Report By Darius KADIVAR
Giants Meet: Googoosh and Farah
©Farah Pahlavi
Each in their own right have reigned
upon our hearts and lives for decades. They represent the two quintessential
living icons that all Iranian girls have aspired to for generations and Iranian boys have dreamed
of as mother, wife, or mistress (*) : Googoosh the Pop Star of pre-revolution
Iran, the symbol of emancipation of the Iranian Women under the Pahlavi Rule and
whose tremendous voice and charisma propelled her into the limelight of success
and popularity never equaled by any other Iranian female celebrity. Shahbanou
Farah Pahlavi was the shy Paris Art Student whose Cinderella like destiny was to
become the very first Crowned Queen of the 2500 years old Persian Monarchy.
Queen of
Hearts: Googoosh and Shahbanou Farah
Both Giants have lived up to their
public image despite highs and lows of life and destiny. The Queen of Iran was
the most respected and widely photographed women of the 20th Century.
Host to the Persepolis Celebrations of October 1971 and happily married to one
the mightiest rulers of the World, her role was not just symbolic. She was
deeply involved in social and cultural activities and missions throughout her
reign and was to become the muse of Western Artists worldwide. (**) Googoosh’s
talents were to be noticed beyond Iranian frontiers by the end of the 70’s and
she was awarded in France and Germany with
several prestigious Awards in Music. But the dark days that followed the Islamic
revolution was to be determinant in turning both living icons into Legends for
the majority of Iranians beyond political and social preferences. The exiled
Queen was to keep her head high and become a true ambassador for the ever
growing Silent Majority of Iranians both in exile or in Iran. Her
dignity and kindness have earned her the respect of her compatriots over the
years. As for Googoosh, she was to equally resist in silence for 20 years after
making a miraculous comeback
in the year 2000 thanks to the more open policies of the Iranian government
under former President Khatami, which allowed the Persian Diva to leave the
country and undertake one of the most remarkable 2nd career for an
artist forced to silence for more than two decades.
Googoosh offers her latest album to the Empress in the 1970’s
©Iranian.com
As for all people in the public eye
be it celebrities or Royals, Googoosh and the Shahbanou’s lives have always been
under scrutiny by the press. Unconfirmed rumors of all sorts were circulating
over the years as to why Googoosh and the Empress were not seen together in
public since the Diva’s return from Iran. Some claimed that Googoosh had
been approached by various political groups who tried in vain to lure her into
political activism. Others claimed that Googoosh was at odds with the Royal
family because of alleged sexual assaults on her before the revolution by members of the Pahlavi family or that
the SAVAK, the Shah’s secret police, had intimidated her during their reign.
Googoosh was also falsely accused by former fans to have supported the
Revolution and Ayatollah Khomeini rise to power by singing the song “Agha
Khoubeh” a song which was actually
written many years prior to the Revolution. In an interview given to Singer
Mehrdad on an LA based Iranian TV channel, Googoosh actually denied to have ever
had any political intentions in singing this song but that it was released just
during the events and in the confused days of the revolution. None of these
ridiculous rumors were ever confirmed but the question as to when and where the
two Public Icons would meet remained a public curiosity.
In the Star’s lounge : ( Left to Right ) Princess Farahnaz,
Shahbanou Farah,
Googoosh, and Princess Iman 2nd daughter of Crown
Prince Reza © Farah Pahlavi
The tragic death of Princess Leila
the youngest daughter of the Empress which was followed by the unexpected
terrorist attacks of September 11Th, and the visa restrictions
imposed on all Iranian expats in the aftermath of this attack could explain why
this encounter did not take place earlier. The Shahbanou and Googoosh were
equally subject to these restrictions due to the simple fact that neither had an
American Passport. One or two of Googoosh’s concerts in the US were simply
canceled as for the Empress, whose children and grandchildren reside in the US,
she was also subject to humiliating visa controls at both American and Canadian
Airports by security officers who simply would ignore her rank and identity as
former Empress of Iran.
Fan kisses the Shahbanou during the
Concert of Googoosh at the
Madison Square Garden Auditorium, NY,
granddaughter
Princess Iman just
behind © Farah Pahlavi
It was finally thanks to a common
contact that the Empress’ office and that of Googoosh were to be put into
contact with one another, and that the decision to organize the much expected
meeting was to be taken.
The thousands of fans, packed at the
Legendary Madison Square Garden Concert Hall on the evening of Oct.
21st 2006 could hardly believe their eyes when seeing Googoosh and
Mehrdad announce the arrival and presence of the Pahlavi Family : The Shahbanou,
her daughter Princess Farahnaz and her second granddaughter Princess Iman ( for
whom it was certainly the very first public appearance before a huge crowd of
compatriots). The Crowd greeted the Royals with deep enthusiasm, cheers and
claps as the Shahbanou responded
with a bow of acknowledgment to her compatriots. After the concert the Royal
Family was also warmly greeted by fans in the crowd who kissed them
affectionately and asked for autographs.
Left to
Right: Princess Farahnaz, Shahbanou Farah and Dr. Shahrokh Ahkami
who organized the meeting between the
Royal Family and Googoosh.
©Farah Pahlavi
Towards the end of the Concert
Googoosh and Mehrdad put up the Iranian Flag with Sun and Lion and were cheered
by a standing ovation. The meeting between the two giants and their close
friends and family would finally
take place in the Star’s Lounge and was a very emotional and nostalgic meeting
for all people present. The Persian Diva and the Shahbanou hugged one another
warmly and posed for the photographers.
End of
Concert : Googoosh and Mehrdad Salut the Royal Family and Hold
the Iranian
Sun and Lion Flag under a standing ovation. © Farah
Pahlavi
Nearly 30 years had separated their
last meeting. Googoosh had performed many times for the Royal Family and was a
favorite of the Pahlavi children. And they were to recall the party given for
the Crown Prince’s Birthday in 1977 during which Googoosh was to sing a
memorable “Tavalodat Mobarak” aka Happy Birthday tune to
everyone’s enthusiasm.
Googoosh sings (video clip here)
at a private party attended by the royal family,
including a young Crown
Prince Reza Pahlavi shaking his head to the beat (1977).
©Iranian.com
It was high time for the third
generation of the family to be presented to Googoosh in the person of an
enthusiastic and fast growing Princess Iman.
The Press was conveyed to retire and
the Diva and Royal Family were to spend time together in Private.
Nostalgia and mutual respect between
the two major Female Iranian Icons of 20th Century was to mark this
unique evening. Lets hope their will be more occasions like this in the future,
maybe one day even in Iran, who knows ?
…
Author’s
Notes :
Official Website of HIM Shahbanou
Farah: http://www.farahpahlavi.org/
Googoosh Fan Site : http://www.googoosh.tv/
Googoosh Rocks Toronto : See
Concert :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f05O2dnVpLo&search=Persian%20Iran%20Googoosh%20Farsi
(**)Recommended Reading : Empress of the Arts by
Darius KADIVAR
Recommended Viewing : Googoosh sings (video clip here)
at a private party attended by the royal family, including a young Crown Prince
Reza Pahlavi shaking his head to the beat (1977).
Recommended
Reading :
Alain Delon’s Tribute
to the Shahbanou Paris Alzheimer Gala 2005.
Recommended Reading : Iran's
pop diva Googoosh returns to the world stage after two decades
About the Author: Darius KADIVAR is a Freelance
Journalist, Film Historian and Columnist of the OCPC Magazine USA. He operated
as Paris based
Head of PR & Press for WAALM® 2nd annual
Awards 2006.
