.
MTV doesn’t put out the best face of America, but it’s a better image than the Great Satan they’re used to.
Get jiggy wit da humps.
Yep Bear. I think Jimmy Buffett said something similar years ago but it was Victoria Secrets Catalogs and 5 dollar bills!
Whatever promotes creative usage of silicone can’t be all bad. Affordable beauty will be a welcomed innovation in Middle East cultures.
MTV could re-write the “Survivor” game model. Ouch. The tribe has spoken!
You are talking knee implants - right?
bear1909 you are a sage for the ages:
When visiting the “Magic Kingdom” back in the 80s having the latest AAFES catalog could get you in trouble because of the underwear section. In our compound the guards were Saudi Army and every time one of the American females went to the pool the surveillance cameras were pointed at the pool. We had two Gardeners that were from another Islamic country the old guy would go through the pool with what I called the “fire of Islam” in his eyes. The guy would look straight ahead not paying any attention to the infidel Americans (especially the women). His 18 year old assistance was tripping over his tongue amazed at all the female flesh he could ever dream of seeing in his most fevered adolescent wet dreams.
A little exposure to a health sexual experience might just calm them down to the point where Jihad wouldn’t sound like such a good deal.
“Respect their culture”. Maybe if we were as tolerant as the muslums maybe MTV would clean up they’re act here.
How about we just send some of the spoiled scantily clad and scantily brained MTV Reality stars over to the Middle East. Then see how long before they get arrested, or worse?
the show could be called… “Sharia! I Hardly Know Her!”
Right MTV in the Mideast.
Well they think they have their new market pegged.
Only thing they have sorta in common is over there they already do body piercing, it’s just a shame that their choice of method is by Black and Decker.
…yet. Most of the good conversion stories have a shameful past for the convert to learn from, repent, and exhort other people not to enjoy their youth like they did…
I think that MTV should dust off that 80s Robert Palmer “addicted to love” video, where he is dancing with the 72 look alikes.
“might as well admit it you’re addicted to….”
Soap having a Bear moment:
Imagines – MuslimTV playing the Village People doing YMCA.
(and it does seem that instead of “waiting for MTV to clean up here”, there’s a market opportunity for a network that shows non-raunchy music and non-vulgar music-related shows…except I don’t think there’s enough decent contemporary music to support that in a 24-hr format)
considering how mobile music has become within the youth market, tv is a huge loser.
might as well try to publish lyrics only on stone tablets.
try luggin all that up the mountain.
oy!
That song makes me nauseous.
I got that same feeling when we took Levon to see “Bee movie” (a new low for Seinfeld) and they played “sugar sugar” by the “archies”.
Major hurl reflex.
You guys are crazy.
Pimp my camel - that’s rich!
So you are saying don’t bother with Bee Movie - gotcha.
Hurl on the Archies? Next you will be telling us you are not a Monkeys fan.
Can you imagine George Michael doing, “I Want Your Sex” on the new and improved MTV? Whole lotta praying going on after that one!!!
I got my hush puppies on……
Another great one for the new and improved MTV:
Jimmy Buffett - “Why Don’t We Get Drunk and Scr_w?” They would start blowing crap up after that one.
I wonder how long ’till the ballad of the Haji Girl gets viewed there…
Come Monday, it’ll be alright….Come Monday…I’ll be holding you tight….
Bee movie is confused.
I am a John Stewart fan, that dude from the old days who wrote the Monkees big hit “Day Dream Believer”. The Monkees lost their appeal when the Hendrix version of “All Along the Watchtower” came out.
Tawny Kitaen in full burka on the hood of David Coverdale’s car. Roar!!!
Feebs - you are teasing me -
Just when it starts to get fun, I gotta run. Grand-dude going to paly with grandson! Brag x’s a gazillion!
my ex-wife liked that Come Monday tune.
doesn’t it say something about “that night in blankety that left no room for doubt”? or some such line?
omg. it used to make me bang my head on the dashboard when she’d be singin along to it.
