The Persian Influence on Angelina Jordan 

Angelina Jordan Podcast & RU-vid channel- www.wrappedinawarmblanket.com

Excellent and one influence caused Sarah to make this comment to a fan at the New Hampshire Concert! "She has been a little adult since she was 8", how profound, God Bless!

I have persian friends and i lsten and love since 40 years persian music, its absolutly amazing music , highest level in orient 👑♥️🌹💫 thank you for this video and all your thoughts about mery and angelina 😊❤

Hi Alan. I’m mesmerized by how accurately you described one important common denominator between ❤Angelina's singing and the Persian music/singing. The ornamentation of words is indeed very significant in Persian music, and you can safely say that jazz is embedded in most songs. Well done Alan. Bravo! I also liked your insight about family bonds in Persian culture. You rightfully gave the analogies of some other ancient cultures. It's so evident to me, through many videos that I've watched, the family is the walking example of Persian values which our common between all Iranians regardless of religion or race. Peace ✌️

It would be very interesting to hear Angelina's reaction to this video if she sees it.

Excellent job. I've always wondered about Angelina's incredible riffs and runs. How can she think of vocal choises that nobody else ever even imagined. Where did she got it from. Now I know. We all know that Meri is Angelina's mentor as far as music and writing are concerned. I never considered the cultural aspects of their strong relationship. Thanks for educating me. The archeologist back at work. 👍👍👍👏👏👏❤.

Hi Alan, I am a persian and started knowing & listening to AJ since AGT. I do feel her music and her interpretation of classical songs. Basically after listening to her and observing the influence of her family and in particular Merry in her life, I came to this similar conclusion instinctively. I am quite impressed by your analogy in this video which proves that my instinct or gut feeling was right. One cannot come to this conclusion without knowing or listening to classical or modern persian music. Great work & understanding 👏 👏

As a Swede I immediately was thinking of Swedish singer-songwriter Laleh Pourkarim. Her family fled Iran in 1983 when she was only one year old and by Azerbaijan and Belarus they ended up in Sweden. She writes music in Swedish, English and Persian and after many successful years in Sweden she now also writes for international stars like Demi Lovato ("Stone Cold"). en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laleh_(singer)

Thank you Alan. It's obvious that Angelina's influences goes back and beyond our understanding but you have done your research and gave us a glimpse of what some of them could be. Let's also recall that Angelina has showed an interest in Spanish music, specifically flamenco which it too has some similarities not only as art but the dressing around words and letters. Looking forward to some more about Angelina.

Alan, what exciting research and observation. It is striking to see these comparisons. Thanks for your work!

Very interesting and thank you for answering an old conundrum ! I had seen that video before where the elderly woman is walking towards the house.... I couldn't understand it as it looked like Mery yet older than she should have been given Angelina's young age... never occured to me that it might be Angelina's great-grandmother and it was a puzzle to me... but what you say makes so much sense. Nor had I thought that the Persian culture may be at least partly behind their incredible family bonds. From reading Angelina's book I guessed the events took place in Teheran as she mentions that her mum Sara was working at the Japanese school and Teheran does have a Japanese school... (no doubt not unique among major middle-eastern cities but it adds up)

Beautifully delineated, Alan! I've also wondered about an eastern influence in some of Angelina's runs when she sings and attributed it to the Persian music she must have been exposed to in her grandma's home and during visits to Iran. Couple that with listening to jazz at a very early age and we have an interesting international blend of musical influences, which you so clearly demonstrate. And I also think she was influenced by the spiritual beliefs and humanitarian charitable values that both her maternal grandparents displayed throughout their lives. Angelina is truly a compassionate, humble, and talented global citizen. I really appreciate how you research and put these videos together for us, Alan!!!

Sara told us, after the show, that good things in the near future with MERY art. Shoes was reported to be Turkey... many Christiams fled to Turkey when the things changed in the 70s

Very informative and helpful in understanding Angelina's singing style.

I always thought that the end of I Put a Spell on You when Angelina sings “you don’t want me”sounded very Middle Eastern

Alan, ty for digging deep. One of the most important factors that influenced and shaped Angelina's musical taste and talent is her grandmother, Mery Zamani. She is a Persian poet and artist who introduced Angelina to different genres and cultures of music. She taught Angelina how to sing in Farsi, Arabic, and English, and exposed her to the rich heritage of Persian music. Angelina has said that her grandmother is her biggest inspiration and role model. She has also incorporated some elements of Persian music into her own songs, such as the use of quarter tones, modal scales, and rhythmic patterns. © Larry D. Pifer

Well done! I appreciate your hard work on these in-depth in-sights into what makes Angelina so very special.

