The words "Eurovision Song Contest' and "Morocco" don't seem to be a natural fit. In fact if you ask most people around Fez they have not heard of the contest. Yet, strange as it seems, Morocco once entered the contest. To be fair, it was a while ago.
Back in 1980 Morocco entered the history of the Eurovision Song Contest with a cute young singer named Samira Ben Said. Then... nothing. Although it is not likely that Morocco will enter again any time soon, we are reminded if it because the Eurovison website - has a story about Samira.
These days Samira is a superstar in the Arabic countries. After a three-year absence from the music scene, she released a new album, Ayam Hayati which has achieved huge sales in the Arabic world but has also been critisised by local media who accuse her that some of her songs bear similarities to Turkish songs.
Samira's new album, Ayam hayati, was released last month and it has already become a huge hit in the Arabic world, having won a MEMA (Middle Eastern Music Award). In a press conference, held on Tuesday, Samira spoke to the press about her new album and answered some negative comments by journalists who accused her that her songs bear similarities to popular Turkish ones.
Samira explained that her long absence was due to the fact she had been working on this new album and she denied all accusations of her songs being similar to other songs. She stated that, in her new album, she was aiming for "diversity in the quality", away from western influences. Samira also denied the similarities between Hob Mayous Meno and Al Gani Baad Youmeen, as they are both different in content or arrangement, the only similarity is the idea of ‘injured love’.
Will Morocco make a return to Eurovision?
Morocco only entered once and the result was not encouraging - 2nd last place in with Samira Ben Said's Bitaqat hob. For 28 years Europe has been waiting for a followup entry from Morocco, but none have been forthcoming. However, with a new Moroccan broadcaster interested in becoming an active member of the EBU, this could change in the next few years!
The Moroccan broadcaster, who is a founding member of the EBU and took part in the 1980 Eurovision Song Contest, is SNRT. After coming 2nd last in the competition, SNRT decided not to enter again. The sole Moroccan entrant to date, Samira Ben Said, has gone on to become one of the most popular singers in the Arabic-speaking world, a position she maintains even now.
However, a rival Moroccan television station, one that is not directly influenced by the Moroccan government, is now interested in joining the EBU. 2MTV has long been a source for free speech and taboo-breaking in Morocco, and is especially popular with the Moroccan diaspora in countries like France and the Netherlands. A spokesperson for 2MTV confirmed that the station is looking to join the EBU, and that a possible return to the Eurovision Song Contest for Morocco is not impossible, should they get the membership.
A participation in the Eurovision Song Contest could be extremely valuable to Moroccans, many of whom feel more European than African - the Moroccan government has even applied for a EU membership in the past. Eurovision could be a chance for people to consider the idea of a European Morocco once again.
And for those nostalgia freaks who want to zip back to 1980...Here she is.
Tags: Moroccan Morocco Fes, Maghreb news
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