‘Population census’ song ridiculed by social media users

AMMAN – A song broadcast by Jordan Television on Sunday to promote the 2015 population census became social media fodder, eliciting humour and criticism.

Social media users panned the song’s lyrics and the concept behind it.

Valentine Kassisieh expressed her surprise on Facebook when she found out about the song.

“Seriously there is a song about population census? I swear to God I thought it was a joke. I don’t know whether to laugh or cry”.

Taking a humorous approach, Randa Annab commented that the song, performed by Omar Saqqar, should compete in the Jordan “Don’t Got Talent” show, in reference to the popular “Got Talent” reality contest shows broadcast around the world.

“I hope that all who have a hand in this disaster are held accountable,” Momen Migdady wrote on Facebook.

Raffoul H. Abubaida (@raffoul) said Jordan Television should have broadcast useful information about the census instead of playing this song.

Tweeting a photo that shows the penalties stipulated against those who make it difficult for census takers to do their job, he wrote: “This is what should have been broadcast not a silly song.”

Jordan Television Director Mohammad Tarawneh said the channel welcomes constructive criticism, adding that the song was “an individual initiative” by a Jordanian.

“Jordan Television did not produce this song. He approached us and we hosted him as a guest in the morning show Yawm Jadeed (New Day),” he told The Jordan Times over the phone.