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REVIEWS This
is easily the coolest Rumi recording I've heard. The relaxed atmosphere
and unusual production is very refreshing and unexpected with a poet
that is generally treated like a saint. Well, even if he was a saint,
I think he'd like it better this way. Kudos to Shahram, Michael and
Olivier. Shahram
Shiva's Rumi: Lovedrunk ignores the fact that more than seven centuries,
and half a world separate contemporary Americans from the mystical,
magical poetry of Jallaladin Rumi. In Lovedrunk, Shiva proves
that Rumi's ideas and images can still resonate with us today. The
words of Rumi have never sounded more appealing. Set to intricate
musical rhythms simplified through the trance-techno sounds of today.
The well orchestrated yet concise music and words sensually rendered
by Shahram Shiva weave a soundscape that resonates through the body
as if it were a tuning fork. Deeply enriching. Hypnotic,
culturally expansive, 'Lovedrunk' brings the deep power of the poetry
of Rumi into the light of today. The musical voice of Shahram Shiva
winding through ancient instrumentation and the pulsing grooves of
Olivier Glissant all make for an infectious tapestry of sound. Lovedrunk
is a stereo love-match of body and spirit, as the artists render Rumi
to voice and music. In his book Rending the Veil, Shahram Shiva describes
Rumi¹s use of the word "drunk" as "being enraptured
by a divinely induced state of ecstasy." While you listen, you
may choose to dance, to meditate, or even to wash dishes -- and all
at once, if you like. It is the listener¹s choice to focus in
on the music, or the voice, or the creative collaboration of both.
I can imagine listening to LoveDrunk in the subway. The smile, the
look on the listener's face I imagine might prompt the rider across
to wonder 'what is s/he listening to'? LoveDrunk does us the favor
of connecting us to Rumi in the context of the contemporary. Shahram
speaks with the fervor of ancient Sufi master Rumi. Listening
to Shahram perform Rumi's poetry, I was transported to the world of
Rumi. ...In Lovedrunk Shiva has dipped briefly but deeply into the vast ocean of words that Rumi left us and set them to music composed by Olivier Glissant. The music and words complement each other so completely that you begin to wonder how you ever heard Rumi’s poetry without it. It is a lushly sensual, passionate, devoted, and contemplative trek through the mystic heart from beginning to end. In several
tracks Shiva marries spoken Persian with English and the two languages
entwine like, well, like lovers. It is an erotic interplay of cultures
and concepts much as the music itself, which is a blend of Middle-Eastern
tonalities and phrasings over western beats. The combination is a
seduction of the intellect and the senses, rendered by a Lover, embraced
by the Beloved. In Rumi’s own words, the two are one in such
a way that there is no telling which originated where. The CD is so
well-paced and crafted that it’s challenging to pick out one
track as a “favorite...” I thought
I'd listen to Lovedrunk while performing my chores this morning...I
found however, that it demanded my undivided attention; it is not
something to listen to in the background. Bravo! It is a masterpiece!
I found myself lost in the music, the poetry, and your voice. Lovedrunk
is sensual and ecstatic...a flurry of breathless kisses for my soul.
Thank You...I can't wait for it to be released. I plan on giving it
as a gift to my favorite people. 'Lovedrunk'
is very impressive. It should come with a warning: do not play while
driving. It is so hypnotic that I had to pull over, stop the player
and wait until I got home before listening to the rest of the CD.
Bravo! The
kind of thing I can listen to over an over again and continue to be
interested and find new meaning. There are many parts in which Shahram
puts into words, thoughts and ideas I've had but never knew a way
to verbalize. It was further interesting because it allows the listener
to visualize something going on or happening; few other artists/poets/singers
are able to capture their listener visually the way Lovedrunk does...very
thought provoking. I was
playing the Lovedrunk CD one day, when my boyfriend, who is a State
Trooper walked in and heard it. He not only loved it, he started to
move with it. I was so surprised to find out that he likes your CD
as much as I do. Since then we have played it for our friends and
other Troopers and reaction has been totally positive all the way
around. Thanks for the wonderful CD. It's
hard to find adequate words to describe how this CD affects me! I
wouldn't have wanted to wait any longer than I had to for this amazing
work.... it oozes the kind of passion for God that touches me inside.
What a wonderful thing you created! Thank you, thank you, thank you... Your
CD is absolutely extraordinary in its brilliance. The music strikes
a chord deep within my soul, where it seems almost ageless and ethereal.
Your interpretations and recitations of Rumi's poetry are brilliant,
and when coupled with your melodic arrangements, create a masterpiece!
