Googoosh (also spelled as Gogosh and Googosh and Gougoush; Persian: گوگوش, born Faegheh Atashin, Persian: فائقه آتشین , born May 5 1950^[1] in Tehran) is an Iranian pop singer and actress.

In the 1970s, Googoosh was considered the most celebrated recording artist in Iran^[2]. In addition to music, Googoosh was also an actress in many Persian films of the 1960s and 1970s. She is more widely known as a singer than as an actress. After the Iranian Revolution in 1979 she remained in Iran until 2000 but did not record or perform again due to the ban on solo female singers. Still, her following grew. Younger people have rediscovered her music bootleg recordings of her music.^[3] Outside of Iran, she has a significant following in many Middle Eastern and Central Asian countries,^[4] and currently resides in Richmond Hill, Ontario, which is a suburb of Toronto, Canada and continues her career, albeit in a limited manner.

Biography

Childhood and youth

Googoosh was born 'Faegheh Atashin' in April 1950^[5] on Sarcheshmeh Street, in an old and worn down part of Tehran. Her parents are originally from Sarab (a city in Iran)^[6] had lived with his wife in Azerbaijan prior to immigrating to Tehran just before his daughter's birth.^[7] The name Googoosh is an Armenian boy's name and was given to her at birth. However since it was a boy's name, there was a problem registering the name on her birth certificate^[7] so she was given the name Faegheh and was registered under that name^[7]. When she was an infant, Googoosh's father divorced from her mother and she moved with her father to Tehran.^[8]

As her father was an acrobat and an entertainer, she grew up around the stage and was actually part of his act until she was three^{[citation needed]}. She began doing impersonations of some of the singers of the time^[7]. When her father discovered this talent, he put her on stage^[7]. She has been on stage as a paid professional since she was three.^{[citation needed]} Spurred on by a domineering father, she performed in theatres and public functions all over Iran. She was a cute little side-kick act, which more likely amused her audience rather than entertained them. Her father was very much part of the show, because anyone who remembers her as a little performer, remembers her father and how commanding he was.^[9] Those early years were not easy. Travelling from place to place and performing in front of countless people, Googoosh was subjected to things that other little girls would not have been. She was out on stage doing her routine while other children her age were in bed sleeping. Hers was definitely not a normal childhood, not even by working class standards.^{[citation needed]}

Soon the young girl's talent achieved nation-wide fame and success. She began acting for the royal court of the Shah at the age of four and was warmly welcomed by the Queen, Soraya. Googoosh's career as a star in Iranian movies started when she was seven. She captured the hearts of audiences and became one of Iran's most recognized and beloved child movie stars in the late 1950s and 1960s.

From early on she had a great talent for imitation. Early footage of her as a child shows her dancing in the style of the luti with the signature tilted hat and a fake moustache to boot! She also preformed quite convincing imitations of Cossack, Indian, Spanish and Iranian tribal dancers. This early experience in performing these dances helped her greatly when she transitioned into acting as an adult, perfecting the art of taking what is Western or foreign and making it her own. ^{[citation needed]}

1960s and 1970s

In her late teens she married to Mahmoud Ghorbani. He was a promoter and worked with some of the top clubs and cabarets in Tehran. Mr Ghorbani had been working as a promoter with well know artists for some time. He knew the business well and what's more he knew where the business was going. It was during her marriage to Mr Ghorbani that Googoosh's career shot to its summit. With the combination of her looks and style and his business savvy and connections there was no doubt that they would be a winning team. However the extent of her fame and popularity could not have been predicted. ^{[citation needed]}

Already by the late 1960s, Googoosh's natural singing ability was inspiring modern Iranian music composers as a new style of Pop music emerged. The result of this collaboration was a unique blend of contemporary Persian poems and melodies with Jazz, Blues, Rock, Disco, Latin, and other Pop beats. With the help of legendary composers Hassan Shamaizadeh, and Farid Zoland, Googoosh's songs became instant hits and she became one of the biggest 1970s Iranian pop culture icons, touching young and old alike.

