Host: Andy Guests: Ali Khamenei, Bill Gates, Jesus Christ, Barack Obama, and Najati, my geometry teacher Music: Scheherazade Symphony Dinner Menu: Vegetarian Pasta This week's host is Andranik Madadian, known as Andy. Andy is one of the most popular pop music singers in Iran. He was born into a poor Armenian family in Tehran. He developed an interest in music as a teenager and played the guitar. His fame peaked when he formed a duo with another singer named Koroush, producing several best-selling albums before they later parted ways. In recent years, Andy has performed with some of the most famous international singers, including Benji, a rock music star, who sang a joint song in support of protesters after the controversial presidential elections in 2009. Andy is also involved in charitable and peace-promoting activities and lives in Los Angeles with his American wife, where I met him.
About Andy: Andranik Madadian, known as Andy, is one of the most popular pop singers in Iran. He developed an interest in music as a teenager and played the guitar. His fame peaked when he formed a duo with Koroush, producing several best-selling albums. In recent years, he has performed with several famous international singers.
Andy: Welcome to the show. I wanted to ask you first who you invited to dinner.
Andy: Mr. Khamenei, Mr. Bill Gates, Jesus Christ, Mr. Obama, and Mr. Najati, my 11th-grade math teacher, who I think is the most important... You will surely tell us later why you invited these people, but first, I wanted to ask what music you want to play for dinner?
Andy: I think I will choose Scheherazade because it is a piece that I had to learn well in the university symphonic orchestra where I played double bass, and I believe it is one of the best melodies and harmonies ever created.
Did you study music at university?
Andy: I studied singing and composition. One of the instruments I had to play was the double bass, and I played it well. Scheherazade by Rimsky-Korsakov is one of the most beautiful symphonic pieces... dramatic... Many know me as a singer of happy songs, but when they listen to my albums, they see that 80% of my songs are dramatic, romantic, and meaningful. Not that I don't like happy songs. I think life is mostly happy rather than sad. But I love romantic and ballad songs... and from my choice, it is clear where these feelings come from.
It is evident. The story of Scheherazade itself is a tragic tale where she must tell stories to the king to stay alive. Let's get to the guests you chose. The first guest is Mr. Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic. As a singer, why do you want to invite Mr. Khamenei to dinner?
Andy: I want him to realize how beneficial it would be for Iran to have singers like me. I would rather say I hope he invites us to dinner. I know that when I say this, many will oppose me, saying that this regime has done these things to us, and we are living abroad because of this regime. We want to return. But the truth is that I think at some point, we all need to forgive each other's sins and start from scratch. If that day comes, and Mr. Khamenei realizes how beneficial it would be to have singers like me, not only will it make each of us happy, but imagine if all of us Los Angeles singers go to Iran for a tour and concerts, we could earn money and use that money to help the needy. Because there is money, and we can create it, and we are interested in it.
The reason we are not there and not active, no one has explained to me what our sin is. A revolution happened, and some people became kings and ministers. For us, who are the workers of that country, it doesn't matter who the king is. As long as the people are happy and have a way to happiness. At night, there should be music in their homes, and they should have joy. Our job is to be in people's homes and share in their joys and sorrows. I have no political opinion, nor do I want to be a mayor or president. I just want to be able to go back and serve my people.
So you want Mr. Khamenei to come to dinner and tell him to open the doors so we can come back to our country and serve the people... I think the other guests I invited will convince him if I cannot. They will say it is not bad, it has benefits, both economically and for the happiness of the people. I hope one day this happens. Your second guest is Bill Gates.
Andy: Bill Gates (1955-): American businessman and entrepreneur, founder of Microsoft. Reason for invitation: Not because of his importance in expanding computers and the internet, but because he spends his money on the happiness and well-being of the world's needy. Bill Gates is not just one of the biggest people in the world for promoting the internet and computers, but because of what he does with his money. He spends most of his money on the happiness and well-being of the needy. He and his wife have a non-profit organization that goes to different countries and builds homes and schools for those in need.
For me, this person has great value. Because God has given him a talent and money, and he uses that money for the people. This is my heartfelt wish, and I have always done this. However, my power is not at the level of Bill Gates! It is at the level of an Iranian singer who, if he doesn't work, falls behind on his rent. That is why I envy the happiness Bill Gates has. One of the most important things the Bill Gates Foundation does is vaccination in Africa. It is truly amazing that he has invested so much money to eradicate many diseases in African countries... and you can imagine that when we were growing up in Iran, these vaccines kept us alive, and now we are here enjoying life. See how many millions of people today are getting vaccinated because of Bill Gates to become scientists and musicians in thirty years. How valuable his work is.
