ABU DHABI // A more than 10-year-old love affair with the UAE has culminated with an Italian pop artist releasing a video-clip dedicated to the country.
Princess Bee, born Benedetta Paravia, teamed up with Emirati singer Harbi Al Amri to record the song and shoot the music video for Emaraat.
“After becoming close friends with so many Emiratis and thinking of the UAE as my second home, I felt I had to do something nice for the country,” said the artist who first came to the UAE in 2002.
Princess Bee said it was during this year that she had the pleasure of meeting Sheikh Zayed, the Founding President, who she has dedicated the song to.
Sung in Arabic and English, it features the lyrics of Emirati poet Ali Al Khawar, declaring his love for the UAE and praising its multiculturalism. Princess Bee echoes his sentiments in English.
The music video, which has garnered more than 52,000 views on YouTube in just over a month, celebrates the UAE’s landscape, culture and development, with footage of pearl diving, falconry, camels in the desert, sweeping images of Abu Dhabi and Dubai, and Princess Bee dancing in clothes with the UAE flag colours.
After her first visit to Dubai, the Italian artist, who also holds a PhD in law, returned to further her modelling career before becoming project manager for an intercultural programme that takes female Emirati students to Italy on exchange programmes.
As well as promoting UAE culture and development, the video also features a disabled Emirati, which highlights the main aim of the project.
“I wanted this video to spread awareness and help raise money for my charities,” said the philanthropist, who is an international ambassador for Al Noor Training Centre for Children with Special Needs in Dubai and Italy-based A.N.G.E.L.S, which supports sick children in Gaza and south Lebanon.
All profits from the song are being equally split between the two charities.
Princess Bee said it took her five years to find the right artists for Emaraat.
“I had to be sure they would do it for free, like I am. Both Harbi and Ali were great in that they were willing to do it for free right away,” she said.
When asked about her experience working with the Emirati artists, she said: “It was amazing. They are both so welcoming, professional and well educated.
“They treated me like family, with Ali taking care of me and Harbi showing me the life in the desert.”
Although the video clip has been received positively by many in the UAE, not all are happy with its depiction of the country.
After hearing about the video, Tasneem Alnaqbi, 24, said she felt glad a singer from another country was making a song about her country.
“It means others recognise and respect my country,” said the Emirati, who had recently travelled to Italy where she encountered many people who where not aware of the existence of the UAE.
But after viewing the video, Ms Alnaqbi said she was left feeling confused.
“A female dancing in a western style was not the image I expected in a song that describes my country,” she said.
Abrar Nour, 22, who was born and raised in Ajman, said: “It’s a bit cheesy and it’s not what the UAE really is – it’s so much more.”
However, Princess Bee said her target audience were not citizens and residents of the UAE but rather foreigners based outside the country.
Starting this month the television channel Mediaset Italia, which targets Italian communities worldwide, will broadcast the video.
It is also when Princess Bee intends to return to the country to promote her song.
To see the video, click here.