Thank you for this beautiful CD; I enjoy listening to it every day! We LOVE
it!!! The music and your voice are amazing. We would love to see you
perform. We had an amazingly powerful and close evening just sitting
holding hands, and listening to you. Thank you! I listened
to your music last night and did have a good sleep. Your music brought
me into a state I have never experienced before. For the first time
I lost control of myself in music. It was...like..I was floating in
the stream of love and contentment. Great music, really! I have
just received my CD at work, and cannot get anything done because
my eyes are rolling up in my head from the sheer beauty of what you
have produced. I love
the CD....hearing you recite Rumi, I feel myself submerged in a sea
of ecstatic devotion where I want to drown... Thank You for having
the courage to bring this level of intensity and passion to the world... Congratulations
on the release of your oh-so-beautiful CD!! It continues to infuse
my days with a connection to the divine and your voice brings me to
a soulful, timeless place amidst the mundane minutes of my days. Wishing
you huge success with the release and here's hoping for many more
to come.....I'd still love to hear more in the Persian...your sultry
voice is intoxicating and mesmerizing... Shahram
Shiva is the Persian Barry White... Oh that voice... Can
I give this CD 17 stars???!!! It is unbelievable, has truly changed
my life. Shahram Shiva's voice fits perfect with the poetry he writes!
The music makes it even better, this cd is not to be missed!!!!! My
favorite has to be the track "I've Got You Now", great track.
Do yourself a favor and BUY THIS CD!!!! It has gone to the top of
my cd collection and will easily move very fast to the top of yours.
All I can say is 5 words, WOW WOW WOW WOW WOW!!!!!!!! mesmerizing... i FINALLY
heard your lovedrunk CD and it is just too beautiful for words. the
production and arrangements on your recording are impeccable. this
is by far the most sophisticated and elegant rendition of Rumi i have
ever heard. you have avoided the "new age" cliche and brought
real texture and grace to this timeless material. the way your voice
curls thru the melodies is warm and welcoming. and of course the persian
excerpts are a wonderful element, offering an authenticity and a surprisingly
familiar rhythm to these verses. thank you and congratulations! Hearing
your voice, ignited a flame to which one can only surrender, lasting
for hours. Your
album Lovedrunk has given me such joy and woken up parts of me that
have been closed for a very long time. I have
spent the last 24 hours listening to your CD. I will not say much
about how my heart is melting, but I will say this: Thank you, thank
you, thank you. The way in which you translate and utter these words
of love is true, oh so true. One can only hope you will release more
of these jewels set to music. Thank you, dear Soul for pursuing your
dream and sharing it with all. From
the core of my heart I would like to extend my appreciation and love
for this beautiful soulful work. It is an amazing intoxicant. Really
enjoyed listening to it. Every single word is so profound that it
needs to be listened again and again. Thanks for such a beautiful,
brilliant work. Just
a note to once again thank you for infusing your CD with a Spirit
that flows out through my CD player and washes over and into me so
that even as I'm driving way too fast...racing through my day and
my life...wearing my sue-the-realtor persona...trying to be and do
all I think I need to be and do...even then.....your voice ,so seductive
and sensual, draws me in... into that divine DESIRE/ LOVE zone. All
of the pretense falls away and I once again feel connected,tuned in. The
CD arrived from CDBaby and I put it on straight away. Finally was
able to hear the songs not demonstrated here on MySpace. They are,
of course, all of the same fine quality as those here. Rumi's verses
are such a diamond mine which you so eloquently deliver in English
along with the accompanying music. I listened to the entire album
straight through twice in row, but it will take a long time to really
absorb it. The verses of Rumi retain their magically spell through
the ages. You hear one verse that twirls so perfectly balanced as
it dances on the razor's edge and cuts to the chase piercing through
to your heart. You recover and think: "Aha — this Rumi must
have peaked. What more could he say that could touch my heart so again?"
And then amazingly another verse comes and then another. Again and
again the great Sufi peels away veil after veil revealing the secret
of secrets — Love. It puts you in a different place. Your higher
self is listening. Absorbing it. There is Truth to it. You certainly
cannot read while listening to Rumi's verses. Like so many seem to
say in there reviews on CD Baby it helps focus on the inner. Thanx
for an extraordinary album. The world needs to hear this! Today
I had the pleasure of listening to your works, and I enjoyed it so
veeeeeery much. It takes a lot for me to get impressed by the Persian
artists outside of Iran and I give that to you. What you are doing
is absolutely beautiful. I was born and raised in Iran. I know the
poems. I know molana Rumi and almost every night I take a look at
my "divane Hafez". I used to play daf when I was back in
Iran. Keep up the good work up. I'll try to get your CD ASAP. Good
luck with you and looking forward for your performance in LOS ANGELES. I just
got your CD...I LUV it! Dadgum! This is some seriously sensual stuff!
