Faegheh Atashin (Persian: فائقه آتشین; born 5 May 1950), known professionally as Googoosh (Persian: گوگوش, Persian: [guːˈguːʃ] ), is an Iranian singer and former actress. One of the most popular and prolific entertainers in Iran, her career has spanned over six decades.[1][2][3] Googoosh has enjoyed significant popularity since the beginning of her career, ultimately becoming a cultural icon inside Iran and abroad.[4][5][6]

Googoosh
گوگوش
Googoosh at the Hollywood Bowl, May 2018
Born
Faegheh Atashin

(1950-05-05) 5 May 1950 (age 74)[1]
Occupations
  • Singer
  • actress
Years active1953–1979; 2000–present
Spouses
(m. 1967; div. 1972)
(m. 1975; div. 1976)
Homayoun Mesdaghi
(m. 1977; div. 1989)
(m. 1991; div. 2003)
Children1
Musical career
LabelsAvang, Caltex, MZM, Pars Video, Taraneh, RCA Italiana, RCA Victor, Barclay
WebsiteOfficial website Edit this at Wikidata

She is mainly known for her contributions to Iranian pop music, but she also starred in a variety of Persian movies from the 1950s to the 1970s.[7][8] She achieved the pinnacle of her fame and success towards the end of the 1970s. In the 1970s, Googoosh was widely emulated by Iranian women, as they copied her clothing (miniskirts) and her short haircut (known as the "Googooshi").[1][9] Following the Iranian Revolution in 1979, she remained in Tehran until 2000 and did not perform again during that period due to the ban on female singers. Younger generations of Iranians have rediscovered her music via bootleg recordings.[10] After leaving Iran in 2000, she performed a total of 27 concerts in European and North American countries in that year.[11] Recent projects include a new collaboration with Iranian singer-songwriter Hassan Shamaizadeh from her 2012 album Ejaz, as well as serving as head judge and head of academy for the popular reality show Googoosh Music Academy broadcast on London-based satellite channel Manoto 1.[12]

Since her return to the stage in the summer of 2000, she has performed in concerts and venues all around the world, including the Madison Square Garden in New York, the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, the Ericsson Globe in Stockholm, Honda Center in Anaheim, Royal Albert Hall in London and the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles [13] She has recorded songs in many languages including Persian, Azerbaijani, Turkish, English, Spanish, Italian, Arabic, Armenian and French.[14] She has a significant following outside of Iran and has even received the attention of European and African media and press.[15]

Early life

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Googoosh began singing and acting at a young age with her father, Saber
4-year-old Googoosh with her mother Nasrin Atashin

Googoosh was born as Faegheh Atashin on 5 May 1950, in Tehran,[1] to Azerbaijani parents who emigrated from the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic of the Soviet Union.[16] She was quickly called "Googoosh", an Armenian name normally exclusively used for boys but which became her stage name.[17] In an interview she noted that she was called Googoosh from a very early age; in her birth certificate however her birth name Faegheh is recorded.[18][19][16]

Career

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Before the Revolution (1953–1979)

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Googoosh performing on stage in Tehran

During the 1970s, Googoosh began a meteoric rise to fame and success as she drove the edge of Iranian pop music further and further. Known for her flamboyant outfits and fashion sense, Googoosh wowed her pop-culture-hungry fans in Iran and abroad with her trademark hairdos and hip-elegant style, inspiring many Iranian women to copy her hairdos.[9] Her music ranged from upbeat 1960s and 1970s pop, given a traditional-tinged edge,[20] to declamatory, emotional ballads dealing with love and loss, comparable to the chanson style of music by artists like Édith Piaf. Her music was popular among non-Persian-speaking audiences as well. She starred in over 25 movies, one of which was to be the most commercially successful Iranian motion picture of all time. Googoosh performed many times for the royal family and was a favorite of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi's wife and children. She performed at the party given for the 17th birthday of Reza Pahlavi, Crown Prince of Iran.[21]

At the time of the Iranian Revolution in 1979, Googoosh was in Los Angeles. However, feeling homesick, she decided to return to Iran. In response to why she remained in Iran after the revolution, she said that it was "out of love of her for her homeland".[22] Despite being a symbol of many things that the revolution tried to overturn, especially related to perceptions of excessive Westernization, Googoosh remained in Iran for years afterward.[23] After the revolution, Googoosh, like other artists, was forbidden from performing and her material was banned. She would not perform again until Mohammad Khatami's presidency, during which she was allowed to tour outside of the country.[citation needed]

Comeback World Tour(2000–2001)

