Saudi Arabia has requested Hollywood film composer Hans Zimmer to create a new version of the national anthem.
On the 24th (local time), according to AFP, Turki Alalshikh, head of the Saudi General Entertainment Authority (GEA), posted a photo with Zimmer on X (formerly Twitter) and wrote, "We discussed many future projects, including rearranging the Saudi national anthem with different instruments."
He also discussed the Saudi-inspired musical "Arabia" and the soundtrack for the film "Battle of Yarmouk," and added that Zimmer agreed on the rough outline.
The Saudi national anthem "As-Salam al-Malaki" (Long Live the King) was composed in 1947 by Egyptian musician Abdul Rahman Al-Khateeb at the request of Saudi Arabia's first king, Abdulaziz ibn Saud.
The reason Saudi Arabia wants to revise the anthem is unclear, but critics point out that this is part of the authorities' attempt to improve their image. They argue that it masks fundamentally unchanged hardline policies such as the oppression of women's rights, restrictions on press freedom, and one of the highest execution rates in the world. Human rights organizations claim that Saudi Arabia carries out the third highest number of executions after China and Iran.
Alalshikh is the figure directing various cultural projects of the Saudi authorities, mainly centered around sports events. Amid criticism of "sports washing," Saudi Arabia confirmed last month that it will host the 2034 World Cup solely.
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