Really beautiful Shahram (Let's see...that would be Shahhh-ra-um in
hickphonics?)...All I can say is "Thank you!" I especially
love to hear the words in the language in which it was written ( I
have no idea what language it was...but it was perfect!)...it sounded
soooo...I don't know...right. While I was listening...I kept smiling...like
it seemed familiar...like I was remembering something. Maybe I was
being Re-Membered to LOVE by your beautiful words! Such a beautiful
synergy...like the music was just dancing around your words. I'll
have to get your books, now, and read all about Mister Rumi! Sp e
c t a c u l a r.....CD!!!! Oh,
Shahram, There
are so many days that I have to put on that "mask" to go
to work. When I come home and if my daughter is at her dad's and it's
just me I take the "mask" off and turn to my music. Because
it's always there for me. And now I have found you. To listen to you
with my candles burning in the dark, is so good for my soul. Thank
you again, Lovedrunk
is a very important mystical and spiritual album. Rumi:
Lovedrunk vibrates with my soul. Despite listening to it repeatedly,
I never get tired of it. It brings solace to my aching soul. Thank
You for your exceptional music and translation of Rumi's poetry. Your
music had a very healing effect on me, when I was in the middle of
a major life crisis, a couple of years ago. Now my life is at that
point that I am full of love and real life job to begin. I want to
thank you. Total
inspiration...thank you soul feeder. |
REVIEWS Shahram
Shiva's voice brings alive the timeless soul of our beloved Rumi. The
music is beautiful and the lyrics are powerful. The production values
are excellent. Great work! I have
been truly enjoying your amazing LOVE EVOLVE CD. Thanks for developing
your gift into such a set of skills and for combining the art with
the consciousness and sharing it with the world. In appreciation of
you and gratitude for sharing your art with me. Keep up the great
work! LOVE
EVOLVE radiates a beautiful and inspiring message for our dynamic
ever changing world. Shahram Shiva has the ability to fuse modern,
progressive new age / chill-out music and sounds with profound spiritual
insights. His hypnotic voice and empowering poetry sounds effortless
and blends beautifully with the pulsating, smooth and ever evolving
soundtracks. Very unique - highly recommended. Sometimes
provoking, sometimes tender, yet always dynamic, Love Evolve blends
poetry and music for a unique sonic experience. Intense percussion,
soaring female vocals and trance inducing rhythms create the backdrop,
while Shahram Shiva masterfully recites original poetry along with
some of his favorite Rumi translations. This is one you don't want
to miss. Shahram
Shiva's CD LOVE EVOLVE is catching the world by storm. It is an album
of original songs & Rumi inspirations. This is the 2nd CD from
Shahram, after "Rumi: Lovedrunk." LOVE EVOLVE is dynamic,
exciting, adventurous and captivating. The dramatic messages and music
is transformative. Each track has it's own story and sound. Modern,
hypnotic, it will rock your soul. LOVE EVOLVE is a creation born from a heart of love, that of Shahram Shiva. Shahram has dedicated much of his life to the study and translation of the great poet Rumi. This album features songs by Rumi, and also five original pieces by Shahram himself, which are very uplifting for the soul. These original works include "This is Enlightenment," "Love Evolve," "Be Guiltless," "Control," and "Light + Dark = One." From his depth and wisdom springs his artistic creations, which are now a blessing to all who hear. Things
come to us at the right time, and that is when this music came to
me. When I was ready to hear it, accept it, know it, resonate with
it, evolve with it and become part of it. I'm sure this music will
also come to many of you who are ready for it, you with a beautiful
and "progressive heart" as Shahram so eloquently puts it.
Shahram, thank you for being a "shower of shine" and giving
us this incredible music to help us to continue to evolve through
love as a culture and as a people and as ultimately one eternal and
connected being. Wow,
those words are really beautiful and inspiring. Felt like a new person
after listening - thanks! One
of my fav tracks is Dance Universe, it combines natural grooves with
electric and almost has a reggae jazz feel to it. I like the smooth
drum programming. I enjoyed
listening to your album, "Love Evolve." You have a great
voice for sure. I found your work to be very thought provoking yet
enjoyable to listen to. It was interesting how your voice (deeper
vocal register) was contrasted by the higher female vocalists. Well
done there!!! The rhythmic element provides that visceral reaction
with the help of the electronic effects setting up a pleasing atmosphere.