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Country City Venue Date
  Canada
Toronto
Air Canada Centre
29 July 2000
Vancouver
Pacific Coliseum
5 August 2000
  United States
Los Angeles
The Forum
19 August 2000
New York
Nassau Coliseum
26 August 2000
Houston
Compaq Center
3 September 2000
Washington, D.C
MCI Center
16 September 2000
Oakland
Oakland Arena
23 September 2000
Orange County
Arrowhead Pond
7 October 2000
Los Angeles
Staples Center
21 October 2000
Chicago
UIC Pavilion
28 October 2000
San Jose
San Jose Arena
5 November 2000
Atlantic City
Trump Taj Mahal
18 November 2000
Las Vegas
MGM Grand Garden Arena
24 December 2000
25 December 2000
  Germany
Oberhausen
Oberhausen Arena
30 December 2000
Frankfurt
Festhalle Frankfurt
1 January 2001
  United Kingdom
London
Wembley Arena
6 January 2001
  Sweden
Stockholm
Globen Arena
13 January 2001
  Germany
Bremen
Stadthalle Bremen
24 February 2001
  Sweden
Stockholm
Globen Arena
3 March 2001
  France
Paris
Zenith Hall
16 March 2001
  United Kingdom
London
Wembley Arena
17 March 2001
  Austria
Vienna
Wiener Stadthalle
18 March 2001
  United Arab Emirates
Dubai
Dubai World Trade Centre
21 March 2001
Al Ahli Club Stadium
24 March 2001
  Tunisia
Tunis
Carthage Amphitheater
19 July 2001
  Canada
Toronto
Air Canada Centre
18 August 2001
THE END

2003 - 2005 Concerts

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Country Venue Date
  United States
Los Angeles
The Forum
8 February 2003
Orange County
Honda Center
24 May 2003
Washington, D.C
Verizon Center
4 October 2003
Las Vegas
Thomas & Mack Center
25 December 2004
With Mehrdad Asemani
Los Angeles
The Forum
17 September 2005
Fairfax
Patriot Center
24 September 2005
San Francisco
Bill Graham Civic Auditorium
12 November 2005
Las Vegas
Thomas & Mack Center
24 December 2005
THE END

Googoosh & Mehrdad Asemani: 2006 Concerts

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Country Venue Date
  United States
Dallas
Nokia Theatre
11 March 2006
  Canada
Vancouver
GM Place
27 May 2006
Toronto
Air Canada Centre
3 June 2006
  United States
San Diego
Symphony Hall
9 September 2006
Los Angeles
Kodak Theater
7 October 2006
8 October 2006
New York
Madison Square Garden
21 October 2006
THE END

Googoosh & Mehrdad Asemani: 2007 Concerts

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Country Venue Date
  United States
Atlanta
Atlanta Civic Center
13 January 2007
San Jose
Flint Center
20 January 2007
  Canada
Toronto
Air Canada Centre
7 July 2007
  United States
Miami
Knight Concert Hall
15 September 2007
  Canada
Vancouver
Queen Elizabeth Theatre
1 December 2007
  Germany
Oberhausen
Oberhausen Arena
25 December 2007
  Sweden
Stockholm
Globen Arena
27 December 2007
  United Kingdom
London
The Hammersmith Apollo
29 December 2007
THE END

Googoosh & Mehrdad Asemani: 2008 Concerts

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Country Venue Date
  United States
Houston
George R. Brown Convention Center
15 March 2008
  United Arab Emirates
Dubai
Dubai Media City
26 March 2008
Without Mehrdad Asemani
  United States
Ledyard
MGM Grand at Foxwoods Resort & Casino
28 June 2008
Los Angeles
Nokia Theatre
23 August 2008
THE END

Googoosh: Memory Lane World Tour (2009-2010)

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Country Venue Date
  United States
Oakland
Paramount Theatre
21 March 2009
Washington, D.C
DAR Constitution Hal
6 June 2009
  Australia
Melbourne
Dallas Brooks Centre
7 August 2009
Sydney
Sydney Convention Centre
8 August 2009
  Malaysia
Kuala Lumpur
KLCC Concert Hall
19 September 2009
  United Arab Emirates
Dubai
World Trade Center
29 November 2009
  United Kingdom
London
Wembley Arena
21 March 2010
  United Arab Emirates
Dubai
World Trade Center
23 March 2010
  Canada
Toronto
Ricoh Coliseum
17 April 2010
  Turkey
Antalya
Konyaalti Open Air Theater
1 August 2010
  Iraq
Erbil
Babylon World Amphitheatre
12 September 2010
  Turkey
Istanbul
Istanbul Convention Cente
15 September 2010
  Canada
Vancouver
Queen Elizabeth Theatr
18 September 2010
  Sweden
Stockholm
Kista Massan
24 December 2010
  Germany
Koln
Koln Arena
25 December 2010
THE END

