Yesterday’s New York Times featured an article on the AccoLade, an all-girl band that could possibly be the most reckless, punk-rock group of bad-asses making music today. These four female college students have managed to form a band and cut a single, "Pinocchio" (available at their MySpace page), which has become an underground sensation in the ultraconservative kingdom of Saudi Arabia. For the AccoLade to rock, they have to exist in the shadows, rehearsing in secret, shrouding their face-piercings under traditional garb, and shying away from being photographed because they live in a country where women aren’t allowed to drive cars or walk outside withouttheir faces covered, let alone play the Devil’s Music from the West.
It’s amazing to see how powerful music can be in helping break down barriers and bring people together. But real change also takes heroically courageous people, and the ladies of the AccoLade are willing to stick their necks out and flip-off the establishment — in this case, an extremely oppressive, authoritarian establishment. Hopefully, the Times article doesn’t set Saudi’s religious authorities out on a (wo)manhunt to find and punish the ladies who flaunted their strict laws in the Western media. Rock-loving PopWatchers can lend a hand, though, by going to the AccoLade’s MySpace page, checking out the song, and leaving a comment pledging support.
Certainly, the AccoLade aren’t alone, so let us know if you’re a fan of any other artists trying to exist under oppressive regimes who are also risking their very well-being for their right to rock (or rap…or write…or whatever).
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Wonderful – I checked out their MySpace page – it’s insane how women are treated in Saudi Arabia, but good for them for doing their best to do what they love. I admire them!
Gila anda semua….Kalian pikir Allah SWT itu tidak marah, dengan apa yang sudah kalian(group Rock Saudi arabia)lakukan?????bertobatlah….karena sesungguhnya azab Allah itu sangat pedih…
“…ladies who flaunted their strict laws …”
I think you mean flouted, not flaunted.
It’s terrible how women and the LGBTQ community are oppressed in Islamic fundamentalist countries. It’s a compelling reason to combat fundamentalism.
Unmarried and homosexual sex should be destigmatized–thus,no reason for “honor killings.” Women especially need to be liberated.
You rock girls! You have all our support from this side. Hope things will change for good. You are starting that change as many others that want to express the woman’s nature!
In case we’re a band trying to exist under oppressive regimes, how can we contact you? any email address available?
Hey everybody, don’t beleive this crap. These singers are boys. I know it from a reliable source. Listen to their voices, they are trying to make it girlsh but surely they are not convincing me.
Here find below my wishes to these grils in Arabic:
اتقين الله با أخواتي، وأقرأن سير المطربات والممثلات التائبات، والاتي ، باختصار، لم يذقن طعم السعادة والاستقرار حتى تبن عن الغناء والتمثيل. نصيحة لله اتقين الله مادمتن في البداية. وسيعوضكم الله خيرا من هذه المعاصي. هداكن الله ودلكم الى سواء السبيل.
I, whole heartedly wish these girls the best in life and eternity. Salams.
Aimman
I live in Jeddah, these girls are living in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, but are not Saudi Nationals.
A fellow Saudi band who is also struggling is Sandstoned [http://is.gd/9HMa]; three of the band members, including the vocalist, are Saudi nationals. Regardless of gender, all rock artists in Saudi Arabia struggle to find live venues; the laws in the Kingdom are gender-blind when it comes to such matters of propriety.
I apologize for the url error. Sandstoned’s MySpace page can be found at http://myspace.com/sandstoned1
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