Young Arabs put out a show of strength on the Art and Culture canvas

Stage fright: it is the name given to the pressurized feeling, the heightened sense of anxiousness that one can get afflicted by, when asked to render a performance in public. The hands/ palms start to sweat; some suffer from dryness in the mouth, a certain degree of shallowness in breathing and so on. It is perhaps unsurprising to note that public speakers and performers have been held in high regard since ancient times.

As the clock ticks on towards modernity, one recent phenomenon, a rather recent development has been instrumental in changing the scene- so to say. Not so long ago, lip syncing was a practice that was best used sparingly. Then the malaise spread its tentacles far and wide, and soon, pretty much every other person was resorting to it. Not only were second and third rung artistes were indulging in this questionable practice, but a few top rung artistes too were caught up in this unnecessary controversy.

About the same time, the popularity of talent shows or reality shows as they are commonly referred to began to experience a growth spurt. But the most successful of reality shows were those that took on a musical tilt. These shows brought people back as it was a rather futile exercise to have contestants to lip-sync at a talent show that is there to judge that particular ability. It was this ability to focus on the talents of the contestants that proved to be the one reason behind this exponential rise in their popularity. While the selection was quite a long drawn and public affair, the main draw for contestants was the offer of a professional singing contract for the winner. As expected, the lure of a good career proved to be quite strong for a lot many contestants.

But such reality shows have not been without their detractors. Many believe that such talent shows are not a reflection of true art and culture uae. Chief among the drawbacks that have been highlighted has been the obsession of sorts, with the ‘image’ of the contestants. One’s physique, fitness, clothes, projected personality traits, etc. has all been alleged to have taken preference in the modern day talent shows. While these allegations may not be wholly unfounded it still takes a lot of courage to get out there and let loose those vocal chords in a manner that will captivate the heart and minds of the audience. This is why when the teenage singing sensation from Dubai, Shamma Hamdan reached the closing stages of Arabs Got Talent, a reality television show; she instantly became the darling of those covering the celebrity news scene. While her detractors may seek to divert public attention to her appearance, her talent over the six-string and mellifluous Arab-Gulf tunes seem to be winning applauses from those who matter.

Arabs have been charting new growth trajectories in business, finance and tourism. Now, this young lady’s journey is proving to be a well fitting tribute to the Emirati potential on the performing arts stage as well.

Author Bio:

HiaMag magazine of modern Arab women. The latest news on celebrities, royal family, fashion, beauty, health and fitness, jewelry, travel, art, decor, women's work, Auctions.