Iranian singer Bijan Mortazavi releases song for Minab schoolkids
Iranian-American singer and composer Bijan Mortazavi has published excerpts of a new song dedicated to children killed in the February 28 airstrike carried by the United States on the Shajareh Tayyebeh elementary school in Minab, southern Iran.
Mortazavi said on social media that he had been heavily criticized in recent days but had chosen to remain silent, adding: “My heart is with the people who suffered, my heart is with those whose voices can no longer be heard.”
“I made this with a wounded heart that still beats for its people and homeland,” he said, adding that the song was written by Iranian lyricist Babak Sahraei.
He said the work was still being completed but that he wanted to share part of it “for Minab, for Dey (the 10th month in the Persian calendar year) and for all those who lost their lives for the homeland”.
The attack killed 156 civilians, most of them schoolchildren.
Mortazavi, born on Nov. 16, 1957, began learning violin at three. He moved to the US in 1979, settling in California in 1985.
He became known for Iranian pop as a composer, arranger and violinist. His first album was released in 1990. Mortazavi began international tours that year and performed at Los Angeles’ Greek Theatre in 1994, where he was described as the first Iranian artist to appear there.
His work combines Iranian traditional music with pop, particularly in his instrumental recordings.