{{Short description|Iranian-Swedish singer (born 1977)}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Arash | image = Arash 2009.jpg | caption = Arash Labbaf in Moscow, Russia, 2009 | birth_name = Arash Labbaf | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1977|4|23|df=y}} | birth_place = Tehran, Iran | genre = {{flatlist| * Persian pop * hip hop * R&B * dance * house}} | occupation = Singer, DJ | instrument = | years_active = 2004–present | label = Warner Music Scandinavia (WEA) | website = [http://www.arash.com arash.com] }}
'''Arash Labbaf''' ({{langx|fa|آرش لباف}}, {{IPA|fa|ɒːˈɾæʃ ɛ læbˈbɒːf|pron}}, {{langx|az|Arəş Ləbaf}}; born 23 April 1977) is an Iranian-Swedish singer, entertainer, and producer.<ref>{{Cite web|title=BBC World Service - In the Studio, Arash – Making music in the sun|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p09bhy5d|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210323050513/https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p09bhy5d|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 23, 2021|access-date=2021-12-26|website=BBC|date=23 March 2021 |language=en-GB}}</ref>
He represented Azerbaijan along with Aysel in the Eurovision Song Contest 2009, finishing third with the song "Always". He is also one of the judges of ''Persia's Got Talent'', a Persian franchise of the British talent show ''Got Talent''.<ref>{{cite news |title=Has Iran's award-winning actress left Iran to escape prosecution? |first=Rohollah |last=Faghihi |url=https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2019/12/iranian-artist-becomes-controversy-between-iran-and-saudia.html |work=Al-Monitor |access-date=29 January 2020 |publication-date=13 December 2019}}</ref>
== Early life == Arash Labbaf was born in Tehran, Iran. He and his parents lived near Mellat Park. At age ten, he and his family moved to Sweden, where he still resides. In an interview with BBC Persian Television, he mentioned that his mother and father are from the Iranian cities of Shiraz and Isfahan, respectively.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/persian/arts/story/2005/02/050211_ag-arash-interview|publisher=BBC (interview by Behzad Bolour)|title=Arash's Iranian family from Sweden|access-date=2009-05-16|date=2008-09-11| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090523121718/http://www.bbc.co.uk/persian/arts/story/2005/02/050211_ag-arash-interview.shtml| archive-date= 23 May 2009 | url-status= live}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/persian/arts/story/2005/02/050211_ag-arash-interview.shtml|title=BBC Persian|website=BBC News|language=fa|access-date=2020-03-02}}</ref>
Arash Labbaf has stated in his interviews that he is interested in association football. Accordingly, he released songs about association football.<ref name=":1" /> Also, in an interview with Deutsche Welle, Arash stated that he had been interested in singing since childhood, and he even formed an informal band with his friends.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dw.com/fa-ir/%DA%AF%D9%BE%D9%89-%D8%A8%D8%A7-%D8%A2%D8%B1%D8%B4-%D8%AE%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%86%D8%AF%D9%87-%D8%AA%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%87-%D9%85%D8%B9%D8%B1%D9%88%D9%81-%D8%A8%D8%B1%D9%88-%D8%A8%D8%B1%D9%88-%D8%A8%D9%87-%D8%A8%D9%87%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%87-%D8%B3%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%8A%D8%AA-%D8%AA%D8%A8-%D8%A7%D9%8A%D9%86-%D8%AA%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%87-%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%BA-%D8%A8%D9%87-%D8%A2%D9%84%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%86/a-2407183|title=گپى با آرش خواننده ترانه معروف "برو برو" به بهانه سرايت تب اين ترانه داغ به آلمان {{!}} DW {{!}} 13.05.2005|website=DW.COM|language=fa-IR|access-date=2020-03-02}}</ref>
== Career == [[Image:Arash in Las Vegas.JPG|thumb|225px|Arash in Las Vegas (2008)|alt=|left]] Arash Labbaf said that the reason he chooses to sing in his native language is because of his "deep attachment to Iran and Persian culture."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rferl.org/Content/Article/1058593.html|publisher=RFE/RL|title= Iran: Arash Tops European Pop Charts With Persian-Language Hits|access-date=2009-02-07|date=2005-04-21| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090211051008/http://www.rferl.org/Content/Article/1058593.html| archive-date= 11 February 2009 | url-status= dead}}</ref>
His debut album, ''Arash'', was released by Warner Music Sweden in June 2005, after he had completed his college studies. His singles, "Boro Boro" ("Go Away") and "Temptation" (featuring Rebecca) made it to the hit lists around Europe. Their respective videos garnered significant airplay on more than 20 MTV outlets worldwide. In addition to successes in his home countries' music charts, namely Sweden and Iran, the platinum-selling singer and producer Arash has had hits notably in Eastern European and South-East European charts like Russia, Ukraine, Greece, Bulgaria, Poland, Hungary, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Romania, Turkey and in Asian music charts like in Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan and throughout the Arab Middle Eastern countries. His singles have been charted many times on the Swiss and Finnish charts, and he is especially famous in Poland.
Arash's records were certified gold in 5 countries: his album ''Arash'' in Germany, Russia, Slovenia, and Greece and the single "Boro Boro" in Sweden.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eurovision.tv/event/artistdetail?song=24728&event=1482 |title=AySel & Arash | Participant Profile | Eurovision Song Contest – Baku 2012 |publisher=Eurovision.tv |access-date=2012-01-14}}</ref> This song was also featured in the Hindi Bollywood film ''Bluffmaster!,'' and he was the featured Artist of the Month on MTV India.
Helena did not take part in the music video of "Pure Love", although her voice was featured in it. The video starred Arash, together with the Venezuelan beauty queen, Marianne Puglia.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkT9NMN5mAM |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/lkT9NMN5mAM |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|publisher=YouTube |title=ARASH – "Pure Love" – Making Of The Video |access-date=2010-03-12 |date=2008-11-17}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
Arash has produced, along with Thomas G:son, Robert Uhlmann, and Johan Bejerholm the Swedish entry to the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2010 "Allt jag vill ha" that was performed by Josefine Ridell.<ref>{{cite web |author=Niklas Kjellberg/TT Spektra |url=http://www.gp.se/kulturnoje/1.459519-josefine-tavlar-for-sverige-i-minsk |title=Josefine tävlar för Sverige i Minsk – Kultur & Nöje |language=sv |publisher=www.gp.se |access-date=2012-01-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101003103810/http://www.gp.se/kulturnoje/1.459519-josefine-tavlar-for-sverige-i-minsk |archive-date=2010-10-03 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://esckaz.com/jesc/2010/swe.htm |title=Sweden JESC 2010 Швеция Детское Евровидение 2010 |publisher=Esckaz.com |access-date=2012-01-14}}</ref>{{Better source needed|reason=ESCKaz is banned by WikiProject Eurovision.|date=April 2022}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.escsweden.com/junior.htm |title=Junior/lilla mf/mgp nordic |publisher=escsweden.com |access-date=2012-01-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110514052925/http://www.escsweden.com/junior.htm |archive-date=2011-05-14 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
==Eurovision Song Contest== [[File:Aysel Arash 2009.JPG|thumb|right|Aysel and Arash in the Green Room during the Eurovision Song Contest 2009.]] [[File:Arash and Rebecca in Las Vegas.JPG|thumb|Rebecca Zadig and Arash in a concert in Las Vegas, December 2008]] In early 2009, it was revealed that the Azerbaijani entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2009 would be the song "Always" which was written and composed by Arash. The song was performed by Aysel Teymurzadeh and Arash in a duet in Semifinal 2 of the Eurovision competition.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eurovision.tv/page/news?id=1884|title=Azerbaijani entry written by Arash|last=Brey|first=Marco|date=2009-02-05|publisher=Eurovision.tv|access-date=2009-02-05| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090207155212/http://www.eurovision.tv/page/news?id=1884| archive-date= 7 February 2009 | url-status= live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eurovision.tv/page/news?id=1909|title=Azerbaijan to send a duet to Eurovision|last=Siim|first=Jarmo|date=2009-02-12|publisher=Eurovision.tv|access-date=2009-02-12| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090215190459/http://www.eurovision.tv/page/news?id=1909| archive-date= 15 February 2009 | url-status= live}}</ref> The song qualified for the Eurovision Song Contest final which took place on 16 May 2009, and was placed third. In one of his interviews, Arash explained his decision to represent Azerbaijan in this contest: "Why did I participate? I'm originally [ethnically] Azeri, and I would like to have a part in this country's confident ascent in the history of Eurovision."<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://esctoday.com/13164/azerbaijan_aysel_goes_to_eurovision_with_song_by_arash_|title=Eurovision Azerbaijan: Aysel goes to Eurovision with song by Arash|date=2009-02-05|language=en-US|access-date=2016-08-18}}</ref>
== Personal life == Labbaf married his longtime fiancée, Behnaz Ansari, in Dubai in May 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.apa.az/en/news.php?id=144914|title=APA – Arash presents $400-thousand necklace to his bride Behnaz at their wedding – PHOTOSESSION|publisher=Apa.az|access-date=2012-01-14|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120718061358/http://www.apa.az/en/news.php?id=144914|archive-date=2012-07-18}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://chuiko.com/entertainment/3926-arash-married-on-may-28-in-dubai.html |title=Arash married on May 28 in Dubai |publisher=Chuiko.com |date=2011-03-16 |access-date=2012-01-14 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111225045724/http://chuiko.com/entertainment/3926-arash-married-on-may-28-in-dubai.html |archive-date=December 25, 2011 }}</ref>
== Discography == {{Main|Arash discography}}
'''Studio albums''' * ''Arash'' (2005) * ''Donya'' (2008) * ''Superman'' (2014)
== Filmography == *2005: ''Bluffmaster!'' as playback singer *2012: ''Rhinos Season'' as Son (as Twins/Male)
== References == {{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}
== External links == {{Commons category}} *[http://www.arash.com/ Official website] *[http://www.warnermusic.de/arash/ Arash] at warnermusic.de *{{IMDb name|id=1201819|name=Arash}}
{{s-start}} {{s-ach}} {{succession box | before=Elnur & Samir<br>with "Day After Day" | title=Azerbaijan in the Eurovision Song Contest | years=<small>(with AySel)</small> <br> 2009 | after=Safura<br> with "Drip Drop" }} {{s-end}}
{{Arash}} {{Azerbaijan in the Eurovision Song Contest|state=collapsed}} {{Eurovision Song Contest 2009|state=collapsed}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Arash}} Category:1977 births Category:Living people Category:Folk-pop singers Category:Iranian musicians Category:Swedish pop singers Category:Singers from Tehran Category:Iranian pop singers Category:Azerbaijani people in Iran Category:Extensive Music artists Category:English-language Iranian singers Category:Persian-language Iranian singers Category:English-language Swedish singers Category:Persian-language Swedish singers Category:Iranian record producers Category:Warner Music Group artists Category:Iranian singer-songwriters Category:Iranian male singer-songwriters Category:Iranian emigrants to Sweden Category:Warner Music Sweden artists Category:Iranian expatriates in Sweden Category:21st-century Iranian male singers Category:21st-century Swedish male singers Category:Swedish people of Azerbaijani descent Category:Iranian people of Azerbaijani descent Category:Winners of the Golden Gramophone Award Category:Eurovision Song Contest entrants Category:Singers of Iranian descent