Without doubt, the most popular pre-Revolutionary artist was the female singer Googoosh.^[10][11] At the age of 20, Googoosh took part in various international music festivals and won the first prize and golden record for her French numbers, Retour de la vie and J'entends crier Je t'aime, at the Cannes Festival in 1971.^[12] Her recording of twelve songs in Italian and Spanish for the Sanremo Music Festival in 1973 became an overnight success. ^{[citation needed]} She also won first prize at the Carthage Music Festival in 1972 and was honored with the first medal of arts of Tunisia in the same year. Her Spanish song titled Desde hace tiempo was an immediate hit in South America in 1973. Although she repeatedly and enthusiastically sang in other languages, her big hits were all in a modern, simple but poetic Persian that bestowed a certain classiness to the female desire that she expressed. The orchestrated, sythensized Western-style music and the modern poetry (sher-e-no) along with her gestures, which were at once bold and restrained, provided a new language within which female sexuality and desire could be expressed without fear of sinking into vulgarity. ^{[citation needed]} Her songs were romantic, not political, and while they drew on Western styles, they held onto both the fervor of Persian love poetry and the sliding, quivering, impassioned phrasing of traditional Persian music.^[13] In 2002, Googoosh had 40 songs nominated in the World’s Favourite songs poll by BBC World Service and her song Gharib-e-Ashena was selected as the most popular song in the Middle East.^[14]

For the reasons of her popularity, it has been argued that, the 60s was a changing time and many Iranian youth had turned to Western music which had infiltrated into the Iranian culture. Tastes were changing and classical traditional music was no longer enough, no matter how good it was. In Googoosh, the young, hippy generation of Iranians, found the pop culture that they were looking for. In many aspects she bridged the gap between Iranian music and Western pop. Tabloid gossip and rumors came with the fame, as well. But it all came to an abrupt end with the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Iranian icon

In 70th, Googoosh was known for her flamboyant outfits, and fashion sense. She wowed her pop culture fans in Iran and abroad with her trademark hairdos and hip-elegant style. Iranian women changed hairdos with Googoosh and she was always one step ahead of them with a new look.^{[citation needed]} Young girls copied her every move, her dress sense and hair styles. At parties they would dance her moves, they'd go to dress makers and have her outfits made, and simply walk into a hair salon and say they wanted their hair cut like Googoosh, and the stylist would know what they meant.^{[citation needed]} Googoosh set the fashion trends, sporting a miniskirt (called mini-jupe) and short haircut (known as the Googooshy) ^{[citation needed]} as obvious signs of western sophistication, leaving behind a trail of fads. Googoosh's body also represented a new ideal for women in Iran. Svelte, with fewer curves than most Iranian women, her figure was considered more chic because it fit better in French designer clothes. But it also allowed for a mix of Persian and Western style dancing on stage that, while daring and free moving, avoided being erotic. So even her physique was considered modern and Western, terms that were inter-changeable during those heady years that witnessed a rise in oil revenue equal to what some regarded as the growing permissiveness in society.^{[citation needed]}

1979: The Iranian Revolution

After the Revolution Googoosh promised to sing a song for Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini as an anthem of the Islamic revolutionary movement. But the Ayatollah announced that he did not want to hear Googoosh sing My Dear, Lovable Sir. In fact, he promptly ordered all female singers to be silenced, condemning them as temptresses.^[15] Googoosh, who was visiting the United States at the time of the revolution, returned home. She was jailed briefly and thereafter led a reclusive life.^{[citation needed]} She was put under virtual house arrest afterwards.^[16] She lived alone in Tehran, and played her songs at her piano. She later said she decided to stay in Iran after the revolution out of love for her homeland, giving up the chance to continue to perform abroad.^[17] Although this decades-long loneliness and professional silence caused her depression ^{[citation needed]} on the other hand added to her fame across many Middle Eastern and Central Asian countries, especially in Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Turkey and Azerbaijan. Azerbaijanis especially appreciate Googoosh's song Ayrılıq (Separation), the lyrics of which are in Azeri, which advocates reunification of Republic of Azerbaijan with Iran.^{[citation needed]} She sings in twelve different languages, although she speaks Persian, English, Azeri. She is one of the most famous Iranian female pop singers, often called the Queen of Persian Pop^[18], Persian diva^[19] and Iran's Daughter^{[citation needed]}. Gougoush was People's choice for Miss Iran 1974 too^{[citation needed]}.

