Googoosh performing in Toronto on July 29,
2000. Photo by Peter Jones/Reuters
Standing ovation
Googoosh is a smash hit -- again
By Pedram Moallemian
July 31, 2000
The Iranian
They said she was sent by Khatami. They said the reformists were behind
her tour. They said the conservatives were to benefit the most by it, to
show their core supporters the terrible consequences of reforms. They said
she would appear in an ethnic outfit, to cover up the fact that she is
obliged to wear a hijab. They said her husband, or was it somebody else
in her entourage is associated with the intelligence ministry. They said
she was too old to make a come back and her era is over. They said she
is ruining all their memories.
One thing they did not say was like her or not, agree with her views
or not, enjoy her music or not, she is still the best entertainer Iran
has ever produced, period. And with the first few lines of her first song
echoing over the cheering crowd, nobody even remembered a word the cynics
said.
She was emotional, frail, nervous, but it was as you had returned a
fish to water. She belonged on that stage; she owned it. She made love
to her audience with her smile, her eyes, her hands and movement and she
had them in a frenzy more than a few times.
Googoosh was doing what she does best, entertaining a near capacity
crowd at Toronto's Air Canada Center. The stage was decorated with pillars
replicated from those at Persepolis. Before she walked on stage, the entire
stage area was drowned in green, white and red lights and her entrance
will surely be remembered for a long time by all the fans. The standing
ovation went from a minute to five to ten and if she hadn't made people
stop, it may have never ended.
She was back.
Ron, the gray-haired usher for our section, told me later that he had
worked at concert arenas for more than 25 years. He had seen the biggest
acts of all time: The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Bee Gees and Metalica to
Madonna and Celine Dion. "But I have never, ever seen so many people
cry at a concert," he said. "She must be very special, I can
see how she has touched so many people".
Googoosh started with "in the name of Iran and Iranians" and
then asked the audience for a minute of silence in the memory of "the
father of all poets, writers and intellectuals of Iran, Ahmad Shamlou."
Then she offered the audience greetings from Iran. "From all your
mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters, I think they would allow me to
be the messenger of their greetings and best wishes for you all,"
she said. "The women in the audience who have been married before
know, you always get an acne or a cold sore on the day of your wedding.
I've got a sore throat today and I apologize for it."
Listening to her carry some of her more difficult tunes, it was hard
to believe she is not 100%. Her voice, mostly silent for 21 years, seems
even stronger. She performed 23 songs, most of them old ballads and love
songs. She also included a few new songs, all of them in her old style,
with catchy lyrics and tranquil melodies.
She included most of her all time favorites; songs most Iranians have
many memories with: "Talagh", "Hamzad", "Pishkesh",
"Mano Gonjishkaye Khuneh", "Mordab", "Jadeh"
and "Gharib-e Ashena" to name a few. And who can forget her rendition
of Ali Salimi's Ayriliq in Azeri, which she dedicated to her "hamshahris".
She also presented her song "Bekhun ta Bekhunam" to her grand
child and all other children.
The audience was a mixture of men and women, young and old, rich and
not so rich. Each had a different reason for being there. "She isn't
a feminist per se but she broke so many barriers in her time," said
Fariba Kamali of Toronto. Another fan, a 69-year-old woman who would not
give me her name "because I am going to Iran soon" was there
because "Googoosh smells like home, she reminds me of the good times".
Seventeen-year-old Poopak Zarifi who came all the way from Houston said:
"I never listened to her before but a friend gave me one of her tapes
and she was so different." "All the others (other Iranian singers)
are so shallow, her songs are deep and have a meaning."
Noticeable absentees in the audience were her contemporaries, her co-workers,
her friends. Mansour and Shahram Kashani were the only other artists, familiar
faces I noticed hiding in the middle of all the others. I am sure other
colleagues who had worked closely and performed with her before, people
such as Hassan Shamaizadeh and Shahram Shabpareh had good reasons for not
being there.
Googoosh is scheduled to continue her tour with a stop on August 5th
in Vancouver. Twelve U.S. dates have also been announced so far. One of
her promoters also mentioned that they have received offers from Dubai,
Azerbaijan and Tajikistan, but nothing has been confirmed yet. "She
will be touring Western Europe though, for sure" he said.
For those who are planning to see her on the other tour dates, here
is some advise: If you expect a deep intellectual event, or some political
grandstanding, or want to hear some opinionated discussion, stay home.
But if you are only seeking a diversion, wish to re-unite with some of
your old memories, aspire to be entertained by a master entertainer or
just have some fun, you'll enjoy every minute of it. Also
see Googoosh
concert review by Termeh Rassi
PS: I HAVE NO IDEA ABOUT GOOGOOSH'S EXACT CONCERT DATES! Go to Googoosh.Com
