For my first musical delight, I bring you the Iranian signer and actor, Arash. Named after the archer of Persian mythology, he combines the funky rhythms of his homeland with the entrancing sound of modern Scandinavian music. The rhythm of Arash's music is one of its most powerful components. The complex layers of drums and syncopation drive each composition forward. That does not mean that the rest is nothing special, however. The combination of stringed and synthesized instruments along with the singing creates a feeling that is upbeat yet relaxed. The singing itself is usually in Persian, with some songs having parts in English. Arash often features other singers in his songs as well, which helps add to the variety of his music.
Some of my favorite songs:
- Arash (Feat Helena)
- Yalla
- Mitarsam (I'm afraid)
- Boro Boro
- Ey Yar Begoo (Feat Ebi)
The song “Arash (Feat Helena)” is probably my favorite. Overall the song has a very warm feel to it. The mysterious Helena's alluring singing flows nicely with the guitar and baseline, together forming a dichotomy between round and pointed. The middle section that has Arash howling “Ohhhohhoh” accompanied with a swaying orchestral plucking transitions beautifully back to Helena who soon returns to her chorus. When she is singing, that together with the music sounds like an eternal sunset on the ocean horizon being watched from shore but your loved one is far away in the other direction so you just stay there and look at the sunset for a thousand years. I suppose, however, that if I knew what the words actually meant in English then it would sound completely different. I would guess that because the title has “Arash” in it, Arash is the subject of the song. The whole song sounds rather like golden orange, with some turning red around one side. The baseline creates a comfortable darkness underneath, and the guitar puts in some light overtones of warm brown.
You can listen to "Arash (Feat Helena)" here.
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1 comment:
I thoroughly enjoy world music, particularly that which is in a different language. However, there are somethings that irritate me about certain cultures or even genres of music. For instance, I hate when Arash shouts out his own name at the beginning of his song. We know who you are so don't tell us again. Rappers do this too and it sucks. I do think you did this guy justice, for the most part, in your post. I would alter one detail however; the funky sound of Iranian culture can't possibly exist. Iran is an militant Islamic culture where the leaders are absolutely against anything Western (other than nuclear weapons.) So funky doesn't exist and Arash probably left, nay escaped, years ago.
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