2000 and beyond

In 2000, a feature-length documentary called Googoosh: Iran's Daughter was released which chronicled the singer's life and her icon-status while detailing the socio-political turmoil that led to the 1979 Revolution in Iran. Made by Iranian-American filmmaker Farhad Zamani, the documentary began production in 1998 and was made at a time when Googoosh was still forbidden to perform or grant interviews.^{[citation needed]} The film also views this history in the context of women's rights in the Middle East.^[20] The tagline of the movie is Her silence made her the voice of a nation.

In 2000, as this film was being released, the more-moderate government, headed by President Mohammad Khatami, granted her permission to leave.^{[citation needed]} Googoosh returned to the world stage after two decades and began a North American tour in Toronto on 2000-07-29, in front of 12,000-strong crowd, mainly made up of émigré Iranians.^{[citation needed]} Googoosh started with in the name of Iran and Iranians and then asked the audience for a minute of silence in the memory of Ahmad Shamlou (Iranian poet who died a few days before the concert). She sang most of her all time favorites; songs most Iranians have many memories with: Talagh, Hamzad, Pishkesh, Mano Gonjishkaye Khuneh, Mordab, Jadeh ,Gharib-e Ashena and Ayrilıq.^[21] Her North American tour, attracted 10 to 12 thousand people per performance.^[22] The tickets ranged from 35 to 250 dollars. Most concerts were sold out at the highest priced tickets first. ^{[citation needed]}

In 2001-03-21 during Norouz holiday Googoosh performed in Dubai. This concert was considered a homecoming for her since thousands of Iranians crossed the Persian Gulf to hear her.^[23] Her concert in New York City in 2006-10-21 was attended by the former Empress Farah of Iran, her daughter Farahnaz Pahlavi, and her granddaughter Iman, who later had a meeting with the singer.^{[citation needed]}

Googoosh's first album released after her return was Zartosht (Zoroaster); she has had four more record-breaking albums since then, including QQBangBang,Last News, Manifest, and Shabe Sepid with Mehrdad Asemani released in March of this year.

Awards

• 1971: first prize and golden record for her French songs , Retour de la vie and J'entends crier Je t'aime, at Midem festival in the Cannes.^[12]
• 1972: First prize at the Carthage Music Festival
• 1972: First medal of arts of Tunisia
• 1973: The best actress for Bita in Iranian Sepas film festival.^[12]
• 1973: The best artist of the year at San Remo Music Festival.^[24]

Personal life

Googoosh has been married four times. Her first husband was Mahmoud Ghorbani the brother of the owner of the Miami cabaret in Tehran and an influential person in Iranian showbiz. They were married in 1968 when Googoosh was 17 and their marriage lasted for six years, having a son together, Kambiz, who is a singer in Los Angeles.

In 1975 Googoosh married actor Behrouz Vossoughi . They had starred in four movies together before their marriage (Panjereh/Window, Mammal Emrikâyi/The American Mammal, and Hamsafar/Fellow Traveler) and their next film, Mah-e Asal/Honeymoon, which was released right after their marriage. Googoosh separated from Behrouz Vossoughi after 14 months. ^{[citation needed]}

Shortly after the Iranian revolution, Googoosh was married to Homayoun Mestaghi whom she had been living with (the Islamic Republic, in fact, imprisoned Googoosh for a few months based on the trumped-up charge that she was living with a man that was not her husband; therefore, her release culminated in this marriage). She divorced Mestaghi eight years later. He died from cancer a few years later^[25].

