The Entroporium

Iran’s President Bans Western Music

(AP, December 19, 2005): Hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has banned Western music from Iran’s radio and TV stations, reviving one of the harshest cultural decrees from the early days of 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Songs such as George Michael’s "Careless Whisper," Eric Clapton’s "Rush" and the Eagles’ "Hotel California" have regularly accompanied Iranian broadcasts, as do tunes by saxophonist Kenny G…

Well, heck, who can blame him?

Today’s MP3s come from Googoosh, who was Iran’s biggest female pop singer through the ’60s and early ’70s until the Islamic Revolution put an end to women getting to express themselves in public. The revolution ended not just her ability to give live performances, but also barred her from entering a recording studio or giving interviews.

O-Hum is today’s other featured artist. Certainly you’ve heard of bands that can’t get signed and turn to the Internet to seek its audience. O-Hum have a whole different spin. Iran’s most popular alternative band, its record label was behind them 100%, but The Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance "ejected the album a couple of times, describing O-Hum’s music as "Western", "cheap" and contrary to Islamic moral standards. Because of this, the record company broke off its deal with the band and cancelled everything." (Or at least so says O-Hum’s Wikipedia entry.)

O-Hum – Darvish.mp3
Googoosh – Shahrzad-e Qesseh-goo.mp3
Lots more Googoosh here, mostly LP and cassette rips