2011 Concerts

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Country Venue Date
  United States
San Jose
Flint Center
26 February 2011
  Turkey
Istanbul
Istanbul Congress Center
24 March 2011
  Malaysia
Kuala Lumpur
Merdeka Hall
27 March 2011
  United States
Los Angeles
Nokia Theatre
9 April 2011
  Monaco
Monte Carlo
Grimaldi Forum Monaco
23 July 2011
  Turkey
Antalya
Konyaalti Open Air Theater
25 July 2011
  United Arab Emirates
Dubai
Shoppiesta
2 September 2011
  Germany
Hamburg
O2 World
23 December 2011
  France
Paris
Théâtre du Châtelet
26 December 2011
THE END

2012 Concerts

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Country Venue Date
  Canada
Vancouver
Queen Elizabeth Theatre
3 March 2012
  United States
Washington, D.C
DAR Constitution Hall
17 March 2012
  United Kingdom
London
Royal Theater Drury Lane
20 March 2012
  Canada
Montreal
Place des arts
14 April 2012
Toronto
Powerade center
28 April 2012
  Turkey
Antalya
Konyaalti Open Air Theater
18 August 2012
  United States
San Francisco
Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall
25 August 2012
Houston
Hobby Center
15 September 2012
  Canada
Calgary
Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium
6 October 2012
THE END

Ejaz World Tour (2012-2014)

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Country Venue Date
  United States
Los Angeles
Nokia Theatre
27 October 2012
  Sweden
Stockholm
Radisson Waterfront Congress Centre
23 December 2012
  Germany
Koln
Koln Arena
25 December 2012
  United Arab Emirates
Dubai
World Trade Centre
24 March 2013
  United Kingdom
London
Royal Albert Hall
26 March 2013
  Canada
Toronto
Meridian Hall
11 May 2013
  Turkey
Antalya
Konyaalti Open Air Theater
18 August 2013
  Canada
Vancouver
Queen Elizabeth Theatre
7 September 2013
Ottawa
National Arts Centre
28 September 2013
  Australia
Melbourne
Dallas Brook Hall
25 October 2013
Sydney
Hillsong Auditorium Convention Centre
26 October 2013
  Austria
Vienna
Austria Center
21 December 2013
  Germany
Koln
Lanxess Arena
25 December 2013
  Sweden
Stockholm
Radisson Waterfront Congress Centre
28 December 2013
  United States
Dallas
Verizon Theatre
8 February 2014
San Jose
Flint Centre
22 February 2014
Washington, D.C
DAR Constitution Hall
1 March 2014
New York
Kupferberg Center for the Arts
15 March 2014
THE END

Googoosh & Ebi: Nostalgia World Tour (2014)

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Country Venue Date
  United Arab Emirates
Dubai
World Trade Centre
21 March 2014
  Canada
Toronto
Air Canada Centre
21 June 2014
  United States
Orange County
Honda Center
16 August 2014
  Turkey
Antalya
Konyaalti Open Air Theater
31 August 2014
  Canada
Vancouver
Thunderbird Arena
8 November 2014
  United States
Washington, D.C
Patriot Center
28 November 2014
San Jose
San Jose Event Center
29 November 2014
  Germany
Koln
Koln Arena
20 December 2014
  United Kingdom
London
Wembley Arena
23 December 2014
  United States
Las Vegas
Mandalay Bay Arena
27 December 2014
THE END

Googoosh: Akse Khosoosi World Tour (2015-2016)

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Country Venue Date
  Canada
Montreal
Place Des Arts
4 April 2015
  Turkey
Antalya
Konyaalti Open Air Theater
30 August 2015
  Australia
Sydney
Olympic Sydney Dome
12 December 2015
Melbourne
Melbourne Convention Center
13 December 2015
  Germany
Hamburg
Barclaycard Arena
19 December 2015
  United States
Orlando
Bob Carr Theater
12 March 2016
New York
Kupferberg Center for the Arts
19 March 2016
  Turkey
Antalya
Cam Piramit
23 March 2016
29 March 2016
  United States
San Jose
Flint Center
9 April 2016
  Canada
Toronto
Ricoh Coliseum
30 April 2016
  United States
Los Angeles
Microsoft Theater
14 May 2016
Chicago
Copernicus Center
28 May 2016
Atlanta
Cobb Energy Center
27 August 2016
Washington, D.C
DAR Constitution Hall
1 October 2016
  Canada
Vancouver
Queen Elizabeth Theatre
3 December 2016
  Germany
Frankfurt
Jahrhunderthalle
17 December 2016
  United Kingdom
London
The SSE Arena
22 December 2016
  Sweden
Stockholm
Victoria Hall
25 December 2016
THE End

