Government approves of Alireza Assar? What’s the catch?

One of Alireza Assar's Songs.. Take a listen!

Description: 

     This journal article from the Wall Street Journal written by Daniel Pearl, enlightens the reader on Iranian pop singer Alireza Assar, who can be found practicing his music in a basement studio in Tehran, Iran. He not only is in the process of creating a rock ballad with his crew, but his lyrics “We should find love in rain,” is accepted by political hard-liners even with women voices taking up the song as it proceeds. Crazy right? However, it’s not crazy at all. Conservatives sponsor Mr. Assar, owning his recording studio, promote his concerts and approve each one of his songs before they are released. Pop music, which was prohibited for most of the Islamic Republic has made a comeback but like usual this nation’s leaders are doing all they can to prevent change. Instead of complaining about the events unfolding within Iran, leaders have come up with a strategy championing the new home-grown pop, hopefully will pre-empt the unruly Western variety. Music is everywhere in Iran, featuring a guitar shown on TV, a book of translated lyrics of Pink Floyd appearing in bookstores and local bands that are heard throughout the country. “Music has always been in the service” says Fouad Hejazi, Assar composer. In reality, all the government wants is to fight against the cultural invasion of the West, shutting down newspapers and stopping the installation of a new Parliament. What’s their next plan? Artists and people everywhere are continuing to blast music from Madonna and Micheal Jackson from car stereos and artists in exile are still recording. All this music seeps into Iran by cassettes, hidden satellite dishes and the internet. Music cannot be stopped. Iranian officials just have to accept it, but will they? (Pearl 1)

Evaluation: 

  I found this article very interesting since every article I have found before this, government has disapproved of everything involving music. It’s amazing how one artist has changed that around, making government accept and be apart of of the whole music process. It’s not everyday you read about someone so highly regarded in the over protective country of Iran. I like how the author inserted quotes from Assar’s songs and showed how Iran is continuing to allow music to be apart of their lives, even if it is controlled and not yet legal to citizens. The article is easy to read and allows the reader to understand the wave of events that are making their way to the light, again watching as Iran takes small steps to a hopefully bigger change. The reader can easily see that with whatever the government throws at the people in Iran, they are fighting back with an equal force, continuing to listen to music illegally and blasting songs for all to hear.