This moved me:
"Stand by Me" – Andy, Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora & Friends
Uploaded by MyDamnChannel. – News videos from around the world.
Here is the copy from the website:
“Stand by Me” On June 24, Iranian Superstar Andy Madadian went into an LA recording studio with Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora and American record producers Don Was and John Shanks to record a musical message of worldwide solidarity with the people of Iran. This version of the old Ben E. King classic is not for sale – it was not meant to be on the Billboard charts or even manufactured as a CD…..it’s intended to be downloaded and shared by the Iranian people…to give voice to the sentiment that all people of the world stand together….the handwritten Farsi sign in the video translates to “we are one”. If you know someone in Iran – or someone who knows someone in Iran – please share this link CREDITS: STAND BY ME Andy – Vocals Jon Bon Jovi – Vocals Richie Sambora – Electric Guitar and Vocals John Shanks – Acoustic Guitar Don Was – Bass Patrick Leonard – Keyboards Jeff Rothchild – Drums Tiffany Madadian and Nikki Lund – Background Vocals Produced by Don Was & John Shanks Recorded and Mixed by Jeff Rothchild at Henson Studio C, Hollywood, CA June 24, 2009 Thanks to Faryal Ganjehei Written by Jerry Lieber and Mike Stoller Farsi lyric by Paksima Zakipour Video Edited by Gemma Corfield Mastered by Stephen Marcussen
I originally saw this story on CNN and I must say that it touched me as well. It reminds me of the ways in which art can be used to disturb social norms and cause us to think in more inclusive ways.
Bless you for posting this, it was just beautiful. Wish more of the song had been in Persian, but all the same, this is one of the nice ways that pop culture and politics intersect.