2017 Concerts

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Country Venue Date
  United States
Phoenix
Mesa Arts Center
4 February 2017
Houston
Hobby Center
18 February 2017
New York
Kupferberg Center for the Arts
18 March 2017
  United Arab Emirates
Dubai
World trade center
24 March 2017
  Kuwait
Kuwait City
Kuwait Opera House
5 May 2017
  United States
Orange County
Segerstorm Center for The Arts
1 July 2017
  Armenia
Yerevan
Karen Demirchyan Sports and Concerts Complex
31 August 2017
  Georgia
Tbilisi
Tbilisi Sports Palace
3 September 2017
  Northern Cyprus
Famagusta
Kaya Artemis Resort and Casino
7 September 2017
  Canada
Calgary
Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium
16 September 2017
Toronto
Meridian Hall
21 October 2017
Montreal
Place des arts
1 December 2017
THE END

The Memory Makers World Tour (With Hassan Shamaeizadeh & Ardalan Sarfaraz) (2017-2018)

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Country Venue Date
  Sweden
Gothenburg
Lisebergshallen
22 December 2017
  Germany
Düsseldorf
ISS Dome
23 December 2017
Hamburg
Barclaycard Arena
30 December 2017
  United States
Washington, D.C
DAR Constitution Hall
24 February 2018
New York
Beacon Theatre
2 March 2018
  Netherlands
Amsterdam
The Concertgebouw
17 March 2018
  United Arab Emirates
Dubai
Dubai Opera House
20 March 2018
  Georgia
Tbilisi
Tbilisi Sports Palace
22 March 2018
  Armenia
Yerevan
Karen Demirtchian Sport/Concert Complex
23 March 2018
  Turkey
Istanbul
Istanbul Congress Center
25 March 2018
  United States
San Jose
Flint Center
14 April 2018
Los Angeles
Hollywood Bowl
12 May 2018
  Canada
Vancouver
The Orpheum
26 May 2018
  Australia
Melbourne
Melbourne Convention & Entertainment Centre
2 November 2018
Sydney
Hillsong Auditorium Convention Centre
3 November 2018
  United States
Orlando
Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts
17 November 2018
Chicago
Copernicus Center
30 November 2018
  Sweden
Stockholm
Annexet
8 December 2018
  United Kingdom
London
The Hammersmith Apollo
9 December 2018
  Austria
Vienna
Wiener Stadthalle
15 December 2018
THE END

Googoosh & Martik: The Friendship World Tour (2018-2019)

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Country Venue Date
  United States
Las Vegas
The Colosseum
22 December 2018
Houston
Hobby Center
12 January 2019
  Canada
Toronto
Coca-Cola Coliseum
23 February 2019
  United States
Atlanta
Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center
24 August 2019
San Jose
Center for the Performing Arts
21 September 2019
Dallas
The Theater at Grand Pride
5 October 2019
New York
Kupferberg Center for the Arts
2 November 2019
Orange County
Honda Center
9 November 2019
  Canada
Vancouver
Orpheum Theatre
16 November 2019
  United States
Washington, D.C
DAR Constitution Hall
23 November 2019
  France
Paris
Palais des Congrès
20 December 2019
  Sweden
Gothenburg
Scandinavium
21 December 2019
  Netherlands
Rotterdam
De Doelen
25 December 2019
  Germany
Frankfurt
Jahrhunderthalle
28 December 2019
Hamburg
Barclays Arena
30 December 2019
THE END

Googoosh: 21, The World Tour (2021-2022)

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Country Venue Date
  United States
Los Angeles
Beverly Hilton (VIP Guests Only)
22 August 2021
San Jose
Center for the Performing Arts
11 September 2021
Washington, D.C
DAR Constitution Hall
2 October 2021
Chicago
Copernicus Center
16 October 2021
New York
Tilles Center
27 November 2021
Las Vegas
The Chelsea at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas
25 December 2021
Houston
Hobby Center
22 January 2022
Final Appearance
  Germany
Oberhausen
Rudolf Weber Arena
12 March 2022
  United Arab Emirates
Dubai
Jubilee Stage at Expo 2020
17 March 2022
  United Kingdom
London
The London Palladium
21 March 2022
  Turkey
Antalya
Nirvana Cosmopolitan
23 March 2022
Istanbul
Yahya Kemal Beyatlı Performing Arts Center
25 March 2022
Antalya
Nirvana Cosmopolitan
28 March 2022
  Canada
Vancouver
Queen Elizabeth Theatre
15 April 2022
  United States
San Diego
Balboa Theatre
17 April 2022
Final Appearance
  Canada
Toronto
Meridian Hall
14 May 2022
  United States
Orange County
Segerstrom Center for the Arts
2 July 2022
Atlanta
Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center
27 August 2022
Final Appearance
  Turkey
Istanbul
Turkcell Vadi
14 September 2022
  Germany
Frankfurt
Jahrhunderthalle
18 September 2022
Hamburg
Barclays Arena
23 September 2022
Berlin
Verti Music Hall
25 September 2022
  Australia
Sydney
Sydney Opera House
6 November 2022
State Theatre
8 November 2022
Melbourne
Palais Theatre
13 November 2022
THE END

