Come gather 'round people, wherever you roam
Mohsen Namjoo don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows.
"'Iran's Bob Dylan' Under Fire Over Koran Song," by Golnaz Esfandiari for Payvand's Iran News, September 8 (thanks to Twostellas):
Mohsen Namjoo is Iran's most popular, and controversial, musician.He is known for fusing traditional Persian music with Western styles such as rock, jazz, and blues. He blends the verses of great Iranian poets, such as Hafiz and Rumi, with his own poetry and words.
Many see the 32-year-old Namjoo as a genius -- an avant-garde artist who breaks barriers. Others dismiss him as a lunatic. The fact is that no one can remain indifferent while listening to his songs.
Now, he is facing angry protests over a song that includes verses from the Koran.
His brother says the song was just an experiment not meant to be publicized, but angry Koran experts and religious figures say Namjoo should be punished for what they call an insult to Islam's holy book.
The song is a mix of traditional Persian music with Koranic verses spoken by Namjoo, who reportedly used to be a Koran reciter during his childhood.
'Remain Silent And Listen'
Namjoo's troublesome song was posted on websites several months ago. It all apparently happened without Namjoo's knowledge and consent. The song didn't get much attention among fans or become a hit like other Namjoo's songs, but it made some people very angry.
Abbas Mohajerani, an Iranian-born Islamic scholar based in London, tells Radio Farda that music distracts the listener from "the word of God."
"When the Koran is being read, everyone should remain silent and listen," Mohajerani says. "If there is music playing, then the listener's attention is largely caught by the music."
Abbas Salimi, a well-known Koran expert, was among the first to publicly complain about the song. In a recent complaint letter to Tehran's Prosecutor Saeed Mortazavi, Salimi said that Namjoo had performed verses of the Koran in an insulting way and that he should be punished.
More complaints have followed, including by the Koran Council of Iran's Department of National Health and by Tehran's Koran Society.
And the anger against Namjoo seems to be growing. One Koran reciter has compared the case with the controversy over Salman Rushdie's novel "The Satanic Verses" and the crisis over caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad that appeared in a Danish newspaper last year. He called on all Iranians and Koran lovers to stand up and defend their "sanctities."...
From your P.I.G. to Islam:
'Iran's Ayatollah Khomeini spoke vehemently about the evils of music - and not just rock and roll or rap, but all music:
'Music corrupts the minds of our youth. There is no difference between music and opium....Music is treason to our nation and to our youth...'
Fundamentalist Christians protest the use of words from Ecclesiates in the Byrds song Turn Turn Turn.
Oh, wait....
"Namjoo's troublesome song was posted on websites several months ago".....from headline.
The Qur'an itself is troublsome - which is putting it mildly - and since this song contains verses from the Qur'an, then of course this song would be equally troubling.
The fact that a song containing troublesome verses taken from the Qur'an creates such anger from Muslims, but the Qur'an does NOT generate this kind of anger, suggests to me that these people are freakin' fruit cakes.
Yeah, ya think!
We had a similar situation back in the sixties when the rock group The Byrds popularized a song that included verses from The Book of Ecclesiastes in The Old Testament.
Who can ever forget the angry Christians (and Jews) calling for the Byrds to be punished for what they called an insult to Christianity's holy book.
The blasphemous song went like this:
To everything (turn, turn, turn)
There is a season (turn, turn, turn)
And a time for every purpose, under heaven
A time to be born, a time to die
A time to plant, a time to reap
A time to kill, a time to heal
A time to laugh, a time to weep
To everything (turn, turn, turn)
There is a season (turn, turn, turn)
And a time for every purpose, under heaven
A time to build up,a time to break down
A time to dance, a time to mourn
A time to cast away stones, a time to gather stones together
To everything (turn, turn, turn)
There is a season (turn, turn, turn)
And a time for every purpose, under heaven
A time of love, a time of hate
A time of war, a time of peace
A time you may embrace, a time to refrain from embracing
To everything (turn, turn, turn)
There is a season (turn, turn, turn)
And a time for every purpose, under heaven
A time to gain, a time to lose
A time to rend, a time to sew
A time to love, a time to hate
A time for peace, I swear its not too late
sorry bigfoot, didn't see your post.
