Guess Who? It's Googoosh!

Googoosh’s music is very musically similar to western popular music. Instead of the complex heterophonic melodies found in classical Middle Eastern music, there is western style homophony. The song that I listened to is called Shab Shishey.

The song begins with a short glissando with an instrument I assume is a guitar and some instruments that I believe to be violins based on their respective timbres. These are the main instruments in the composition. The violins play the main melody and are accompanied by a lower toned chordophone that sounds like a cello or a base. The melody has conjunct motion and often wavers in between pitches, but not in trill like manor. An aerophone that could be a flute also accompanies the violins by closely following their melody. The guitar plays a rhythmic role and can be heard in the back ground keeping the beat with steady jangly strumming. Along with the guitar there is some sort of idiophone that makes a clacking sound that is reminiscent of a castanet.

But all other music aside, Googoosh is best known for her singing. From the tone of the vocals, I figured that this was a love song. It is not similar to religious Middle Eastern music because the vocals are not chanted. Her vocals are, in contrast to the instrumental melody, in conjunct motion. They also feature the signature melismas of Middle Eastern singing styles. I assume that many of the aspects that I found familiar from this music come from the fact that Iran has many cultural differences from the rest of the Middle East.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZKtelBD534