Over the years every generation of Pakistani singers have made it a point to sing songs with a patriotic feel to them. More often than not these songs have done relatively well and bode well for the popularity of a lot of singers re Junoon, Vital Signs and many others.
Madame Noor Jahaan’s patriotic songs and their effect on the morale of the Pakistani army is legendary. I would like to state here that I am neither a fan of her singing nor her music, but she is surely one of the biggest and most respected singers ever. During the 1965 war Madame Noor Jahaan phoned into Radio Pakistan one morning and said that she wanted to sing. When she finally got there, there were no musicians so she took her own. She had no lyrics so she sung the songs extemporaneously. Merya dhol sipahaya, Mera sonha sheher Kasur ni and Aai puttar hatan te nahin vikday were all her own compositions. All this took her minutes and she shot into super-stardom. Not that she was not already a legend, but after these songs she had made the kind of impact that not many before or after her could even dream of. Soldiers claim to have found a new life on the battlefield due to her songs. That is the impact that songs, specially patriotic songs, have on people.
No wonder so many singers try their hand at it. Unfortunately, in recent times many failed or failing singers have tried to resurrect their careers by singing these songs at times with the help of corporate sponsors. Inevitably, the songs are more like Mobilink or Tapal Tea jingles rather than national songs. Having said that, there have been some good ones as well.
The video below is of Jeeve Jeeve Pakistan. This song is international in its reach and importance. A few years back my father visited China to finalize a deal on behalf of his company. He took a train from Beijing to Wuhan, the capital of Hubei Province. When the crew found out that their were Pakistanis on board they made an announcement and then played Jeeve Jeeve Pakistan and Sohni Dharti. Let me also tell you about my trip to Turkey a few years ago. Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar is the largest souk in the world with almost 4,000 shops. Without fail, every shopkeeper that I met and who asked me where I was from, sung Jeeve Jeeve once I told him that I was from Pakistan. One of them mentioned that they were taught the songs as kids as they were told that Pakistanis were their brothers.
You may have heard all or most of the songs below. This post is not about showing you anything new, but only to remind people of what has gone by. Many of us grew up listening to these songs, but may have not heard them in a very very long time. Let’s take a trip down memory lane.
Jeeve Jeeve Pakistan by Shahnaz Begum
Sohni Dharti by Shahnaz Begum
Maooun Ki Dua by Alamgir (one of my favourites)
Ae Watan Piare Watan by Amanat Ali
Dil Dil Pakistan by Vital Signs
Hamara Parcham Payara Parcham by Naheed Akhtar
Aey Watan Key Seejlay by Noor Jahan
In Fizaon Se Aage by Najam Shiraz (an air force song, but it portrays the same patriotic sentiments - beautiful song)
Kal Hamari Hai by Call (one of the newer bands - not a bad song coming out of the new crop, which was apparently sponsored by Warid Telecom)
Jazba-e-Junoon by Junoon (Live at Central Park)
Ae Jawan by Awaz
How wonderful to hear this music from my childhood and teenage years. It brought tears to my eyes and warmed my heart. Thank you so much for sharing! By the way you left out Madam Noorjehan’s very famous war song.
Maybe more music in the future? D not have to be patriotic perhaps but amanat ali, iqbal bano, begum akhtar………..we have such a wealth of music.
“You can take man out of country but cannot take country out of man,” an old saying but so true.
Just the other night during few moments of introspection I started scribbling lyrics of “Ae Watan Piare Watan” on a piece of paper. I had a hard time recalling it accurately but Amanat’s voice kept echoing in my head. This song is one of the most fascinating construction of words with deep ellipticism and beautiful presentation. I have never understood why it strikes several chords in me and although there is nothing sad in it, my eyes also respond to it as some strange sensations travel up my back while listening.
And Hakim thanks for this post. I will be returning to it more often to enjoy the collection!
You missed “Ae Jawaan”. That is a song that gains more resonance with Pakistani youth than any other. “Jazba Junoon” is another one that comes to mind if only for the passion and pride it invokes
Sheharyar: Thank you. I have added the songs. I had indeed forgotten about ‘Ae Jawaan’. However, I had intentionally left out ‘Jazba-e-Junoon’ as I felt we had had enough of it in the last few years. Plus, it always reminds me of the World Cup and it is not the best time to be thinking about that.
WOW… thats was better than “Music on Demand”. Is this the most accommodating blog or what? Thanks for putting up the song Hakim, and on reflection, perhaps we really have had enough of Jazaba-e-Junoon…!
One important correction: Merya dhol sipahaya and Mera sonha sheher Kasur ni were written by Sufi Ghulam Mustafa Tabassum.
Aai puttar hatan te nahin vikday was composed by Dr Rasheed Ahmed, who also wrote Jang Khed Naeen Hondi Zananian Di.
Madam Nur Jehan may have been able to sing and even set words to music but she never claimed to be a poetess.
Incidentally, am I the only one to notice that the images of almost all songs are martial rather than patriotic. It is true that patriotism is always tested in war but patriotic songs should be, and are, more than martial music.
Given the rumors of impending martial law, once again, I do not want my patriotism to be mixed with resignation to military domination.