Nora Fatehi’s latest song Zaalima Coca Cola from her upcoming film Bhuj: The Pride of India was released on July 28. The song is a recreated version of Noor Jehan’s iconic song of the same name.
The recreated version has been composed by Tanishk Bagchi with lyrics by Vayu and has been sung by Shreya Ghoshal.
Noor Jehan has been given credit in the description but people are still criticising the makers for recreating a Pakistani song in an anti-Pakistani film.
Have a look at how Twitter reacted to the Indian version of song:
No offence but this ad is better than the recreated version of #ZalimaCocaCola Btw the original songs is sung by Noor Jahan sahiba If we recreate their songs atleast we should let their singers to sing. https://t.co/HmT1LdLEzE
Musician Xulfi will be taking over Coke Studio’s forthcoming season. The Aghosh singer has confirmed the news on his Twitter handlle. Zulfiqar Jabbar Khan popularly known as Xulfi is a producer, singer-songwriter, composer and guitarist.
“Shuru karain? (Let’s begin?),” the official twitter handle of Coke studio wrote while tagging Xulfi in the post to which the singer responded with a smile emoji, confirming that he is now taking over Coke Studio.
Earlier, this year in March Rohail Hyatt, during a Twitter exchange with a fan, revealed that he is stepping down as Coke Studio’s (CS) producer.
Rohail later in a twitter exchange suggested that Xulfi is the best option to replace him a s producer.
Thank you. Since Bilal worked alone at Velo, he might still do that again. There are many candidates for CS. Hopefully Coke will find someone who is excited about producing It. Xulfi is the best option IMO.
Hyatt joined Coke Studio in 2008 with its first season but stepped down after 6 seasons. He was later brought back for the 12th season in 2019, though it failed to impress audiences. Rohail also produced the latest Season 13, which had only twelve songs due to COVID-19 restrictions and lockdowns.
After Prime Minister Imran Khan made some unwarranted comments on rape and the cited vulgarity as the reason behind rising rape cases, Rohail Hyatt stepped in to defend him, saying that the premier’s words had been taken out of context. The musician received a lot of flak for his comments. Among those who criticised him is Jawad Ahmad, who questioned Rohail’s logic behind the tweet.
“Why are you talking stupid?” wrote the singer-turned-politician in response to Hyatt’s tweet. “Will you tell us which dresses are modest and which are not?”
“Will you get into your child’s wardrobe and point out which dress once worn would keep her safe in the society?” questioned Ahmad.
“What if a dress you choose is still disapproved by majority?” he asked further.
Jawad also used the hashtag #DontJustifyRape to elaborate his stance.
Why are you talking stupid?
Will you tell us which dresses are modest & which are not?
Will you get into your child’s wardrobe & point out which dress once worn would keep her safe in the society?
While one would have thought that the debate ended there, but that was, in fact, just the start. Check out their complete exchange below:
Later, Hyatt added a humorous twist to the debate and said that Ahmad won the match.
What a place! Twitter. I’ve been missing all this fun for so long! It feels unreal like out of some mad mans imagined world yet it’s real. Near real time. Audience and all. Love it!
Everyone’s my people! We don’t discriminate. I love Jawad. I kid you not. I love everyone.. Every human has a soul that’s pure. Circumstances create the monsters we get to become in life. No one is born bad. Where are you drawing your conclusions from? Seriously? Bias here I feel
Meanwhile, Hyatt also shared why he supports PM Khan.
Jaisey kaum, waisay leaders. Where will he get whitewashed politicians from? His only choice is from within us right? Whatever is up with KPK I’ll tell you one thing. Every poor person there says for the first time ever that the police help them. That’s a serious big change.
I know because I go there often. Yes the finances are a mess but that’s like saying he was handed a perfect economy and country and he has messed it up. He was handed a crap and broken system and he is trying to make it work. Not an easy task!
To celebrate one year of her YouTube channel and her birthday, Saba Qamar has released a new songChingariyan in collaboration with Mustafa Zahid and Emmad Irfani.
“Celebrating the first year anniversary of my YouTube channel and my birthday with the release of an episode very close to my heart,” said Saba, while sharing a clip from the song.
“I’ve put my sweat, blood, heart and soul into this project, I really hope that this story connects with you all exactly like I felt it while doing this because ‘Life goes on’,” she said further.
The actor also thanked her “two favorite people for making my dream project come to life”.
“This was not possible without Mustafa Zahid and Emmad Irfani,” said Saba.
Chingariyan, which has mostly been shot underwater, features Saba and Emaad. It has been composed by Saad Sultan and Zahid, while the lyrics have been penned by Shakeel Sohail, Mustafa Zahid, Ali Aftab and Saad Sultan.
