Iraq is known primarily for an instrument called the
oud (similar to a
lute) and a
rebab[?] (similar to a
fiddle); its stars include
Ahmed Mukhtar[?]. Until the fall of
Saddam Hussein, the most popular
radio station was the
Voice of Youth[?]. It played a mix of western
rock[?],
hip hop and
pop music, all of which had to be imported via
Jordan due to international economic
sanctions.
The Corrs[?] and
Westlife[?] are especially popular.