The lyrics got me thinking though. Thank you! I love
it. Groovy music with great message. Totally what the world needs
now. I love Shahram Shiva's voice. The tone is very soothing. I think
I'll use some of the tracks in a movement or ecstatic dance class. I believe
that music has so much influence in our world and especially today,
we need to put things out there that are positive and healing. I believe
that Love Evolve does a great job of bringing positivity and healing
into people's lives. Thank
you for LOVE EVOLVE. What a voice! Both Rumi's and Shahram Shiva's
words are so incredibly powerful, you get taken away with them.
Music
on cd is beautiful and the poetry, haunting and addictive! The more
often you hear it, the deeper the messages. I am
blown away by the songs. They are amazing. Wow, very powerful, touching
and uplifting. Love Evolve will impact the lives of the masses and
spread love & light to all. LOVE
EVOLVE is going to change the world. Shahram Shiva is clearly trying
to raise the vibration of the planet. His voice is beautiful; he talks/sings
with conviction and it comes through.I sense and feel his message
with great respect. The world needs more music like this. His voice
will touch millions. The song "No Religion" makes me feel
like it is what everyone needs to hear but can't because they have
earmuffs on. "Control" brought me to tears. This
is a beautiful & unconventional album... it will definitely take
you to new places. Give a listen! Very
hypnotic, interesting fusion project, fusing the sensual with the
progressive wandering spirit. EvoluteLoveAboveAllElse. Great
energy and sounds! Love Dance Universe! Wow
I really love your submission. It really moved my soul! I lov music
like this which has universal appeal.
I was
really digging 'This is Enlightenment'- I really did feel like I was
hypnotized! I also thought your cover was beautiful. I just
heard Love Evolve. I like, I think is a very innovative piece of work.
My favorites No Religion and Control. Your
music wraps me in a very high atmosphere, where I can free my creativity,
my desires and want to share a new vision of myself and the universe
in which we live. I always looked for a form of expression, where
there was a balance between the ethereal, mystical, art and knowledge,
in harmony with time in which we live and Love Evolve is that. I found
Love Evolve in a style that looks great in any environment and to
mark important moments with a special magic. Your voice make me fly. I listened
to the album from start to finish without even one pause. It was captivating.
The words, the messages, the melodies just flowed. Maybe even trance-like?
I was really absorbed by the spoken word and how it was so effectively
integrated with the melodies and music. (The words were melodious
too! They took on their own melody.) This allows one to really listen
and digest and go on the journey with the artist. I was able to REALLY
listen to the words. I wanted to. They asked me questions and commanded
that I question myself. I heard different musical genres influencing
the various background beats, which really echoed what was being said.
One of my favorite tunes was "Light + Dark = One." I love
the significance of the title. The tune was very meditative to me,
even therapeutic, with its ethereal "ooh's" and soaring
woodwinds. LOVE
EVOLVE has a unique motivational energy. I liked "Control"
the best because it made me think about issues I face in my everyday
life, and issues everyone around me faces too. With all the songs
I like how each genre is specifically chosen to accompany the poems/lyrics.
The energy in each song matches a unique kind of meditation experience
- one that is not just for someone who needs to be soothed, but for
someone who wants to look inside of themselves and figure themselves
out. Overall it's very unique and very different. I downloaded
Love Evolve from iTunes. It's cool because I can listen to it right
on my iPhone. It's actually more jazzy and psychedelic than I realized
at first. Great mystical lyrics, hypnotic vocals with some futuristic
touches... But the flute and drums keep it earthy. Very danceable.
Really nice! Fascinating,
mind-altering album, with beautiful empowering poetry set to jazzy
psychedelic music. Very sensual too! It seems to get deeper every
time I listen to it. It took
repeated listening to fully realize what a powerful transformative
energy it has. It really helped me confront certain issues that I've
been trying to deal with "spiritually" for a long time. Listening
to LOVE EVOLVE is like opening the door after a long day to find my
sacred Lover has lit the candles and incense and prepared a delicately
sensuous meal which he offers me by hand. Your
work carries the blessing of the universe. Mr.
Shahram Shiva has evolved love in a way that was never ever seen before.
