Mercury (Queen Music Band) receives Iran's seal of approval

theglobeandmail.com ^ | Tuesday, August 24, 2004 | AFP

[F14 Pilot]

Tehran -- Rock band Queen, fronted by outlandish gay icon Freddie Mercury, have become the first rock band to be given the official seal of approval in Iran with the release of an album of their greatest hits.

Mercury, who died of AIDS in 1991, was proud of his Iranian ancestry and supposed Zoroastrian origins.

Queen is one of the most popular bands in Iran, but western music is largely frowned upon in the Islamic republic, where homosexuality is considered a crime.

"Authorities approved of the tunes that had a social theme, leaving out the love songs," an executive in the company said. AFP

[F14 Pilot]

PING!

[F14 Pilot]

Iran gets Queen

http://entertainment.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4459,10551526%255E7484%255E%255Enbv,00.html

ROCK icons Queen, fronted by outlandish gay icon Freddie Mercury, have become the first rock band to be given the official seal of approval in Iran.
A record company source said an album of their greatest hits has been released in the country.

Mercury, who died of AIDS in 1991, was proud of his Iranian ancestry and supposed Zoroastrian origins.

It made Queen one of the most popular bands in Iran, but western music is largely frowned upon in the Islamic republic, where homosexuality is considered a crime.

"Authorities approved of the tunes that had a social theme, leaving out the love songs," an executive in the company said.

The album contains smash hits such as Bohemian Rhapsody, Miracle and I Want to Break Free.

Western music is strictly censored in Iran and those selling foreign music need special permits, although millions of bootlegged banned CDs and cassettes are sold on the black market throughout the country.

The album is already selling very well. "It is the first rock album to hit the market legally and people are surprised and pleased to see it has the lyrics, not just the music," said Akbar Safari, a salesman at a Tehran book and record store.

The cassette, costing less than one US dollar, comes complete with explanatory leaflet, which tells rock fans that Bohemian Rhapsody is about a young man who has accidentally killed someone and, like Faust, sold his soul to the devil. On the night before his execution he calls God in Arabic, Bismillah, and so regains his soul from Satan.

Other western acts to have had albums of selected songs released on the official Iranian market are Elton John, Julio Iglesias and Gypsy Kings.

There are also books containing original and translated lyrics by many western singers such as Leonard Cohen, Celine Dion and even white rap artist Eminem, published to respond to the ever increasing demands of a nation where 70 per cent of the population is under 30.

Agence France-Presse

[Dane]

I guess the first single released will be, "Fat Bhurka Girls".

[KangarooJacqui]

I have the CD single re-release of "Bohemian Rhapsody" from 1991, when Freddy Mercury died. Wow. It doesn't seem that long ago to me, really, and I'm only 31...

That is one of my favourite songs from childhood. That, and Swedish band Abba's "Chiquita", and Gerry Rafferty's "Baker Street", and the New Zealand band The Swingers' "Counting the Beat" (erm, I think that was 1980 - does that count, since I was born in 1972?)

All great listening.

I'm still shaking my head about Freddy Mercury actually being APPROVED by the IRanian authorities, though. Whoah!

[F14 Pilot]

There is no Burka in Iran, Girls wear light covers named Manteau and a light scarf.

[Dane]

Thanks for the information. Have seen some pictures of women wearing burkas in Iran, though.

Just making a little joke on the Queen song, "Fat Bottom Girls".

[GOPyouth]

Queen is by far one of my favorite bands. They were definitely at their peak on the Magic tour in 86. I'm glad they went out on top.

[Recovering_Democrat]

The guy had some demons, for sure. But he was extremely talented.

I wonder if this song of his will be played on Iran's radio:

Jesus
by Freddie Mercury

And then I saw him in the crowd
A lot of people had gathered round him
The beggars shouted, the lepers called him
The old man said nothing
He just stared about him
All going down to see the lord Jesus
All going down (going down) to see the lord Jesus
All going down

Then came a man before his feet he fell
Unclean said the leper, rang his bell
Felt the palm of a hand touch his head
Go now, go now you're a new man instead
All going down (going down) to see the lord Jesus
All going down to see the lord Jesus - alright
All going down

It all began with the three wise men
Followed a star took them to Bethlehem
And made it heard throughout the land
Born was the leader of man
All going down (going down) to see the lord Jesus
All going down (going down to bethlehem) to see the lord Jesus
All going down

It all began with the three wise men
Followed a star took them to Bethlehem
And made it heard throughout the land
Born was the leader of man
Yes we're all going down to see the lord Jesus
All going down to see the lord Jesus
All going down

---

This was written at the beginning of Fred's career, back around 1973. And one of the last songs he sang, on the last album released before he died:

All God's People
written by Queen, lyrics attributed to Freddie Mercury and Mike Moran

