Shervin Hajipour edit by Gladys Lopez
This year's Grammys introduced the Special Merit Award for Song for Social Change Award. Academy members proposed the award, which was ultimately determined by a panel of music experts who comprised the Grammys' blue ribbon committee. According to the Recording Academy, "to qualify for the Best Song For Social Change Special Merit Award, the song must be released in the past five years and should contain lyrical content that addresses a timely social issue, explores a subject impacting a community of people in need, promotes awareness, raises consciousness, and builds empathy." Shervin Hajipour is the first award recipient and won for his song "Baraye," which is credited as the unofficial anthem of the wave of protests triggered by Mahsa Amini's death. Iran's morality police detained Amani for supposedly wearing a headscarf that was too loose. She would die three days later while in police custody under suspicious circumstances. Hajipour's song perfectly captures the sentiment of Iranian citizens, using powerful lyrics and haunting melodies to convey the pain and suffering of those affected by Iran's oppressive regime.
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| Mahsa Amini Protest |
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| Mahsa Amini Protest |
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| Mahsa Amini Protest |
In September, Hajipour uploaded the song to his Instagram after Amini's death; within two days, the song received over 40 million views. After releasing his single, Hajipour was arrested and jailed until he was granted bail in October. Following the arrest, Hajipour's Instagram post disappeared from his account. He is currently awaiting trial on charges that could result in up to six years of imprisonment; he faces accusations of "propaganda against the regime" and "inciting violence" and is forbidden from leaving the country. Thus he was unable to attend the Grammys. Nevertheless, the Recording Academy recognized Hajipour's work, and First Lady Jill Biden presented the award.
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| Instagram Post by the Recording Academy on February 6, 2023 |
First Lady Jill Biden called the song "a powerful and poetic call for freedom and women's rights." She added that although Shervin was arrested, his song "continues to resonate around the world with its powerful theme Women! Life! Freedom!" Although Hajipour couldn't physically attend the ceremony, he was still able to watch the show. A video surfaced online showing Hajipour in a dimly lit room, watching the ceremony as First Lady Jill Biden calls his name.
Hajipour took to his Instagram to celebrate the victory in a black and white picture captioned, "We won🤍🎵."
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Instagram Post by Shervin Hajipour on February 5, 2023 |
Hajipour's 'we' is intentional because, according to Hajipour, the lyrics are inspired by tweets from young Iranians listing why they protest against the Iranian government. Hajipour had said, "the lyrics of this song were written by you to relieve your pain.” Baraye, the song's title, is a Farsi word that translates to "for" or "because of." The song consists of lyrics such as “for dancing in the streets, for kissing loved ones” and “for women, life, freedom.”
The Grammy Award for Song for Social Change is a testament to the power of music in bringing about social change. Shervin Hajipour's "Baraye" is a perfect example of how music can raise awareness about important issues and inspire people to take action. Through his music, Hajipour has created a lasting impact that will continue to inspire listeners to support and stand up for marginalized communities. By honoring this song, the Recording Academy has recognized its artistic merit and its impact on society. Further, the Recording Academy has cemented that they stand with the women of Iran fighting for change.
Abadi, Cameron. 2022. “Iran’s Revolutionary Year.” Foreignpolicy.com. December 25, 2022. https://foreignpolicy.com/2022/12/25/iran-protest-revolution-2022-raisi-irgc/.
@recordingacademy. 2023. “It Was an Honor to Present the First Ever GRAMMY Award Song for Social Change Award to @shervinine, an Iranian Singer-Songwriter, for His Song ‘Baraye.’” https://www.instagram.com/reel/CoT23SjgyYs/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link.
@shervinine. 2023. “We Won 🤍🎵.” https://www.instagram.com/p/CoTsqskoK-J/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link.
The Associated Press. 2022. “Iran Protests Spark Solidarity Rallies in the U.S. and Europe.” Npr.org. October 23, 2022. https://www.npr.org/2022/10/23/1130775833/iran-protests-rallies-us-europe.
Ziabari, Kourosh. 2023. “Iranian Protests and the Crisis of Free Speech.” Arabcenterdc.org. February 23, 2023. https://arabcenterdc.org/resource/iranian-protests-and-the-crisis-of-free-speech/.
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