Googoosh

Googoosh is a legendary Iranian singer and actress.

She is widely regarded as a pop icon and one of the most prolific entertainers in Iran. Her career has spanned more than six decades. She is a cultural icon both inside Iran and throughout the world. Googoosh is famous for her contributions to Iranian pop music. She also starred in many Persian films between the 1950s and the 1970s.

Her influence extends to fashion and social identity.

Her musical style is quite diverse and multifaceted. She performed upbeat pop music during the 1960s and 1970s. This music often featured a traditional-tinged edge. She also sang emotional ballads about love and loss. These songs are similar to the chanson style used by artists like Édith Piaf.

Googoosh is also a polyglot in her recordings. She has recorded songs in many languages. These include Persian, Azerbaijani, Turkish, English, Spanish, Italian, Arabic, Armenian, and French. This ability helped her reach non-Persian-speaking audiences.

Googoosh's career began during her childhood. She was born Faegheh Atashin on May 5, 1950, in Tehran. Her parents were Iranian Azerbaijani. She was quickly given the name "Googoosh." This is an Armenian name usually used for boys. She started as a singer and dancer in stage shows. These shows were run by her father, Saber, who was an acrobat and cabaret artist.

As a child actress, she appeared in films like *Fear and Hope*. Later, she starred in over 25 movies. One of these became the most commercially successful Iranian motion picture ever made.

In the 1970s, Googoosh reached the peak of her fame. She became a major fashion icon for Iranian women. Many women emulated her style by wearing miniskirts. They also copied her short haircut, which became known as the "Googooshi."

She performed for the Iranian royal family. She was a favorite of the wife and children of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. She even performed at a party for the 17th birthday of Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi.

The Iranian Revolution in 1979 changed her life significantly. Googoosh was in Los Angeles when the revolution occurred. However, she returned to Iran because of her love for her homeland.

Following the revolution, a ban was placed on female singers. This meant she could not perform for 21 years. During this period, she faced many hardships. The regime placed a lien on her residence and prevented her from getting a passport. She was also imprisoned at one point. Despite these challenges, younger Iranians continued to discover her music through bootleg recordings.

In 2000, Googoosh left Iran for Canada. This marked the beginning of a massive professional comeback.

She began the Googoosh Comeback Tour in July 2000. Her first concert was at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto. This show was sold out and had more than 12,000 people in attendance. She eventually performed 27 concerts in Europe and North America that same year. In 2001, she finished her tour in Dubai. Over 20,000 people attended those concerts. About seventy percent of that audience were Iranians who had traveled across the Persian Gulf to see her.

Since her return to the stage, Googoosh has performed in many world-famous venues. These include Madison Square Garden in New York and the Royal Albert Hall in London.

She also performed at the Hollywood Bowl and the Ericsson Globe in Stockholm. In 2011, she became the head judge and head of the academy for the *Googoosh Music Academy*. This reality show was broadcast on the satellite channel Manoto 1. She has released many albums since her return, such as *Ejaz* in 2012 and *Twenty One* in 2021. In 2023, she announced her final world tour, titled the *Final Chapter*. Her life and impact are also documented in the film *Googoosh – Made of Fire*.