Saba launched her YouTube channel last year during the COVID-19 lockdown with an episode on isolation. Titled Isolation, the episode followed the actor as she embraced her loneliness. She narrated her feelings as she walked around the house and raised some thought-provoking questions.
Meanwhile, Saba recently also called it off with Azeem Khan due to “personal reasons,” just a week after announcing that she is getting married to him.
After entertaining us for more than three decades, Strings called off their partnership as a band on March 25, leaving fans heartbroken across the world.
Among those upset with the news was Adnan Siddiqui. To express his sorrow over the development and to recall memories with them, Adnan shared an unseen music video from 1993, which featured him alongside Natasha. The video was directed by Bilal and shot in Gwadar and Hawk’s Bay.
“Millions of us are still anguished with Strings ending their divinely gifted partnership of more than three decades. An entire generation grew up on their legendary music,” wrote the actor in the caption. “Whether it was the first brush of love, careless abandon of youth, heartbreak or experiments with finding our calling—Bilal Maqsood and Faisal Kapadia were always there with their symphonies, ballads [and] rock songs.”
“I am also overcome with a flurry of emotions and gush of memories as I see them going their own way,” shared the actor further. “My personal and professional association with them dates back to the late 80s, almost from the time Strings made a splash in the world of Pakistani music for the first time.”
Recalling the memories, Adnan said: “My first performance with them was in 1989 during a stage show at Funland where they played Maine Tujhe Kabhi Dekha Na Tha. We were in our early 20s, ready to take on the world. From then on till 2015 World Cup, we worked together at intermittent intervals.”
“In Aankhen Chhupa Ke from their third album Duur in 2002, I shared space with my wife. The video was shot on a shoe-string budget at Mubarak village. The World Cup theme Phir Say Game Utha Day was the last time we performed together. I think I would be the most common face in their videos,” he remarked.
Talking about the video he shared, Adnan said: “Sharing here a rare gem from their talented stable with an almost juvenile looking yours truly. The song is Aaj Main Khudi Say Ladta Gaya.”
“The year was 1993. Bilal decided to expand his genius to direction, but more so to give me orders and directions,” said Adnan. “Natasha and I shot it at Hawk’s Bay and Gwadar desert in Balochistan. A rather bold video for its time with animal carcass and snakes featuring along with two good looking people and a very hummable song.”
Talking about the success of his latest song Yaad, the 24-year-old singer said: “It makes me happy to see fans giving value to the craft we make.”
“I hope its an eye opener for A LOT of the artists (mainstream too) to start making original content and music videos,” he continued, adding: “Sirf brands ka wait karte reh jaoge tou hogaya kaam. Thora jaib mai haath daalo aur saath do.”
Azhar further said: “I can literally count on one hand keh sirf kitne (established) artists hain that are investing in their craft and the music industry constantly.”
“Baaki sab? Bas koi brand ajaye, koi drama karlain, koi controversy ajaye. Aise nahi hota dost. Kuch dogay tou kuch milega,” he concluded.
I can literally count on one hand ke sirf kitne (established) artists hain that are investing in their craft & the music industry constantly. Baaki sab…? Bas koi brand ajaye, koi drama karlain, koi controversy ajaye. Aise nahi hota dost. Kuch dogay tou kuch milega
Responding to Asim’s tweet, fellow singer from the Young Stunners Talha Anjum said: “Hard work and consistency beats talent and controversies. Let that sink.”
To which Asim added: “When talent doesn’t work hard, hard work beats talent.”
Let’s be honest. March 25 will be regarded as one of the saddest days in history, despite the fact that we won a cricket world cup on this day in 1992. This is because on this day Faisal Kapadia and Bilal Maqsood announced that they have parted ways and are ‘concluding’ Strings after producing music for 33 years.
Announcing the news on social media, Strings said: “This post is a bit different from the usual. We have decided that today, 25/03/2021, is the day we graciously get to conclude Strings.”
“The past 33 years have been incredible for both of us. It’s so rare to have the chance to be able to do things like this and we are infinitely grateful to all of our fans for making it possible,” read the announcement further. “We hope you found it worthwhile as well.”
Bilal and Faisal also shared the announcement on their respective social media handles.
Soon after the news broke, fans and followers of the band including Ahmed Ali Butt, Farhan Saeed, Gohar Rasheed and Haroon Shahid took to social media to express their “heartbreak” over the band’s split.
#Strings (the band) has decided to conclude their band and the world of music will not be the same anymore what a heartbreaker #TheEnd
Thank you for your service #Strings I guess all good things come to an end but for sure Faisal bhai and Bilal bhai will definitely be contributing to Pakistani music for years to come. Let the Strings tributes flow with some acoustic covers this whole week. Will share mine soon!
