No more Western music, Iran president decrees (Kenny G labeled indecent Alert)

Associated Press ^ | 12/19/2005 | AP

[Proud_USA_Republican]

TEHRAN, Iran - George Michael, Eric Clapton and Kenny G. will no longer be heard on Iranian airwaves after hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad issued a decree banning Western music from the country's radio and TV stations.

The official IRAN Persian daily reported Monday that Ahmadinejad, as head of Iran's Supreme Cultural Revolutionary Council, ordered the enacting of an October ruling by the council for Western songs to be banned.

"Blocking indecent and Western music from the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting is required," according to a statement on the council's official Web site.

Ahmadinejad's order means the IRIB must execute the decree and prepare a report on its implementation within six months, according to the newspaper.

"This is terrible," said Iranian guitarist Babak Riahipour whose music was occasionally played on state radio and television. "The decision shows a lack of knowledge and experience."

Songs such as George Michael's "Careless Whisper," Eric Clapton's "Rush" and "Hotel California" by the Eagles regularly accompany Iranian TV and programs, as do tunes by saxophonist Kenny G.

The latest media ban also includes censorship of content of films.

"Supervision of content from films, TV series and their voice-overs is emphasized in order to support spiritual cinema and to eliminate trite and violence," the council said in a statement on its Web site explaining its October ruling.

The council has also issued a ban on foreign movies that promote "arrogant powers," an apparent reference to the United States.

[Proud_USA_Republican]

They must of decided that Kenny G and his saxophone is part of the zionist conspiracy or something.....

I guess we knew this was coming now that the Mullahs put this POS in charge of their country.

[dfwgator]

Banning Kenny G is the only thing Ahmadenejad has done right.

[dangus]

There's one part of me which figures any society which bans Kenny G. can't be toooo bad. *snicker* Now, if they ban Michael Bolton and Hootie and the Blowfish, maybe we can consider keeping them on some UN councils.

[Red Badger]

Well, he is partially right...........stopped clocks........

[texianyankee]

Not even "Peace Train," by Cat Stevens, either? That's low.

[Howlin]

Ping.

[Monterrosa-24]

"indecent and Western music"...

So I guess this means Mozart and Beethoven are out too?

[Freedom_no_exceptions]

I guess "Rock the Casbah" goes too.

[oldleft]

ENEMY OF THE ISLAMIC STATE!

[coconutt2000]

We couldn't have appointed a President for Iran more likely to spark a regime change.

[boomop1]

Wow this is the last straw.

[dangus]

>> Kenny G labeled indecent <<

This one time, at band camp...

[Semper Paratus]

if they ban Michael Bolton

"Michael Bolton, I celebrate his entire catalog", LOL!

[kevkrom]

Kenny G labeled indecent

Insipid? Yes. Intolerable? Quite possibly. But indecent?

[stocksthatgoup]

Dust off your berkas ladies.

[A Ruckus of Dogs]

I think this guy is going to eventually take his "reforms" too far and trigger a second revolution.

[eastforker]

Well, Kenny G has been known to cause massive......... among women!

[dfwgator]

But indecent?

If doing a posthumous duet with Satchmo isn't indecent, I don't know what is.

[dangus]

Shake for the Sheik?
Walk Like an Egyptian?

[Monterrosa-24]

"indecent and Western music"...

Buy Western do they mean Western Civilization or Western as in Tex Rickard and Roy Rogers?

[Terabitten]

Banning Kenny G is the only thing Ahmadenejad has done right.

Now if only our President would follow his lead in this very important matter.... LOL...

[Paradox]

Wow this is the last straw.

Funny as that sounds, this might actually be the straw that initiates the camel's vertebra into buckling.

[najida]

Oh boy....
Just Oh boy....

[randog]

We couldn't have appointed a President for Iran more likely to spark a regime change.

When I was in the Middle East some years ago they loved, no...craved western music. This dough-head really did it now.