Destiny’s Child - “I’m a Survivor” can take on a whole new MTV Arabia twist.
I’m a jihadist.
I’m not gon’ stop
I’m goin’ work harder.
I’m a jihadist…
___________
I’m sorry that’s not funny.
Hip Hop and all that talkin ’bout the meat displayin ho’s,
..that’s a NO NO!
All the funny sounding twang from the country music thang,
…that’s a NO GO
All we really wanna hear, from you infidels my dears, is you calling fo da prophet
…that’s fo’ SHO.
i’ve spent four lonley days, in a brown LA haze….
and I just want you back by my siiiide!
lol. bear has left the posting!!!! lol
MTNEER #53, That’s a good one!!!
The new homicide bomber theme song: Meatloaf’s “Bat Outta Hell
“…and the last thing I see is my heart still beating, still beating, tearing out of body and flyin away,
like a bat outta hell….
Kind of fitting isn’t it?
Bear1909 that would be that night in Montana. What will AJ think?
I was just picturing that vidwo with all those girls dressed in burkas. Just not the same.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t music and dancing haram in islam? I see a youthful social revolt coming on in Riyad. Is there an islamic Dick Clark out there? An Egyptian Bandstand would be cool.
I know, American Bandstand was never on MTV, but still. . . .
New homicide bomber torture song…Meatloaf’s “NO I won’t/Can’t do That”…
YARP….Gagging….thomp….
Fear the Loaf!!!!!! you jihadi oaf!
Image: Bear1909 circa 1984 problem drinking all the way to his inlaws while Jimmuh Buffet pounds his brain.
hears a smarmy voice: “I spent four lonely days in a brown LA haze…and all i want is yoooooooooooooou by my side….”
Oh. ya. baby. WOOOO!
Post traumatic marriage syndrome in full bore here.
Now, if only we could get them all th start singing Brad Paisley’s “Alcohol.”
We’d just take their minds off their troubles!
Image: Bear1909 singing that Buffet song in his best Elmer Fudd voice.
“i spent foh wone-wee dehz in a bwown….”
I only wish I was 40 years younger so that I could live to watch the total destruction of our enemies in the middle east. Hopefully that will bankrupt MTV in the process.
The other thing that would make me one happy camper is the nationalization of Arab investments in the US, why, because what goes around comes around you flea bitten bastards.
New background music for the next bin Laden tape: Three Dog Night’s “LIAR”.
#66 How about we nationalize that Jihadist enabler Hugo Chavez’s oil company while we’re at it?
“Low….ri….der…don’t use much gas….”
Flashback: Feebs at 21 yo - legal…calling parents (because I could) after a night of drinking…(cause it seemed like a good idea)
Elmer Fudd - “Memoweees…in da Cowener of my mwiiiinnnnddd….Memoweess….
2am…Papa Feebs picks up…. “Feebs, I know YOu are out drinking but don’t EVER call me singing Elmer Fudd again. And DON’T DRIVE”.
tee hee
OT: feebz, my cat- Luna- is ralping a huge fur ball as I read your Bwa Bwa StwiSand sawhng.
Feebs LOL! Tarbender, more tarminis for my friends!
lovely…..(yikes) OT: I bought a “furminator” this weekend…best investment evah…got out of the house today…in black…not one dog hair. check it out online.
Does anyone remember when MTV actually use to play MUSIC????
Will MSNBC follow suit and try to reverse their negative ratings?
MTV could advertise American tobacco products. The most famous: Lucky Strike.
All the faithful over there could become obsessed with what the letters “L.S.M.F.T” mean on the bottom of the pack.
#73 Feebiebabe, I remember when they played music, but I’m older than Bear, so I guess it has been a while!
When they had cheesy vids that were coowal!!!
Sister Christian… Rosanna …Legs….Video Killed the Radio Star…..(snort)….
Feebs in old house on top of the fireplace with a toothbrush (microphone prop) singing “Im So Excited” by the Pointer Sisters with my two sisters….
whoooooo!
