Arash, or Why I Love Persian Music

Arash, born in Tehran, left for the wider world like so many Iranians in the 70s and 80s. Currently living in Sweden, Arash is probably one of the best-known Persian singers since Googoosh. Greatest hits include Boro Boro, Arash, Tike Tike Kardi, Temptation, and his newest single, Donya. Arash has gone gold in five different countries and reached the top of the charts across Europe.
To celebrate the appearance of the Iranian national football team making the German World Cup in 2006, Arash collaborated with DJ Alligator to produce "Iran Iran". The song is both incredibly nationalistic and at the same time, critical of the regime.
"You are the voice of Iran - for the people of Iran!" The singer says, "I am an Iranian child... with one voice we sing, everyone with one voice: Iran! Iran! Iran!" The chorus is simply a mass of hundreds cheering "Iran! Iran! Iran!", the music video depicts Persians of all ages dancing and cheering. But the flags they are waving say "IRAN" across the white band in the middle, instead of the coat of arms of Iran, which spells the name of God with the sword of the revolution. The flag waved in the video also lacks the twenty-two iterations of "Allahu Akbar" (God is Great) along the border of the white part of the flag (see image), which represents the 22nd day of the 11th month - the day of the revolution.
Displaying the flag of Iran without the additions approved by the revolution is a common method of expatriates to show disapproval of the current Islamic regime.
So, curious, I searched for Arash in the archives of the Tehran Times. Nothing. I shouldn't be surprised. As an arm of Iranian government, Tehran Times probably can't discuss any hint of dissent.
It is a strange mix - patriotism and dissent. Or perhaps dissent is the most powerful form of patriotism.


On a side note, Washington Post hasn't heard of Arash, unlike their European counterparts.