[doc30]

Looks like this guy wants to take Iran to where Afghanistan was. Next, he will ban TV as un-islamic.

[auboy]

Meanwhile, Harry Reid's Greatest Tiny Violin Hits and Songs of Levin's Lute are still welcomed.

[wallcrawlr]

agree. Iran..the next Taliban. Iraniban.

[Proud_USA_Republican]

You know it's coming.

[edcoil]

"Banning Kenny G is the only thing Ahmadenejad has done right."

Well, he does hold a tune better then any muslim music I have heard.

I watched an interesting History channel program about Iran over the weekend. IRAN goes back 2,500 years and led the known world at the time. The program noted how they are trying to recapture that lost leadership.

[CaptRon]

The decision shows a lack of knowledge and experience."

Yeah, never mind that it takes away even more of your freedom pal.

[Terabitten]

Buy Western do they mean Western Civilization or Western as in Tex Rickard and Roy Rogers?

They banned both types - country AND western.

[dangus]

(Yes, I know Kenny G. Plays a saxophone, but he plays a straight one.)

[NY Attitude]

All of his records sound the same. It is almost like torture. / sarcasm

[day10]

if they ban Michael Bolton

Samir: No one in this country can ever pronounce my name right. It's not that hard: Samir Na-gheen-an-a-jar. Nagheenanajar.

Michael Bolton: Yeah, well at least your name isn't Michael Bolton.

Samir: You know there's nothing wrong with that name.

Michael Bolton: There was nothing wrong with it... until I was about 12 years old and that no-talent a$$ clown became famous and started winning Grammys.

Samir: Hmm... well why don't you just go by Mike instead of Michael?

Michael Bolton: No way. Why should I change? He's the one who sucks.

[Proud_USA_Republican]

Guess we can rule out Ozzfest playing any dates in Iran next summer.

[Element187]

HAHA.. oh darn .. more isolationist rhetoric from the howard dean of iran..

this is actually going to piss off the young crowd in Iran who listen to this music and enjoys other arts being imported in from the west.

[Clioman]

Didn't Frank Zappa sometimes call himself 'Sheik Yaboudie'?

[rightwingintelligentsia]

"Supervision of content from films, TV series and their voice-overs is emphasized in order to support spiritual cinema and to eliminate trite and violence,"

So the Mullahs have a problem with violence? Are they planning to ban suicide bombing anytime soon?

[Jersey Republican Biker Chick]

Indecent Horn Blowing, PING!!!

[I still care]

My thought exactly. This guy should keep going. They are going to LOVE him in Iran for all of this.

[dangus]

>> Buy Western do they mean Western Civilization or Western as in Tex Rickard and Roy Rogers? << I can't picture Roy Rogers hanging out with an alto Sax guy...on the other hand... "That's the problem with Western music, too much sax and violins."

[Proud_USA_Republican]

The persian empire was great because they brought in arts, science, and technology from around the world.

Islam doesn't allow this kind of thinking.

[najida]

What is ironic is I'm listening to Mustapha Sax right now --an Egyptian/Arabic Saxaphone player.

Most sensual music on the planet, IMHGLO.

[BostonianRightist]

They've got it all wrong. Why ban Clapton? He's English. Has anyone been to London lately, it isn't Western by any stretch of the imagination.

[peacebaby]

Well, I guess "You Got Me Doing The Wild Thing" by Bobby Peters is DEFINITELY out over there.

[raccoonradio]

Degenerate the faithful
With that crazy casbah sound

Shareef don't like it
Rock the casbah, rock the casbah

[sgtbono2002]

I think you are right, If we sit back long enough this guy will tick off enough people that someone will kill him.

[musicman]

hmmmm...Kenny G = BANNED

Kayne West = NOT BANNED

Guess this Iranian doesn't like Kenny's lyrics.....

[Proud_USA_Republican]

MOre like they are banning any violent movies that might potray an opressed people getting pissed off and trying to overthrow a government.