2023 Concerts

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Country Venue Date
  Kuwait
Kuwait City
The Arena Kuwait
6 May 2023
Final Appearance
  Canada
Toronto
Meridian Hall
3 June 2023
Vancouver
Queen Elizabeth Theatre
9 June 2023
THE END

Final Chapter, The World Tour (2023- )

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Country Venue Date
  United States
San Jose
Center for the Performing Arts
September 23, 2023
  Sweden
Stockholm
Victoria Hall
September 30, 2023
  Germany
Hannover
HCC Hannover
October 2, 2023
  Austria
Vienna
Wiener Stadthalle
October 6, 2023
  Germany
Stuttgart
Beethoven Hall
October 8, 2023
  United States
Las Vegas
The Chelsea at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas
December 24, 2023
New York
Beacon Theatre
January 6, 2024
  United Arab Emirates
Abu Dhabi
Saadiyat Nights Open-air Theatre
January 20, 2024
  Germany
Düsseldorf
PSD Bank Dome
January 27, 2024
  Turkey
Istanbul
Ülker Sports Arena
March 22, 2024
  United Kingdom
London
OVO Arena Wembley
March 28, 2024
  Germany
Frankfurt
Jahrhunderthalle
April 1, 2024
Munich
Isar Philharmonic
April 7, 2024
  United Arab Emirates
Dubai
DEC at Expo City Dubai
April 12, 2024
  France
Paris
Palais des Congrès
April 20, 2024
  Canada
Toronto
Scotiabank Arena
January 17, 2025
  United States
Washington, D.C
The Anthem
January 24, 2025
  Australia
Brisbane
  Not Applicable
April 25, 2025
Melbourne
April 27, 2025
Sydney
Norwest Convention Centre
May 2, 2025
  United States
Dallas
  Not Applicable
May 10, 2025
  Canada
Vancouver
Pacific Coliseum
May 24, 2025
  United States
Los Angeles
  Not Applicable
  Netherlands
Amsterdam
 
Googoosh in at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto

Googoosh left Iran and went to Canada in 2000, after being in Iran for 21 years following the Iranian Revolution.[11] BMusic's Taghinia, says "Googoosh is the siren of that era [Pre-revolution] and important in that she's really a direct link to Iran's past."[24] Chicago Tribune considers the return of Googoosh to be "more than just a pop milestone" but instead "a cultural marker, a measure of the way change occurs in a society that for more than two decades has tried to resist the tide of globalization by living in self-imposed isolation."[5]

She released her first album after her comeback called Zartosht (Zoroaster) in 2000 with lyrics by Masoud Kimiaei (under the pseudonym Nosrat Farzaneh) and composed and arranged by Babak Amini and Babak Bayat.[25][26][27]

In 2000, Googoosh sang in public, away from her homeland, for the first time after 21 years of silence to the acclaim of many long-time fans.[28][29] The Googoosh Comeback Tour was a series of concerts starting in July 2000. She began with a sold-out concert at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto on 29 July 2000 (with an audience of more than 12,000),[22] and eventually brought the tour to a conclusion in Dubai on 21 and 24 March 2001 on the occasion of the Iranian New Year, Nowruz. Her concert in Dubai was considered a homecoming for her, and out of the more than 20,000 members of the audience, seventy percent of them were Iranians who had crossed the Persian Gulf to hear her.[30][31] The two Dubai concerts held special importance: it was the tour finale, and Googoosh was rumored to be planning to return to Iran.

