Saddam Hussein Got Misty Over Mary J. Blige’s Music

Apparently, the Dictator loved the Queen of Hip-Hop and Soul. Saddam Hussein, the late former Iraqi puppet master, adored Mary J. Blige’s music and would listen to it all the time when he was in prison. Will Bardenwerper’s book, The Prisoner in His Palace: Saddam Hussein, His American Guards, and What History Leaves Unsaid, didn’t say whether he would try to dance to it… though the thought of the bearded Hussein trying to bust some moves is kind of hilarious. Also, I think that “Bardenwerper” is one of the best last names ever.

Another tidbit: “…his distinct laugh, which was compared by one guard to ‘That Dracula dude from Sesame Street.'” Uh. That’s the Count, dude. You don’t compare a gentle vampire who just likes to count numbers to Hussein, who liked to count a lot of dead bodies.  NOT COOL.

While Saddam may have crossed over to another realm — think a VERY hot one — Blige is making a crossover of her own trying to get her acting career to really take off. Some think she has a good shot with a recent performance in Mudbound. She’s certainly got enough money to able to feed her family while she goes on auditions.

I wonder if a Blige song was playing in his head right before the noose tightened around his neck.