Brilliant! Alan, this is one of your most insightful and enjoyable - and you have many excellent ones. For your consideration, you can have an episode on "The power of silence." Angelina is incorporating brief moments of complete silence where no music or vocal are present. And it is so powerful! Just before the last section of I Put a Spell on You, or in Yellow Brick Road, and in many other. She stops, the music stops, and we stop breathing with anticipation of what's to come. I compared her renditions to the originals and that delibepause is usually her added touch. More broadly, Angelina speaks volumes through what she thoughtfully omits. Take consonants that she drops to create a perfect flow. We know they are there and complete them in our minds while enjoying musical bliss. And never wearing shoes when performing? A silent act that speaks volumes. 🤩👣🔥🧡🙌❣️

One of your best (IMHO) Alan! Enjoyed this so much. Thank you!

Good Saturday morning to you, Alan! This is one of your best analytical compilations. I absolutely love this, clear and concise expression of certainly what I see/hear in Angelina's vocals, and I think others as well. Thank you for the work of this. I'm saving this one to one of my lists. Happy Autumn to you, Alan. Grandma Ellen, in melismatic awe. 💜💜💜💜💜

Lo felicito maravilloso trabajo ❤️❤️❤️🇲🇽❤️❤️❤️Angelina❤❤❤

So very interesting, Alan. Or, as Mr. Spock might say, "Fascinating." I'd never really thought about Persian music. Now, hearing it described, I see a small correlation with Billie Holiday. Billie's style incorporated a lot of swoops and scoops and swirls. Of course to a much smaller extent than the Persian, but it's there. And it makes me wonder if being exposed to Persian music might not have been a factor in what attracted Angelina to Billie? Thanks.

Brilliant analysis. I noticed the middle eastern runs and wording by Angelina and was wondering where it came from. That run in California Dreamin’ always got me wondering. I love that run. It sounds mysterious. To inject a quintessential “American” song with middle eastern influence is fascinating and “foreign”.

Hi Alan👋 You really watched and listened - in the Iranian, Persian, Greek and Arabic cultures all the syllables and words sing melismatically! and Angelina heard and recorded it all in Iran when she was so little, and later put together a lot of Billy Holiday Jazz songs for herself!! and thereby your special style of music along with your unique special vibrato and all the riffs and runs! and melisma! which Angelina sings and uses in new and different ways with every new song as well as with the same song several times!! Depending on the situation or how you feel at the moment!! This is the extraordinary skill that, in my opinion, only Angelina has mastered!!! always shocked us 🤪 with your changeability!! You never know what she will conjure up with the song!! You can't calculate them impossible!! I've been listening to music of all styles and genres for 50 years now and call myself a music expert. I'm now 68 years old, but I've never heard a singer like Angelina before Angelina!! I heard a unique vibrato before Angelina and it belonged to Whitney Houston!! My absolute favorite singer in the past alongside Elvis Amy Winehouse Billy Holiday and Michael Jackson (RIP♥️) Until I met Angelina via AGT 2020 Boehemian Rhapsody and I Put A Spell On You from then on Angelina was my new favorite and will remain her!! ! That's why I'm absolutely sure that Angelina will be a mega star!!! the best female singer artist vocalist and songwriter in this time world 🌍 and Generation!!! Next to the best male singer Dimash!!! Since then I have been a true loyal Angelina Angel 😇 (fan)!!! Thanks Alan 👍👌have a great weekend and work and music time with Angelina's music and compilations of her magnificent extraordinary skills 👍👌👏 love ♥️and peace ✌️☮️ and kindness 😀greetings from Switzerland 🇨🇭🇨🇭🇨🇭👣😇 👰🎙👸🎺🎷 🎸🎼❤️‍🔥🔥💥💎👋💁‍♂️

very interesting analysis. It does seems right about the Persian music influences you mentioned.

Thank You Alan! You voiced what were my cautious quesses few years ago after becoming familliar with the prehistory of Angelina's performing barefoot, and esprecially after hearing her cover of California Dreaming (myself being a little bit familiar with Persian music). Thank you very much for this meticulous work you have done. And thank you for what you are doping articulating so well our admiration for the beautiful tallent of Angelina Jordan!

