Egyptian Singer Sha'ban Abd Al-Rahim: I Am Not Upset by Michael Jackson's Death. He Was No Competition for Me. Sting Was More of a Competitor

Following in an excerpt from an interview with Egyptian singer Sha’ban Abd Al-Rahim, which aired on Al-Mihwar TV on July 29, 2009.

Interviewer: Sha’ban, you had a well-known story with the late American singer Michael Jackson. He bothered you. Were you upset when he died?

Sha’ban Abd Al-Rahim: As you know, death is from God. No, I wasn’t upset. He was meant to die.

Interviewer: Of course.

Sha’ban Abd Al-Rahim: He was definitely meant to die.

Interviewer: But he died at a young age, and people were upset.

Sha’ban Abd Al-Rahim: He was taken prematurely.

Interviewer: Oh, he was taken from us, people...

How did you feel when Michael Jackson died?

Sha’ban Abd Al-Rahim: He died. No big deal. He didn’t stand in my way. He wasn’t competing with me. There’s another guy in America, who is greater than him – Singer, or something like that... I forget his name...

Interviewer: Sting?

Sha’ban Abd Al-Rahim: Yes. He could have been my competitor in the world.

Interviewer: All over the world?

Sha’ban Abd Al-Rahim: Yes. Me, here in Egypt, and him abroad... This could have been a competition [of equals]. Michael was no better than the Egyptian Sa’d Sugheir [who sings “I Love You, Donkey”].

Interviewer: What do you mean by comparing him to Sa’d Sugheir?

Sha’ban Abd Al-Rahim: He’s just like any of those singers.

Interviewer: But isn’t he competing with you?

Sha’ban Abd Al-Rahim: Shame on you!

Interviewer: You consider Sa’d Sugheir to be...

Sha’ban Abd Al-Rahim: He’s just a regular singer...

Interviewer: He is popular at weddings, just like you...

Sha’ban Abd Al-Rahim: Yes, he has a gig every day too.