VIGEN

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Member Since: 6/4/2007
Band Website: jaklin4u.com
Band Members: bazgashteh dobareh

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____________________________________________________________ MEMORIES ____________________________________________________________ ____ _________ "Sultan of pop" Nov 28, 2003 The Guardian Vigen DerderianPop idol of a musical revolution in IranSadeq SabaBefore the emergence in the early 1950s of Vigen Derderian, who has died aged 73 of cancer in Californian exile, the music industry of his native Iran was dominated by traditional singers, who had little knowledge of western pop music or such instruments as the guitar. Then Vigen, known as the "Sultan of pop", ushered in a revolution that coincided with the emergence of a new, western-influenced middle class. Compared by some fans to Elvis Presley, Vigen's good looks and tall, fine physique added to his appeal as Iran's first male pop star - especially among women at a time when ideas of emancipation were taking hold in the 1950s and 60s. He was also one of the first Iranian entertainers to perform with a guitar.Vigen came from Iran's minority Armenian Christian community, a fact that had no effect on his appeal in a predominantly Muslim country. He sang in both Persian and Armenian, and, at the height of his popularity, featured in six movies. In that era, every Iranian artist wanted to be associated with him, among them the country's most established top female singers, Delkash and Elaheh. He worked with the best songwriters and composers, who realised they had to cater for a new youth market, and performed some of his country's most memorable songs.Vigen left Iran shortly before the 1979 revolution; he was never allowed to return. Meanwhile, the new Islamic regime banned pop music in general, and his songs in particular.Born into a relatively poor family in the western Iranian city of Hamadan, Vigen was brought up by his older brother, after his father died when he was seven. During the second world war, his family moved to the northern city of Tabriz, where local Azerbaijani nationalists later declared the area a separatist republic, with the help of the occupying Soviet forces.Vigen may have resented the presence of the foreigners, but listening to Red Army troops playing the guitar changed his life. He bought his first guitar from a soldier, and took lessons from his Russian ?migr? brother-in-law.Then the family moved to the capital Tehran. By 1951, Vigen had got his first job, performing at the Caf? Shemiran. One night, a national radio producer heard him, with the result that his first song, Moonlight, was broadcast on Tehran radio - and became an instant hit. More than 600 songs were to follow during his long career. Some of them, such as Red Rose, Rival and Rain, have become classic Iranian popular songs.Based in California for the past 25 years, Vigen continued to perform in concerts and on tours - including to Europe - and record new albums. He celebrated the 50th anniversary of his career at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles in February 2001.And despite the official ban, his albums continued to reach his millions of fans inside Iran via the black market. Some people travelled to neighbouring countries to see him perform. His own last wish was to go home and perform for that vast audience in Iran, and one of his last songs, People's Entertainer, expressed that desire.He leaves his second wife, Karen, and four daughters and a son from a previous marriage.___________________________________________________ _____________ Soundtrack of my life A tribute to VigenBy Roozbeh Shirazi October 30, 2003 Right now, I don't know where to begin; I'm listening to Mahtab, with tears rolling down my face. His voice was so beautiful. The voice was unmistakable; it was as rich and resonant an instrument as any I have heard. But Vigen's voice carried so much more than just his lyrics; it carried histories, memories of my childhood, resilience, hopes of seeing Iran, and often a joy that I find is rare in our music.A son of Hamadan, Vigen was a contemporary of my grandmother, from humble origins and once a familiar face in that city. Like so many of us had to accept, or in my case, my parents had to accept, the revolution would change life and kept him from ever going back to Iran. This did not stop him from continuing and even making new music, and helping those Iranians out of Iran make sense of their new world -- the revolution never stopped him from living.Like so many others among us, Vigen brought his incredible talents to a new world and continued to use them to make our lives better. His music is part of the soundtrack of my life, inextricably linked to many experiences I have lived, and a bridge between this land and my homeland.I often felt Vigen was a part of my own family. I remember twenty years ago when Vigen's voice would sing to me on Saturday mornings when my father would wake up early and bake bread in our small apartment; I remember being a young boy, his voice lulling me to sleep across dark and vast empty stretches of highway as we drove across the country on our family trips. Mostly, I remember the faraway look in my father's eyes, one of peace and longing simultaneously, as he sang along with his hamshahri, so many times experiencing an emotional