Powell seemed even more worried about the 12 other tracks on the CD, which followed directly after the intro. Bin Laden, who is apparently attempting to disseminate his new message through a musical format, sings the twelve songs with a chorus of distinguishable vocalists.
"I can't see him winning any Grammy's, but it's the anti-American lyrics that bother me," Powell said. "Another troubling issue is that some Americans have allied themselves with him. I'm not sure if I really heard Kelly Clarkson's voice as a backup singer, but Christina Aguilera and Ja Rule each donate their distinct vocals in many of the songs."
When asked about his reaction to Bin Laden's collaboration with American singers, Powell stated that "this celebrity anti-war campaign has really gotten out of hand."
Powell was not the only one to respond unapprovingly to Bin Laden's new CD. Glenn Tipton, guitarist for the rock band Judas Priest, said that none of Bin Laden's messages were new.
"We've been singing about suicide and death for years now," he said. "We're original. I think Bin Laden's just out to ride on the coat tails of our success."
Bin Laden doesn't seem to mind his own lack of originality, as he utilizes a marketing tactic first pioneered by the Dave Matthews Band. Bin Laden's CD includes a DVD packed with videos and special features. Many of his older messages are contained on the DVD as well as Al Qaeda recruitment videos and a terrorist "how-to" segment. |