I believe it would remain exclusive for many years to follow. soul
food- music combined with love. The
more I listen to it, the more I loveeeeeeeeee it! My heart goes buum,
buum, bumm :-) Its so awesome, beautiful,... I am loosing myself in
it! Its really Great! I get Wings AND fly, whirl around. Thank you! The message is beautiful, starting with "love yourself" and moving through poems with deep, universal messages of love and the heart. Sometimes I feel as though Shahram Shiva is talking to me, sometimes he is talking to my lover, and I love how this message is tied up in the last track, which is what I would want my ideal lover to say. I really
like the chorus in #4 No Religion: "Tonight I see the joy in
me", the Latin inspired rhythm in #6 Light + Dark = One, and
the funky groove of #7 Dance Universe. I love that the last track
is focused on Shahram Shiva reading, a great choice for the ending. The music, the way that Shahram Shiva sings it, just makes a total connection to the person who is listening. It is very heart touching and relaxing way, I feel I experience it when I am listening. And
the translation from the poems are super amazing and meaningful. Ihave
been reading lots of English and French translations for Rumi but
most of them are kind of confused and lose the track in the meaning. I have
been really enjoying Love Evolve. The more I listen, the more I enjoy
it. What's very cool about it is that it can cater to all taste of
music. There is almost a little bit of everything in it and Shahram
Shiva sounds just fantastic . It is so different than all other junk
that's out there. I think the idea about is so darn smart and the
execution is fantastic. It's a winner. Song
“Love’s Touch” is based on a Rumi poem translated by
Shahram Shiva, it has a down-tempo trip hop beat. The electric guitar
gives the piece a deep sensual feel. The melody is so well produced
that it seems natural for–13th century mystical lyrics–to
be showcased with a mix of soul, funk, and jazz. "Love’s
Touch” transports the listener to that place where universal
love becomes everything. This track is nothing short of a masterpiece. Song
“This is Enlightenment” is an acoustic rendition of Shahram
Shiva’s original lyrics. The piano, guitar, and bass mixed with
electronic sounds produce a stunning effect. Perhaps the most inspiring
aspect of this recording is the lyric, “love yourself,”
repeated in 13 different languages. Each repetition introduces a new
feminine vocal next to Shahram’s voice, the result is divine.
The lyrical composition of this piece is backed with spiritual wisdom. Every
song has it own story and talks to you in a different dimension based
on the lyrics. Love to listen to it. Great job! I am impressed with the production on the CD i.e. all aspects of the instrumentation which is diverse and masterfully executed, backing arrangements and the general arc of the album. What
I like most about the work is the commanding and yet intimate timbre
of Shahram Shiva's voice as he pronounces the positive, yet not overly
sweet messages inside of both the poems and his own original lyrics. I actually really enjoyed the not-too-serious almost wry disposition that the performer assumes in his deadpan delivery of this mystical poetry which invites the listener to chuckle occasionally at the surprisingly casual, off-beat directions that the lyrics veer off into. Resultantly, the audience remains pleasantly amused and awake to the thought-provoking content of the material their lips parted in anticipation of the next words. Meanwhile, the tracks have a tremendous rhythm and power about them, are well differentiated, consistent and in some cases downright catchy and danceable! This is a most unusual album that stands out amid vast oceans of blah, new-agey wanna-be-both-spiritual-seeker-AND-hipster/raver-at-the-same-time! experimentations which are largely useless as yoga music because of the unevenness of the content. Typically these afore mentioned works sneak out of the gate with simpering tamboura and meditative India-inspired sound effects but inevitably, half way through the track, gallop astray into a wild tempest of dance beats which leave the unsuspecting teacher/DJ running for the remote to turn the offending cacophony down in an attempt to try and bring a return to the calm ambiance we aspire to hold for our students. Lovevolve
stands apart from the norm and contains within it tracks, such as
"This is Enlightenment" (my personal favorite) suitable
for both the hushed and meditative yoga experience, as well as some
racier tracks such as "Dance Universe" and the wonderful
"Light + Dark = One" with it's pulsing flirtation of flute
and drum, which I imagine would be well received in the more raucous
trance-dance/ prana/ shakti flow type offerings. It's
not every day you hear original refreshing art such as this. It left
me with an overall feeling of serenity. It's mysterious and elusive,
keeping you interested and wondering, but still very to the point.