MTNEER - no worries….you just keep singin’ buffett and meatball …er, i mean meatloaf. we cool!!
Lucky Strike means fine tobacco. I remember seeing that on TV, a long long long timea ago.
Y’all have ta squeeze real tight to sing with the Meat!
I hate two thirds of American artists from the 70s 80s 90s and the Big Zeroes.
damn sociopath that i am
i just thought the vids were cool. sniff.
If we really want to influence the jihadi, I recommend 24/7 acid rock. We might even be able to induce premature suicide in them.
BTW OT just where do the 72 virgins come from? Do they audition for the job, or is it just more islamomysoginy in action? ie.” Fatima your reward in paradise is “you just volunteered to be a jihadi’s virgin.”
Bear, I’m shocked, yes shocked; you only hate 2/3 of them. I’m closer to 75% of them!
I basically stopped listening to anything from about 1982 til 2002. The old stuff was still pretty good. The new stuff was boring and bad.
#81 bear, MM would “strongly” disapprove of “cheeky!”
I don’t suspect there will be too much of a market for Ray Stevens “Ahab the Arab”
Yeh, I wonder if Cat Stevens is still collecting royalty checks off of songs…???
Would that they’d be as earnestly solicitous to gain the respect of American parents in their homes.
Or as “sensitive” about those parents’ concerns for how their kids’ brains are being pickled in a toxic brew known as “pop culture.”
But hey, we’re only Americans…
Most Middle eastern music sounds like its being played by inibriated mosquitos on steroids; whiney, loud, and monotonous. HEY! I know, lets set Shrillary speeches to Ravi Shankar sitar music and pipe it to the Middle East! If that doesn’t drive ‘em crazy, nothing will.
Feebie, not only does Cat Stevens collect royalties, he has re released most of the stuff he did in the sixties.
Sadly, must go now. Back later.
I wonder how they’ll Islamify “A Shot At Love With Tila Tequila“, the show who’s evilness is only outdone by shows like Countdown.
Anyone familiar with the show? They took a skank ho who made herself famous by basically being a stripper on Myspace… MTV gave her a show where men and women alike compete for a “shot at
loveherpes”. It’s yet another push (among many thousands) to tell teenagers “have sex with anyone and everyone”.Don’t get me started on all the gay teen dating shows
Not to mention this MTV sponsored commercial that was on CONSTANTLY for a while in which they say the ONLY way to be totally safe is to use a condom (flat out pretending abstinence simply doesn’t exist?)
Guess Monty Python’s “never be rude to an arab” wont make the top ten either.
…Another MTV condom commercial shows a girl who is obviously chosen for her young high schoolish appearance, though it’s unclear if they’re supposed to be high school or college aged.
Notice the casual sex angle that is glossed over like it’s no big deal… The main subject of the whole thing is “guy I almost slept with”… Not over a long term boyfriend that she refused to have sex with because he wouldn’t wear a condom, but “guy I almost slept with”, is what the entire commercial is about
http://youtube.com/watch?v=MLdFreZRw0s
BONUS: Notice the poster of Che behind the guy? Frickin’ MTV… pathetic.
I thought all Cat Steven’s royalties were going to the Scientologists.
Oh, and I wanted to add more to that, but forgot… Does anyone actually claim a condom is “totally” safe (aside from this commercial)? Again, pathetic.
Rat Stevens. Little did he know the lyrics of “Moon Shadow” were ideal for the homicide bomber.
“And if i ever lose my legs….”
I’m surprised that this only got off the ground now, since I wrote about MTV/Viacom’s plans to have an Arabic MTV years ago. What they should be called to the mat for is that Viacom is owned in large part by Sumner Redstone, a Jew, and yet–mark my word–he will do nothing to stop anti-Semitic, anti-Israel policy and rhetoric from airing on this channel. I said that when the plans were announced, and that’s still the case. Anything for a buck. Heck, it’s based in anti-Semitic, Israel-apartheid Dubai, UAE.
