Socio-political History of Modern Pop Music in Pakistan

Wow!! A long read but a very colorful one. This article seems to be the literary Pakistani version of Billy Joel`s We Didn`t Start The Fire.

Good One dude.

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A long read but a an interesting one. Though I am not sure about the accuracy of the chronology of events. For example the university stand-off with the police was on December 3 1981 just after theelections and not 1985. The student unions were banned in 1983 and not 1981.

Paracha sahib - interesting (and long) read. the accuracy of some of the dates is questionable. The zia referendum was in 1984 and not in 1982.

Ahh bring backs memories...

I recently got the Vital signs collection. Most of the music was constructed over the tone banks of a rudimentary casio synthesizer, Junaids vocals sound as dispassionate as a mullah over christmas,and dont get me started on some of the lyrics:Mera dill naheein available...Wahhh??!?! but you gotta admit something about that band that you just cant get enough of..

Kaura: I cant figure out the hoopla over Abrar either.He`s still churning out lyrical crap as we speak.Damn one hit wonder.
The reason Junoon is so revered is because of the fact that they truly are musicians.Ali`s vocals are impeccable....the musical backdrop,lyrics everything just sort of made sense.Just ignore the corporate bullshit known as deewar, and you`ve got a very decent collection.Tell me, in the subcontinent does anyone even come close who epitomize the element of rock? Baba Sehgal?Maybe not

Nikki:sigh....maybe you would fancy a 1000 page article on Daler Mehndi`s groundbreaking(literally) music and his subsequent career demise into human trafficking.Woudnt that be good read?Get lost you low life.

Wow. This is totally great. This should be turned into a documentary or at least a book, Paracha. Impressed, sir.

You sure have been around a long time and have seen a lot. The rapid cut technique of MTV videos works well in prose too.
``young petty-bourgeoisie teens..`` Why so condesecnding? Dont they deserve their cola etc.?

That was a great article...very informative, would have been better if you could have commented on the current bands a bit more..........
I think the article most have took alot of research and most appreciated..but some dates where a bit wonky.....

Good one, NFP. A good, long hard look at Paki pop as we know it today. But why so little on recent developments?

interesting piece on Pakistan`s music scene.Though the timeline could have been complete if it had started right from the year of our Independence, 1947, rather than 1966. In any case , a very good read.

hey this is good stuff particularly for one who is as yet uninitiated to the Pakistani music scene......i think you can do a lot more with this ...may i suggest Mike Marqusee`s CHIMES OF FREEDOM: the 60s and the music of Bob Dylan.............its a cultural study and you would find it quite interesting.....and ignore #3.

Nadeem, that`s an interesting recap. I heard Aamir Zaki is releasing a double album soon and Adnan Afaq is working on a solo album too (according to Tanseer). Did you find any of the Aatish Raj recordings? Thanks.

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this feels like deja-vu to me. was some of this published in bandbaja a while back? the ``political economy fused with pop culture`` bit?

#1 Stuka
Thank you, stuka for the comparison. But the only difference is that in Pakistan, we DID start the fire! And anyone trying to put it out is scorned at as a “traitor.” A lucrative corporate sponsorship deal usually takes care of that. ;)

#2kaurasach
Oh, come now, mate, Abrar is nowhere like a “bad copy of a struggling western group.” And neither was NFK. Far from it ... that is, of course, if you don’t consider Abrar’s clinging contract with Coca-Cola. And Chamkila …? Okay. But I can shine better.

#3nikki7777
Stop reading Khawateen Digest so much, niki. You’re turning into a fried jumbo prawn.

#4 pakfin
There were quite a few stand-offs like the one I’ve mentioned. The later did take place in 1985. Yes, I agree the student unions were not banned in 1981 but in late 1982 (and not 1983).

#5 rahul_capri
``young petty-bourgeoisie teens..`` deserve more of such condescendence than cola, rahul. Lil’ poster hugging fascists! ;)

#6 snail
Ironically this piece was extracted from the many notes I had made for a book on the subject. But as always, impatience gets its way with me. And this is not a complain. Keeps me in a constant state of prolific anarchy. Yippee!

#7 yasirz
Yes. Especially memories that make history.

#8 huma_mir
Okay, huma, I’ll check it out. I must be too stoned to notice the difference. ;)

#9 ana
Hey, ana. Yes, this was first published in, I think, the August issue of bandbaja.org. And if you did get the “political economy fused with pop culture bit” (and which I think you did), kindly explain it to twintopaz. She too seems to be spending a lot of time reading Khawateen Digest and turning into a jumbo prawn.

#10 twintopaz
(See above: #9).
(And now below)
There. Now I hope your stiff neck is a lot better. Try the same with your attitude. Loosen up. Everything is political. Even your neck ache.

#11 AhmedBilal
Hello Ahmed. Yes I did hear about Zak’s double album. But then, I’ve been hearing about it for quite a while now. Let’s hope this time it does come. And nope. Still no sign of Atish Raj’s lost master tape. Still searching, bro. I handed out a few copies back in 1995. I wish someone still holding one can read this and deliver.

#12 adityapant
Yes, I have read that book. Such studies have become vital in today’s Pakistan (or for that matter, India).



#13 spider
I chose 1966 because I believe here lay the true beginnings homespun pop. “Cococoreena” was the start.

#14 CoolHandLuke
Come on, Luke, I think recent events in this context are pretty much covered.

#15 syke
Yes, syke, this did take some running around. And for this I would like to thank bandbaja’s Omar Tariq and Safwat. Two of the finest new Pakistani music journalists (and far more sober, sensible and patient than I ever was.)


Rgds,
NfP