Iraqi Kurds have offered help to their cousins in Syria and welcomed the move by Turkey's Kurdistan Workers' Party to embark on a peace process. AFP
Iraqi Kurds have offered help to their cousins in Syria and welcomed the move by Turkey's Kurdistan Workers' Party to embark on a peace process. AFP
Iraqi Kurds have offered help to their cousins in Syria and welcomed the move by Turkey's Kurdistan Workers' Party to embark on a peace process. AFP
Iraqi Kurds have offered help to their cousins in Syria and welcomed the move by Turkey's Kurdistan Workers' Party to embark on a peace process. AFP

The future of the Kurds: From dreams of independence to settling for peace


Aveen Karim
  • English
  • Arabic

Rapid shifts and outbreaks of turmoil in Middle East politics have left their mark on the role and ambitions of the region's Kurds.

With a population spread across key countries – Iraq, Syria, Turkey and Iran – the recent changes have turned the Kurdish dream of independence transform into one of peace.

Messages issued by Kurdish officials from Iraq and Syria in recent months have called for the prevention of conflict and the safeguarding of peace to preserve what they have.

“The power of peace is greater than the power of all wars,” the President of the Kurdish region of Iraq, Nechirvan Barzani, said at the Sulaimani Forum last week, echoing a sentiment that seems to be shared across the Kurdish political spectrum.

The catalyst for the change was the collapse of the Assad regime in Syria at the end of last year. The new self-appointed government's efforts to consolidate power clash with the autonomy that Kurdish areas in the north-east had established during more than a decade of war.

Surrounded by conflict, and countries that have historically suppressed independence movements, the Kurds in Iraq appear to have adopted a more pragmatic approach as they seek to position themselves as mediators for peace. However, they continue to face domestic challenges.

The Iraqi Kurds have offered help to their cousins in Syria in preserving their autonomy under the new government, and welcomed moves by the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) to embark on a peace process with Turkey.

The change of power in Syria has led to the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces ceding control over parts of the country. EPA
The change of power in Syria has led to the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces ceding control over parts of the country. EPA

Advantage of autonomy

Iraqi Kurds have for the past three decades enjoyed autonomy from the government in Baghdad and used it to their advantage to forge their own political and economic path. They have cultivated their own regional relations and formed their own government, unlike Kurds elsewhere.

While the rest of Iraq was mired in conflict, the Kurdistan region stood in contrast as a beacon of peace, to the point that independence seemed within reach until the regional response to a 2017 referendum shattered the dream.

Slowly, the federal government in Baghdad started dragging the balance of power its way, with a series of supreme court rulings undermining Kurdish autonomy. In addition, the two ruling Kurdish parties – the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) – have been at odds in recent years with both sides criticising one another.

Delayed parliamentary elections took place on October 20 but parties have yet to reach a consensus on forming a government, raising concerns that they may fail to do so before Iraq’s parliamentary election on November 11. Mr Barzani urged the KDP and the PUK to “expedite” the process.

With officials both from sides in Sulaymaniyah for the forum, the two parties held a meeting there on Thursday but no details were revealed. The KDP was represented by senior party official Hoshyar Zebari while the PUK team was chaired by Qubad Talabani, who is also the incumbent deputy prime minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).

But despite its internal quarrelling, the Kurdish region is determined to help pave the path forward towards peace.

“If we can play an effective role in mediating between the parties involved in regional hostilities and improving the security of the region, that would be a positive contribution,” Prime Minister Masrour Barzani said.

President Nechirvan Barzani stated that “the Kurds and the people of Kurdistan are inherently peaceful … whenever there has been a hint of peace, the people of Kurdistan embraced it with optimism”.

In a likely reference to developments in Syria and Turkey, he said attempts to erase the Kurds in the past had been unsuccessful and only damaged the wider region.

“The last century has unequivocally shown that the disregard and rejection of the rights of the Kurds and the people of Kurdistan have led to ongoing conflict, chaos, destruction, suffering, and stagnation in the region,” he said.

President Nechirvan Barzani of Iraq's Kurdish region described his people as 'inherently peaceful'. Aymen Al Ameri / The National
President Nechirvan Barzani of Iraq's Kurdish region described his people as 'inherently peaceful'. Aymen Al Ameri / The National

The model of autonomy in the Kurdish region of Iraq is seen as a successful one, with its leaders balancing relations with Baghdad, Iran, Turkey and the US.

