Jordan Radio Mixes Pop Music, Politics

Barbra Streisand is banned, sex and drugs are out, but country and western is a winner because, says state-run Radio Jordan, it embodies Arab cultural values.

“We do our best but it is not easy--we are trying to strike a balance between playing the latest music and maintaining our values,” station director Jawad Zada said.

The likes of Johnny Cash’s gritty grammar and Dolly Parton’s breathless bounce squeezed between the “Pillars of Islam” and “Arabs and the Sea” may sound an odd mix, but if the fan mail is anything to go by, it works.

“Once by mistake an announcer played ‘Making Love in the Morning’ and someone complained to the prime minister--we had to have an inquiry,” said Zada. He has the difficult task of running a Western-oriented radio station while fending off Islamic conservatives incensed by pop music.

Country and western music, he said, particularly embodies Arab cultural values.

“I personally love country music and believe the repertoire of country music has norms and values which are closer to our own.”

The government does not interfere in programming, said Zada, adding that the handful of complaints are far outweighed by letters of thanks from foreign listeners who like the mix of music and information.

Songs by Jewish artists are allowed but Israeli singers or those with links to Israeli politics are forbidden--which is why Barbra Streisand has not been heard on the air since she helped in Israeli fund raising in the 1970s.

John Lennon’s “Imagine,” which begins “Imagine There’s No Heaven” is also on the radio’s surprisingly small forbidden list.

The official voice of the Hashemite kingdom packs 17 hours a day of English-language talk shows, news and music.

Spurred by British-educated King Hussein’s determination to increase Jordan’s exposure, the kingdom has invested in powerful 500-kilowatt shortwave equipment to beam the English service to North America and Western Europe and the Arabic service even further.

“As part of modern Jordan you have to have Jordan’s voice heard,” said Zada.

To America and Europe the message conveyed during four hours a day of shortwave programming emphasizes Jordan’s moderate political stance and dire economic problems.

To Jordan, the Israeli-occupied West Bank and neighboring countries including Israel, Syria and Saudi Arabia, it also broadcasts hours of rock, rap, jazz, classical and country music presented by announcers versed in the language of the pop charts.

“Everybody get up and dance,” an announcer urges listeners in the kingdom and across the cease-fire line to Palestinians and Israelis.

“We have a quicker pace than other radio stations in the Arab world,” said Zada, a career broadcaster who returned from Saudi Arabia to develop the English service 17 years ago.

“One of our goals is to appeal to tourists,” said Zada, whose station runs the biggest English-language radio service of any Arab country despite a shoe-string budget.

With a few exceptions which can’t be broadcast because of their titles or suggestive lyrics, the radio receives and plays the Top-20 pop hits from London each week.

“Every song that goes on the air is checked thoroughly but this is more tricky in pop music,” said Zada, who says only a few songs are rejected.

“We try to eliminate any promotion for drugs or sex,” he said, pulling out a Michael Bolton album with the song “We’re Not Making Love Anymore” crossed out.