She was then alone until the early 1990s when she met director Masoud Kimiai, who is now her husband.^{[citation needed]}

Discography

Studio albums

• Mosabbeb (with Dariush, 1975)
• Nimeh Gomshodeh Man ("My Lost Half", year unknown)
• Behtarin Fasl-e-Taazeh ("The Best Fresh Season", year unknown)
• Do Mahi ("Two Fishes", 1974)
• Hamsafar ("Fellow Traveler", 1972)
• ?:Jadeh (The Road)
• 1971: Mordab (The Swamp)
• ?:Do Panjareh (Two Windows)
• ?:Kavir (The Desert)
• ?:Kooh (The Mountain)
• ?:Ageh Bemooni (If You Stay)
• ?:Yadam Basheh, Yadet Basheh (Shenasnameyeh 1)
• ?:Pol (The Bridge)
• ?:Setaareh (The Star)
• ?:Mann O Gonjeshkayeh Khoneh (Me and Sparoows of the Home)
• ?: Lahzeh Bidari
• 1977: Dar Emtedâde Šab (Along the Night)

Albums After Comeback

• 2000: Zartosht (Zoroaster)
• 2003: QQ Bang Bang
• 2004: Akharin Khabar(Last News)
• 2005: Manifest
• 2008: Shabe Sepid

Filmography

Tours and concerts after 2000

Googoosh Comeback Tour (2000–2001)

Post-Comeback Tour Concerts

• August 18 2001 - Toronto, Air Canada Centre ^{[citation needed]}
• July 19 2001 - Tunis, Menzah Stadium ^{[citation needed]}
• September 8 2001 - Sydney ^{[citation needed]}
• February 8 2003 - Los Angeles, The Forum ^{[citation needed]}
• May 24 2003 - Anaheim, Honda Center (former Arrowhead Pond) ^{[citation needed]}
• October 04 2003 - Washington, DC, Verizon Center (former MCI Center) ^{[citation needed]}
• December 25 2004 - Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas ^{[citation needed]}
• September 17 2005 - Los Angeles, The Forum ^{[citation needed]}
• September 24 2005 - Fairfax, Virginia (near Washington, DC), Patriot Center ^{[citation needed]}
• November 12 2005 - San Francisco, Bill Graham Civic Auditorum ^{[citation needed]}
• December 24 2005 - Las Vegas, Thomas & Mack Center ^{[citation needed]}
• March 11 2006 - Dallas, Nokia Theater ^{[citation needed]}
• May 27 2006 - Vancovuer, GM Place ^{[citation needed]}
• June 3 2006 - Toronto, Air Canada Centre ^{[citation needed]}
• September 09 2006 - San Diego, Symphony Hall ^{[citation needed]}
• October 07 2006 - Los Angeles, Kodak Theater ^{[citation needed]}
• October 08 2006 - Los Angeles, Kodak Theater ^{[citation needed]}
• October 21 2006 - New York, Madison Square Garden ^{[citation needed]}
• January 13 2007 - Atlanta, Atlanta Civic Center ^[27]
• January 20 2007 - Flint Center, Cupertino (near San Jose) ^{[citation needed]}
• July 07 2007 - Toronto, Air Canada Centre ^[28]
• September 15 2007 - Miami, Knight Concert Hall ^[29]
• December 1 2007 - Vancouver, Queen Elizabeth Theatre ^{[citation needed]}
• December 25 2007 - Oberhausen, Arena Oberhausen (presented by International Music Productions) ^{[citation needed]}
• December 27 2007 - Stockholm, Globen Arena ^{[citation needed]}
• December 29 2007 - London, Hammersmith Apollo ^{[citation needed]}
• March 15 2008 - Houston, General Assembly Theater
• March 26 2008 - Dubai, Dubai Media City

See also

• Persian pop music
• List of famous Iranian women

References

External links

• Official webite
• Googoosh Fan Site
• All about Googoosh
• Googoosh at IMDb
• Iran Chamber

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