Making you feel, as well as think. That to me is very important in
music. Beautiful! No hay ninguna duda de que el trabajo que ahora nos ocupa que centra en el amor. Se puede escuchar la palabra love en multitud de ocasiones y en cada uno de los 10 temas que forman este magnífico trabajo. Y en mi opinión, teniendo en cuenta que es una de las palabras más bellas que podemos escuchar, utilizarla como leitmotiv de Love Evolve es todo un acierto. Como la calidad musical de este trabajo está también a muy alto nivel, este Cd ha sido denominado como un Himno para Mentes y Espíritus Progresivos. Shahram Shiva es poeta, autor de varios libros, además de traductor y profesor de poemas de Rumi. Es necesario decir que Rumi fue un famoso poeta Persa del Siglo XIII (el propio Shahram Shiva narió en Irán y es de origen persa, aunque afincado en Estados Unidos). Shahram Shiva se dedica a la traducción de los poemas del muy reconocido poeta persa desde 1988, publicando varios libros con dichos poemas ya traducidos y realizando conciertos y talleres básicamente en Estados Unidos. También ha publicado dos discos, utilizando parte de los poemas de Rumi traducidos al inglés, que son Love Evolve, publicado en 2012 y RUMI: Lovedrunk (una versión remasterizada se publicó también en el año 2012) Love Evolve está formado por 10 temas. En 5 de ellos, Shahram Shiva recita poemas de Rumi, mientras que en los otros 5, lo hace con poemas creados por él mismo. Para ello se deja acompañar por los siguientes músicos: Danny Blume (que se encarga de guitarras, bajo, sintetizadores varios, programaciones y mezclas), David Baron (Vibráfono Musse y Piano Yamaha C1, además de varios sintetizadores analógicos como el Moog Modular 3p, Arp 2500, Synton Syrinx y EMS Putney), Simi Stone, también conocida como Simi Sernaker, a las voces adicionales, John Ragusa (flauta, flauta de bambú y trompeta), Jane Scarpatoni (Cello), Alex Alexander (Percusiones y Djembe Eléctrico) y Ben Perowsky (baterías y percusiones). Y precisamente de la unión de la poesía inspiradora de Shahram Shiva los instrumentos tan dispares surge lo auténticamente sorpresivo de este trabajo. Y es que podemos escuchar muchos estilos musicales diferentes, todos ellos perfectamente producidos y con pegada. Así, Control o Love Evolve tienen influencias de rock, con evidentes pistas de guitarra eléctrica, This is Enlightenment es un corte a medio tiempo, liderado por piano y guitarra acústica, I Have Come to Shine es muy ambiental, con vibráfono y pads suaves arropando la voz de Shahram Shiva, mientras que otros temas son marcadamente Dance (No Religion, Dance Universe) en los que el ritmo muy marcado encaja perfectamente con la voz de Shahram Shiva acompañada sutilmente por la de Simi Stone. El resto de temas incluyen groove, pop, hip hop, trip hop, o algunos toques electrónicos muy propios de los sintetizadores analógicos. Como
he mencionado, el autor utiliza su voz básicamente para recitar
poemas. Sin embargo,su forma de recitar no es lineal en absoluto.
Por el contrario, resulta muy musical, y encaja a la perfección
con todas las piezas del Cd. Su voz, profunda, transmite muy acertadamente
(en inglés) su poesía contemporánea y aquella
creada hace más de 700 años. Love Evolve es un trabajo
dinámico a la vez que espirutual un poderoso ejemplo que cómo
mezclar la sensualidad y espiritualidad con música muy moderna
y llegar finalmente a buen puerto, a uno fascinante, de hecho. Por
otro lado, Love Evolve recibió 3 nominaciones para los premios
Grammy del año 2013. Shahram Shiva planea publicar un tercer
cd en el futuro, también centrado en el amor, para completar
una trilogía. |
REVIEWS Books, Talks, Articles & Performances For
the growing number of Rumi admirers and progressive thinkers, the
appearance of this book is an important and unique event, providing,
as it does, not only a wealth of new and quite beautiful translations
but real insight into how the translator goes about his work. Tune
your ear to Shahram Shiva's studious translations. Books like this
may carry us into a wiser, less avaricious, and hopefully more compassionate
21st century. Rumi's
poetry is a direct line to the absolute. This is high-voltage material.
Read with care. Shahram
Shiva will restore the exultation of spirit in your Being. This passion
will heal you... Shahram
Shiva embodies the culture, the wisdom and the history of mysticism
and spirituality in his very genes. These
verses are not just meant for the libraries or the classrooms of academia.
They are meant to be recited by human lovers and lovers of God. The
passion of Rumi expressed in this book by Shahram Shiva will restore
the exultation of spirit in your Being. This passion is holy and it
will heal you. Rumi's
poetry is ecstatic. Here, love of God, love of life and human love
all merge into one passionate stream. These verses in A Garden Beyond
Paradise have evoked my emotions and haunted my soul as nothing has
for years. We love
sharing Shahram Shiva's unique empowerment voice on Huffington Post. Shahram
Shiva's unique and exquisite "Rending The Veil" is highly
honoring of Rumi. The
key to Rumi's quatrains, so faithfully rendered here, is to be found
in his own words referring to this meeting that powerful and mysterious
dervish, Shems Tabrizi. These words embody the very gist of Sufi philosophy. I have
a lot of respect and appreciation for Shahram’s work and vision.