“We are one of the major partners in the Middle East,” KRG Interior Minister Rebar Ahmed said.

“We have to talk about the equilibrium of the nationalities who are living here, from the Kurdish perspective, we have to take care of the future of all the constituents here in the Middle East,” he said, echoing the notion that perhaps they could represent Kurds elsewhere as opportunities for peace arise.

Turkish question

In Turkey, Kurds have endured decades of conflict between the state and the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) – an insurgent group designated as a terrorist organisation by Ankara, the US and the European Union.

An opportunity arose at the end of February when jailed PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan issued a call to the group to disarm and disband, raising hopes of a renewed peace process to end a conflict that has claimed more than 40,000 lives on both sides.

Ahead of the announcement, the Turkish party that mediated between the PKK and the government held meetings with Kurdish officials in both Erbil and Sulaymaniyah, seeking the support of their Iraqi counterparts in the process.

“Developments in Turkey aimed at fostering peace represent a significant historical opportunity. We wholeheartedly endorse and support these efforts,” President Barzani said.

“Through peace, the role of Kurdistan in the region will be greatly strengthened.” However, “peace cannot be achieved by one side alone,” Prime Minister Barzani noted, recognising the involvement of nationalist parties in Turkey as a positive sign.

The PKK announced a ceasefire shortly after Ocalan’s call but a framework for the peace process is yet to be revealed. The historic announcement came months after the regime change in Syria where Kurdish groups that Ankara considers to be PKK-affiliated have carved their own areas of control.

“Ocalan’s initiative was very welcomed by us because during all these years, Turkey’s reason to attack us in the north-east was related to the PKK,” Ilham Ahmed, co-chairman of foreign affairs for the SDF's political wing, the Syrian Democratic Council (SDC), told The National. She said that the group's own peace process with Turkey was a separate matter.

But the priority for Kurds in Syria at the moment is ensuring their rights in the country’s new constitution and political framework.

Ilham Ahmed, a foreign affairs spokeswoman for Kurds in Syria, welcomed peace efforts by counterparts in Turkey. Sunniva Rose/The National
Ilham Ahmed, a foreign affairs spokeswoman for Kurds in Syria, welcomed peace efforts by counterparts in Turkey. Sunniva Rose/The National

Decentralisation in Syria

“Our brothers and sisters in Syria can benefit from the Kurdistan Region’s experiment,” Masrour Barzani stated. “What is important for us is that they are united. If they are united they can preserve their rights better.”

“The solution of the Kurdish issue in Syria is not easy but the Kurdistan Region [of Iraq] is ready to provide support in this regard,” Mr Zebari said.

Syrian President Ahmad Al Shara and SDF chief Mazloum Abdi signed an agreement in March to integrate the forces into Syria’s state institutions. Ms Ahmed described the deal as “historic” but lamented the lack of Kurdish representation in the temporary constitution that followed.

Mr Al Shara signed a 53-article interim constitutional declaration in March, criticised by minority communities for reinforcing religious exclusion and greater rights. It keeps Syria’s name as the Syrian Arab Republic, makes Arabic the sole official language, and enforces Sharia. It also requires that the president be Muslim.

Ms Ahmed said that there were “red lines” when it came to the constitution and that they had proposed changing the country’s name to Republic of Syria to remove the “racist” connotations linked to its current name that omits the existence of other ethnic groups.

The crucial demand with regards to the constitution, agreed upon by the ruling Democratic Union Party (PYD) and the opposition Kurdish National Council (ENKS), is the issue of federalism and decentralisation.

“What we are proposing now … we have years of working on self-administration … we are proposing this model to be used in other areas,” Ms Ahmed said, referring to other areas such as Deraa, Idlib and Suwayda where a degree of self-administration has been in place.

“We will insist on this … this model should not just be in the north-east, it should be a model for all of Syria,” she added.

Ms Ahmed emphasised that Kurds in Syria were not seeking independence and argued that decentralisation would lead to further instability and conflict. However, in an unstable and volatile region, unexpected changes could happen at any time.

“Through peace, the role of Kurdistan in the region will be greatly strengthened,” Nechirvan Barzani stated.

