Last night I attended a concert at the Dubai Trade Center.  What I was expecting was a low-key, mellow night of great music and great company with thousands of my fellow compatriots who had traveled from Iran so we could all share this moment together.  I also wasn’t expecting the event to be sold-out in-light of the current economic climate.  What I saw was something quite astonishing.

When Dariush Eghbali and Faramaz Aslani, the great legends of Iranian soul music took to the stage the atmosphere turned electric.   The cheering, the chanting and the screaming of affection towards these two great singers warmed my heart.  It was clear that the Iranian people had not forgotten their superstars, nor had they forgotten their past glory.  There wasn’t one song that didn’t have audience participation.  Young and old, post revolution generation and prerevolution generation all joined in as one voice.  Ladies with roosaree (hijab) and without were having a great time and on their feet showing their love for great music and a sense of freedom that they are deprived of in Iran.

Below is a video clip of Dariush singing one of his classics “do bareh meesazamat vatan”  (I will rebuild you once again my homeland).  At the end of this clip you can hear chants of  marg bar dictator “death to the dictator” .    What a memorable night, I just hope someday soon we can have this concert at Azadi Stadium in Iran where millions of Iranians can enjoy such great entertainment.