Spectacular, Unforgettable, Legendary, Meaningful, Undeniable!
The above are just a few words to describe the
performance witnessed by thousands of Googoosh fans at the Air
Canada Center in Toronto on June 3, 2006. The weather outside may
have been rainy, but no clouds could obscure the rays that our
beloved Googoosh emitted on stage. As a curious and eager
spectator, I awaited Googoosh’s arrival on stage, but no matter how
prepared I thought I had been, her appearance and her performance
truly left me stunned. My senses were heightened. Her natural and
mystical beauty, which was amplified by the colorful costume
changes, caressed my sight. Her angelic and soothing voice sang to
my heart through my ears. The vibrations of the bass shook me from
inside. The sweetness of her energy tantalized the aroma in the
stadium. The power of her messages of betrayal, loyalty, love,
hardship and hope, embraced my heart. I felt alive…and the night
had just begun…….
At 9:10pm, the music began and darkness filled the
stadium with the exception of a colorfully lighted stage. The
audience could feel the adrenaline rush and released their anxiety
through applause and cheers. As the band played the instrumentals
for ‘Talagh’, goose-bumps covered my skin and a rush overcame my
body. We waited in anticipation. Then, an angel walked onto the
stage. The crowd roared and the angel sang. She was as beautiful
as ever and only continued to outdo herself as the night progressed.
The Queen of our hearts had blossomed from the
relatively timid and blushing lady that we saw after more than 20
years in Toronto on July 29th of 2000, into a woman of
conviction and purpose today. Her natural presence was amplified by
numerous costume changes throughout the night. She walked on stage
in a long silver colored dress that sparkled almost as bright as her
eyes. Throughout the night, her attire ranged from a pair of jeans,
to a carefully sequenced form fitting and elegant dress, to a red
“poolaki” suit, to a green colored and tropical free flowing dress
with which she finished the show. She moved gracefully around the
stage like a butterfly fluttering to the aromas of tantalizing
floral scents. She flirted with the music and shared her love
affair through her original and distinct body language. At one
point she even drew a parallel between her stage presence today
compared to that of six years ago, as she recognized how much more
free her spirit had become. Amidst all the expressiveness and the
certitude however, she never seemed to lose her humble and virtuous
essence. An empress in the truest sense!
She
sang a range of old and new ballads ranging from 'Marham', 'Gole
Bigoldoon', 'Kavir', 'Gonjishkaye Khone', 'Harf', to her recent
songs such as 'Otaaghe Man', 'Ghzale Shishe-ee", 'Aay Mardom
Mordam'…. At points through the performance, the crowd could be
heard over the music as they sang along with their idol to songs
such as 'Kavir' and 'Mano To'. Her individual performance as well
as her collaborative duets with Mehrdad throughout the show such as
'Shenas Nameye Man' (Khalige Fars), were moving and touching. Her
timeless voice and her eternal lyrics spoke a universal language of
beauty and passion. She infused us with a nostalgic fondness of the
past while simultaneously inspiring a vision of a hopeful future for
us all. There was a reciprocal relationship built between the
audience and its Muse. She sang our songs and we sang along to
hers, some of us in our hearts and others at the top of their
lungs. The audience could not resist the emotions she stirred
within. Eyes were welled up with tears, hearts were pounding with
emotion, and bodies were dancing with passion. At one point I even
caught myself being defied by the energy as I was lifted out of my
seat and embraced in a dance to my favourite Googoosh song
'Hamseda'. At that moment, I truly felt that our voices were one
'Hamseda'.
A talented
and phenomenal band of internationally acclaimed artists backed up
her musical presence. From the harmonious melodies of the flute,
the graceful notes played on the keyboards, the sensual strumming of
the guitars, the distinct bass lines, the pulsating drum patterns,
the throbbing percussions, and the arrangements and leadership of
Andy G, the entire group of musicians gracefully fused their sounds
with Googoosh’s majestic voice. The band members were from
countries around the world including Argentina, Venezuela, and
Japan, but although their origins were different, they all united
under a unified umbrella of love and passion. The manifestation of
these sensations was “Googoosh”. Her voice, her body language, her
gaze, and her overall expressions were the embodiment of love and
life. Her life and her songs paint an image of hardship, betrayal,
disappointment, devastation, and endurance, but her presence and her
passion is a testament to loyalty, love, life, and hope.
Mehrdad was also amazing. His youthfulness and energy was
gratifying and refreshing. If he had walked on stage with many
fans, he certainly left many new fans impressed as he walked off
stage. It was my first time seeing him perform and he left a
genuinely positive impression on me. As Googoosh welcomed him onto
the stage, she acknowledged his multiple talents as a singer,
songwriter, and composer, and his overall musicianship. She also
went on to express her appreciation of his support and devotion to
her over her past few years and explained how Mehrdad helped her
create her last 3 albums as well as how he stood behind her 'like a
mountain'. His stage performance was truly a reflection of her kind
words. He was energetic, fun-loving, witty, and a grade ‘A’ artist
with depth and conviction. The camaraderie between the two artists
was superb as both displayed sincere respect and love for the
other. Mehrdad was an appropriate complement to Googoosh as both
artists sang and danced as an inspiration for the audience to share
their passion.
All together Googoosh's third Toronto concert left a
print on all our hearts. Once again, Googoosh reinforced her title
as our diva. The Queen of Persian Pop Music! The Queen of our
hearts. Amidst her grandness however she remained appreciative and
unassuming. She expressed her gratitude for her devout fans, the
Tajiks, the Afghans,the people of Iran, the children of the
motherland. She even expressed distinct and sincere appreciation
for the undying support given to her from Tajikestan.com. She
revealed her gratitude on stage and in a beautiful fusion of love,
her gratefulness was returned with a beautiful bouquet of flowers
delivered from the members of Tajikestan.com themselves. It was
truly a bond of joy.
The
show ended with a salute to Iran as Googoosh and Mehrdad displayed a
large Iranian “Shir-o-Khorshid” Flag. At that moment we were all
one. One people! One Voice! One love! The show ended just as it
had begun, with applause and praise. But although the show had come
to an end, the night had just begun. Outside the stadium there was
joy in the air. Like a second wind, people had received their
healthy dose of Googoosh. The show may have come to an end, but her
timeless songs, her voice, and her words continue to play in our
minds and hearts as they help us endure our own realities. Thank
you Googoosh, for empowering us with the strength and endurance to
live life.
