Note: thanks to Siamak

I’m loving this song from the new Aussie SOUL/FUNK prodigy Daniel Merriweather. Thanks to my lovely Mahsa who’ve got me hooked! If you happen to like this song then by all means, check out his debut album “Love and War”.

You have heard this trio’s songs in our music section and watched their videos as well. 7th Music Band started of as a 13 piece band 10 years ago and perhaps due to their initial number of bad luck (13) they have been constantly struck by bad luck ever since! Member after member has left the band and the band name “Seven” which was registered when the band had seven members seven years ago was given to the other boy-band instead! Seven became eventually a trio but kept their seven-based name for the luck linked to the number. So its safe to suggest that this is a rather superstitious band!lol Recently they released their debut album “Baa To Mimoonam” which has now been reissued in improved quality. The music is reportedly kept in same soft POP/ROCK style as the first released songs, since the public response to those was so positive says the band. I really like the album cover, its really refreshing especially with recent album covers such as Benyamin’s in mind. But what’s interesting is that the band specifically refer to their appearance on the album cover as completely natural, without striking a pose for the shot! I however am not too sure about that, if thats not a conscious pose then I don’t know what is! And keep in mind that this is a professional poser talking!lol

People have e-mailed me about the clip not working, I think it was an issue of false copyright claim! Anyhow, it works now.

By the way, on a funny note! A childhood friend of mine contacted me and reminded me that I once, apparently 20 years ago, had predicted a duet between Andy and Bon Jovi! hahaha! Now that I think of it I recall having said that! However I said Andy and Kouros, so I’m not quite qualified to be proclaimed the new Nostradamus yet! hehe

Even though I didn’t find a single thing of what Hadise delivered at the EUROVISION original, her performance was one of the better that evening and it was only a matter of time that she’d cash in on the show by releasing an album in English. Just like all other contestants before her. Her “Fast Life” album however is surprisingly nowhere near the “Düm Tek Tek” teritory! The ETHNO-sound is only an undertone in this collection while the dominant genres are HOUSE and POP, of the less melodic kind even. Most likely influences from her youth in Belgium. Ironically she works best in her more conventional ETHNO context, rather than such experimental attempts. Here is my favorite track from the album called “Hero”, blending RnB and Oriental musicality in a French formula!

Siavash Shams has just released a song in memory of Neda, the young girl who got brutally murdered in front of our eyes! The song can soon be downloaded for free from siavash.com.

Note: thanks to Pedram

Mohammad Reza Asrar is an aspiring young artist from Vancouver who is working with Kayvan of the PERSIA band on debut material. Here is a candid performance, I personally find him and his Farhad-inspired flavor and Ghanbari-an lyrical jargon promising.

By now you have all heard the news! I was never a fan of Michael Jackson, not because of the circus his life had become in latest decade but rather because his voice and music didn’t strike a chord with me. There was always something about his image that put me off, mainly the collision of his androgynous attributes and extreme macho moves which was manifested in his post-BAD image. I couldn’t buy it as authentic, when he sang a love song I didn’t find his vocal-style credible enough. Nevertheless I highly admired and respected him as the innovator and icon he once was. He was a phenomenon! The man basically revolutionized the POP music and incorporated dance into the art. You did no longer need to be either a dancer or a singer, you could be both! So influential worldwide that even Ayatollah Khomeini himself damned him as the Satan’s lackey! Young dancing artists such as Justin Timberlake, Usher, Sisqo, our very own Kamran and Hooman and many many others alike still today imitate his trademark dancing style. R.I.P. Jacko!

here is one of my few favorite songs and videos:

I don’t know if you have read “The Diving Bell and The Butterfly” or maybe watched the movie, but this tragic true story has in more than a decade been a fundamental source of inspiration for me! Its message is always there deep in my subconsciousness and works as a wake up call each time I start to lose perspective. The movie was released two years ago, however I haven’t been able to bring myself watching it ’til now, in case it has wasted the vital essence in its attempt. But I was pleased to see that the cinematic adaption is adequately done and the visual interpretation is almost as striking as the book’s narration. This is a story which humbles you! It slows you down and wakes you up to reflect! If you are a philosophical individual who likes to ponder life, then I highly recommend you this story in either format!

click here for more background info.

In loving memory of all righteous souls who got slaughtered in their quest for justice and freedom this week!

… rest in peace. You will be dearly missed!

Regardless of what one might feel about The Pirate Bay’s activities they have today showed guts and decency to support the current Iranian movement against the regime by changing their name to The Persian Bay and change their logo to the green colour! Visit the website for more information:

http://thepiratebay.org/

note: thanks to Mobish

Jaaye hamegi khaali! I’m sitting here in Hotel Santa Caterina in Amalfi, gaze over this wonderful view and blog your way! … Nah! Not really! I wish though!lol I’m sitting here in my dusty office, in the stillness of a hot Swedish summer afternoon and dream myself away, while mademoiselle Coralie sooths me to hibernation … Jaaye hamegi khaali! hehe

Another TV-series that I’ve recently discovered is HBO’s True Blood, which is about good old vampires living openly in the society as a “race”, drinking a synthetic product called “Tru Blood” instead of preying on humans’. A substitute which allows them to live a civil life and interact socially, more or less!

This is another show that blends social realism with a romantic mythology. Addressing the “immortals” as the new social outcast to be discriminated and stigmatized by the masses. And it does so rather successfully, in my opinion. I’m only half way through the first season but the second season kicks of tonight in the states, so if you have watched the first season of this incredibly popular show and liked it do not miss the premier!

In response to the question lately raised in the domestic media regarding his music’s total detachment from POP AliReza Assar, whose new album is due out any day now, explains that the popularity of POP music reached its peak in the aftermath of 2nd Khordad due to the genre’s complete absence from the domestic scene in nearly 20 years! This hiatus built a longing and anticipation, he says. That’s why POP became so popular when revived and singers became POPSTARS, Assar explains while including himself. But in recent decade there has been a decay and decline in the genre due to an inflation of artists and actors, thats why POP is no longer popular and I don’t attend to POP music anymore, Assar concludes.

By the way, speaking of Padma and eating … elahi kooftet beshe Salman!loool in English: hope you choked on her! hahaha

I told you to remain bad so I thought practicing what I preach! hehe! I got away just to share this video with you, the Arabic Melissa’s “Yalli Nassini” featuring Akon. The song has been on rotation at my place these past six months, but the video was just released from what I understand. And what a lame video it has turned out to be, especially considered in the context of the Arabic music industry with some of the most aesthetically creative music video directors. Someone should have given Akon a goodnight sleep before driving him from the airport to the filming location and begged Melissa not to dance in high heels when she doesn’t even know how to sway! And why on earth a 90’s digital scenery when both are present at same location?! Its simply a lesson in bad production! This is a great song, a clever collaboration and I had expected a video of international standard and quality!