 Music of the heart
Would not it be interesting if some day
I find my grandchildren listening to Vigen and Pouran too?!
Setareh Makinejad
September
29, 2004
iranian.com
Tonight as I am sitting in our living-room, with my Spanish textbook
spread on my lap, the voices of Vigen and Pouran are penetrating
not only my ears, but my soul as well.
These voices are coming from my 15-year-old son’s room!
A boy, born and raised in the United States, who has never stepped
on Iran’s soil. A teenager who was introduced to Vigen’s
and Pouran’s music years ago in our family-room in Lincoln,
Nebraska!
Occasionally, when my son gets tired of listening to his American
music, he switches to alternative: Persian, Salsa, Greek,
etc. The type of music he has been exposed to at home over the
years.
The other night as he was listening to Vigen, he started singing
along with him in Persian, “.. Ey del-e deevaneh... ” That
was quite a historical moment for me! I never would have expected
any of my children to understand and appreciate Persian music to
the point of reciting the lyrics along with the original singer,
and exhibiting a lot of emotion in the process as well!
However, I wonder about the difference of emotions stirred in
him and me when we each listen to Vigen and Pouran’s duets.
I wish I could get inside of his brain in order to find out how
he feels when he hears those beautiful Persian songs. Perhaps I
ought to ask him that someday soon.
 Tonight, as I am hearing these beautifully sung verses, I am
thinking of my childhood in Iran. To me, this music is closely
associated with the family parties held at our house, the warmth,
the love, the laughter, the jokes, the dancing and the good times.
I am now remembering all the major players in those gatherings
who are not with us anymore. The ones who can no longer enjoy any
kind of music: my dear grandmothers, great aunts, uncle, and the
rest. I can’t say that this music is having a negative effect
on me. No, on the contrary, I am far from sad, but simply elated!
I am grateful that my son has given me the opportunity to travel
back in time tonight, and to visit some of my joyful memories,
which I had forgotten for a long time. An activity which was not
part of my study plan for this evening! I am thrilled that we have
been able to establish some interest in the Iranian music in our
son. Through music, he has one more link to my beloved homeland.
One of my son’s favorite Persian songs is, “Mola
Mohammad Jon”, by Pouran! It is my favorite too and I must
have played it often when he was younger. I wish I could send a
message to Pouran and Vigen in the other world that they will
never be forgotten, and their memory will live through the future
generations of Iranians.
 Music of the heart is timeless and everlasting.
Would not it be interesting if some day I find my grandchildren
listening to Vigen and Pouran too?! That is possible, but highly
improbable. They would probably tell their friends that these are
a few of their grandmother’s favorite songs from the ‘old’ country!
Imagine that! I hope I live to see this, even though I know I am
being too optimistic and unrealistic!
Well, it is time for me to do a reality check and return to studying
Spanish by leaving Vigen and Pouran to the younger generation
upstairs!
Hasta Luego..
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Music of the heart
