Klashinfolk, Ali Azmat’s second solo album released in August-September (2008) and I didn’t even know about it. The reason is that I am away from the main stream Pakistani media since long. I have my own reasons for distancing myself… although at one time watching TV would consume most of my time.

I don’t know how I stumbled upon one of Ali’s songs from ‘Klashinfolk’ recently and took an instant liking. I checked the entire album online and liked most of the songs. I especially liked the interesting cover and inlay of the CD. I couldn’t find his CD since it’s been out of stock so I downloaded the songs from internet.

Many people have been raising eyebrows about the CD cover design and art because it shows Freemasonry logo and symbols. In one picture Ali Azmat is imitating Hitler’s salute. The cover and design is quite novel and it is basically this novelty which appealed to me a lot. I don’t care if Ali Azmat is a member of the ‘brotherhood’ (as some people thought) or not. Besides the title name of the album is also very unique; ‘Klashinfolk’ – Clashin’ folk – the people who clash or at loggerhead – it also sounds the reverse of the ‘Kalashnikov’!

Ali Azmat’s voice holds charm for me. Maybe, by listening to him, I sort of relive my teenage years when I used to buy and listen to ‘Junoon’s’ albums religiously (tapes at that time). I liked the music of ‘Klashinfolk’ more than the words or vocals. The words are typical like those I have grown up listening to. The vocals of Ali Azmat are good as usual. But the compositions and music is wonderful. I had liked a couple of songs from his first solo album, ‘Social Circus’ such as ‘Na Re Na’ and ‘Teri Perchaiyan’ but in my view this album is better than the ‘Social Circus’.

I still miss the band ‘Junoon’ and it wouldn’t be fair to compare this album with any of the ‘Junoon’s’ previous works.

Listening to the songs from ‘Klashinfolk’ in a low volume on headphones is a new experience that I am enjoying these days.

Here is one of my favorites: Naina

Disclaimer: This by no means is a promotional blog post. I like weird things at times so if you want to listen to the album, do it on your own risk!

I remember when he used to sing qawwalis along with his uncle Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. I would find his screechy voice in the background quite funny. After Nusrat Fateh Ali’s demise in August 1997, he continued his journey and emerged as a solo singer. In the beginning his voice failed to appeal me. The first time I noticed him was when I listened to Man Ki Lagan in 2003 end. I had bought the otherwise pretty average album of the movie Paap just for that song. The song was soothing and sensual. I think it was penned by Amjad Islam Amjad. So basically Bhatts (Pooja and Mahesh) had introduced him into the mainstream Hindi movie playback singing.

Then there was a long hiatus. In 2005 he sang, Jiya Dhadak Dhadak for Kalyug.He has sung too many wonderful and super hit songs for various movies. But amazingly, I never liked his solo album Charkha which was a big hit too. Below is the list of some of his most popular songs that are my absolute favorite too.

1) Teri Yaad Saath (Namaste London)

2) Bol Na Halke Halke (Jhoom Baraber Jhoom)

3) Naina Thag Laingey (Omkara)

4) Jag Soona Soona Laage (Om Shanti Om)

5) O Re Piya (Aaja Nachle)

6) Teri Ore (Singh Is King)

7) Aj Din Chadeyaa (Love Aaj Kal)

Melodious flute, the wailing violins and the magical Rahman. Can it get any better?

PS: I’m sending this entry via email. Hope that will work!

Someone told me this song has been sung by a Pakistani singer Nauman Javaid. He’s the lyricist, composer and the singer of this song and it is already a hit. He’s got a wonderful voice. The music is simply superb. Why is that the Pakistani singers bring out their best for the Indian projects?

Dard-e-Tanhai

Michael Jackson: 1958 – 2009

I found about Michael Jackson’s death from a friend’s text message. For a while I couldn’t believe it because apparently he seemed fine, gearing up for a series of his come back concerts in London.

I admit that I have been grown out of MJ’s music long ago but in 90s like every other teenager around me I too was his die-hard fan. His albums, Dangerous & Bad became my all time favorites and in mid 90s I must have listened to them hundred times.

I think  I liked him because he was The king of pop with unique style and everyone was into his music, when you have so much fan following of someone around you it is difficult to ignore it. Eventually I too grew fond of his music but what enchanted me were his trade mark dance moves and remarkable on stage performance. There was a video tape of his concert available at the local video shop, I saw people fainting in his concert. And it was there I disovered he was one of those talanted pop singers who would enthrall the audiences with his live singing and dancing.

