Did Viaplay just do a last minute date change on this??

It's always a good day when I get the opportunity to explore New Mexico.

Googoosh: the rise and fall of Iranian pop music

Ben Forrest Sat 10 February 2024 23:00, UK

Pop music and Iran are not things you would immediately link together, especially not if your frame of cultural reference is based in the Western world. In actuality, the country of Iran has an incredibly rich music history dating back thousands of years. The output of Iran was incredibly influential on surrounding areas across West Asia and the Middle-East. In more recent times, Iran witnessed a blossoming pop music scene, with the pioneering sounds of Googoosh blazing the way.

Born as Faegheh Atashin in 1950 Tehran, Googoosh began singing at a very young age. After starring in various Persian films during the 1960s, her twenties saw her devote herself almost entirely to pop music. Blending the traditional sounds of West Asia with a kind of 1960s pop sensibility, Googoosh quickly became a cultural icon in Iran; women across the country rushed to copy her hairstyle and fashion sense, characterised by mini-skirts and bright colours.

Constantly pushing the boundaries of pop music and wowing audiences with her incredible tones, Googoosh reached the peak of her popularity during the 1970s. In addition to her legions of fans inside Iran, she became notable worldwide, with tracks like ‘Talagh’ earning her acclaim throughout much of West Asia and parts of Europe. Her chanson-style of performing, evoking images of Edith Piaf, often centred around themes of love and loss, proving to have universal appeal even among non-Persian speakers.

Tragically, the success witnessed by Googoosh during the 1970s would not be long-lasting. In 1979, the Iranian revolution saw the overthrow of the Pahlavi dynasty, to be replaced by an Islamic theocracy, a ruling government which prevails to this day as the Islamic Republic of Iran. Under this authoritarian regime, female performers were outlawed. While music is not inherently haram, music which may cause temptation is seen as an evil – leading all female voices to be banned. A common phrase used to justify the performance ban was the Arabic “sawt al-mar’a `awra,” or, “the voice of a woman is a shameful thing”.

Rather than fleeing her native lands in favour of a country with more accepting cultural scenes, Googoosh remained in the Islamic Republic of Iran, “out of love for [her] homeland”. In many ways, Googoosh acted as the perfect encapsulation of everything the 1979 revolution sought to banish: she was a fearless woman performing Western-inspired pop songs while bedecked in mini-skirts and vibrant colours. Nevertheless, she remained in Iran following the events of 1979. Retiring from performance – though, not by choice – Googoosh remained under the authoritarian rule of Iran until the new millennium, when she left the country for Canada, permitted to tour by the reformist presidency of Mohammad Khatami.

Recording material and performing live for the first time in over 20 years, the comeback of Googoosh was glorious. Selling out venues across the world in testament to her universal appeal, her 2000 tour came to a close with a date in Dubai on the eve of Nowruz (Iranian New Year); much of the audience had traversed the Persian Gulf from Iran to see their country’s cultural hero perform in the flesh.

For many, Googoosh is the singer of countless ear-worm pop tunes from the 1970s, but the Iranian singing sensation represents so much more. Googoosh represents the vibrancy and empowerment of the pre-revolutionary period in Iran, a time of real excitement among the country’s youth, characterised by trailblazing artistic movements which were later destroyed by the revolutionary state. Remaining active to this day, with a date at Wembley Arena due next month, Googoosh remains a beloved figure around the world, and an important point in the rich timeline of Iranian music.

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WTF Viaplay?! Off The Beaten Track, the Max documentary that was supposed to air February 15th February 26th April 8th?

Not happening (so far?). It doesn't show up in the search results and in My List it says '6 days left' and it's unplayable 🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️

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