You also do a lot of charitable work, as far as I know. Of course, within your means! You also do charitable work?
Andy: One major difference between me and Bill Gates is... I don't want to sound arrogant or self-centered, but Bill Gates helps with the money he has. I give the money I need to people. Because I realized that the money I will need tomorrow will change someone's life today, and I gave that money today. If these good qualities are something I talk about, I want my music fans to learn that doing charitable work makes you so happy that you think you have millions of dollars in the bank. I learned these qualities from my parents. They gave what they needed to friends and acquaintances, and that is why they were happy until the last day of their lives and could sleep peacefully at night.
Now we come to your third guest, Jesus Christ, the prophet of Christians.
Andy: Jesus: Founder of Christianity. Reason for invitation: He was a person who walked around and helped people. He wanted good for everyone, happiness for everyone. I must say that we should not give a religious aspect to this matter. When I talk about Jesus Christ, I am not talking about the religion of Christianity. Because Jesus himself did not promote Christianity. His followers created the religion. He was just a person who walked around and helped people. He wanted good for everyone, happiness for everyone. He went to weddings, drank wine with people, ate food, and enjoyed. If someone was sick, he would take care of them. I just tried to learn what kind of person he was so that I could do those things. No misunderstanding should arise. I believe no one needs to change their religion to become Christian or change their religion to become Muslim. Whatever religion you have, if you want to get closer to God, just be good. Be kind. Be good, and God can reach you through your own religion. So, no misunderstanding should arise tomorrow that Andy wants us to become supporters of Jesus. No. I am not saying to be a supporter of Christianity. I am a supporter of Jesus himself, his behavior, his actions, his personal behavior... the same good deeds and good thoughts and good words that we had from Zoroaster. We don't need to go far; we Iranians had these qualities long before Jesus Christ.
Your fourth guest is Obama, the American president...
Andy: Barack Obama (1961): American Democratic politician, 44th President of the United States. Reason for invitation: For me, the most important part is that at least he did not treat Iran with bombs and guns, and at least he delayed a war that could have happened. Yes, for me as an Iranian, the most important part is that at least he did not treat Iran with bombs and guns. Because first, in war, everyone loses, and some believe that Iran should have been bombed and gone to war with Iran. But I think about the Iranian women and children who would lose their lives in these wars. In my opinion, diplomacy is the most important thing and should continue until the last moment to avoid war. The tribal leaders may selfishly or patriotically do things that lead to war. We all know that sometimes to achieve peace, one must fight. I am not so naive as to think everything is so good. But with what Obama did, at least he delayed a war that could have happened. God willing... Here I want to talk about Trump. The most important lesson Trump can learn from Iranians in Washington is that they know both Iran and the world, and they know America... I hope President Trump learns from Iranian kids that we Iranians are not like other countries in the region like Iraq, but a country that has been around for thousands of years and stood together. As soon as war breaks out, we unite. Even though we may be at war with each other internally. But as soon as we are attacked from outside, we unite and fight. There cannot be a victory in war with Iran; one must come to terms with peace and diplomacy.
This statement creates enemies among Iranians. Because some do not agree with the government. The Iranian government thinks I am supportive. No, I do not support the government. I am neither against any government nor in favor of it. But what... Are you against war?
Andy: I am against war. Diplomacy, diplomacy, diplomacy. Your first four guests were Jesus, Bill Gates, Mr. Khamenei, and Obama. Why did you choose this teacher? He was a math teacher, right?
Andy: Najati: My geometry teacher from high school. Reason for invitation: He was my geometry teacher who was later executed. I am grateful to him for a lifetime, not only because he encouraged me but also for instilling that confidence in me, that power and will in me that I can achieve what I want. Yes, mathematics, spatial geometry. Mr. Najati, if I am not mistaken. I am talking about thirty-six or seven years ago. He was not only my best and first encourager in life, but not only in mathematics... because thank God my mathematics was good. I was the top student in mathematics, and when I decided to pursue music, this teacher cried in front of me. He said you are strong in spatial geometry; you should pursue economics and go to university. I told him I have no money. My family cannot afford university. He said I will raise money for you to go to university. You must go and continue with mathematics. I am grateful to him for a lifetime, not only for encouraging me but also for instilling that confidence in me that I could transform from a shy person... that I can... this power and will in me that I can achieve what I want. And I went after music, and thank God I have a happy life now because I am doing what I love. I owe all this to Mr. Najati... the support he gave me back then. Do you think Mr. Najati ever got a chance to listen to your music? Did he realize you became a very famous singer? Unfortunately, no. I heard he was later executed. After school, when I came to America, we were no longer in contact. So he did not hear that one of his good students became a very famous singer.