Iranian Music Streaming Site Removes All Female Singers From Their Album Covers, And It Looks Really Wrong
An album isn't just about the music. Yes, the sounds are without a doubt its most essential element, but we must acknowledge the role of cover art in making it whole. Be it the fold-out gatefolds of the vinyl era, the pull-out liner notes in CD cases or the icon on a digital player, these visuals have an important role in defining how we look at a particular release. However, one Iranian streaming site, Melovaz, isn't happy with how some of them look. In fact, they're so worried these album covers might be a bad influence on their listeners, they're censoring them. What devil seeds are these pictures featuring, you ask? Women.
This post may include affiliate links.
"I was casually scrolling through Reddit when a user there submitted a photo of Taylor Swift's new album cover without herself, just the album title," Izzi, the Twitter user who spread the message, told Bored Panda. "In the comment section, someone linked to that Iranian music streaming site so I went there and discovered the huge collection of photoshopped music covers specifically involving women."
Lady Gaga - A Star Is Born
At first, he was surprised and in disbelief, however, due to the ridiculousness of the situation, Izzi couldn't help but laugh at some of the horrible jobs they did to remove the female artists from their covers. "That was when I felt like I should share this on my Twitter."
Lana Del Rey - Nfr!
"The editing for A Star Is Born's song Shallow by Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper infuriated me the most. They completely censored and removed Gaga but not Brad, and even did a terrible job at it. That was so unnecessary."
"I would like to add that I know for a fact that some countries in the Middle East would censor its female images by adding clothes and hijabs, I'm not okay with that, but this Iranian streaming site takes it to a whole new level by erasing every trace of them," Izzi said. "I hope this brings some awareness to the world that some women still face this kind of discrimination even in the 21st century."
Avril Lavigne - Head Above Water Cover
honestly, the second one actually looks pretty cool, it just needs a different title
Beyoncé - Spirit
Little Mix Ft. Nicki Minaj - Woman Like Me
Why? These are just head shots while wearing black turtlenecks.
Céline Dion - Ashes Steve Aoki Deadpool Demix
Billie Eilish - When We All Fall Asleep
Mxmtoon - The Masquerade
Billie Eilish - When I Was Older
Lizzo, Dababy - Truth Hurts
Oh. My. God. I can see a little bit of female skin in the bottom left! What a scandal, the censors didn't do a good job.
Katy Perry - Small Talk
Pnb Rock, Nicki Minaj, Murda Beatz - Fendi
Dua Lipa - Dua Lipa
Melanie Martinez - K-12
They also erased half of the flower pot. Like, what did it do wrong?
Ariana Grande - Thank U, Next
Ariana Grande - Imagine
Marina - Love Fear
Kygo And Whitney Houston - Higher Love
Afro B - Afrowave 3
Camila Cabello - Liar
Meghan Trainor - Badass Woman
Lana Del Rey - Doin' Time Album
Ariana Grande - Boyfriend
Celine Dion - Courage
Beyonce - Homecoming
Miley Cyrus - She Is Coming
Bebe Rexha - Last Hurrah
Taylor Swift - Lover
Saweetie - Icy
This is like the only one I remotely understand the purpose for censoring.
Jennifer Lopez And French Montana - Medicine
Taylor Swift - You Need To Calm Down
Twice - Fee Special
Lady Gaga - Joanne
Mariah Carey - A No No
Tove Lo - Sunshine Kitty
Bruno Mars - Please Me Cover
Shakira And Maluma - Clandestino
Summer Walker - Over It Cover
Nicki Minaj - Megatron
Alicia Keys And Miguel Released - Show Me Love
Iggy Azalea - In My Defense
Ava Max - Sweet But Psycho
Madonna And Maluma - Medellín
Fat Joe, Cardi B, Anuel Aa - Yes
Celine Dion - Flying On My Own + Dave Audé Remix
Jennifer Lopez And Bad Bunny - Te Guste
Nicki Minaj - Queen
Okay, I get why this one was censored. But is obliteration really the answer?? This is some next-level misogyny.
Jennifer Lopez, Dj Khaled And Cardi B - Dinero (Cade Remix)
Mariah Carey - Gtfo
Charli Xcx - Charli
Women fight so hard to be taken seriously in the workplace, we fight sexual harassment, some of us on a daily basis, and just want to be treated fairly, based on merit. And then women like this ruin all of that and belittle the struggles we face every day. I feel bad for some of the ladies in this post being censored, it’s being done for the wrong reasons but for goodness sake let your music and talent speak for itself. If you have to take your clothes off to sell your work then what is the point!
As Iranian girl who lives there, I'd like to mention that according to strange law here listening to female singers is banned and this site is doing illegal and this sort of censorship is a weak try for ditching authorities. by the way 90 percent of people here don't like this kind of rules and don't listen to the government. this actually happened after 1979 Revolution in Iran before that time we had a free country like yours.
It makes more sense now that you've explained the reason why. Religion should never have power in government. I hope you return to having freedoms, stay strong, sister! ✊
Load More Replies...
Apparently I was downvoted for agreeing with you on how the Iranian government is treating the women is wrong. Wow.....
Load More Replies...
Yet censorship is accepted widely, particularly if moneycomes i to play. Western IT companies freely abide to China's censorship for example if they fear it might otherwise affect their business.
To their credit, these Iranian sites seem to be doing what they have to to make Western music available. It sounds like they’re risking arrest and aren’t even making money. Western companies are the exact opposite.
Load More Replies... As Iranian girl who lives there, I'd like to mention that according to strange law here listening to female singers is banned and this site is doing illegal and this sort of censorship is a weak try for ditching authorities. by the way 90 percent of people here don't like this kind of rules and don't listen to the government. this actually happened after 1979 Revolution in Iran before that time we had a free country like yours.
It makes more sense now that you've explained the reason why. Religion should never have power in government. I hope you return to having freedoms, stay strong, sister! ✊
Load More Replies... Apparently I was downvoted for agreeing with you on how the Iranian government is treating the women is wrong. Wow.....
Load More Replies... Yet censorship is accepted widely, particularly if moneycomes i to play. Western IT companies freely abide to China's censorship for example if they fear it might otherwise affect their business.
To their credit, these Iranian sites seem to be doing what they have to to make Western music available. It sounds like they’re risking arrest and aren’t even making money. Western companies are the exact opposite.
Load More Replies...