In 2000, a feature-length documentary called Googoosh: Iran's Daughter was released which chronicled the singer's life and her icon-status while detailing the socio-political turmoil that led to the 1979 Revolution in Iran. Made by Iranian-American filmmaker Farhad Zamani, the documentary began production in 1998 and was made at a time when Googoosh was still forbidden to give interviews.[32]

Gogoosh started collaborating with Mehrdad Asemani with QQ Bang Bang (2003). They continued their collaborating in the albums Akharin Khabar (2004), Manifest (2005) and Shabe Sepid (2008). Most of the lyrics of these albums were by Shahyar Ghanbari.[33]

 
Googoosh in one of her concerts, 2006

Beginning in 2011, she served as head-of-academy and head-judge alongside Hooman Khalatbari and Babak Saeedi for the widely popular talent show/singing competition Googoosh Music Academy, which was broadcast on the London-based Iranian satellite channel Manoto 1 and was their most watched program.[34] Googoosh Music Academy lasted three seasons. In December 2010, Googoosh held a very notable concert in the Kurdish region of Iraq, to which tens of thousands of Iranians came from Tehran and beyond.

In 2010, Googoosh ran a Persian talent competition show called Googoosh Music Academy. [35] The series ran in Europe and Middle East on Monoto TV channes.[36]

Gogoosh released the album Hajme Sabz (Green X) in 2010. She said: "I have tried to have works from different composers and songwriters in this new album". Gogoosh chose the name "Aasheghaaneh" for this album, but because of her interest in the book "Hajme Sabz" (The Green Space) by Sohrab Sepehri, she changed the name of the album. She released her old song Mano Gonjeshkaye Khooneh with a new arrangement by Babak Amini in this album.[37]

In March 2011, Googoosh released a snippet of a new song she was working on, titled Bedrood, via YouTube. In April 2011, she debuted her latest project. The singer launched her own cosmetic collection sold online, titled Googoosh Cosmetics. In April 2011, she held a concert at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles, as well as a record breaking performance at the same venue on 27 October 2012, as a part of her worldwide Ejaz Tour.[38] Also on 26 March 2013 she performed at London's Royal Albert Hall for the first time.[39]

In 2012, Googoosh released her 6th studio album since her comeback, titled Ejaz. The album consisted of 10 tracks, featuring collaborations with Hassan Shamaizadeh (Hayahoo) and three songs wherein she collaborated with her fellow Googoosh Music Academy judge Babak Saeedi and with Raha Etemadi (Nagoo Bedrood and Noghteye Payan and Hese Mobham). She also collaborated with Alireza Afkari and Roozbeh Bemani on three songs (E'jaz and Baraye Man and Behesht). Another single Bi Manoto was a musical rendition of a poem by the Persian poet Rumi. The poem came to Googoosh's attention while she was banned from singing at the time of the Iran–Iraq War. She stated that she felt inspired by the lyrics and therefore created her own melody and was finally presented with the opportunity to record it as she had long hoped to do.[40][41]

In February 2014, she released a music video of the song Behesht, in support of the gay and lesbian community in Iran, which faces significant challenges in its struggle for equal rights, including the ongoing threat of the death penalty for convictions related to sexual orientation.[42] This made her the first prominent Iranian with a huge following to speak out against homophobia in Iran.[43]

In the same year, Gogoosh released a joint single with Ebi called Nostalgia.[44] She started a joint world tour with Ebi with the same name, in which each of them sang some solo songs and some songs together.[45][46]

On 21 March 2015, Googoosh released her 7th album titled Aks-e Khosoosi (Private Portrait) including 11 tracks from different songwriters and composers such as Babak Sahraee, Nickan Ebrahimi, Babak Amini (Googoosh band leader). The first song of this album is Che Ziba Bood, which is also the last song that was composed by Varujan. Gogoosh sang the old tasnif Morghe-e Sahar in this album.[47]

In 2017, Googoosh started a world tour called "The Memory Makers" with Hassan Shamaizadeh and Ardalan Sarfraz. In the Los Angeles concert of this tour, Ardalan Sarfraz could not attend and Martik was present in this concert.[48][49][50]

In 2018, Gogoosh released a single song in collaboration with Martik called Refaghat, and after positive feedback, she collaborated with Martik in two other songs called Eshghe Kamyab and Asheghet Hastam.[51]

Gogoosh released her last album named Twenty One in 2021 with the composition of Siavash Ghomayshi and the lyrics of Raha Etamadi. Raha Etamadi said: during the production of this album, all three of us, Googoosh, me and Siavash Ghomayshi, were infected with COVID-19.[52]

On 14 September 2023, Gogoosh published a video on her official pages in the social media, in which she announced that her new tour (Final Chapter) is her last world tour and a farewell tour.[53]

Despite the political and personal hardships she has endured, Googoosh has continued to be a beloved figure over the last half century.[54]

