Sorta makes you glad to live in a country that gaurantees religious freedom...even if it doesn't always deliver. These girls just might start something important.

That's all I have to say. Pat Benatar.

Excellent. Rock on, girls!

mabrook!

It's only a matter of time before the authorities catch them, bury them up to their necks in sand, and stone them, which is what most islamic countries do to women who dare to act like human beings.

I've got song lyrics ready already:

Mohammed abd al Wahab was a dour old dude

A dour old dude was he

He tried to bring his bag to Egypt

And Mohammed Ali Pasha

Sent his fund-a-metal cases

Back to 'ol Saudiyya

Across the wide Red Sea

Well they could be Eastern European women enticed to emigrate to Israel who end up as sex slaves... Is that better than being stoned to death for taking a second encore?

Remember, kids, when Israel does it, it is not a human rights violation.

Only in Jeddah could this have happened, but I'm biased because it's my hometown. These girls are brave, but I guarantee you that a lot of other girls have been rocking out too, even 10, 20 years ago. I love this new generation, they don't take no for an answer and they make the internet work for them. That IS revolution.

Music has always been a source of support and inspiration for Saudi youth, whether it's Amro Diab or Iron Maiden; there is a lot of monotony to break up. I was detained once by the Religious police in '93 for trying to buy the latest Depeche Mode release, which back then was Violator. I knew what I was getting in to, but just had to hear "Personal Jesus".

These days satellites beam everything in to the country, you'd be surprised how typical girls like these are. What's new and important is that they're putting themselves out there as a band and want to play mixed gender gigs.

Ultimately the members of the Accolade are like any other alternative minded girls. I don't find this a feminist issue at all, just human. Which Saudis are you know, human beings.

Amr Diab is the man.

@Gordon Wagner:

I'm not a fan of Israel's policies to begin with, and now I'm outraged to learn that the Israeli government itself is engaged in sex slave trafficking.

I agree! He appeals to a wide range. I thought Arabic music was stuffy and silly until he came along. But that was an aspect of my culture I had to grow into, back then Minor Threat and Ministry held more interest for me. I so relate to The Accolade.

Musica arabiyya maya maya!

I like this singer from Masr a lot!

Her name is Nawal Al-Zoughbi!

Helloooo. Janis Joplin.

Nawal, yes, really lovely. I really like Majida El-Rumi too, and of the two bombshells, Nancy Ajram and Haifa Wehbe, I find Haifa really entertaining. Rachid Taha is fave though, because he's very much a rocker.

And their war against everything.

I'm delighted to see girls rocking there--I just wished this song had been in Arabic (with pharyngealized vowels and all). I'm curious, though, Red Sea Rose--if they are pretty typical, do you think this means something interesting for the future of gender relations in Saudi Arabia?

I've never been in Saudiyya. I used to live and study in Cairo, but was born and bred in the states. I've always heard that Jeddah being on the Red Sea is lighter and breezier than Riyad, or other parts of Suadiyya. It's a port town like Iskandariyya or Port Said right? Changes often start at a people/culture level, so take the music to where you want to, and press it fast and hard to the metal.

When they end up in jail, which they know full well has an excellent chance of happening, they'll become political martyrs.

Okay, ceolaf took Pat, but I'm adding Annie & Debbie

Sisters are doin' it for themselves. Standin' on their own two feet. And ringin' on their own bells. Sisters are doin' it for themselves. ...

Why is it that educators, social workers, community organizers, women religious leaders, porn stars, dominatrices, labor unionists, female doctors and lawyers, and sex workers aren't put on the list of people who inspired the youth to seek social equality?

Why are only those in the spot light considered worthy of praise for spreading social consciousness?

My inspirations come from seemingly average people doing extraordinary things when called upon, for completely selfless reasons.

In my case it was a female plumber that did an outstanding job of fixing my house.

"“What we’re doing — it’s not something wrong, it’s art, and we’re doing it in a good way,” Dina said. “We respect our traditions.”

All the members are quick to add that they disapprove of smoking, drinking and drugs.

“You destroy yourself with that,” Lamia said. "

yeah - these are REAL rock-n-roll rebels...

I wonder if they'd approve their own stoning...

She was a pro-sex girl-power icon, she taught that it was okay for a woman to be unashamed of her sexuality and to demand to have the same sexual pleasure that men seemed entitled to. She also taught that it was okay for a woman to be ambitious and aggressive and candid in all aspects of life.

Makes Madonna look tame

And for the musical record

Nina ain't lame...

I guess you're right about equality for women being pushed a lot by music, but I got a good head start.

I was raised in a religion founded by a woman over 100 years ago. She also started a daily newspaper which is just having its 100th anniversay this month, and is acknowledged to be one of the best in the world. AND we call God "Father-Mother" not just Father.

Not to say that there weren't some notions there too that had to grow, but it sure was a lot better starting place than many others.

German Rock is a world of its own... Think of the variation from Nina Hagen to Nena via Ina Deter. Yet Madonna is fairly popular there.

"Rock" means 'skirt' in German...