Bob Dylan...sicko.
Namjoo will be punished. His punishment will require him to sing publically the Jihadi Jingle "ODE TO JIHAD" (so beloved of Iran's mullahs):
ODE TO JIHAD
"Jihad will continue till the Day of Judgement; jihad will never stop.
tra-la-la-Alla-la-la
It has forced oppressor's head to bow; it will end oppression and torture.
tra-la-la-Alla-la-la
Jihad is the order of Allah; jihad is the path of the Prophet.
tra-la-la-Alla-la-la
Jihad is the assurance of loyalty; every true Muslim will be loyal.
tra-la-la-Alla-la-la
Jihad is mentioned in the Koran; jihad is the eternity of faith.
tra-la-la-Alla-la-la
This is the Will [of God], this is [His] happiness; no one can change it.
tra-la-la-Alla-la-la
Only Jihad has always cut the head of evil from the earth
tra-la-la-Alla-la-la
If jihad has the power in it; mischief will have no substance.
tra-la-la-Alla-la-la
Jihad alone gives voice; respect comes to the helpless.
tra-la-la-Alla-la-la
Jihad will make the gods of falsehood naked.
tra-la-la-Alla-la-la
Avoidance of jihad has given birth to subjugation.
tra-la-la-Alla-la-la
Enemies of Jihad will be dishonoured; they will sink into an unending abyss.
tra-la-la-Alla-la-la
Jihad is the protection of the Ummah; jihad is the symbol of self-respect.
tra-la-la-Alla-la-la
Jihad is a Revealed gift; only the lucky ones will get it.
tra-la-la-Alla-la-la
Jihad destroys terror; jihad brings good news.
tra-la-la-Alla-la-la
Jihad teaches how to live; only those will live who learn to die.
tra-la-la-Alla-la-la
Jihad is the state of ecstasy; jihad is the army of the brave.
tra-la-la-Alla-la-la
Jihad is the flag of truth; Never has it bowed, nor will it bow.
tra-la-la-Alla-la-la
Jihad is the kingdom of faith; jihad is the depth of emotions.
tra-la-la-Alla-la-la
Jihad is the destruction of heretics; those who fight against it will die.
tra-la-la-Alla-la-la
Jihad is to stand for truth; not go back once you have taken the step.
tra-la-la-Alla-la-la
Jihad is the Eagle's attack; falsehood will be victim.
After all that time in the well in Qom, it's actually quite plausible that the Mahdi could suffer from Subterranean Homesick Blues....
The nukes don't work 'cause the vandals took the handle.
Wicked Messenger.
It's unbelievable, it's strange but true,
It's inconceivable it could happen to you.
You go north and you go south
Just like bait in the fish's mouth.
Ya must be livin' in the shadow of some kind of evil star.
It's unbelievable it would get this far.
.....................................
Unbelievable, of course, except for the fact that it is Islam. Being an artist in a Muslim country must be hell on earth. Running afoul of the ever-shifting lines of outrage and blasphemy at some point or another is almost guaranteed.
Defend freedom of speech!
Well, there goes the Artists version of Muslim Outreach meant to attract those Hip Iranians.
Artists? We don't need no stinking Artists? Allah Hates Artists.
Well Tile Work is O.K. Must be because you spend so much time in your KNEES.
Koranverses? Songs?
Done:
'The Imam"
http://sheikyermami.com/2006/12/20/the-imam/
Pity the Muslims. They will never know how singing can uplift the spirit and how singing to your god can bring you joy.
Someday they'll find they have a friend in Jesus, when they're lifted up to the spirit in the sky.
