Googoosh

The performance I chose to blog about it is this one, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lspH0xvULoY. The song is typical of the traditional Middle Eastern style with heavy emphasis on chordophones and long drawn out vocals with lots of ornamentation by use of vibrato. This music has an influence from western pop music because pop music at the time this was produced in Iran was unheard of, especially by female singers. The progression of the song deviates greatly from typical instrumental music of the Middle East. Inclusion of female vocals before Umm Kulthum and Googoosh was unheard of. Based on the timeframe, I think another heavy influence on this music is from Umm Kulthum, who has been one of the most influential singers in the Arab Music world. Their solo styles are very simillar and it seems like these two female singers have created the path for more female Middle Eastern singers to breakthrough. Googoosh is an Iranian pop idol and as a result this song is a huge hit. Googoosh's solo singing with heavy ornamentation is the definitive style of the Middle Eastern pop music movement. Both Kulthum and Googosh have redefined the world of Middle Eastern music.