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Afghan Elvis
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The odd power of the cover band. So one day in Afghanistan, reporter Gregory Warner started playing "Those Were the Days My Friend" on his accordion. His translator, shocked, asks, "How do you know Afghan music?" Greg scratches his head and thinks, "But this is just some folk song my mom used to sing to me!"
And so Greg learns the tale of Ahmad Zahir, AKA "Afghan Elvis," who became a pop sensation in Afghanistan in the 1970s with his hybrid versions and East-meets-West music. Though Zahir died under mysterious circumstances in 1979, his music lives on with surprising popularity. We follow Greg on his accordion-wielding journey as he talks to Zahir's widow, childhood friend, and numerous fans to get to the bottom of why his songs endure.
Watch Greg's Johnny Cash performance:
"Ahmed Zahir vs. Elvis Presely" mashup
Gregory Warner's blog
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As a life-long Johnny Cash fan who recently spent several years in Iran, I cannot tell you how much I enjoyed this show!
I used to love listening to Johhny Cash with the Call to Prayer in the background. Many of my Iranian friends have come to love his music as much as I do. He is truly the American Shahjarian. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFiZEl_jQLw) (Don't ask me to explain that though)
As a not very big Johnny Cash fan who has never been to Iran, I cannot tell you how much I enjoyed this clip!
Your show really touched me deeply. While listening to your show, the world suddenly became a very small and comforting place. Your piece on the wide spread appeal of American country music around the world reminded me that our similarities as human beings far out weigh our differences. Thank you!
From earworms to a 94-yr old psychotherapist to "A Ring of Fire" played on accordian by an American in front of 300 Afghanis... wow. And that's just in ONE show. I'm hooked.
I listened to the show in the car today and absolutely loved this piece. Decades without music - I cannot imagine the deprivation. Great job, Greg ... you never know when that accordian will come in handy.
Among the countries mentioned on your show as places where country music is popular was some place called Keenya. Excuse my ignorance but, where is that exactly?
Among the countries mentioned on your show as places where country music is popular was Keenya. Excuse my ignorance but, where is that exactly?
beauteous!
I grew up in Afghanistan listening to Ahmad Zahair's songs. I left the country in 1978. As a fan (almost worshipper) of this extremely talented afghan musician I was devastated when I heard of his death. Listening to your interview with Greg was a surreal experience. I particularly enjoyed Greg's interview clips with Ahmad Zahair's wife. I knew of their little girl's name, Shabnum, which means morning dew but, I had no idea that she was born in the same day that her father had passed.
This was an awesome piece. It brought tears to my eyes. Very moving. I was born in afghanistan around the same time Ahmad Zahir was assisinated. We came to the US in the mid 80's and I grew up listening to his music along side american music. Everytime i listen to his music it takes me back home.
I did have one concern about Greg's report. As for his comment about Music not being there after the Soviet invasion, until the US invasion. Is a bit exagerated. The US did not some how miraculously bring back Music...just the sound of bombs!
Your story really grabbed me. Now I'll look for some music by Ahmad Zahair. I also liked your poem (with the link to a song) about the skinny guy who lost the money. Thank you.
Great show. It took me two hours to get Johnny Cash out of my head, including the accordian.
I overheard a coworker talking today, and she used the word accordian. BAM! The song was right back where it started.
As an American living abroad in Japan, the piece on the inherent longing in American Country music really hit home (no pun intended). I always listen to the Radiolab podcast while running, and when Daniel Lanois' Panorama entered my consciousness I had to stop for a moment because tears had literally overtaken me. I called Mom and Dad the instant I got back to my apartment.
A million thank-yous for yet another intellectually and emotionally stimulating show.
I love this show. I look forward to listening to it whenever a new episode is available. I was listening to this piece while I was working and the last piece about Johnny Cash in Afghanistan had me laughing out loud, I am a mailman, so the people on the street probably thought I was a little crazy, but it's Johnny Cash, so it's ok.
I liked the idea of the sense of longing tied to country music. It makes sense that Jimmie Rogers sang about railroads, the Carter Family, Hank Williams and even Woody Guthrie came out of the 30's. One could argue that it was chance, and the invention of the record. But a more compelling argument would be the migrations due to the Great Depression. Also, that would explain why alot of my Myspace musical groups are European rockabilly groups. I have often wondered what the appeal of the hillbilly twang was to Italian, Spanish and even Finnish groups.
Thanks for another great show. So hurry up with the next one already :)
i loved this piece.
a funny thing about the "those were the days" song that you don't mention is that the tune's originally from a russian folk song. adds another strange layer to the afghans recognition and love of the tune! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lc1fR30EPY
What an interesting show.
My whole life I've experienced extremely lucid music in my head. I always thought it was quite normal which I think it may be. I manage it by having music or radio shows like this one on at all times. When things are silent I feel very uncomfortable. I remember growing up, being tormented by the last song I heard before I left to go to school until I came home and was able to replace it with a new one when I listened to my stereo.
One thing I wonder, is now that they've isolated a gene that expresses musical ability, are people with this gene over represented with this earworm?
This was a great show. Radio can be magic. I was specially moved by the story of the late Afghan singer. In my country we also had a fabulous artist called Victor Jara who was killed because of his ideas and lyrics during Pinochet's dictatorship.
By the way, Kenya is in East Africa.
This was a great radio show..... written and produced with great skill. I enjoyed it very much.....good to hear that outstanding radio is still alive and well! Thanks so much.
Loved this segment! So wonderful to hear about simple things that we all share, anywhere in the world. The things that make us truly human. Music, imagination, humor, love. These are the things that make us great and its wonderful to have it illustrated so deftly. Thanks for playing for all of us and sharing yourself with them and us.
I THINK AHMAD ZAHAIR WAS A GREAT PERSONILITY AND I LOVE HIM UP TO NOW AND I APPRECIATE HIM NOW AFTER 30 YEAR WHICH IN THAT CONDITION HE MADE LIKE THIS SONGS WHICH WE CANNOT MAKE IT TO DAY
You guys make incredible shows, and this one was no exception. I love you! :)
It might be noted that 'Those Were the Days My Friend' is really an english cover of the Russian song 'Dorogoi dlinnoyu', and so it should be much closer, musically and geographically, to Afghanistan than it is to the west.
Great show!
By some sort of strange accident I read the Jorge Borges short story The Zahir a few hours before I listened to this podcast, not suspecting any connection. Try it yourself,
http://southerncrossreview.org/66/borges-zahir.htm
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