With time MJ started going in the background. His name would appear off and on in media but mostly for the wrong and bizarre reasons. In 2002 when there was an outcry for mishandling his 8-month old baby by dangling him over the balcony in the Berlin hotel and then in 2005 once again when he was accused of molesting a 12-year old child, subsequently he was acquitted of all charges or when he was accused of having a surrogate mother for his child. From all the glitter and glamour he moved to Bahrain. Some people suggested, the Prince of Bahrain helped him bail out of his financial troubles. And finally there were whispers of his conversion to Islam (which I believe are sheer rumors).

He had a tourbled childhood, strange youth with ever changing facial features and mysterious last years. But despite all this he was a great artist with a successful career that people can only dream of and he kept the world entertained for decades.

The death of MJ has effected me in the sense that you grow up on someone’s music, admiring him and then all of a sudden your childhood icon dies leaving you wonder that nothing is permanent in this world and we all are walking towards our end.

Life could be pretty miserable if you live close to a wedding hall – in fact a gathering facility based on lawns. The loud music is bound to disturb the neighbors. Besides, the aroma of wedding feast can only increase the appetite. (Not mine though – yeah I am a little different)

The concept of hall with sound proof walls is acceptable but arranging a function in the lawns under the colorful tents irks. We never had any wedding halls when we had moved here a couple of decades ago. The present ones opened just a few years ago – a sheer nuisance -  right in the pure residential area.

So when you live close to such facility you are bound to hear sounds sans sights. The sound of clanking of cauldrons, laughter, clapping, cheering and of course music.  My observation tells that there are certain songs that are played religiously on each wedding or an engagement party.

The first one is the evergreen (I never thought it so but now I’ve changed my view) is Ghar Aya Mera Pardesi sung by Lata for the 1951 flick called Awaara starring Nargis and Raj Kapoor. The movie is undoubtedly one of the best of Indian cinema (indeed a classic) and looking at the craze of this song here, I wonder do they play this song on Kapoor weddings, like was it played when Karishma Kapoor got married or will they play it when Kareena will marry? It’s one of the hottest (wedding) songs here that never outdates or fizzles out… I have grown up listening to it on weddings.

Here is the video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mTJYU9BxKA

The other song that is played incessantly is a Pushto track sung by Tahir Shubab. He’s basically an Afghan singer. The video seems to feature a bunch of gay-looking men The song is really catchy though in terms of lyrics and music.

The video:

The last one is not played anymore but that used to sell like a hot cake at one time (actually back in 90s). It is called Wadi Ishq Se Aya Hai Mera Shehzada. Man… once someone commented that it sounds like a truckwalas song and I can’t tell how it cracked me up This song was sung by Alka Yagnik for her own album. It most prolly had no official video.

I like this song by Tarkan the music is great!

First get to know yourself

Embrace your heart too

Then love me, she said

All of us are alone on this road

In this game called life

First find yourself

Then find me, she said

Don’t hurt

Don’t my heart

Don’t be angry

There’s a reason for everything

Don’t look for someone to blame

Don’t ask, don’t ask my heart, don’t ask

You know it too really

There are no losers in love

Secretly

My sad tears seep into me

I remain silent for your just departure

She said we all are alone on this road

In this dream called life

So never make love a captive to time

Sarılda kalbine
Sonra beni sev dedi
Hepimiz Yalnızız bu yolda
Hayat denilen oyunda
Önce seni sonra beni bul dedi
Kırılma
yapma kalbim
darılma
Nedeni var herşeyin
Suçlu sorumlu arama
Sorma sorma kalbim sorma
Bilirsin sen aslında
Yokki kaybeden aşkta
İçime
Süzülür gizlice Mahsun gözyaşlarım
Sessiz kalırım haklı gidişine
Dedi ki yalnızız bu yolda
Ömür denilen rüyada
Sen sen ol tutsak etme Aşkı zamana

Note: English and Turkish lyrics have been taken from some forum long ago. I don’t remember the URL.

Do you also associate this song with death and destruction? I like it nonetheless, lyrics and music both are amazing! The full orchestra plays it in the video. Below is the translation of this Latin poem.

O Fortune,
like the moon
you are constantly changing,
ever waxing
and waning;
hateful life
now oppresses
and then soothes
as fancy takes it;
poverty
and power
it melts them like ice.

Fate – monstrous
and empty,
you whirling wheel,
you are malevolent,
well-being is vain
and always fades to nothing,
shadowed
and veiled
you plague me too;
now through the game
I bring my bare back
to your villainy.

Fate, in health
and virtue,
is against me
driven on
and weighted down,
always enslaved.
So at this hour
without delay
pluck the vibrating strings;
since Fate
strikes down the strong man,
everyone weep with me!

I had never heard this version before. Abida is great! Nasir Kazmi is a classic!