As much as I’d like to appreciate and enjoy Arabic music I don’t. With the exception of the occasional classics played at weddings when you’re too tipsy to care anymore and make you want to pull out those moves you learned at those two belly dancing classes you took back in high school. I’m also appalled by most video clips that accompany Arabic songs, they’re usually cheap, vulgar, abundant with clichés and ripped off.

Having said that, I came across the new music video of Lebanese songstress Elissa’s latest song Ya Merayti (My Mirror) this weekend and I was immediately drawn to both the production and powerful message it portrays.

Directed by Angie Jammal, the story tells the all too common tale of a wife and mother who is a victim of domestic violence, a shamefully widespread issue in Lebanon, according to local NGO and strongest advocate on the matter, KAFA, -25 women reported to have been killed by family members between 2010 and 2013 and four deaths occurred as a result in 2014-and that’s only what’s been reported, because most women don’t come forward or live to tell their story. Worse yet , the criminalization of marital rape has not been included in any legislation to date. Awful…

Now as much as we tend to hear about this in our 8pm evening news bulletins, the impact is much stronger when millions of fans and followers of Elissa in Lebanon and around the world get to watch her over and over again as a victim herself, portraying the sad reality of a struggling mother who suffers the fate of an abusive violent husband, one who beats her until the brink of death. But her story comes with the message of hope and action, and will resonate loudly and powerfully I’m sure in the many minds of women who today suffer in silence and encourage them to come forward.

The video was shot on location in Serbia, and could have easily been yet another opportunity for the singer to simply show off her beauty, style and vocal cords. But it wasn’t. So thank you Elissa, for taking the high road and choosing to bring awareness to domestic violence, in what obviously is a high quality and budget production to promote and shed more light on this dire matter. RESPECT

Watch the video below and let me know your thoughts…