Conservative Newspaper Defends Homayoun Shajarian and Alireza Ghorbani: Who Decides When the Right Time to Sing Is?

On one hand, some ask why singers perform on stage under such conditions. On the other hand, artists who return to Iran or hold concerts abroad face a wave of protest and accusations from some of the same people.

Khorasan newspaper wrote: These days, Homayoun Shajarian went to Shiraz with the concert "Harja Ke Tui" and his voice is heard again in an official concert in Iran. What is going to happen in other cities of the country? But this concert, like many musical events, has turned into a topic for controversy and judgment very soon from its original path, which could be a good mood.

On the one hand, some people ask why singers go on stage in such conditions, and on the other hand, artists who return to Iran or hold concerts abroad face a wave of protests and accusations from some of these people.

In the middle of this, art and artist are the grindstone. These behaviors are the result of an incorrect and unwritten law that any singer who wants to hold a concert must defend his decision in front of various groups and to present his art at the judgment table of some people who see themselves as a rightful representative and an expert in all matters.

Why should we expect the singer to turn off his voice because of our personal opinion? If art and music performance are to be stopped from time to time due to some circumstances, absolute silence is the only thing that artists are busy with and they have to stop producing artwork forever. In this situation, who knows when is the right time to sing?

And more importantly, why should the artist or the audience pay for political, social, economic, etc. differences? Why should an artist like Homayoun Shajarian, Alireza Ghorbani, Mostafa Ragheb, Massoud Sadeghlou, Aron Afshar and many others remain silent, when a large number of people are eager to attend these concerts?

Criticism is different from condemning to silence

Anyone has the right to comment on a singer's choices, positions, or content; But criticism is different from pressure to shut down the performance and turn the entrance of the concert hall into a place of settlement.

Just as cultural managers cannot be asked to politicize art in favor of their own ideas, critics must also believe that if the artist shuts down his art as his only source of income, who will pay for his living?

The artist's return is not his all-round approval

Leaving aside Homayoun Shajarian, Alireza Ghorbani, etc., who have been attacked by some people today, the return of artists and the attack on some of them is one of the other issues that we have to deal with. The return of Qaiser, Mohsen Namjoo, Bijan Mortazavi, etc. has also caused many discussions.

You can question and criticize each of them, but the principle of returning to your homeland or deciding to work as an artist should not be turned into a crime. An artist's return does not necessarily mean his all-round approval; Just as his performance abroad is not a sign of opposition to the principles and foundations of Iran or its people.

Concert hall or clearing square

Let's accept this opinion based on the principle of fairness: the concert should not become a field for imposing our opinion on others. The audience can protest, but the protest should not become a tool to deny the right to perform and disturb the peace of mind of other spectators.

Both we the people and the cultural officials should adhere to a kind of democracy in art and not make concert halls a place for settling our accounts.

Of course, all the mentioned issues are not unique to Iran. In the world music scene, artists face pressure from some audiences due to their political positions.

Art needs performance to survive

In order to survive, art needs the possibility to experience, create and then perform. If the music remains stagnant and the artist is constantly worried about the judgment of different groups, we cannot expect to create new works that have something to say and the words of our hearts will be reflected in the works of these artists.

It is possible to disagree with an artist, criticize him and even not like his concert; But there is a long way between disagreeing with a choice and trying to silence the artist's voice.