Singer-activists Joan Baez and Bon Jovi have each recorded viral videos in support of the Iranian protest.
Both present solidarity with the freedom movement of Iranians now.
Neither Joan Baez or Jon Bon Jovi could perform their music in Iran, but they are now singing in Farsi lines that call for peace. Bon Jovi sings "Stand By Me" with words in Farsi along with Andy Madadian, an Armenian-Iranian pop star. Folk singer and activist
Joan Baez takes "We Shall Overcome" and performs a portion in Farsi.
Joan Baez was well-known in the 1960's for her support of the civil rights movement and in support of women's rights. Much of her music became emblematic of the era, including her opposition to the War in Vietnam. Her peace protests and music has put her on the steps of the nation's capitol, as she sang
in support of Martin Luther King Sr. and opposed the war with songs of peace. She met Martin Luther King during a three-day American Friends conference for peace and maintains ongoing support for social causes and in support of Quaker events.
Bon Jovi has been
an advocate for social causes as well. For example, he has touted low income housing in Newark.
This is not the first time these two singers have been paired in a cause. Both sought to perform for U.S. soldiers who returned from service in Iraq. Baez was barred
from performing at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, along with Dan Rather, who sought to visit and speak with the troops in 2007.
Ayatollah Khamenei revealed his displeasure with Bon Jovi and declares he is deleting Bon Jovi's songs from his Ipod forever. The Huffington Post quoted him as saying, "This is an irrevocable decision." I did not merely uncheck the tracks, I deleted them permanently."
The Ayatollah went on to say he had thought about making "Livin' on a Prayer" the Iranian national anthem, "but no more."
