By Thomas Erdbrink
Washington Post Foreign Service
Friday, May 30, 2008
TEHRAN -- Photographers stumbled over each other and bodyguards pushed people aside. Loud music reverberated through the conference hall of the Center for the Great Islamic Encyclopedia.
In a venue like this in Tehran, one would expect an Islamic scholar in the midst of the jumble. But on this recent day, amid the swirling throng sat British pop star Chris de Burgh, known for such saccharine-sweet hits as "The Lady in Red" and "A Woman's Heart."
He had come to hold a news conference, and that in itself was news: De Burgh is the first Western pop musician to visit Iran since the 1979 revolution. Over two hours, he charmed and flattered his hosts, who charmed and flattered him in return in the unabashedly fawning way a citizenry insecure about its image abroad sometimes does.
It was 11:30 a.m. The singer arrived at the hall an hour late. None of the Iranian reporters cared.
For years, de Burgh's love songs, extremely popular in Iran, had to be played on illegally copied tapes. Most Western music has been officially forbidden in the country since a conservative Shiite Muslim clergy effectively took control in the revolution. For de Burgh and some others, the ban appears to have been lifted, since nothing is ever for certain here.
The wait was worth it. De Burgh stepped out of a Mercedes-Benz and announced -- to astonishment -- that he intended to give a concert in Tehran's 120,000-seat stadium.
De Burgh then presented a video clip, which he made with the local group Arian Band. On big video screens around the hall, the British star sang with the band, whose female singers and guitarists wore obligatory head scarves.
"Shout and say I love you," they sang in Farsi.
"Be strong and learn to say the words 'I love you,' " de Burgh crooned back.
Many Iranian reporters couldn't believe what they were seeing.
"In our youths, we listened to all his songs. It was forbidden fruit, and now Chris de Burgh is actually here in front of me. No other Western artist has ever come to Iran. It's amazing!" one whispered to a colleague.
"Salaam," the singer said in greeting.
"Salaam!" many reporters answered in surprise.
De Burgh said some more sentences in Farsi. The Iranian journalists clapped enthusiastically.
"It's a great pleasure for me to be in Iran; it was a dream of mine since I was a little boy," de Burgh continued.
Flanked by his manager and the Iranian private organizer of the event, Mohsen Rajabpour, the singer explained that he felt very safe in Iran.
"Safer than in some parts of London or Los Angeles," he said, drawing more applause from local journalists.
"Iran is a country which does not get a very good press," de Burgh continued. "On one hand there are the leaders, the politicians and the diplomats. The rest are ordinary people. I came to Iran for that group."
"Mr. de Burgh -- I don't know what to say," a female newspaper reporter said with a beaming smile. "I am so happy you are here. It is an honor for us."
The reporters' questions came fast. Do you enjoy Iranian music? Yes. Are you going to compose a song for Tehran, like you did for Beirut? Yes. Is your family afraid that you are in Iran? No.
About 12:45 p.m., the journalists got to the issue at hand. When would the concert take place?
"As soon as Mr. de Burgh leaves, we are going to ask the Ministry of Islamic Guidance and Culture for permission for the concert," said Rajabpour, the event organizer.
In Iran, the government decides which art exhibits, books and concerts are allowed. Since President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad came to power in 2005, the ministry has grown much more strict.
"So it's never going to happen!" one of the journalists said.
Rajabpour, a tall man in a dark suit who also manages the Arian Band, grew irritated.
"There is going to be a concert -- be sure," he said. "There are multiple voices in our country, and this time, this one is louder."
Few journalists seemed convinced.
"I made the officials understand that by having Chris de Burgh here, we have a unique chance to show the world that Iranians have a deep culture, that we love music," Rajabpour continued. "I don't have a problem with those in power. I have a problem with the people abroad who think we don't have an airport or paved roads. Overcome your disbelief. There will be a concert."
And how would the pop star feel singing before an audience that would not be allowed to dance?
"I am aware of that," de Burgh began. "But there is an opportunity to achieve something here in Iran, to make a difference for people. I will perform here."
At 1:20 p.m., the news conference ended. The bodyguards whisked the singer away, surrounded by photographers.
"I will be back," de Burgh said. "Thank you for loving my music."
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