I believe his work has the potential to be of great benefit to others. "Shahram
Shiva is uniquely gifted." Shahram
Shiva has offered an evening event of music and whirling for a number
of years at Kripalu. It’s an extremely well received offering
and Shiva is also very adept at teaching the art of whirling. His
Rumi recitation is impassioned and heartfelt – just as Rumi would
have liked it! Thank
you so much for your stellar presentation and the Rumi poems which
you translate and perform magically. Lots of food for thought. Since
the day we whirled with Shahram Shiva we have not been the same. Bravo! Shahram
Shiva is a prophet of change and transformation. He is setting the
pace for the spirituality movement in the US. Your
talk changed my life!! Thank
you for your wonderful resource page on Rumi's Untold Story. The mystical
quality with which you intertwine history, biography, ethno-cultural
background, poetry, storytelling, cross-cultural art and literary
criticism, the inherent inviolable line between pandering academia
and true mysticism...I so needed this! I am writing in the world of
pop-mysticism in service to a number of clients seeking to grow their
tribes (followers) and expand the messages of cross-cultural inner
God-knowing that we all need so badly during this era...and your words
and wisdom have given me much knowledge and solace, as I work to push
my clients to a deeper expression of the true mystic way in all its
ugly and beautiful complexity. There is so much writing about these
topics out there these days, from a shallow and non-centered purpose.
Most of the time, I just want to tell them to fire me and go read
Rumi for a year because it's all already been said...and better! What
a blessing your article was for me to read today. It renewed my purpose
and quenched a thirst that has been plaguing me for quite some time.
Thank you once again! The
more I dig into Shahram Shiva's work, the more I'm convinced he has
pure consciousness running in his veins, the more I see how genuine
and sensual he is about the truth. No one
translates the soul of rumi into English the way You do! Many have
tried and only scratched the surface of the mirror that blinded them
and ended up where Rumi would say “show me an intellect gone
mad and I will show you a soul departed for good.” What
Shahram Shiva has done with this translation is utterly beautiful.
The essence of Persian poetry is so difficult to capture. Shiva does
this authentically and beautifully. Just
do yourself a favor and buy this little book filled with huge ideas
and brilliant verse. I admit to being a fan of RUMI but once you read
this you will become one too. Enjoy! His
poetry speaks to me, an atheist, like few others have been able to.
I gave a copy of another set of Rumis poems to my mother (who is a
Catholic) and she found it to be one of the most amazing books she
has read. Rumi's
Untold Story is a succinct distillation into a biographical memoir
that celebrates and honors the unique genius of Rumi and shatters
the myths that too often obscure his (and Shams) greatness with their
very real human frailties. Thank
you for the great event!!! Really enjoyed it! It was filled with profound
teachings, messages of love, poetry and meditation. Learned so much
about Rumi! You rock! Loved
your event, very enlightening! Trying to find the poems you read :)
Hope you're right that Rumi/mystics are key to the next awakening. Love
Love Love your expression and the depth you brig to your sharing of
the divine. Your words touch the root of the root of my soul. Had
the pleasure of tuning in to your broadcast last Thursday with beloved
friend Gary Goldberg on WRPI, and was so captivated, rather than enter
the bldg. for a noon mtg. I was to be involved in, sat in the parking
lot for over an hour drinking in the energies exuded through your
resonant voice and powerful message. Thank
you so much for your time and for the energy you put into the workshop.
I really enjoyed the experience and content - much of it resonated.
And was different to what I had heard and seen before in a more authentic,
substantive way. Thank
you for assisting me in my affirmations that We are God. I often wonder
how people will react when I greet them with "thou art God"
and see how they respond. Love is everything. Thank you for sharing
your knowledge and your love.
Rarely
have I heard thoughts and understandings of who we are as the creators
of our universe - old souls or young souls - as precisely and clearly
expressed as by you in your recent interview. To an
open mind Shahram Shiva's words are rain drops to a thirsty field.
Thanks for your wonderful essays. Shahram
Shiva is the George Carlin of spirituality. He is potent, authentic
and real. I saw
you perform at the Open Center and was moved to tears. I have
been an avid reader of Rumi for years--his poetry has changed my life.
I once thought that Coleman Barks did the only good translations,
until I heard you at a Rumi Festival at UNC, Chapel Hill, 4/5 years
ago. Two of your poems knocked me out--it was not only your translations
but your inflection and cadence in your readings which do not come
across in print. They were "You Worry Too Much" & "Lover
Me." I read "You Worry Too Much" at least weekly which
gives me great faith! I've been waiting years for your CD. Thank you! I had
the pleasure of being at your Woodstock event and I just wanted to
take a moment to tell you how much I enjoyed your presentation. I
felt joy, peace, and I didn't realize until later but I also felt
energized. Thank you for reaffirming those things that I think I know.
