With its tenth season now on air, Pakistan's Coke Studio is an annual music TV show, which is anticipated excitedly by lovers of music from not only Pakistan, but also other countries like India, Bangladesh, Morocco, and Colombia. Coke Studio features a mixed bag of emerging artists and established heavyweights, an eclectic mix of genres, and classical, modern fusion, and original numbers. This leads to some great hits, either defining moments for Pakistan's music scene, or reminders of a glorious past of rich cultural heritage.
As the summer comes to a close, its Coke Studio season once again. This is the perfect time to revisit the show's greatest hits.
1. Shaman Pai Gaiyaan/Ki Dam Da Bharosa
Coke Studio combined two songs for this gorgeous, fiercely romantic duet. Kashif Ali's vocals are soft and effortless in Shaman Pe Gaiyan. On the other hand, Rachel Viccaji is raw and urgent, in Ki Dam Da Bharosa, which bravely combines classical Punjabi poetry with a western rock sound that works magic.
2.Tajdar-e-Haram
Tajdar-e-Haram is a classical, iconic Urdu qawwali (devotional music from the Sufi tradition). Its most notable rendition is by the Sabri brothers, who were traditional qawwali performers. In Coke Studio's 8th season, Atif Aslam, more known for his prowess in pop, lent it a fresh re-visitation. His voice has a clean, open quality, with enough soulfulness for the religious poetry.
3. Rang
Better known as Aaj Rang Hai, this is another centuries-old qawwali, performed many times by notable performers. Coke Studio Season 9 got the two greatest living qawwals of the time, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, and Amjad Sabri to perform this classic together. Because the episode was aired after Sabri's unexpected assassination, the performance has an added layer of deep, communal grief for his loss.
4. Chaap Tilak
This is yet another great qawwali, in which Coke Studio, again employed a formidable pairing of seasoned performers, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, and Abida Parveen. The result was every bit as captivating as a combination of Amir Khusro's top-quality Sufi poetry, vocals by the two icons, and production by Coke Studio is expected to be.
5. Larsha Pekhawar Ta
Humayoon Khan's rendition of this folk Pashto song is fresh and funky. Pashto is the regional language predominantly spoken in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. The representation in the mainstream is appreciated, but it is unclear why Coke Studio has not ventured further into the genre since then. With catchy lyrics, that urge "Go to Peshawar" Larsha Pekhawar Ta is a clear winner.
6. Ajj Din Vehre Vich
Ali Zafar is one of the most seasoned pop/rock voices of Pakistan. In this original Punjabi number, with its mellow, despondent lyrics about past mistakes and abandonment, Zafar's vocal skill in this song is a powerful reminder of why he is a household name.
7.Paar Chanaa De
Paar Chanaa De (Across the Punjab River) is a folk Punjabi song. In a modern homage, the band Noori, with Indian singer Shilpa Rao, do full justice to this ballad-like narration of a romantic tragedy. The most prominent feature of the song is Madam Noor Zahra Kazim playing the sagar veena, an instrument that, at the moment, she and her son are the only ones in the world who can play.
9. Kaddi Ao Ni
Featuring Mai Dhai, a folk singer from the Sindh province, Kadi Ao Ni is a beautiful love song in the Rajhastani dialect. Atif Aslam's vocals are easy on the ears too.
