November 06, 2003

O-HUM

O-HUM is probably the finest example of a fresh divergence in Iranian pop/rock music. Despite the ups and downs of the last few years, immigration to Canada and then back to Iran, departure of some band members, multiple delays of their new albums and a period of severed connection to their primary internet-based fans, they are now back with a fresh video.

I still believe them to be the only Iranian musical entity capable of breaking through the culture and language barriers to international recognition. Of course, this endeavor has been and will probably be fundamentally hampered by poor management, lack of experience and a general unawareness of the world outside a limited window of familiar but tired stipulations.

I wish the organizers of the annual Nobel Peace Prize concert who have promised to allow the event to partially reflect the country of the award winner ("Since planning starts in January, the artists invited to the concert aren't typically connected to the winner, who is announced in October. "But we do usually make a few late additions, to reflect the winner," said Stroemstad.") would considered inviting a band like O-HUM (or even Arian) to be the representative of the Iranian music that Iran's large 70% of the population under 30 listens to the most.

Posted by Pedram at November 6, 2003 10:23 AM
Comments

Although Arian and O-Hum are very creative; however, I think "Iran's large 70% of the population under 30" listens to Dariush "the most"; not Arian or O-Hum!!!

Posted by: A visitor at November 6, 2003 01:28 PM

ok , u are just being silly now !
they are not even a band anymore ! and they have never been , they couldn't manage an album

Posted by: reza at November 7, 2003 02:55 AM

they jut make some stupid noises and not a piece of music at all. they are probably just and just good in copying soem rock chords, that's all. please do not be excited with that political noble; we won't get anymore in future, just sit back and watch...

Posted by: H.D. at November 7, 2003 04:07 AM

hey now,...they R not bad but among all iranian singers,u must B kiddin me right?!?!?!?
we have as many underground & official bands in da ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN that we could`ve had them on concerst every night each day of the year,...dont u think some more POPULAR ones can do better?

Posted by: n.jaay at November 7, 2003 06:26 AM

I don't think popularity or "undergroundity" have anything to do with a representative iranian music. neither being modern should be a point here. If the music is going to represent the Iranian culture then they have to stick with classic iranian musical forms of current days such as what Hossein Alizadeh or others have. I am not a fan of those, but it doesn't matter how much do I listen to Haale, O-HUM, Ghazal, or other more modern (better to say outward!) Iranian bands, but it is REPRESENTATIVENESS that matters...

Posted by: Parsa at November 7, 2003 07:47 AM

O-hum are nice, just that they finished too soon and they were the first band that got publicity, and emerged out of the underground. Believe me underground is now full of good sounds.

Musical taste however is a different matter and I personally have trouble with using the melody of "ABCDEFG---HIJKLMNOP" [Children's ABC song] on Hafiz lyrics, as they did in the first track of their album.

Posted by: Kaveh Kh. at November 7, 2003 02:31 PM

I think Googoosh ia a good exemple:
a symbole of voice of an Iranian woman, who was silent for years, and who is one of the most popular Iranians, all around the world...

Posted by: marmoolak at November 7, 2003 03:26 PM