release through the music of one of our greatest artists. To me, Vigen is a legend. He defined what I love about Iranian music, and having grown up here, I admit there wasn't a whole lot of Iranian music I enjoyed. But Vigen was more than just his music. Vigen was the people's artist, like Chile's Victor Jara, tirelessly performing for us, both in concert and for free, and sharing his beautiful gift time and time again, and not for his material gain. His music is a way for us to connect with one another, more so than any politician ever was.To me, Vigen lives on in his music, in my father's voice, and in the hearts of all Iranians. He transformed Iranian music, brought elements of Spanish Andalusian guitar, Duke Ellington, and his own Armenian heritage to form a new, fresh, incredible sound. He was a talented an inspiring innovator, who sang not only in Farsi, but in Armenian and Spanish as well. He is one of a few Iranian musical artists who maintained his passion, dignity, and artistic integrity until his last moment; he sets an example for us all. And though he did not ultimately return to Hamadan, and though he sang of this wish in his song, Barmeegardam, Vigen still gives me hope and inspiration. He never let life's adversity stop him; he took life's struggles and transformed them through his art. He remained humble. This is what made him great. One of our greatest has now left us -- and I miss him. ____________________________________________________________ _Music of the heart Would not it be interesting if some day I find my grandchildren listening to Vigen and Pouran too?!Setareh Makinejad September 29, 2004Tonight as I am sitting in our living-room, with my Spanish textbook spread on my lap, the voices of Vigen and Pouran are penetrating not only my ears, but my soul as well.These voices are coming from my 15-year-old son’s room! A boy, born and raised in the United States, who has never stepped on Iran’s soil. A teenager who was introduced to Vigen’s and Pouran’s music years ago in our family-room in Lincoln, Nebraska!Occasionally, when my son gets tired of listening to his American music, he switches to alternative: Persian, Salsa, Greek, etc. The type of music he has been exposed to at home over the years.The other night as he was listening to Vigen, he started singing along with him in Persian, “.. Ey del-e deevaneh... ” That was quite a historical moment for me! I never would have expected any of my children to understand and appreciate Persian music to the point of reciting the lyrics along with the original singer, and exhibiting a lot of emotion in the process as well!However, I wonder about the difference of emotions stirred in him and me when we each listen to Vigen and Pouran’s duets. I wish I could get inside of his brain in order to find out how he feels when he hears those beautiful Persian songs. Perhaps I ought to ask him that someday soon.Tonight, as I am hearing these beautifully sung verses, I am thinking of my childhood in Iran. To me, this music is closely associated with the family parties held at our house, the warmth, the love, the laughter, the jokes, the dancing and the good times.I am now remembering all the major players in those gatherings who are not with us anymore. The ones who can no longer enjoy any kind of music: my dear grandmothers, great aunts, uncle, and the rest. I can’t say that this music is having a negative effect on me. No, on the contrary, I am far from sad, but simply elated!I am grateful that my son has given me the opportunity to travel back in time tonight, and to visit some of my joyful memories, which I had forgotten for a long time. An activity which was not part of my study plan for this evening! I am thrilled that we have been able to establish some interest in the Iranian music in our son. Through music, he has one more link to my beloved homeland.One of my son’s favorite Persian songs is, “Mola Mohammad Jon”, by Pouran! It is my favorite too and I must have played it often when he was younger. I wish I could send a message to Pouran and Vigen in the other world that they will never be forgotten, and their memory will live through the future generations of Iranians.Music of the heart is timeless and everlasting. Would not it be interesting if some day I find my grandchildren listening to Vigen and Pouran too?! That is possible, but highly improbable. They would probably tell their friends that these are a few of their grandmother’s favorite songs from the ‘old’ country! Imagine that! I hope I live to see this, even though I know I am being too optimistic and unrealistic! __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ A public memorial service will be held Saturday for Vigen Derderian, k nown by his fans as the ``Persian Frank Sinatra,'' who died Sunday at his Calabasas home. He was 74.The death of the Persian icon has stunned and saddened fans, who remembered him as a dashing singer of love songs.``I loved him. I loved his words, his beautiful smile,'' said Simi Valley resident Nader Shams. ``He was always bringing happiness to everybody.''The performer known simply as Vigen was the first popular musician to play the guitar in Iran, opening the doors to a new style of music in the country that was a mixture of pop and jazz.