MTV could make a fortune off Lawrence Welk reruns.
For some Muslims perhaps Liberace would do better.
Most likely Farmer John products would be out for program sponsors while things that go bang R us would be pretty hot.
For rap remix I guess the lyrics will go from “I capped that MFr” to “I beheaded my blasphemous sister”.
Can there be that much difference, really?
It’s all a rouse, were really gunna pipe in Gospel Music.
Maybe “Pimp My Technical”?
PTL!
The former President of Iran (I couldn’t spell it even if I could remember it) was criticized as being soft on the west because he was “afraid of the great satan”.
He responded to his critics as such; (paraphrasing)
“Jets & rockets do not frighten me for I am a man of God. MTV however frightens my very soul”.
Pimp my camel is funny for sure, but MTV has the potential to change things quite a bit in a society where women are forbidden to drive.
Think about it, this is a good thing.
Boomer, you are responsible for my horrid waste of a mouthful of Lagavulin! And, as a pro, I don’t spew very often.
Save my life, I’m goin’ down for the last time…
#105 - SNL Funny about IRANIAN mini me…. for laughs.
Should be a hit on M (jihad) TV..
No Gays in Iran
Leave the driving to Mahmoud!
No scantily clad women for sure. However, given the level of promiscuous permissiveness when it comes to the beasts of the field, a whole new avenue may open for many of our music of the 70’s through the 90’s. Imagine these updated versions of old tunes:
Ewe Are So Beautiful
Wham Bam Thank You Lamb!
Bleat It!
I Only Have Eyes for Ewe
And on and on. Fertile ground, I’s say.
#100, No contest. All true.
But if MTV can do for them what it has done to us lol!
Your principals are higher than mine,
I say the end does justify the means.
Bear #99, Laughing at Rat Stevens. Was the “Peace Trains” he sung about the trains in Spain? Just wondering.
MTV is poison, pure and simple. Anyone watching it or allowing their kids to watch it is a moron. Yes I said moron. And yes I am holier than thou.
112, so giving it to our enemies is bad because?
Any of you guys heard of Qawwali or Nusrat Fateh Ali Kahn?
Qawwali may be the best thing to come out of the islamic cultural milieu since its inception about 1300 years ago.
In a debate on Al-Jazeera between a Syrian secularist and a Saudi imam, the Syrian pointed out that the deceased righteous are greeted not only by 72 virgins, but by boys as well. (You might be able to find it by searching the MEMRI website. MEMRI translates these things into English.) The debate degenerated into a volley of insults.
Anyway, this revelation opens up new possibilities on Arabic MTV.
#114, how about Haifa Wehbe, the Dolly Parton of Lebanon (physically speaking)?
MTV in Arabia hmmmm. I say, that most of the parents will not allow their kids to watch. Not holding my breath that this is going to change a generation for Western Values.
If 60% of the music is ‘international’ music, this could be latin music, etc. and does not necessarily mean it will be the same ‘crap’ MTV gives us good ole’ US Citizens.
Although, pimp my camel will be hugely popular. I think it would even be popular here, too.
Man, did I miss out on some fun.
Bear and moon shadow - HAHA. My favorite bomber line would be:
“and if I ever lose my mouth
all my teeth, north and south”
I wonder if the Rat Man sends back the money for “Morning Has Broken”? It is a Christian Hymn!
American popular culture is the most subversive force on earth. Everyone knows this. If the camel could get it’s nose under Islam’s tent — you will pardon the strained metaphor — even in a sonsiderably weakened form, it could cause all kinds of havoc for the exalted rulers of the religion of peace.
Let’s face it, we are losing culturally as well as demographically. We are losing badly. We should not turn our noses up on this, but proceed to bomb the lot of them with iPods and Zunes. Our greatest hope is to out think our enemies. Surely we would be foolish to throw away our most potent weapon.
I know it’s the wrong network but Queer Eye for the Islamo Guy would be huge.
“I think a nice ecru cashmere sweater would look good on you while you beat your wife.”