Strings have ended but the countless memories will remain- thank you Bilal and Faisal bhai for shaping our lives with your music – love you guys #strings#pakistanpic.twitter.com/sZEs0QmEaZ
Strings has decided to part ways and I am sad, i am just sad. THIS BAND IS EVERYTHING!!!! duur ik gaon hai, wahan thandi chhaon hai. pic.twitter.com/zgEfq15JkZ
When your “bachpan ka fav band” gets separated, Dil toots Goodluck to you both Faisal & Bilal for giving us #Strings for 33 years ♥️ pic.twitter.com/ZHcxmDRReJ
Siddiqui, in a recent social media post, opened up on his love for the flute and what drew him to it.
“I started romancing the flute quite fortuitously when a flute seller who looked more like a vagabond playing for the love of music, caught my fancy many years ago in Karachi Boating Basin,” shared Adnan.
“Having had an inherent ear for music, I had trained myself to play harmonica during my young days,” he continued. “So the decision to dabble into a new territory was an obvious transition.”
“Though memory fails me to recall the composition that man regaled me with at the time time, it did leave me with a strong affinity towards the flute” wrote Adnan further. “The next day I found myself wandering through by-lanes of the walled city of Karachi, scouting for a flute that would instantly metamorphose me into Mozart! Well, that didn’t happen and I have made peace with being a Pied Piper.”
“It’s been a long time and I am still in love with the flute,” added the actor. “Despite being self-taught, not once has it rejected my advances to compose seemingly novice notes. It loves me back equally, offering me experiences that are therapeutic and divine at the same time.”
Adnan was recently spotted bonding with Turkish actors. Last month, Celal Al welcomed Adnan Siddiqui and other Pakistani actors Humayun Saeed, Reema Khan and Sadia Khan in Turkey.
Atif Aslam is creating waves with his latest single Raat.
The music video of the songwalks the viewer through the journey of a striving artist – making it big and subsequently losing everything else in the process. It features Syra Yousuf, Kiran Malik Mansha Pasha, Gohar Rasheed and Khalid Malik.
As the song commences, we see Khalid introducing Atif as Asif as he doesn’t know his name in the first ‘dimension’. In this phase, Atif is a struggling artist, hoping to make it big in the entertainment industry. The scene then shifts towards the next dimension where we are introduced to an Atif who has made it big. Looking dapper in a well-fitted suit, the singer can be seen working in a romantic scene with the gorgeous Syra. The two break eye-contact as the director asks them for a re-take and right on cue, the two throw a starry tantrum.
In the next dimension, we see the Aadat singer in an argument with a woman, presumably his wife, played by Mansha. The two are embroiled in an argument as a child sits in the back. The rift causes Atif to lose control of the car, resulting in an accident.
In the final dimension, we see Atif who could be seen defeated and broken. Just as he walks towards an unknown location in an alley, he is caught up in a mugging attempt and we see Gohar as the notorious robber. In a failed attempt to rob the man, the two wrestle, which results in Atif being shot. In the last dimension, we see an Atif who was left to die – alone and in dark.
The song, directed by Yasir Jaswal, is beautifully shot. Raat encapsulates the essence of how anything and everything is possible in the darkness of the night.
“The night is as beautiful as it is mysterious,” reads the tagline of the song and the video appears to do justice to it. The music of the song has been composed by Atif while the lyrics have been penned by Aslam and Munir Niazi.
Meanwhile, fans are thoroughly enjoying Aslam’s new song.
Swedish-based audio streaming and media services provider Spotify is finally coming to Pakistan. The biggest music streaming services provider confirmed the news on their official Twitter handle.
“We launch in 80+ new markets over the next few days. See you soon Bangladesh, Pakistan and Nigeria,” the post read.
Official Instagram account of Spotify Pakistan also hinted at the possibility of launching their services soon in Pakistan by sharing a post with the caption: “Check it out, a new way to discover and play music is coming your way.”
According to a report, Spotify’s CEO Daniel Ek at a Spotify ‘Stream On’ event said: “This move will make Spotify available to more than a billion people in new markets around the world, with nearly half of them already using the internet.”
As perSpotify, “Spotify is embarking on a sweeping expansion that will introduce the world’s most popular audio streaming subscription service available to more than a billion people in 80+ new markets around the world, and add 36 languages to our platform.
“By reaching even more countries across Asia, Africa, the Caribbean, Europe, and Latin America, we’re giving millions of new creators the opportunity to create, discover, and build a career in audio creation—and giving a billion new fans the opportunity to hear it.”
Last year in November, Spotify created averified Instagram account for Pakistan, which has gained 24K followers already. However, no official statement was made at the time.
Spotify is the world’s biggest music streaming platform in terms of the number of subscribers. Users of the service simply need to register to have access to one of the biggest-ever collections of music in history, plus podcasts, and other audio content.
Spotify, launched in 2008, has grown to be one of the biggest streaming platforms in the world.