Politics

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Googoosh and other speakers participated in a 22 July 2009 protest at the United Nations which attracted exiles from Iran. They stood in front of a banner with names of Iranian protestors who they believed were still incarcerated and of other protestors, written in red, who had been killed. During this protest, Googoosh made a speech stating that she entered politics because of the outcome of the 2009 Iranian presidential election. She said, "I have come here to be the voice for the sad mothers who lost their loved ones in peaceful demonstrations. I have come here to be the just voice of the grass-roots and spontaneous movement among my compatriots and to show my solidarity."[55][56]

In 2018, Gogoosh and Siavash Ghomayshi released the political song 40 Saal in criticism of the Islamic Republic.[57][58]

Googoosh dedicated her Frankfurt 2022 concert to Mahsa Amini.[59] She released song Dobareh in support of Iranian protests.[60][61] She said at the gathering of Iranians in Washington: "Today I feel proud and angry, but I am still more hopeful than ever about the future of Iran, and I focus my anger on that obsessively hateful and resentful leader and the child-killing government."[62]

Personal life

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Googoosh playing tennis in 1970s

Googoosh has three half-brothers on her father's side and a brother and sister on her mother's side. One of her brothers died in his youth.[63]

In 1980, Googoosh was imprisoned for nearly one month after the Iranian Revolution. In 2018, in reply to a question by interviewer about how she stays young, she said, "Love, music and lots of fruit!".[8]

Marriages

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Googoosh and Behrouz Vosooghi in 1970s

Googoosh's first husband was Mahmoud Ghorbani, a cabaret owner and music promoter who helped Googoosh make a name for herself in the 1960s.[16] Googoosh and Ghorbani married in February 1967.[64] They had a son, Kambiz.[65] After about six years of marriage, Ghorbani and Googoosh divorced in late 1972.[66]

In 1975, Googoosh married Iranian actor Behrouz Vossoughi;[16] they divorced fourteen months later in 1976. During their brief marriage they were considered to be the country's biggest celebrity power couple. During the late 1970s, Googoosh became involved with Homayoun Mesdaghi, and married him in 1979. Six years later, in 1985, she divorced Mesdaghi. She then married director Masoud Kimiai in 1991. They divorced in 2005.

Religious beliefs

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Googoosh with Chador for pilgrimage to Imam Reza shrine by Ettela'at Newspaper (29 August 1972)

Googoosh said: "I used to pray every day until 2004."[67]

In her interview with Homa Sarshar 2022, she stated that she used to have beliefs, but her beliefs were "broken".[68][69]

In 2023, she posted a video on her official YouTube page and Instagram from one of her concerts, in which she explains that she uses "God" instead of "Kaaba" in the performance of the song Marham due to distance from religion.[70] Gogoosh had previously explained in the Manoto's "Behtarinhaye Behtarinha" that she requested this lyrics from Ardalan Sarfraz after her pilgrimage to Kaaba.[71]

Discography

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An album cover which contains the Bigharar song

Studio albums

  • 1970: Do Panjereh (Two Windows)
  • 1970: Fasle Tazeh (New Season)
  • 1971: Mordab (The Swamp)
  • 1971: Nimeye Gomshodeye Man (My Lost Half)
  • 1972: Kooh (The Mountain)
  • 1973: Mano Gonjeshkaye Khooneh (Me and the house Sparrows)
  • 1974: Do Mâhi (Two Fish)
  • 1974: Hamsafar (Co-Traveler)
  • 1975: Pol (The Bridge)
  • 1975: Mosabbeb (With Dariush)
  • 1977: Dar emtedâde shab (Along the Night)
  • 1978: Ageh bemouni (If You Stay)

Studio albums (since her return to music in 2000)

  • 2000: Zartosht (Zoroaster)
  • 2004: Akharin Khabar (Latest News)
  • 2005: Manifest
  • 2008: Shab-e Sepid (White Night) (With Mehrdad Asemani)
  • 2010: Hajm-e Sabz (Green X)
  • 2012: E'jaz (Miracle)
  • 2015: Aks-e Khosoosi (Private Portrait)
  • 2021: Twenty One (21)

Singles (since her return to music in 2000)

