LSE Middle East Centre paper series, 03

This paper studies the growing trends in conscious music in Iran, which emerged in the 1990s. It provides a brief historical overview of changes in conscious music in Iran since the Constitutional Revolution of 1905. Within the context of the current status of music in the country, the research then focuses on three conscious trends: rock, fusion and classical Persian music. This music, which is part of a broader intellectual and artistic wave, represents the needs and views of a diverse young population as well as society as a whole. Based on interviews with musicians and on content analysis of lyrics, the paper highlights the dominant concerns and lyrical themes within each trend as well as the commonalities. The strategies, language and approach of these three trends are not uniform. However, they follow the same path: awakening; challenging old dogmas and clichés; and launching critical debate within a global context.