You found great points of the reasons she's so special 🎉

Alan, I'm now a lifelong devoted fan of your channel! Why? In how you are responding here to your Arabic/Persian conflation from an earlier video, you are modeling lifelong learning for your audience, which is what authentic education is all about. Clearly, your audience's edification is more important to you than your image. As a 27-year high school teacher, you have modeled for me as well never to put my ego before the curriculum. With regard to this video, in particular, bravo! Your hard work paid off. Angelina herself may not even be cognitive of some of your observations, but children can absorb by osmosis, particularly those with an acute aesthetic sensibility like Angelina has. Consequently, through the years, they can develop a primal confidence for "what works," leading to more spontaneity and risk-taking. Add to this Angelina's work ethic, respect for music history, her humility, commitment to family--it all adds up to a very unique artist. Lastly, on another subject... As RU-vid comes under increasing pressure to shut down gratuitous "reaction videos." I truly pray that they will grasp that your channel is not of that genre. Okay, back to my universe. Look forward to your next video. :)

Thank you for this. I wish we had more commentary like this for musicians. I study one of India's classical vocal musics (Hindustani) and also promote some of the tradition's great artists. I had also wondered if some of the possible influences in Angelina's singing came from India's classical music and even a bit from some of their film music (perhaps Bollywood). Many of the distinct nuances in her sinnging, particularly her vocal flexibility and ornamentation have strong similarities. Persian music also plays a role in the development of what is known widely as Hindustani classical music in India but it can be felt in other genres such as its popular music, film songs and another form which comes directly from the Persian language and culture called "ghazals". Bollywood music is very prolific all over the middle east as it was exported for years to the general population and the Indian expatriates living in those countries.

Very interesting. Thank you Alan. May be one of your best episode. Greetings from France, Gilles 🖐️

Thanks, Alan, for another stimulating "session". I find more of Angelina's melismas in Persian instrumental music than the sung Persian. The transitions are smoother, like what she does with her voice. Here is Kayhan Kalhor, one of the original members of Yo Yo Ma's Silk Road Ensemble, playing a Persian piece on his kamamcheh. What do you hear? ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-jMEjPKBvhzE.html

I have been immersed professionally in Iranian language and, to a lesser extent, culture for over 26 years. I loved your analysis, Alan! One aspect of AJ's musical performance style that I believe is heavily influenced by Petsian culture is how she moves on stage as she has gotten older. If you watch "Now I'm the Fool" you can see how she moves her body and hands. Very emblematic of Persian dance.

Mery Zamani, Angelina Jordan's grandmother, is a talented songwriter and poet. She has written over 100 songs in different languages, including Persian, English, Norwegian, Japanese and Spanish. She has also published several books of poetry and memoirs. Mery's Album "Mery Zamani Miracle Genius" is available in English, Norwegian, Japanese. Mery Zamani is a source of inspiration and support for her granddaughter, who shares her passion for music and art. is it any wonder where Angelina gets her talent, it is past down from grandmother.

So interesting! Thank you Alan!

I've often considered Angelina's melismatic embellishments to be one of the reasons she is able to capture us emotionally. It was especially obvious in "You Say". because Lauren's version is so beautiful and yet, when Angelina sings it, there is just a little bit more. Other factors also contribute but, I think the biggest difference in that song is the many melismas in Angelina's version.

Nicely done Alan, Nicely done. God bless you and your family 🙏 ✝️❤ 🙂👍

Thank you for the interesting lol at her musical influences. We had a wonderful time at concert. Anther fan that talked to Sara at the concert, said Sara mentioned that Angelina is going to do a Christmas concert in Europe this year.

This video made me experience several sensations, a naive initial disbelief to a surprise as the comparisons unfolded. Congratulations on the research and the thesis raised. The truth is that Angelina influences us in a Balsamic way for the relief of our souls. It makes me think more now. Thanks.

You are an musical & historical archivist and analyst Extraordinaire. It is always interesting, insightful, complete & professional. A great history and compilation of perhaps the greatest voice ever.

Fascinating connections Alan. I love this video, least of not for its focus on the strength of Angelina’s family, with Mery Zamani at its epicenter. ❤️🇮🇷💚

Amazing video ! one of your top 3 (for me) !!!

I had wondered if ELVIS was of Persion decsent

Very interesting video, in-depth and explains very well where the wonderful and countless variations in Angelina's voice can come from, beautiful work, thanks Alan, have a good life..Massimo

Alan, I have watched many many of your videos regarding Angelina. Your intelligent analysis is greatly appreciated by many I am sure.

Muchas gracias Alan. Muy interesante trabajo, me aporta mucho para comprender las características tan extraordinarias que presenta Angelina. Saludos. Thank you very much Alan. Very interesting work, it gives me a lot to understand the extraordinary characteristics that Angelina presents.

Thanks! 🤗👍🥰🥰🥰

Thank you for this! I was born in India and lived in Pakistan before my mother moved to England for a couple of years before moving back to her home in the USA.

