KUWAIT, Aug 2 (KUNA) -- Songs and music have an impact on the human soul that could bring one to tears or rally the troops for a just cause.
On August 2, 1990, Iraq invaded Kuwait, prompting artists to write patriotic songs that moved the hearts and minds of the Kuwaiti people.
Speaking to KUNA, Saleh Al-Ghareeb -- a folklore song researcher -- said that such genre of music had inspired Kuwaitis and residents alike to fend off the invaders and fight for a higher purpose.
Songs like "Allahumma La Etradh" (lord no objection) performed abroad during the Iraqi invasion by renowned singer Abdullah Al-Ruwaished had managed to catch suffering of the Kuwaiti people under the brutal occupation, said Al-Ghareeb.
He indicated that Kuwaiti citizens residing near the southern borders managed to catch the performance of the song via a Kuwait television broadcast facilitated by the Saudis, adding that it was taped and copies of the performance were distributed among the populace as an act of resistance.
Singing patriotic songs could be considered as an act of verbal warfare against the aggressors, affirmed artists and singer Abdullah Al-Ruwaished said on his part.
Al-Ruwaished shed light on his performance of Allahumma La Ethradh, saying that the song was performed during the sixth Muhammadiya nights festival organized and held in Egypt.
A great effort was made to turn the night into an event supporting the Kuwaiti people, he affirmed, adding that Kuwaiti actress Su'ad Abdullah and a squadron of Egyptian artists took part in the evening.
Al-Ruwaished concluded that the performance that night had brought the audience to tears, which he felt had an impact in rallying support for the Kuwaiti cause.
The Kuwaiti people have a great sense of patriotism and this was a clear fact during the invasion, affirmed Bader Boresli -- the poet behind perhaps the most iconic patriotic Kuwaiti song "Watan Al-Nahar" (Homeland of the Dawn).
The process of writing the song came about through a collaboration with musician Suleiman Al-Mullah and this occurred during the invasion, said Boresli, adding that the cassette recordings of the sessions were kept secret until Kuwait was liberated.
Post-invasion, the two artists had in mind to bring in legendary singer Abdulkareem Abdulqader to perform the piece and the rest as history, said the poet who indicated that the song's accompanying music video had sealed the deal by including images and videos showing seven months of the invasion. (end) mf.gta