So all you people give freely
Make welcome inside your homes, (ooh) ooh
Thank God you people give freely (yeah)
Don't turn your back on the lesson of the Lord
All prime ministers (yeah) and majesty around the world, yeah
Open your eyes, look, touch and feel
Rule with your heart (rule with your heart)
Live with your conscience (live with your conscience)

Love, love and be free
Love, love and be free
We're all God's people
Gotta face up
Better grow up
Gotta stand tall and be strong
Gotta face up
Better grow up
Gotta face up
Better grow up
Gotta stand tall and be strong
Gotta face up
Better grow up
We're all God's people
Gotta face up
Better grow up
Yeah yeah - yes there was this magic light
I said to myself
I'd better go to bed and have an early night
Then I, then I, then I, then I went into a dream
Rule with your heart and live with your conscience
We're all God's people, yeah, give freely, yeah
Make welcome inside your homes
Let us be thankful, he's so incredible
We're all God's people

Mercury did not live as he should have, and his body paid a price. I hope he made his heart right with God before he went on...his work certainly shows he knew about the Way. Perhaps he turned aright in his heart in his final, lonely days.

[George W. Bush]

I'm trying to picture the ayatollahs whirling like dervishes to "Fat Bottomed Girls".

[Siamese Princess]

Occasionally, there is a crackdown on "immodest" unIslamic dress. The girls in the pictures might be arrested for displaying too much hair, wearing makeup, wearing tops that don't completely hide the fact that they have legs, and displaying shapely wrists.

[risk]

We Are The Champions

Queen

I've paid my dues, time after time,
I've done my sentence but committed no crime,
And bad mistakes, I've made a few.
I've had my share of sand kicked in my face but I've come through.
And I need to go on, and on, and on, and on.

Chorus:
We are the champions my friend.
And we'll keep on fighting till the end.
We are the champions. We are the champions.
No time for losers 'cause we are the champions
of the world.

I've taken my bows and my curtain calls.
You brought me fame and fortune and ev'rything that goes with it,
I thank you all.
But it's been no bed of roses, no pleasure cruise.
I consider it a challenge before the whole human race
and I ain't gonna lose.

Chorus:
We are the champions my friend.
And we'll keep on fighting till the end.
We are the champions. We are the champions.
No time for losers 'cause we are the champions
of the world.

[freedom44]

Actually there are no women in Iran wearing the Burqa. The most traditional wear the chador [which is a black covering, but nothing similar to the burqa]

[DTA]

He is lucky he did not get fatwa.

Mustapha Words and music by Freddie Mercury Ibrahim, Ibrahim, Ibrahim, Allah, Allah, Allah, Allah will pray for you. Hey! Mustapha, Mustapha, Mustapha Ibrahim. Mustapha, Mustapha, Mustapha Ibrahim. Mustapha Ibrahim, Mustapha Ibrahim Allah, Allah, Allah will pray for you. Mustapha Ibrahim, al havra kris vanin Allah, Allah, Allah will pray for you. Mustapha, hey! Mustapha Mustapha Ibrahim, Mustapha Ibrahim, hey! Allah-i, Allah-i, Allah-i, Ibra-Ibra-Ibrahim, yeah! Ibrahim, Ibrahim, Ibrahim, Allah Allah Allah-i hey! Mustapha Mustapha - Allah-i na stolei Mustapha Mustapha - Achtar es na sholei Mustapha Mustapha - Mochamut dei ya low eshelei Mustapha Mustapha - ai ai ai ai ahelei Mustapha, Mustapha, Ist avil ahiln avil ahiln adhim Mustapha, Salaam Aleikum! Mustapha Ibrahim, Mustapha Ibrahim Allah, Allah, Allah will pray for you. Mustapha Ibrahim, achbar ish navin Allah, Allah, Allah will pray for you. Mustapha, Mustapha Mustapha Ibrahim, Mustapha Ibrahim, hey! Allah-i, Allah-i, Allah-i, Ibra-Ibra-Ibrahim, yeah! Ibrahim, Ibrahim, Ibrahim, Allah Allah Allah-i hey! Mustapha Mustapha Mustapha Mustapha Mustapha Mustapha Mustapha Mustapha Mustapha, Mustapha, Vontap ist ahiln avil ahiln adhim Mustapha, Aleikum Salaam hey!

[Akira]

Some related photoshop wizardry from Allah

.

[F14 Pilot]

Allah-i na stolei Mustapha Mustapha - Achtar es na sholei

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?

[freedom44]

Funny picture. Cool site, it has a link to Student movement Coordination Committee for Democracy in Iran.

[Recovering_Democrat]

I love that song.

[RightWhale]

The music score to Flash Gordon is one of about 4 CDs I ever bought just because I liked the music.

[fnord]

he calls God in Arabic, Bismillah, and so regains his soul from Satan

lol, I always thought they sang "Miss Miller", and I could never make sense of the meaning. Thanks for clearing that up ...