Coldplay play Iranian protest song “Baraye”

taketonews

On their current world tour, Coldplay have sent a sign of solidarity with the current protests in Iran. At two concerts on Friday and Saturday in Argentina’s capital, Buenos Aires, they performed the song “Baraye,” which has become a symbol of protests against the Islamic Republic’s regime. Saturday’s concert was broadcast live in cinemas in 81 countries.

“There are so many places where people can’t meet and be free to be themselves. Whether it’s listening to the music they want to hear, wearing the clothes they want to wear, thinking what they want to think, loving who they want to love,” said Coldplay singer Chris Martin . At the moment this is particularly clear in Iran. That’s why the band wants to send a signal that they support Iranian women and everyone who is fighting for freedom.

The song is by Iranian singer-songwriter Shervin Hajipour. At the beginning of the performance, Hajipour’s music video for the song was shown, then actress Golshifteh Farahani took over the Persian-language vocals. Farahani became internationally known, among other things, with her appearance in the US thriller “The Man Who Never Lived” (2008), but she was also targeted by the Iranian regime and has not been allowed to return to her home country since 2009.

Hajipour originally released the song in September, it quickly became a viral hit in Iran and an anthem of the protests. Hajipour was arrested after the publication, but has since been released after paying bail.

Protests in Iran began in September after the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini. She was previously arrested for not wearing a headscarf, and protesters blame the vice squad for her death. This grew into a protest movement against the oppression of women by the vice squad and the mullahs’ regime.



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