``He's a legend in modern music in Iran, in the Persian community,'' said Mehdi Zokaei, editor in chief of Javanan, a Farsi weekly magazine published in Los Angeles.An Armenian born in western Iran in 1929, Vigen was forced to leave the country after the Islamic revolution in 1979, which banned pop music.``If you ask the Persian people, all of them are sad and they are waiting for the funeral to show their sympathy,'' Zokaei said.The popular entertainer mostly sang love songs and his music evoked memories of Iran in Persians and Armenians in America.``His songs - they remind me of home, of Iran,'' said Mostafa Kashe, of Diamond Bar.The music of the man, who much like Madonna and Cher was recognized by his first name, is a staple in the homes of Iranians and Armenians from Iran.``I grew up hearing his voice and his songs,'' said Zari Shayegh of Santa Monica. ``It is very sad.''Vigen's CDs are flying off the shelves in the week after his death.``Vigen always sells, but as it always is after a death, the singer's CDs sell more,'' said Ben Mahseredjian, owner of Best Records in Reseda, whose sale of Vigen's music has increased by at least 20 percent this week. ``He always sells, but now of course people miss him, memories come back and people start to buy more.'' ___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________O bituary----------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------Vigen DerderianPop idol of a musical revolution in IranSadeq Saba Wednesday November 26, 2003 The GuardianBefore the emergence in the early 1950s of Vigen Derderian, who has died aged 73 of cancer in Californian exile, the music industry of his native Iran was dominated by traditional singers, who had little knowledge of western pop music or such instruments as the guitar. Then Vigen, known as the "Sultan of pop", ushered in a revolution that coincided with the emergence of a new, western-influenced middle class. Compared by some fans to Elvis Presley, Vigen's good looks and tall, fine physique added to his appeal as Iran's first male pop star - especially among women at a time when ideas of emancipation were taking hold in the 1950s and 60s. He was also one of the first Iranian entertainers to perform with a guitar.Article continues--------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------------------------Vigen came from Iran's minority Armenian Christian community, a fact that had no effect on his appeal in a predominantly Muslim country. He sang in both Persian and Armenian, and, at the height of his popularity, featured in six movies. In that era, every Iranian artist wanted to be associated with him, among them the country's most established top female singers, Delkash and Elaheh. He worked with the best songwriters and composers, who realised they had to cater for a new youth market, and performed some of his country's most memorable songs. Vigen left Iran shortly before the 1979 revolution; he was never allowed to return. Meanwhile, the new Islamic regime banned pop music in general, and his songs in particular.Born into a relatively poor family in the western Iranian city of Hamadan, Vigen was brought up by his older brother, after his father died when he was seven. During the second world war, his family moved to the northern city of Tabriz, where local Azerbaijani nationalists later declared the area a separatist republic, with the help of the occupying Soviet forces.Vigen may have resented the presence of the foreigners, but listening to Red Army troops playing the guitar changed his life. He bought his first guitar from a soldier, and took lessons from his Russian émigré brother-in-law.Then the family moved to the capital Tehran. By 1951, Vigen had got his first job, performing at the Café Shemiran. One night, a national radio producer heard him, with the result that his first song, Moonlight, was broadcast on Tehran radio - and became an instant hit. More than 600 songs were to follow during his long career. Some of them, such as Red Rose, Rival and Rain, have become classic Iranian popular songs.Based in California for the past 25 years, Vigen continued to perform in concerts and on tours - including to Europe - and record new albums. He celebrated the 50th anniversary of his career at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles in February 2001.And despite the official ban, his albums continued to reach his millions of fans inside Iran via the black market. Some people travelled to neighbouring countries to see him perform. His own last wish was to go home and perform for that vast audience in Iran, and one of his last songs, People's Entertainer, expressed that desire.He leaves his second wife, Karen, and four daughters and a son from a previous marriage.· Vigen Derderian, singer, born November 23 1929; died October 26 2003 ___________________________________ __________________________________ Az man khaste bodid ke khatere az vigen aziz baraton begam.kolan ghabl az anghelab bishtare mavagh dar mohithaye honari ba ham barkhord dashtim va vigen hamishe midarakhshid vali yeki az barnamehaye eishan dar kabare bakara bood ke ba hamrahiye khanome marhom delkash ajra kardand ke dar noe khodesh binazir bood va fekr nemikonam kasi on barnama ro az yadesh bere bekhosos ke lebase vigen khili sar o seda karde bod.anjomane doshizegan va banovan ham ke vigen barname dasht khoda midone ke dokhtarha che mikardan.fekr nemikonam dige kasi mesle vigen zohor kone.Rohesh shad Goodluck Behrooz
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