One has to wonder why they would not seek any means to spread the "peace" of Allah. They're so limited. They can't see beyond the words.
How many years can a man be a Muslim
Without breaking the rules
How many years can a Muslim stand and think
Without discovering he's a fool
The answer, my friend
Is blowin' in the wind
The answer
Is blowin' in the wind
Sorry Mr. Dylan, I couldn't resist.
Could be a publicity stunt to coincide with his current US tour. But don't be put off. The guy has talent.
See his website: http://www.mohsennamjoo.at/web_pages/namjoo.html
You can hear him on youtube.
sorry about the redundancy, the website link and a youtube link are already up there.
I do like his sound though.
Wish I could top your gags, Marisol.
If I were Mohsen Namjoo I would sing these songs...To the Ayatollah, and then I would run...
'There's a man with a gun over there, telling me I got to beware',
and 'Because of You',
I got to 'Hit the road Jack, and I ain't coming back no more, no more'.
Bye Bye Birdie, becomes Bye Bye Iran.
'Shuffle off to Buffalo', or maybe a 'Slow boat to China'. He could get away 'In The Still of the Night'. No matter what, it's 'Up up and away', in my beautiful balloon'.
'Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego'?
If I was Mohsen, I would hop on the 'Midnight Express' to 'Casablanca', and look for her
at Ricks place.
'Here's looking at you babe', or something like that...
Mohsen won't find a 'Heart of Gold' in Iran,
especially not with the Ayatollah and Beasty Boy Ahmadinijad in charge. I know 'Breaking up is hard to do', but Mohsen needs to do it, 'Run Mohsen run'...'Take the money and run.'
We're always reminding ourselves on 9/11 to 'Never Forget'. I think it's time to show the enemy that They Will Never Forget
Good ones, duh_swami! And of course there's the hit single..."I Wanna Hold Your Qur'an"....but then again, who would want to, LOL!
Never mind Bob Dylan. There are more important matters.
Who is the Iranian Louise Brooks?
9http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQtHZeyIfrM
Who is the Iranian Silvana Mangano?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-HNZLg6ntI
That's what this youth wants to know.
Mohajerani says. "If there is music playing, then the listener's attention is largely caught by the music."
Well, well, well, it's a distraction. Bring on the music. Turn the volume up full blast. More music, less Islam. Sounds good to me.
Never mind Bob Dylan. There are more important matters.
Posted by: Hugh at September 8, 2008 8:22 PM
Pshaw! Bob Dylan, in all his cacophonic glory, always matters.
The central point of Robert's posting here is not lost on the sane, educated, nor nuanced.
..........................................
Posted by: Ynkedoodl at September 8, 2008 4:46 PM
One of the "better" songs ever recorded, imho. I think I'll download it now.
Done!
The picture, the title, the comments are funny, but an insult to Bob Dylan. I guess you couldn't really compare this guy to K Fed though, unless his music is just plain bad.
Do we need to discuss this moslem who is singing the KKoran when we could be boosting the discussion/viewership numbers for Stuck Mojo instead?
http://stuckmojo.net/
Thank You
He desicrated the Koran - behead him! Get a life loosers.
This is going to shock Christians, but many Christian hymnals contain a hymn that reflects a passage from the Quran. F.M. Lehman wrote "The Love of God" in 1917 which contains the following verse:
Could we with ink the ocean fill, and were the skies of parchment made,
Were every stalk of earth a quill, and every man a scribe by trade
To write the love of God above would drain the ocean dry
Nor could the scroll contain the whole, though stretched from sky to sky.
Compare that with Surah 31:27: If all the trees of the earth were pens, and the sea, replenished by seven more seas, were ink, the words of God could not be finished still.
The inspiration for that verse of the hymn was an inscription found on the wall of a hospital in the Middle East written in Arabic. Of course, there are lots of WORDS written in the Quran, but the God of the Quran isn't known for his LOVE.