Tom Jones, with politics.
Nigel Wrench writes: "This is the veteran pop star deemed so dangerous in his home country that he's banned there.
Ebrahim Hamedi, known to his fans as Ebi, sings in Farsi, which may be why you've never heard of him. In Iran, his songs are listened to illicitly. He's not been there since before the Islamic revolution in 1979, so won't be there to celebrate Persian new year on Saturday.
Mr Hamedi has been in London to record an acoustic concert for the BBC's Persian Television Service, to be broadcast at the weekend, and I've been speaking to him for tomorrow's PM.
Here's another picture from that session at Bush Hall, West London (all our photographs are by Saaed Jodat).
His voice is famous in concert halls from Sydney to Los Angeles. Think Tom Jones with added politics. Because it's his lyrics that have upset the authorities in Teheran.
Take his song "Tasmim", which means "decide" in Farsi, released just before last year's elections:
"Iran has given us such courage
Our Iran, is in ruins while our lions are in this condition
Our Iran, is in ruins while our elders remain asleep
Yes, say it that you won't be sleeping
Yes, say you wont allow it".
The video is here. If you spool through to the last image, you'll see his message in not-so-subtle metaphor.
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Final "treat". This reporter with the Iranian star.
Ebi's at the Royal Albert Hall next month in a charity concert, if you happen to be in London."
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Oh thanks for that final image Nigel.
I've just literally settled down to a bowl of Enid's minestrone and that has really put me off it now!
-- Will listen with interest but personally it's not my sort of music.....
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Enid, Ena - North of th eborder stuff...
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Oh it's Audrey Baxter. Just looked at the can - very nice actually..
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Mrs. Baxter, Jonnie?
Why is Nigel clenching his fist?
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Not sure whay Big Sister.
Perhaps Ebi is being a little intimate, he's certainly doing something with his hand behind Nigel - and Nigel doesn't look very happy!
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Jonnie, I think that's what's known as a 'mutual embrace', isn't it? I think Nigel looks his usual self - and there is a twinkle in his eye, if you look closely ...
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I think Nigel is not happy 'cos he has suddenly realised he has left the hand mike back at the office!
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