Queen debut in Iran (legally)

...Western music has been strictly censored in the Islamic republic. But, with
Queen frontman Freddie Mercury's Iranian ancestry, illegal bootlegs of the band's music made Queen one of the most popular bands in the country. Now, following a relaxation in Iranian laws governing culture, Queen's greatest hits has been given an official release.

The album, costing less than one US dollar, comes complete with translated lyrics and an explanation of the 'plot' of each song. The book explains that 'Bohemian Rhapsody' is "about a young man who has accidentally killed someone and sold his soul to the devil. On the night before his execution he calls God in Arabic, 'Bismillah', and so regains his soul from Satan".

Other western artists who have gained official releases in Iran recently include Elton John, Julio Iglesias and The Gypsy Kings.

CMU.

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  • 1 - Celestial Dung

    Aug 25, 2004 at 10:26 am

    It's good and happy that Iranians get their queen but I feel that the real story in this is that the secret undercover plot of Bohemian Rhapsody is now revealed. So that's what Devil for a son meant.

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