One of your very very best reaction videos that I've watched of yours, and I've watched many, and this is probably my favorite because it's so very interesting and informative. Bravo! Please don't take this wrong, but a lot of people mostly westerners pronounce Iran like "Eye-ran" when it should be more like "Ear-rahn" with the "r" flipped. Not rolled but flipped, almost like a "soft" d.

The title had my eyes go BIG :D clever idea!!

Excellent! This is a great insight into an amazing young artist

Thank you, Alan, for s very thought-provoking video.

Insightful as always. Thanks so much for doing these deep dives.

Wow Alan. This was very enlightening. I enjoyed it immensely. Great explanation of how she plays with the words and doesn't just say them.

Grazie dall’ Italia

Muy interesante análisis Alan, muchas gracias🤗

this was very very interesting to watch well done

Alan, the first time I was thinking in that direction was at 3:10 at the end of in I put a spell on you and I even made a comment about it. But you put it all together. And look how she is curling her finger/hand movement! Thank you!

I'm certain that your hypothesis in this video is true. I watched it twice just to be certain I understood your points. Very subtle it seems but it's there.. thank you for this...

I've been referring to her as a 'Persian Princess' for years. Now we can apply the term 'musically' when describing her. Culturally, I don't see the Scandinavian influence at all, even in her song Oslo, which you reveal has Persian undertones to it.

👍👍

Until the fall of the Shah (1979), Iran was the most Westernized country in the Middle East. Both great-grandmother and grandmother Meri (born in 1960) probably also listened to a lot of Western music: Billie Holiday, Sinatra, Elvis, Beatles, etc... I think the influence of Japan is also important as Angelina's family lived there for many years. An influence that I glimpse in many of her behaviors, more contained than the Persian ones, which are rather reminiscent of the Nordic ones. Her paternal influence remains a mystery.

As someone who was born and lived my first 22 years of my life in Lebanon, I can say there is not much difference between Arabic, Persian, and Turkish music. They all use the same music scale, they are monophonic, and use the same or very similar musical instruments. Of course there are differences based on the differences in their cultures, environments, and religions. Here is an example of Arabic music by the Lebanese singer Fayrouz (150 million records sold) singing an old hymn at a church. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-0TAJOqZ4y1M.htmlsi=RsXOo69hANAtXNnT Notice the elongations of the vowels in this hymn similar to what Angelina often used in her songs.

😀😀😀😀😀

Not much is mentioned about the father.

Hey Alan, at 11:34, the picture features 5 women. An unknown woman, then Mery, Angelina, Juliette and Sara. Who is the unknown woman?

i never thought GGM but an aunt..i knew it wasn't mery...

If people also dive into some of Angelina's videos , they will stop asking questions about her father. That's why I don't believe all the "facts" about her father.

Alan I have been following you, and your presentations about Angelina for many years since I first discovered her. But you lost me quite a bit on this one. In some of my comments in some other spaces I have referred to Angelina as a daughter of Persia, which I have contended contributes to her beauty as well as the other attributes that she has gained from her grandmother. But she also had a Japanese grandfather, and I'm sure that has contributed to a lot of her personality, and influences. But where you lost me in this particular video is attributing her ability and talent to sing runs in the way that she does to her Persian roots, and part of that may be true. But it seems to me that you have left out her primary influence, and that is Etta James, Ella Fitzgerald, Aretha Franklin, James Brown, and so many other Western singers who have shaped Western popular music from the beginning. That is soul music. With soul singers like Aretha Franklin, or Whitney Houston. Angelina sings Western music which has been overly influenced by the black culture in the United States, and black people are not often given credit for this influence, but it is in all of our music from jazz to soul music, and pop music as well as rock & roll. It all started in New Orleans with Louis Armstrong's jazz interpretations, and in the black church throughout the 20th century. Angelina's primary style of singing, and her expressions through the types of runs that she uses so effortlessly, comes from the African American influence on music. It may seem that I'm making a big point about this, but you have to understand that we American black people are sensitive to this issue. We are, and have been so influential in the music, and entertainment styles, and practices in this world, but a lot of times get slighted on the recognition. Please understand that I am a fan of yours and when it comes to Angelina you are one of my favorite people. So not to take away from her Persian heritage, but she is a child, and a gift to this whole world, and she has gleaned from the whole world her artistry, and talent. Be blessed.

I am not so sure the iran examples are true persian, but are post islam takeover (arabic) chant style. They destroued most old culturt.

Is her father dead ? 💀 or just forgotten?

You are making educated guesses, like Persians are Arabs?

bullshit

It was a really wonderful video. Thank you for taking the time to make this video🌺🌺

Just weird.