Teams

Punjabi Legends Owners: Inzamam-ul-Haq and Intizar-ul-Haq; Key player: Misbah-ul-Haq

Pakhtoons Owners: Habib Khan and Tajuddin Khan; Key player: Shahid Afridi

Maratha Arabians Owners: Sohail Khan, Ali Tumbi, Parvez Khan; Key player: Virender Sehwag

Bangla Tigers Owners: Shirajuddin Alam, Yasin Choudhary, Neelesh Bhatnager, Anis and Rizwan Sajan; Key player: TBC

Colombo Lions Owners: Sri Lanka Cricket; Key player: TBC

Kerala Kings Owners: Hussain Adam Ali and Shafi Ul Mulk; Key player: Eoin Morgan

Venue Sharjah Cricket Stadium

Format 10 overs per side, matches last for 90 minutes

Timeline October 25: Around 120 players to be entered into a draft, to be held in Dubai; December 21: Matches start; December 24: Finals

Despacito's dominance in numbers

Released: 2017

Peak chart position: No.1 in more than 47 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Lebanon

Views: 5.3 billion on YouTube

Sales: With 10 million downloads in the US, Despacito became the first Latin single to receive Diamond sales certification

Streams: 1.3 billion combined audio and video by the end of 2017, making it the biggest digital hit of the year.

Awards: 17, including Record of the Year at last year’s prestigious Latin Grammy Awards, as well as five Billboard Music Awards

Profile

Company name: Jaib

Started: January 2018

Co-founders: Fouad Jeryes and Sinan Taifour

Based: Jordan

Sector: FinTech

Total transactions: over $800,000 since January, 2018

Investors in Jaib's mother company Alpha Apps: Aramex and 500 Startups

Emergency

Director: Kangana Ranaut

Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhry 

Rating: 2/5

The specs: 2018 BMW X2 and X3

Price, as tested: Dh255,150 (X2); Dh383,250 (X3)

Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged inline four-cylinder (X2); 3.0-litre twin-turbo inline six-cylinder (X3)

Power 192hp @ 5,000rpm (X2); 355hp @ 5,500rpm (X3)

Torque: 280Nm @ 1,350rpm (X2); 500Nm @ 1,520rpm (X3)

Transmission: Seven-speed automatic (X2); Eight-speed automatic (X3)

Fuel consumption, combined: 5.7L / 100km (X2); 8.3L / 100km (X3)

Company%C2%A0profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ETuhoon%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EYear%20started%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EJune%202021%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECo-founders%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFares%20Ghandour%2C%20Dr%20Naif%20Almutawa%2C%20Aymane%20Sennoussi%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ERiyadh%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Ehealth%20care%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESize%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E15%20employees%2C%20%24250%2C000%20in%20revenue%0D%3Cbr%3EI%3Cstrong%3Envestment%20stage%3A%20s%3C%2Fstrong%3Eeed%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EWamda%20Capital%2C%20Nuwa%20Capital%2C%20angel%20investors%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The%20stats%20and%20facts
%3Cp%3E1.9%20million%20women%20are%20at%20risk%20of%20developing%20cervical%20cancer%20in%20the%20UAE%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E80%25%20of%20people%2C%20females%20and%20males%2C%20will%20get%20human%20papillomavirus%20(HPV)%20once%20in%20their%20lifetime%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EOut%20of%20more%20than%20100%20types%20of%20HPV%2C%2014%20strains%20are%20cancer-causing%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E99.9%25%20of%20cervical%20cancers%20are%20caused%20by%20the%20virus%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EA%20five-year%20survival%20rate%20of%20close%20to%2096%25%20can%20be%20achieved%20with%20regular%20screenings%20for%20cervical%20cancer%20detection%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EWomen%20aged%2025%20to%2029%20should%20get%20a%20Pap%20smear%20every%20three%20years%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EWomen%20aged%2030%20to%2065%20should%20do%20a%20Pap%20smear%20and%20HPV%20test%20every%20five%20years%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EChildren%20aged%2013%20and%20above%20should%20get%20the%20HPV%20vaccine%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20APPLE%20M3%20MACBOOK%20AIR%20(13%22)
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EProcessor%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Apple%20M3%2C%208-core%20CPU%2C%20up%20to%2010-core%20CPU%2C%2016-core%20Neural%20Engine%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDisplay%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2013.6-inch%20Liquid%20Retina%2C%202560%20x%201664%2C%20224ppi%2C%20500%20nits%2C%20True%20Tone%2C%20wide%20colour%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EMemory%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%208%2F16%2F24GB%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStorage%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20256%2F512GB%20%2F%201%2F2TB%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EI%2FO%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Thunderbolt%203%2FUSB-4%20(2)%2C%203.5mm%20audio%2C%20Touch%20ID%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EConnectivity%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Wi-Fi%206E%2C%20Bluetooth%205.3%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EBattery%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2052.6Wh%20lithium-polymer%2C%20up%20to%2018%20hours%2C%20MagSafe%20charging%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECamera%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%201080p%20FaceTime%20HD%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EVideo%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Support%20for%20Apple%20ProRes%2C%20HDR%20with%20Dolby%20Vision%2C%20HDR10%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EAudio%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204-speaker%20system%2C%20wide%20stereo%2C%20support%20for%20Dolby%20Atmos%2C%20Spatial%20Audio%20and%20dynamic%20head%20tracking%20(with%20AirPods)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EColours%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Midnight%2C%20silver%2C%20space%20grey%2C%20starlight%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EIn%20the%20box%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20MacBook%20Air%2C%2030W%2F35W%20dual-port%2F70w%20power%20adapter%2C%20USB-C-to-MagSafe%20cable%2C%202%20Apple%20stickers%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20From%20Dh4%2C599%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Visit Abu Dhabi culinary team's top Emirati restaurants in Abu Dhabi