  • 2004: QQ Bang Bang "On YouTube"
  • 2011: Ye Harfaei (Live TV Performance On Manoto1)
  • 2014: Nostalgia (ft. Ebi)
  • 2014: Do Panjereh (ft. Ebi)
  • 2014: Ki Ashkato Pak Mikoneh (ft. Ebi)
  • 2014: Hamzad (Twin) (New Arrangement)
  • 2016: Hastamo Nistam (I am and I am not)
  • 2017: Do Panjereh (Two Windows) (New Version)
  • 2017: Sogand (Oath)
  • 2018: Mosalas-e Khatereha (The Memory Triangle) (ft. Hassan Shamaizadeh)
  • 2018: Ajab Jaei (What a Place)
  • 2018: Roya (Dream) "Unofficial Version Of The Witness"
  • 2018: Shahed (Witness)
  • 2018: 40 Saal (40 years) (ft. Siavash Ghomayshi)
  • 2018: Talagh "Remix 2018" (Divorce)
  • 2018: Mordab "Live Version" (The Swamp) (ft. Hassan Shamaizadeh)
  • 2018: Refaghat (Friendship) (ft. Martik)
  • 2019: Eshghe Kamyab (Rare Love) (ft. Martik)
  • 2019: Darde Man (My Pain)
  • 2020: Fardamon (Our Tomorrow)
  • 2020: Harigh (Fire)
  • 2021: Gohare Kamyab (Rare Gem)
  • 2021: Tooye Tehran (In Tehran) (Demo Recording In 2017)
  • 2022: Rooze Khoob (Good Day) (Recorded 43 years ago)
  • 2022: Naaz Edkeh (Southern Song)
  • 2022: Safar Mikonam (l Travel)
  • 2022: Ghesseye Do Maahi "Live Version" (The Story Of Two Fish) (ft. Shahyar Ghanbari)
  • 2022: Geryeh Dar Ragbaar (Crying in a barrage) (Recorded 44 years ago)
  • 2022: Dobareh (Again) (ft. Leila Forouhar, Shahrzad Sepanlou, Darya Dadvar, Sogand & Shohreh Aghdashloo)
  • 2023: Gol Bi Goldoon "Live Version"
  • 2023: Hamvatan (Compatriot)

Filmography

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Poster for Googoosh's 1972 award-winning film Bita
 
Googoosh acting as a child, late 1950s
Year Persian Title[72] English Title
1960 فرشتۀ فراری Runaway Angel
بیم و امید Fear and Hope
1963 پرتگاه مخوف The Cliff of Fear
1965 شیطون بلا The Naughty One
1966 گدایان تهران The Beggars of Tehran
فیل و فنجان Big and Small
حسین کُرد Hoseyn-e Kord
1967 چهار خواهر Four Sisters (with Leila Forouhar)
دروازه تقدیر The Gate of Fate
گنج و رنج Treasure and Toil
در جستجوی تبهکاران In the Search of Criminals
1968 سه ‌دیوانه The Three Morons
شب فرشتگان The Night of Angels
ستاره هفت آسـمان The Star of Seven Skies
1969 گناه زیبایی The Sin of Beauty
1970 طلوع Sunrise
جنجال عروسی The Wedding Brawl
پنجره The Window
1971 احساس داغ Hot Feeling
آسـمون بی‌ستاره Starless Sky
قصاص Retaliation
1972 بی‌تا Bitā
1973 خیالاتی Imaginings
1975 هـمسفر Travelling Mate
نازنین Nazanin
مـَمَل آمریکایی American Mamal
شب غریبان Nostalgic Night
1976 ماه عسل Honeymoon
1977 در امتداد شب Along the Night

Googoosh also acted in two other movies: Mard-e keraye-i (مرد کرایه‌ای) and Hajji Firuz (حاجی فیروز), but the production of each of these films was suspended during the final stages for unknown reasons. Googoosh has also acted in many television shows and commercials in Iran.

Awards and achievements

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Googoosh on the cover of Javanan e Emrooz Magazine, 1974
  • 1971: first prize and gold record for the best singer in the world at the Midem trade fair in Cannes for her 7" record (as "Gougoush") performing two songs in French produced by Barclay Records: "Retour de la Ville" (A-side) and "J'entends Crier Je T'aime" (B-side).[73][74][75]
  • 1972: Performed at Cantagiro Music Festival.
  • 1972: Performed at the Carthage Music Festival
  • 1972: First medal of arts of Tunisia[74]
  • 1973: The best actress for Bita in Iranian Sepas film festival.[74][75]
  • 1973: Recorded soundtrack (produced by RCA Records) of San Remo Music Festival.[76]
  • 2001: Performed at the Carthage Music Festival.
  • 2014: Best Iranian Singer (World Music Awards)[77][75]
  • 2017: Best Music Video For Do Panjereh (Directed by Yasmin Asha)(Festigious Film Awards March 2017)[78]
  • Two awards from Microsoft Theatre in Los Angeles for record breaking performances[75]
  • 2022: Performed at the Expo Festival.
  • 2023: Performed at the Saadiat Nights Festival.
  • 2024: Arab Glamour 2024 (Enigma magazine)

See also

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References

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