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Oum Kalthoum Only Arab On Rolling Stones’ 200 Greatest Singers
Last week, Rolling Stones released a definitive list of the 200 the greatest singers of all time. At the top, Aretha Franklin was declared to be the GOAT. Rounding up the top 10, Franklin is joined by artists such as Whitney Houston, Beyonce, Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles, and Mariah Carey. But if you’re looking for some Arab representation, you would have to scroll a little bit longer.
Kawkab al Sharq Oum Kalthoum, icon of Egypt and the Arab world, is the only Arab singer to make it onto the list, finishing at a respectable 61. “Umm Kulthum has no real equivalent among singers in the West: For decades the Egyptian star represented, and to an extent still does, the soul of the pan-Arab world.” Rolling Stones said.
The brilliant singer, who dazzled the Arab world through its post-WWII inception, died in 1975 but her impact is still felt to this day. Her wonderful melodies and one-of-a-kind vocals have left a mark on every Arab, and have reshaped an entire musical culture. So it is great to see her receive the requisite dues from Rolling Stones, however…
61st? Really? Behind Lady Gaga, Ariana Grande, and Frank Sinatra? Come on. Even the praise the magazine included locked Oum Kalthoum into a western perspective, with her description dedicating half its space to her consumption by Bob Dylan, Beyonce, and Robert Plant. Further, the exclusion of other Arab artists such as Fayrouz, Sabah, and Abdelhalim Hafez, leaves much to be desired.
Overall, Oum Kalthoum is rightfully on the list, but an artist of her greatness and stature deserves much more. Stay tuned for our list next week where we put Haifa Wehbe and Myriam Fares ahead of every single western artist.
Kawkab al Sharq Oum Kalthoum, icon of Egypt and the Arab world, is the only Arab singer to make it onto the list, finishing at a respectable 61. “Umm Kulthum has no real equivalent among singers in the West: For decades the Egyptian star represented, and to an extent still does, the soul of the pan-Arab world.” Rolling Stones said.
Oum Kulthum is 61 on this list and the only singer from the MENA. I’m glad to see her on here but a generational, once-in-a-lifetime icon who defined an entire style of singing AND — in Rolling Stone’s own words — has no Western equivalent should be higher. Here’s their write-up https://t.co/nobZwGtbDz pic.twitter.com/icXKYK6g6D
— Danny Hajjar ر (@DanielGHajjar) January 2, 2023
The brilliant singer, who dazzled the Arab world through its post-WWII inception, died in 1975 but her impact is still felt to this day. Her wonderful melodies and one-of-a-kind vocals have left a mark on every Arab, and have reshaped an entire musical culture. So it is great to see her receive the requisite dues from Rolling Stones, however…
61st? Really? Behind Lady Gaga, Ariana Grande, and Frank Sinatra? Come on. Even the praise the magazine included locked Oum Kalthoum into a western perspective, with her description dedicating half its space to her consumption by Bob Dylan, Beyonce, and Robert Plant. Further, the exclusion of other Arab artists such as Fayrouz, Sabah, and Abdelhalim Hafez, leaves much to be desired.
Overall, Oum Kalthoum is rightfully on the list, but an artist of her greatness and stature deserves much more. Stay tuned for our list next week where we put Haifa Wehbe and Myriam Fares ahead of every single western artist.