Yadoo’s House Restaurant & Cafe

For the karak and Yoodo's house platter with includes eggs, balaleet, khamir and chebab bread.

Golden Dallah

For the cappuccino, luqaimat and aseeda.

Al Mrzab Restaurant

For the shrimp murabian and Kuwaiti options including Kuwaiti machboos with kebab and spicy sauce.

Al Derwaza

For the fish hubul, regag bread, biryani and special seafood soup. 

Greatest Royal Rumble results

John Cena pinned Triple H in a singles match

Cedric Alexander retained the WWE Cruiserweight title against Kalisto

Matt Hardy and Bray Wyatt win the Raw Tag Team titles against Cesaro and Sheamus

Jeff Hardy retained the United States title against Jinder Mahal

Bludgeon Brothers retain the SmackDown Tag Team titles against the Usos

Seth Rollins retains the Intercontinental title against The Miz, Finn Balor and Samoa Joe

AJ Styles remains WWE World Heavyweight champion after he and Shinsuke Nakamura are both counted out

The Undertaker beats Rusev in a casket match

Brock Lesnar retains the WWE Universal title against Roman Reigns in a steel cage match

Braun Strowman won the 50-man Royal Rumble by eliminating Big Cass last

Turkish Ladies

Various artists, Sony Music Turkey 

Fixtures (all times UAE)

Saturday
Brescia v Atalanta (6pm)
Genoa v Torino (9pm)
Fiorentina v Lecce (11.45pm)

Sunday
Juventus v Sassuolo (3.30pm)
Inter Milan v SPAL (6pm)
Lazio v Udinese (6pm)
Parma v AC Milan (6pm)
Napoli v Bologna (9pm)
Verona v AS Roma (11.45pm)

Monday
Cagliari v Sampdoria (11.45pm)

Is it worth it? We put cheesecake frap to the test.

The verdict from the nutritionists is damning. But does a cheesecake frappuccino taste good enough to merit the indulgence?

My advice is to only go there if you have unusually sweet tooth. I like my puddings, but this was a bit much even for me. The first hit is a winner, but it's downhill, slowly, from there. Each sip is a little less satisfying than the last, and maybe it was just all that sugar, but it isn't long before the rush is replaced by a creeping remorse. And half of the thing is still left.

The caramel version is far superior to the blueberry, too. If someone put a full caramel cheesecake through a liquidiser and scooped out the contents, it would probably taste something like this. Blueberry, on the other hand, has more of an artificial taste. It's like someone has tried to invent this drink in a lab, and while early results were promising, they're still in the testing phase. It isn't terrible, but something isn't quite right either.

So if you want an experience, go for a small, and opt for the caramel. But if you want a cheesecake, it's probably more satisfying, and not quite as unhealthy, to just order the real thing.

