( Article by Laura Macmillan )
The world has Iran to thank for some fantastic singers. They not only come from all over the country to spread the legacy of traditional Persian music, but they also bring their own flair to other genres such as rock and roll and jazz. Some of these Iranian singers moved to different countries like the UK and the United States while pursuing their musical careers, but they all have one thing in common: their Persian roots. This is just a fraction of the talented Iranian singers out there.
[ All Texts & Links by Laura Macmillan ]
(Photo: Googoosh, the popular Iranian singer)
Googoosh – “Gohare Kamyaab”
Cultural icon Googoosh was born Faegheh Atashin in Tehran, Iran. Her 70-year-long career in Iranian pop music began early in her childhood as she performed with her father at the age of three and appeared in several Iranian films. In the ’60s and ’70s, her music focused on upbeat pop anthems with a traditional Persian edge. However, she was also known for writing chanson ballads of the heart about love and loss. After the Iranian revolution in 1979, Googoosh had to retire from making music. Women were no longer allowed to sing in public, which prevented her from sharing any of her work. Luckily for fans, Googoosh decided to move to Canada in 2000, which allowed her to make a musical comeback. She even released a new album in 2012 called Ejaz.
Ebi – “Navazesh”
Born Ebrahim Hamedi, Ebi is a Khorramdareh-born Iranian pop star. Throughout his 50-plus-year music career, he has broken countless records and won an astounding number of awards. His career started in Tehran. Ebi then worked towards international fame in 1977, when he moved to Los Angeles, California, to tour the United States two years before the Iranian revolution. After the revolution, like Googoosh, his songs were illegal to play. Despite the restrictions of his home country, his fanbase is ever-growing. Some of his most famous songs include “Shekar” and “Navazesh.” His albums Tapesh and Moalleme Bad are two of his most popular works.
Sirvan Khosravi – “Divoonegi”
Iranian singer and producer Sirvan Khosravi was born in Tehran, where he first began to learn music as a child. He took up singing shortly after beginning to play the keyboard at the age of 11.
Since his first album, To Khial Kardi Beri, in 2005, he has received international success. This was followed by Sa’ate 9 in 2009, which was also a critical success. Being one of the younger singers from Iran, Khosravi has a long career before him. Even in 2020, he was still charting overseas in Hong Kong. Some of his well-known albums include Road of Dreams, Unplugged, Borderless, and Monologue.
Moein – “Hamdam”
Iranian singer Moein began his career as a radio singer and is known for his ability to excel in a variety of genres. Because of his impressive and emotional singing voice, fans often call him “the prominent voice of love.” He gained popularity in Iran with the release of his 1983 album Miparastam. Now, with over 20 albums and 25 singles on his discography, Moein is certainly a prolific artist. Some of his best hits include “Kabeh”, “Sobhet Bekhir”, “Bibigol” and “Havas”. Moein has sung jazz, pop, and traditional Persian music and is still very much active in his career to this day. He has recently released the album Maandegar (2022) for fans to enjoy.
Shadmehr Aghili – “Entekhab”
Born in Tehran, Shadmehr Aghili is an Iranian pop singer, multi-instrumentalist, and composer who studied at the Tehran Conservatory of Music. He released his first instrumental album, Bahar e Man, in 1997. His career flourished from there. He also starred in the movie Par e Parvaz (2000), which was the best seller of the year, of which he also wrote the soundtrack. When Aghili moved to Canada later in his life and released his first album there, Khiali Nist, he began to see international acclaim. Some of his most well-known songs include “Too Binahayate Shab” and “Jange Delam.”
Andranik Madadian – “Yenafary”
Andranik Madadian (stage name Andy) s an Iranian-Armenian performer who is best known for his songs and his acting. As a World Music Award nominee, he has received international acclaim. He even recorded a version of “Stand By Me” with Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora as a mark of world peace. Some of Madadian’s most well-known songs include “Tehran” and “The Good Fight” and has several well-received albums, such as Future Features, Beegharar, and Ghahremanane Vatan. A star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame immortalizes his gift for music.
Mohsen Yeganeh – “Behet Ghol Midam” (I Promise You )
Mohsen Yeganeh was born in Gonbad-e Kavus, an Iranian city known for its towering historical monument, in 1985. His music career began when he taught himself to play the guitar, but soon he branched out to playing the piano and keyboard. He eventually began writing his own pop music. Now, Yeganeh is known for his work on the Persian pop scene and has even performed at the Fajr International Music Festival, Iran’s most prestigious music festival. In their English translation, some of his best singles include “Your Hair”, “Selfish”, and “I Promise You”. Albums such as Sale Kabiseh and Nafas Haye Bi Hadaf have brought him international success.