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Iran and the Arab World Remember a Banned Icon
June 26, 2009 2:32 PM
ABC's Lara Setrakian reports from Dubai:
Across Iran and the Arab world Michael Jackson is being mourned, and remembered, for his glory years. Throughout the 1980s MJ was a glamorized taste of America in a part of the world where it was both cool and bad to emulate the gloved one.
At the dawn of the Islamic Republic, Michael Jackson's and his decadent Western music were banned, but irrepressibly popular.
"MJ was one of the artists in the early years of the revolution whose tapes made it into the Iranian black market. Thriller alone was a global phenomenon, and that included Iran," said Iran expert Jason Rezaian.
Across the water in Abu Dhabi, young Emiratis were mimicking Jackson's cool, picking up his style tips and escaping into the pop culture of a land far away.
“He really was an icon -- the epitome of cool who represented a taste of something else, all of these places we hadn't been to,” said Faisal Al Qassimi, 26, in Abu Dhabi.
“He represented music, America, MTV, youth culture, sex appeal...everything a young man here would aspire to.”
“There are a lot of superfans here, like me,” says Nadeem Bibby, also of Abu Dhabi. “People who were slightly older than me would spend a lot of money replicating his outfits.”
Bibby describes how he and his sister would fight over pinup photos of Jackson to use in their own personal shrines.
“In Abu Dhabi of the 80s, which was very boring and gray, he was a colorful larger than life figure we could relate to. He was our hero here. We'd spend our money at the arcade on the moonwalkers game.”
Bibby says that for the most part, Michael Jackson’s fans in the Middle East were “shielded from the tabloid smack” and were fairly forgiving of his flaws, even when they came to town. In 2005 Jackson was invited to Bahrain by Sheikh Abdullah Bin Hamad Al Khalifa, according to an Associated Press timeline. There the royal offered to help get his career back on track, giving him one million dollars and signing him to a homegrown record label.
As the King of Pop travelled the land of Sheikhs his antics captured amused attention. He picked up two luxury sports cars in Abu Dhabi and was found by police in Dubai, applying makeup in the women’s bathroom of Ibn Battuta mall.
“He was in the women's bathroom, wearing a shayla (a black women’s cloak), but the police laughed it off. They said he misread the bathroom signs,” said Bibby, the superfan. Cross dressing is illegal in Dubai.
Jackson’s venture with Sheikh Abdullah went awry. When their record deal didn’t produce any hits the Sheikh sued MJ, demanding a million dollar repayment, in a suit settled out of court in 2008. Jackson insisted the cash payment had been a gift. ABC News was not able to reach Sheikh Abdullah for comment on Friday.
In Abu Dhabi, Bibby and Al Qassimi were clearly distraught over Jackon’s passing. Another voice, from Saudi Arabia, spoke of an ambivalent mourning
“I grew up listening to Thriller and the Jackson Five. It was really good music,” said Abdullah Kurashi, 23, a graduate student in finance.
“Then again, because of how distorted his image was I would get a mixed feeling between the man that was and the man that has been.”
June 26, 2009 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (10)
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YOU OUGHT TO BE ASHAMED.......SPENDING 95% OF WORLD NEWS ON THIS DEGENERATE, CHILD MOLESTER, DRUG USER. PLEASE SHOW ME NEWS ON A NEWS SHOW. IF I WANTED THIS BALONEY I WOULD WATCH ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT. SHAME!
Posted by: mb | Jun 26, 2009 7:03:37 PM
MJ was one sick talented puppy.
His handlers have a lot of explaining to do. Their cash cow is now gone.
Who was that doctor who lived in his house?
Posted by: jk | Jun 27, 2009 5:56:49 AM
you two, MB and JK, are sick! Have a heart, you monsters! The man just died and you still talk ill bout him, if you don't have anything good to say then just shut your friggin' mouth! . . . MJ, R.I.P.!! Undeniably, you left a huge void not only in the music industry but in the world in general!!
Posted by: joy aguilar | Jun 29, 2009 11:17:21 AM
very bad to carry grudges, i think that is the heaviest thing a person should carry.MJ R.I.P i love u so much!!!!!!
Posted by: KJ | Jul 9, 2009 11:47:41 AM
most of you a jealous cuz,many in the world love him.kids Loved him.He never hurt a fly or human's. He was afraid of people he didn't know. People were jealous. wouldn't have you been. All he did was make wondreful songs.And still u allgave him hell. except those who live the kind of life he grew up to know. We are our worst enemys.
Posted by: randy | Jul 10, 2009 10:03:59 PM
dont just talk like almost people did, but do real like micheal a man cover by popularity and tons of money but still concern to others, donate his money and much more where most of my life i've never seen an artist has done such things like him. micheal is better person than others who only do right and pray for themselves or i call it EGO so have you face into the mirror before you judge others like michael.
Posted by: hardy | Jul 12, 2009 5:31:09 AM
Stop talking rubbish about Micheal. He was a such a great human being. All people did to him was make his life miserable. He is dead because of stupid people like you who judge other people based on media reports. I feel sick when people try to pretend like god and judge others. Go to hell whom ever talks rubbish about Micheal Jackson. I love and respect you Micheal. RIP
Posted by: cristy | Jul 26, 2009 9:41:02 AM
how dare you people of no sense of humor, talk about bad things of Michael Jackson.do you know guys how to compose music, dance like Michael, sing like MJ MOST OF ALL MAKE PEOPLE HAPPY by listening to MJ's pure heartfelt songs???? if you don't then you better be the one to enject yourself with propofol and be dead!
Posted by: marialenit | Aug 3, 2009 2:37:53 AM
what is your use in living this planet earth if you don't know how to make other people happy by just simple things...MJ's music relieves me from living this stressfull life we are living, and i THANK GOD HE GAVE US MICHAEL JACKSON.
Posted by: marialenit | Aug 3, 2009 2:43:35 AM
You people are sick, mean and jealous. MJ was one of the nicest people who ever walked this earth. His distorted image is the way the MEDIA made him out to be. They messed up his damn life. He was a good soul, much nicer than you and me I'm sure. He gave to good causes and gave his talent to the world. Its a shame that he had to go like this. M, may you be happy always..
Posted by: Inidnan | Aug 13, 2009 9:21:02 AM
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