Mehdi Hasan’s Top 20
Raza Rumi Mehdi Hasan died today. There are no words to capture his influence on my generation and the ones before me. I am posting a shorter version of my essay which was published in a volume “Mehdi Hasan: The Man and His Music” (2010, Liberty Books). RIP Khan Saheb. The kesari balam has finally left for his new home.. ~ (Read more here) My friend Fifi Haroon (@FifiHaroon) tweeted the best of Mehdi Hasan. Saadia gardezi … Read entire article »
Filed under: Music
Strings of hope
By: Dr. Zehra Saqlain I would like to congratulate the whole nation that we still have visionaries and writers who can take the burden of addressing the national/social issues with no fear. Yes, I am talking about the representative of the new generation, Bilal Maqsood. I always wondered who will take the responsibility and who would be able to write like Mr. Anwar Maqsood. Nevertheless, after listening to the new song of Strings “mein tou dekhoonga” … Read entire article »
Filed under: Music
Aaloo-eating zionists – Pakistan’s youth reacts to daily doses of ghairat and lies
By Saadia Gardezi The latest music video to go viral in the Pakistani blogosphere, Aaloo Andey by Beyghairat Brigade, says most of what those on the centre and left are thinking. The Pakistani virtualverse has been twittering about the satire since it came out. However there has also been some verbal violence against the views expressed in the song, characteristic of the Pakistan we live in… what for one man thinks is xenophobic nationalism, for another is just … Read entire article »
Filed under: Conservation, Humor, liberal Pakistan, Music
Co-ven vol 3: A Review
by Zia Ahmad A bone of contention that rock musicians in Pakistan have from time to time is the dearth of work. The strife is more pronounced when one is adamant to steer clear of corporate endorsements and mindless, populist pandering, and sticking to its own independent point of view. Co-ven has no such qualms and manages to find plentiful of work in the face of growing bland plastic aesthetics and sensibility. Other than the preceding … Read entire article »
Laal Band's song for the flood vitcims
Laal Band has produced this song for the victims of the recent calamity. Taimur Rehman the lead guitarist has sent this for the readers of PTH. RR [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhUHHi3PNCc] … Read entire article »
Chinese whispers of the press
A couple of weeks ago a screening of “Taqwacore- The Birth of Punk Islam” was held at the National College of Arts Lahore. The documentary film offers an insight into the Muslim punk movement called Taqwacore, inspired by a novel by American Muslim Michael Muhammad Knight of the same name. The film primarily follows Muslim punk band The Kominas, along with Michael Muhammad Knight, on a road trip through the US and, in the latter … Read entire article »
Filed under: culture, Islam, journalism, Media, Music, Pakistan, Religion
Music vs. Militancy
Cross Post from Dawn Blogs By Salman Siddiqui on January 21, 2010 Even though Pakistan is bleeding from terrorism and suicide bombings, no mainstream , pop music artist has come close to condemning or questioning the spread of militancy through music and lyrics. A recent video from The New York Times highlighted this issue, showing how pop acts such as Ali Azmat and Noori were keeping quiet on the subjects of terror, religious extremism, and the Taliban, while railing against America through their songs. In this context, 25-year-old Daniyal Noorani‘s debut effort ‘Finding Heaven,’ which was released on YouTube a few days ago, is encouraging. The daring single takes the Taliban and religious extremists head on, creating quite a buzz online. Dawn.com speaks with Noorani to find out what prompted him to … Read entire article »
Filed under: Activism, Blogging, culture, Left, Liberal Democratic Pakistan, Media, Music, Pakistan, video
Civilizations (Mirrors of Our Existence)
From years of our travel We look back Upon these civilizations, From years of adventure We look back Upon these civilizations From days of our inheritance The lands and its cultures The old forms of languages The mystery of Universe The old journey taken By humans and nature together As they traverse From place one to another, In harmony and disarray As we born and die From on to another, As we love and hate The old circumstances And situation, intertwined Through languages and its art, The trails, lost and visible As we look back Upon these civilizations The … Read entire article »
Filed under: ancient civilisations, Architecture, Arts and Crafts, culture, Dance, drama, dynasties, Heritage, History, Identity, Languages, Law, Literature, movements, Music, musings, Nature, Philosophy, Physics, poetry, Politics, psychology