The music was fabulous and the whole program, well lets just say,
it made me smile. Thank you, Excellent
work on "RENDING THE VEIL!" A few years ago I was dealing
with a life threatening disease and your book was my best companion
and source of strength. I was at such peace with myself and everything
that was going on around me. Thanks! I want
you to know that I feel more connected to Rumi after reading your
books and visiting your blogsite. It inspired me to write about my
journey and how Rumi gives meaning to what I have experienced along
the way. Shahram
Shiva's words resonate with me specially with his article on religion
versus spirituality, and I appreciate that he touched upon the concept
that even this idea of "spirituality" has become a religion.
I have gotten caught up in others' ideas and rules in regards to certain
spiritual concepts, and I do feel that has the opposite effect of
what we are working towards; awakening to our true selves and freely
navigating this lifetime while we experience it. One thing that particularly
helped me this week was his article on Ego being a good thing. I love
your posts and your poetry and especially how much you love beautiful
Rumi. When I feel there is no beauty left on this plane I read Rumi
and am healed. I love the way you read his work. Thank you for your
inspirational posts. Most
amazing page! Rumi's verses keep me sane! And your notes that I read
today are just in resonance with my own inner thoughts, and it feels
lonely sometimes as there are no platforms to echo these thoughts.
Myself a physicist, and Quantum Physics and all its experiments have
been just pointing to all that you say, or Rumi has ever said! Thanks
Shahram Shiva..I am delighted to be on this page! An evening of hearing Rumi’s poetry read by Shahram Shiva was pure bliss. Since Shahram is Persian himself, he embodies the heart of Rumi’s culture as well as the passion of our universal spiritual yearnings. And the whirling just has to be experienced first-hand. So simple and effective, you will touch the essence of ecstasy in a few easy steps.
If
you want to know what mysticism is all about, Shahram Shiva’s
evening of poetry, music, and whirling take you there. After Shiva
read Rumi to great music, we whirled like stars in the heavens, literally!
Try it! Whirling is an amazing, almost out-of-body experience. I can’t
wait to do it again. Mysticism
in our midst is the only way to describe this event. You will be amazed,
moved, and thrilled. Don’t miss it. I
attended the event you held at NYOC last night. I was speechless then
and all I can say now is that it was utterly spectacular. I have been
around the world and experienced numerous cultural events. This one
right here in NY, was the most original, witty, funny and spiritual
of all. Thank you for keeping our heritage and literature alive. I
told all my friends about you and we will definitely see you in your
upcoming performances. Your
eyes, in person and in this photo, make me feel as if Rumi is looking
through them. You translate so much more than his words... you paint
pictures in our minds as if our minds were the canvas' and Rumi's
thoughts were the colors. Thank you for making Rumi's passion come
alive. Shahram
Shiva is the younger, hipper, sexier and more intense Deepak Chopra. Shahram Shiva is amazing! He translates Rumi in a way no one could! Rumi
speaks right through my being. But the problem with other translations
is that they are not earthly enough and way too wordy and "pretty,"
and that is not Rumi's way of speaking of the emotions and the heart.
Rumi speaks earth and those who translate him do not see deep into
his heart so they fly up high and detach from his true meaning. The
way Shahram Shiva translates is just the way Rumi would have LOVED
it. In Islam,
the spiritual and literary influence of Jelaluddin Rumi is so pervasive
that the name of the 13th-century Persian Sufi leader is prefaced
by the reverential term ``Maulana'' (``our master''). Rumi, notes
scholar Peter Lamborn Wilson in his preface to this beguiling addition
to the current Rumi vogue in the West, ``can only be compared to such
Occidentals as Dante and Shakespeare.'' Nonetheless, translating Rumi's
astonishingly vast legacy with accessible accuracy is almost defiantly
problematic due to the combined difficulties first of parsing the
ancient language in which it was recorded and then of helping Western
minds to grasp the manifold nuances of the poet's transcendant vision
of the Beloved (i.e., God). But native Iranian Shahram Shiva (A Garden
Beyond Paradise: The Mystical Poetry of Rumi with Jonathan Star) leaps
the cross-cultural chasm with engaging panache. Of the 2000 quatrains
amassed in Rumi's Divvan-e Shams-e Tabrizi, Shiva has chosen 252,
rendering them simultaneously in the original Persian, in verbatim
English transliterations and in faithfully polished translations.
The result of this interactive method is a book that provides insight
into the art of translating while plumbing the depth of Rumi's inspired
passion. Included are a glossary of terms, a reference guide to Persian
mysticism and a bibliography. |
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