"Sunnis and Shiites will unite with your victory!" read one text message, sent by a viewer, that scrolled across the screen Friday during a pre-show telecast on Iraq's al-Sharqiya satellite channel. "You are the one who unites all of Iraq, from North to South, from the Tigris to the Euphrates!"
IraqiSlogger has written up the win and provides some background of the music competition called "Star Academy 4." Shada sang, "Baghdad Wal Chouarra" as her finale in the competition. "The lyrics celebrate the long cultural history of the Iraqi capital and sings of the city’s past greatness" as described by IraqiSlogger. For a deeper exploration of Bagdad-in-music read Genevieve Williams article, "Bagdad" for "City Songs," which provides some context for songs about Bagdad.
Music has always been able to evoke a powerful range of emotions in the human species and of course the power to, "soothe the savage beast." To have an Iraqi woman win this prestigious event while her country is ravaged by violence has invoked a moment of calm. Who knows, the victory may be used some time in a future as a reference point for a peaceful nation; the uniting of Sunni and Shia in Iraq.
Watch the video of Shada Hassoun's triumphant victory, singing "Baghdad Wal Chouarra" with an ensemble of the other finalists. “The Daughter of the Two Rivers who United Iraq,” as one Iraqi media outlet calls Shada in Arabic, referring to a traditional name for the country, may just be the beginning of a shining future for Iraq.
In šaʾ Allāh (إن شاء الله).
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