The song Baraye by Shervin Hajipour was inspired by the tragic death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian woman who died after being detained for allegedly violating hijab regulations. Her death, attributed to severe mistreatment by religious police, ignited widespread protests both within Iran and globally, symbolizing the people’s call for freedom and change. Using the powerful slogan “Woman, Life, Freedom,” which resonated with protestors, Hajipour’s lyrics captured Iranians’ desire for reform. The song quickly went viral, accumulating over 40 million views on Instagram within 48 hours before authorities intervened, detaining Hajipour and forcing him to remove it from social media.

Hajipour’s lyrics were crafted from original tweets by Iranians expressing reasons for their frustration, each beginning with the word “baraye” (“for”). The song’s music video, filmed simply in a room with a stationary camera, paired each verse with screenshots of these tweets, making Baraye a direct expression of collective voices. The song gained international acclaim, and on February 5, 2023, it became the first recipient of the Grammy Award for Best Song for Social Change. Presented by Jill Biden, the award acknowledged Baraye as a global symbol of resilience, solidarity, and the desire for freedom in Iran.