 

 

Fitness problems in men's tennis

Andy Murray - hip

Novak Djokovic - elbow

Roger Federer - back

Stan Wawrinka - knee

Kei Nishikori - wrist

Marin Cilic - adductor

Company%20profile
%3Cp%3EName%3A%20Cashew%0D%3Cbr%3EStarted%3A%202020%0D%3Cbr%3EFounders%3A%20Ibtissam%20Ouassif%20and%20Ammar%20Afif%0D%3Cbr%3EBased%3A%20Dubai%2C%20UAE%0D%3Cbr%3EIndustry%3A%20FinTech%0D%3Cbr%3EFunding%20size%3A%20%2410m%0D%3Cbr%3EInvestors%3A%20Mashreq%2C%20others%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
GAC GS8 Specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh149,900

Abu Dhabi Card

5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 80,000 1,400m

National selection: AF Mohanak

5.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 90,000 1,400m

National selection: Jayide Al Boraq

6pm: Handicap (TB) Dh 100,000 1,400m

National selection: Rocket Power

6.30pm: Abu Dhabi Championship Listed (PA) Dh 180,000 1,600m

National selection: Ihtesham

7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh 70,000 1,600m

National selection: Noof KB

7.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 80,000 2.200m

National selection: EL Faust

MATCH INFO

New Zealand 176-8 (20 ovs)

England 155 (19.5 ovs)

New Zealand win by 21 runs

GRAN%20TURISMO
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Neill%20Blomkamp%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20David%20Harbour%2C%20Orlando%20Bloom%2C%20Archie%20Madekwe%2C%20Darren%20Barnet%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Meghan%20podcast
%3Cp%3EMeghan%20Markle%2C%20the%20wife%20of%20Prince%20Harry%2C%20launched%20her%20long-awaited%20podcast%20Tuesday%2C%20with%20tennis%20megastar%20Serena%20Williams%20as%20the%20first%20guest.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EThe%20Duchess%20of%20Sussex%20said%20the%2012-part%20series%2C%20called%20%22Archetypes%2C%22%20--%20a%20play%20on%20the%20name%20of%20the%20couple's%20oldest%20child%2C%20Archie%20--%20would%20explore%20the%20female%20experience.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ELast%20year%20the%20couple%20told%20Oprah%20Winfrey%20that%20life%20inside%20%22The%20Firm%22%20had%20been%20miserable%2C%20and%20that%20they%20had%20experienced%20racism.%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%22I%20don't%20ever%20remember%20personally%20feeling%20the%20negative%20connotation%20behind%20the%20word%20ambitious%2C%20until%20I%20started%20dating%20my%20now-husband%2C%22%20she%20told%20the%20tennis%20champion.%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The low down

Producers: Uniglobe Entertainment & Vision Films

Director: Namrata Singh Gujral

Cast: Rajkummar Rao, Nargis Fakhri, Bo Derek, Candy Clark

Rating: 2/5

FIXTURES

Monday, January 28
Iran v Japan, Hazza bin Zayed Stadium (6pm)

Tuesday, January 29
UAEv Qatar, Mohamed Bin Zayed Stadium (6pm)

Friday, February 1
Final, Zayed Sports City Stadium (6pm)

Director: Laxman Utekar

Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna

Rating: 1/5

KINGDOM%20OF%20THE%20PLANET%20OF%20THE%20APES
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Wes%20Ball%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Owen%20Teague%2C%20Freya%20Allen%2C%20Kevin%20Durand%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E3.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Sun jukebox

Rufus Thomas, Bear Cat (The Answer to Hound Dog) (1953)

This rip-off of Leiber/Stoller’s early rock stomper brought a lawsuit against Phillips and necessitated Presley’s premature sale to RCA.

Elvis Presley, Mystery Train (1955)

The B-side of Presley’s final single for Sun bops with a drummer-less groove.

Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Two, Folsom Prison Blues (1955)

Originally recorded for Sun, Cash’s signature tune was performed for inmates of the titular prison 13 years later.

Carl Perkins, Blue Suede Shoes (1956)

Within a month of Sun’s February release Elvis had his version out on RCA.

Roy Orbison, Ooby Dooby (1956)

An essential piece of irreverent juvenilia from Orbison.

Jerry Lee Lewis, Great Balls of Fire (1957)

Lee’s trademark anthem is one of the era’s best-remembered – and best-selling – songs.

Avatar: Fire and Ash

Director: James Cameron

Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana

Rating: 4.5/5

Updated: April 22, 2025, 12:26 PM