CAIRO (AFP) — A famous Egyptian singer is weighing in on Barack Obama's US presidential win with a new song warning Obama fans in Egypt that President George W. Bush's successor may prove something of a letdown.
Shaban Abdul Rahim, best known for his hit single in Egypt "I hate Israel," says in his new song: "We hope that Obama won't be like Bush; that son of a crazy woman," the English-language Egyptian Mail reported on Tuesday.
But he adds: "Now Bush is gone, and Obama has come. So what? Palestine is still occupied and Iraq is destroyed."
He goes on to caution, "Neither Bush nor Obama will be your mama."
Abdul Rahim's song was penned after Obama's victory received a mostly warm welcome in Egypt after eight years of Bush's unpopular presidency.
"Do not expect Obama to be your future hero, or a new Saladin," Abdul Rahim sings, referring to the 12th century Muslim ruler who fought to expel the Crusaders from Jerusalem.
Abdul Rahim's best known hit from 2003, in which he sang "I hate Israel, but I love (Egyptian President) Hosni Mubarak because of his big mind," led fast food chain McDonald's to cancel an advertisement featuring him.
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