Pakistani Rock Comes of Age
By Zia Ahmad Summer 1995 The world was young, so was I. Still in my teens, my head ran on a brew of boundless enthusiasm and hope for tomorrow. The teenage optimism extended itself to Pakistani pop bands I was listening to back in the day: the MCC (Music Channel Charts) stable bands, Pepsi Top of the Pops confetti we were served week after week, Junoon and Vital Signs defining the musical landscape of Pakistan. Good times. Then again, there was only this much I could take of tuneful melodies and slick pop melodies. The thingness of things felt a tad incomplete. Lucky for me I had already discovered grunge that perfectly filled the void. … Read entire article »
The ‘It-is-not-us’ syndrome
By Hajrah Mumtaz Dawn Online A couple of months ago, I wrote a column in praise of certain Pakistani pop stars and bands, arguing that there are a fair number of songs that display political consciousness and a related sense of responsibility. I referred to such songs as Junoon’s ‘Talaash’, Shahzad Roy’s ‘Lagay Raho’ and ‘Kismet Apnay Haath Main’, Noori’s ‘Merey Log’ and Laal’s rendition of Habib Jalib’s ‘Main Nay Uss Say Yeh Kaha.’ … Read entire article »
Filed under: culture, Identity, Music, Pakistan, Religion, Taliban, USA
Waziristan Musician Prays for Taliban Defeat
From Dawn Online Friday, 23 Oct, 2009 DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Mohammad Akbar says he prays every day for the Pakistani army to crush the Taliban so he can make sweet music once more without fearing for his life. ‘They smashed it into pieces and warned me of serious consequences if I ever played it again,’ said Akbar as he recalled the day two years ago that the Islamists forced him to give a recital of his rubab … Read entire article »
Rhythm of Soul
Source: RAO DILSHAD HUSSAIN and AREEBA IMTIAZ talk to Sain Zahoor Ahmed about Sufi music and his mission Sufi music has its root in different genres of music like qawali, kafi, sufiana qalams and many other regional genre of similar cultures. Sufi music started in the sub-continent by the great saint Hazrat Amir Khusru in the 13th century. Since then sufi music is being followed by composers and musicians of the subcontinent. Initially it was used for the sole purpose of spreading the Islamic norms and values. Sufi music also highlights the teachings of the sufi saints like Baba Bulleh Shah, Baba Farid, Mohamad Bukhsh and Shah Hussain etc. Sufi singing is considered to be a symbol of love and affection. It gives the message of peace and harmony. Now sufi music … Read entire article »
Filed under: Music
Pakistaniat : The Crisis of Identity
Bradistan Calling What can I give to Pakistan as a present on its 62nd Birthday, What else than an article on its chequered history and identity. Bertrand Russell famously said,” There are three great civilisations in East i.e. India, China and Islam”. Pakistan is blessed to be located at the crossroads of all these great civilisations. In my humble opinion this is the biggest strength of Pakistani identity. … Read entire article »
Filed under: Activism, Afghanistan, Al Qaeda, ancient civilisations, Architecture, baluchistan, Citizens, Cricket, culture, dynasties, Environment, Europe, FATA, Heritage, History, human rights, Identity, India, Iran, Islam, Jinnah, Karachi, Kashmir, Languages, Left, Literature, Media, minorities, Music, North-West Frontier Province, Northern Areas, Pakistan, Partition, Peshawar, Politics, Punjabi, quetta, Religion, Rights, Sindh, south asia, Sufism, Taliban, Terrorism, Travel, Urdu, USA, youth
The real news from Pakistan
By James Crabtree Prospect Magazine Karachi’s upstart cable channel Geo TV is at the forefront of a media revolution—taking on dictators and Islamist militants alike. Now the revolt is being watched by Britain’s Pakistanis too Ten years ago Pakistan had one television channel. Today it has over 100. Together they have begun to open up a country long shrouded by political, moral and religious censorship—taking on the government, breaking social taboos and, most recently, pushing a new national consensus against the Taliban. … Read entire article »
Filed under: culture, Identity, Media, Music, Pakistan, Society
The Taliban and music
By Zubeida Mustafa (Dawn 05/08/09) In her latest book, The Case for God, Karen Armstrong describes music as ‘the limit of reason.’ She finds it inseparable from religious expression when religion is at ‘its best.’ We do not get the best demonstration of this connection in the Taliban brand of Islam. The faith practised by the Sufis, however, shows an intrinsic link between the two. … Read entire article »
Filed under: culture, Music, North-West Frontier Province, Pakistan, Taliban
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