1. The last day of 1382 are coming to an end. I had a great Chehar shanbeh soroori (last Wednesday night of a year ceremony) in 1382. Chaharshanbeh soori is an ancient ceremony that people would celebrate the last Wednesday of any Iranian year by throwing fireworks in the air and lying fire-wood and jumping from top of the flames and singing: “Your reddish and heat for me and my yellowish and pale for fire.” I spent with friends and we went for a couple of hours in 13. st. in Velenjak. I would describe it as a night of joy and happiness. Many young couple even attended with their 2 or 1 years old kids. Plus, of course, many young boys and girls who had got opportunity to mingle. Police would pass by without disturbing the crowed. I didn’t see many police except when we drove through Meydal Mohseni (Mohseni Square) I saw many of those Special Forces on the south and south east corner of the square. To my surprise there were no people around! Over all, an enjoyable night.
2. I am leaving Tehran in 4 hours. So, I cannot write more. Please forgive me for my errors:-)))
3. HAPPY IRANIAN NEW year to all my reader and friends around the world. Wishing every single of you a prosperous and healthy new year.
4. Many thanks to those people who wished me a happy new year.
5. I leave you with a couple of notes from my last year experience in Iran when I arrived first:
Esfahani concert:
I finally went to Mohammad Esfahani concert. I had a ticket that was given a friend of mine whom has some connection in ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance. The concert was held in International Exhibition Place in Tehran inside a newly built building that is called Milad complex. I realized many concerts are held in Milad complex. The building is about 10-floors complex that people who attend must walk up the stairs! I didn’t see any elevator or escalator!! There are entrances that are in slop inclining in 15 degrees quite similar to entrance of Sky Dome, Toronto, Canada that is used for exit. The complex can easily take into itself about three thousand people. What struked me first was lack of washroom in such a large complex. For men there is only one washroom with 4 units in them! That is why if you want to go to the washroom, consider 15 mintues being late at least for any plan you have had!!
When we arrived inside the building there is waiting area (reception) before getting entered to the concert hall. The place reminded me of Iranian population abroad. Girls are standing around with lots of make up. Many with cellular phones who are supposedly either waiting for their dates or their dates are already with them.
Concert started with Mr. Esfahani famous and one of my favorite songs known as “Lalehaye Ashegh”. This is a rhythmic song that asks people to recall there is a difference between what they hear and what they see! (i.e. Jamat yek donya farghe bein-e didano Shenidan!)
The problem was that audience were still entering to the hall and Mr. Esfahani right a way with the first song tried to ask the audience to sing along or as I put it inject some energy to an audience that were in process of establishing themselves in the hall. People weren’t ready at the time! So, no one sing along and he become KENEF!!!
Most of the songs were from his last album plus a few songs from his new album. He performed one of the songs apparently I had heard that was not included in his new album because he had not got permission for it. He sang that song which is quite rhythmic. The poem goes like this:
Jani keh Bakhshd digar nagirad
Marg ast Sedi, to dar kamini
Sorat gari ra, az man biamoz
Shayd keh khod ra baz afarini
Part of this song is as a flash in mohammad esfahani site (i.e. www.mohammadesfahani.com). He also sang the Nouno-dalghak (bread and clown) from his new album. I believe this is an interesting song because he might be the first Iranian singer that has made a convolute of digital music and a singer’s voice. It is new in Iranian music industry I suppose. It was quite interesting to see an old couple in front of us who were crying on each other shoulders. They were reacting like they are a newly wedded couple!
Esfahani’s musicians were about 29 people with 13 choir singers. They were all in black cloths. It seemed to me that they were told not to show any emotions. I find even Esfahani himself was lacking a real connection to the audience since he wouldn’t change his emotions with any song regardless of its bits. Either a fast song or a slow song he was in sad mode! Therefore, I found his concert interesting only for once. He is not an entertainer per say. I would rather listen to him on the radio station than going to his concert!!
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