In 1994 he was offered admission to study Music at University of Tehran. Since the music program at the university would not start for another year, he took two theater classes at the University of The Arts. Namjoo always recalls the two theater classes and that one year period of time to be the time which shaped many parts of his work and his life. At Tehran University he was a student of Alireza Mashayekhi and Azin Movahed and other masters. In 1997, Namjoo quit the music program in University of Tehran, later explaining that he had some conflicts with certain faculty in the music department because they wanted to put him through more years of traditional Iranian music practice which were the repetition of what he had already learned in the earlier years of his life.
Cielito Lindo
Mohsen Namjoo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Cielito lindo, vienen bajando
Un par de ojitos negros,
Cielito lindo, de contrabando
Ay, ay, ay, ay,
Canta y no llores,
Porque cantando se alegran,
ای يار من، ای يار من، ای يار بی زنھار من
ای دلبر و دلدار من، ای مونس و غمخوار من
خوش می روی در جان من، خوش می کنی درمان من
ای دين و ای ايمان من، ای بحر گوھردار من
Ay, ay, ay, ay,
Canta y no llores,
Porque cantando se alegran,
Cielito lindo, los corazones.
ای شبروان را مشعله، ای بيدلانرا سلسله
ای قبله ھر قافله، ای قافله سالار من
Ay, ay, ay, ay,
Canta y no llores,
Porque cantando se alegran,
Cielito lindo, los corazones
ای در زمين ما را قمر، ای نيمشب ما را سحر
ای در خطر ما را سپر، ای ابر شکربار من
Ay, ay, ay, ay,
Canta y no llores,
Porque cantando se alegran,
Cielito lindo, los corazones
Ese lunar que tienes,
Cielito lindo, junto a la boca,
No se lo des a nadie,
Cielito lindo, que a mí me toca
Ay, ay, ay, ay,
Canta y no llores,
Porque cantando se alegran,
Cielito lindo, los corazones
ای شبروان را مشعله، ای بيدلانرا سلسله
ای قبله ھر قافله، ای قافله سالار من
Ay, ay, ay, ay,
Canta y no llores,
Porque cantando se alegran,
Cielito lindo, los corazones
مرا تو بی سببی نیستی
براستی صلت کدام قصیده ای، ای غزل؟
ستاره باران جواب کدام سلامی به آفتاب، از دریچه ی تاریک
کلام از نگاه تو شکل می بندد
خوشا نظر بازی آی که تو اغاز می کنی، که تو آغاز می کنی
مرا تو بی سبب نیستی
The Mohsen Namjoo song "Cielito Lindo" is a reinterpretation of a traditional Mexican folk song that tells a story of love and rebellion. The song is a celebration of the beauty of the Sierra Morena region and the freedom of the people who live there. The verses describe the arrival of two black eyes, which have arrived secretly to bring joy to the singer's heart. The song encourages the listeners to sing without crying, as singing can bring happiness to even the weariest of hearts. It speaks of the beauty of the heavens, the earth, the moon, the stars, and the many other wonders of life that make the world a more beautiful place.
The verses of "Cielito Lindo" that are sung in Persian act as a bridge between the two cultures, using imagery from Iranian poetry to describe the beauty of the world. Together, they celebrate the beauty of love and the joy that singing can bring. The final verse describes a beauty mark near the singer's mouth, and he begs the listener not to give it to anyone else but him, as it symbolizes the deep connection between them.
Line by Line Meaning
De la Sierra Morena,
Cielito lindo, vienen bajando
Un par de ojitos negros,
Cielito lindo, de contrabando
From the Sierra Morena,
Lovely darling, they come descending
A pair of little black eyes,
Lovely darling, illicitly
Ay, ay, ay, ay,
Canta y no llores,
Porque cantando se alegran,
Cielito lindo, los corazones.
Ay, ay, ay, ay,
Sing and don't cry,
Because singing, the hearts
Of lovely darlings, are made happy.
ای يار من، ای يار من، ای يار بی زنھار من
ای دلبر و دلدار من، ای مونس و غمخوار من
خوش می روی در جان من، خوش می کنی درمان من
ای دين و ای ايمان من، ای بحر گوھردار من
Oh, my love, oh my love, oh love with no equal to mine,
Oh darling and beloved of mine, oh reliever and sorrow-bearer of mine,
You enter my soul well, you make my remedy well,
Oh religion and faith of mine, oh bearer of gems of the sea.
ای شبروان را مشعله، ای بيدلانرا سلسله
ای قبله ھر قافله، ای قافله سالار من
Oh, torch of the caravans, oh chain for the heartless,
Oh direction of every caravan, oh leader of my caravan.
ای در زمين ما را قمر، ای نيمشب ما را سحر
ای در خطر ما را سپر، ای ابر شکربار من
Oh moon for our land, oh dawn for our midnight,
Oh shield for us in danger, oh cloud full of sugar for me.
Ese lunar que tienes,
Cielito lindo, junto a la boca,
No se lo des a nadie,
Cielito lindo, que a mí me toca
That beauty mark you have,
Lovely darling, next to your mouth,
Don't give it to anyone,
Lovely darling, it's for me.
مرا تو بی سببی نیستی
براستی صلت کدام قصیده ای، ای غزل؟
ستاره باران جواب کدام سلامی به آفتاب، از دریچه ی تاریک
کلام از نگاه تو شکل می بندد
خوشا نظر بازی آی که تو اغاز می کنی، که تو آغاز می کنی
مرا تو بی سبب نیستی
You are not without reason to me,
Truly, what relationship do you have with which poem, oh ode?
Which greeting does the star of rain answer to the sun, from the dark window?
Your look shapes words,
Happy is the sight of your play, as you begin it, as you start it,
You are not without reason to me.
Contributed by Matthew K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Ahmed
on Chashmi-O-Sad-Nam
The lyrics of "Chashmi-O-Sad-Nam" by Mohsen Namjoo are about celebrating life and being grateful for the opportunities and blessings that come one's way. The opening verses are full of joyful exclamations and expressions of thanks to a loving and caring universe. The two middle verses, however, take a more solemn turn, as they speak of separation and grief. The final verses bring the mood back to a more uplifting tone, with a return to expressions of gratitude for the pleasures of life.
Most notably, this song is about a personal relationship to God (chashmi o sad nam: a hundred names), that could not be understood by those set in their old traditional ways (pirane jahel: old bigots). It speaks of the pain of being separated from God, and the love he feels for him.
The song features a mix of traditional Persian music elements, such as the use of the tar and the santur, with more contemporary touches, such as electronic beats and distortion effects. This fusion of styles is typical of Namjoo's work and has made him one of the most prominent figures in the contemporary Iranian music scene.
One of the most interesting things about "Chashmi-O-Sad-Nam" is the use of a poem by the famous Persian poet Hafez in the lyrics. The lines "Jana che gooyam sharhe feraqat/cAshmi va sad nam jani va sad ah" are taken from one of Hafez's ghazals and mean "Oh dear, how can I describe the pain of separation? A hundred tears and a hundred sighs." This intertextuality with classical poetry is a common feature of Namjoo's music.
Another interesting fact about the song is that it was recorded live in front of an audience. This is typical of Namjoo's approach to music-making, as he often performs in small venues and tries to create an intimate connection with his listeners.
"Chashmi-O-Sad-Nam" has been covered by several other artists, both in Iran and abroad. Some of these covers have given the song a more rock-oriented sound, while others have focused on the traditional Persian elements.
The song's title, "Chashmi-O-Sad-Nam," translates roughly to "A hundred tears and a hundred names." This title reinforces the theme of separation and the idea that grief can be expressed in many different ways.
The lyrics of the song have been interpreted in various ways, with some seeing it as an expression of hope in the face of adversity, and others as a celebration of life's joys and pleasures.
The music video for "Chashmi-O-Sad-Nam" features Namjoo performing the song in a dark, moody setting with images of clocks and skulls flashing on the screen. This imagery suggests the fleeting nature of time and the inevitability of death.
Despite its popularity in Iran and among Persian speakers around the world, "Chashmi-O-Sad-Nam" has not received much mainstream attention in the West. However, some Western musicians, such as the American guitarist Marc Ribot, have praised Namjoo's work and collaborated with him on projects.
Chords: The chords for this song are not publicly available. However, guitarists can use Dm, G, C, and Am chords to play the main melody of the song.
Ali
on Tarsam Ke
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