The Best of Coke Studio

The long standing dream of an Indian version of Coke Studio is finally coming true. The only glitch, MTV (which has long stopped standing for Music TV) is associated with it, and that sends shivers down my spine.

Anyway, last night was spent listening to a lot of it, and I thought I would try and rate my faves from it.

The best one, Aik Alif by Saieen Zahoor and Noori. There are three distinct phases in the song, and Saieen Zahoor brings the sufi charm to it.

Next up, Alif Allah by Arif Lohar and Meesha Saafi. Actually Arif Lohar is so damn good that Meesha is reduced to a background singer. His singing, his chimta, and his expression. One word – awesome!

Allah Hu, by Ali Zafar and Tufail Ahmed is next one. There is this very hallucinogenic feel to the song. Is especially awesome during late night psenti sessions.

Durr by Strings and Ustad Gullu. Awesome mix, and love the extended vocals.

Rona Chor Diya by Zeb & Haniya and Javed Bashir. How can one not like this one?? Javed Bashir is brilliant, and so is Zeb.

Titiliyaan by Strings. Can’t think of a more melodious song.

Husn-e-haqiqi by Arieb Azhar. The lyrics. The performance. The crescendo!

Dastaan-e-ishq by Ali Azhar. The emotions. The choking. The flute.

Honorable mention: Saari Raat by Noori.

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Strings attached!

Music is the one string that binds us all. And the number of times this has happened is just amazing.

  1. BITS – Psenti Oasis – Us calling STAR for “Ab naa jaa”
  2. Tk calling me from another concert last year.
  3. Kshitij and others calling me yesterday from ISB during a Strings concert! (I am so disappointed at missing out)

This entire year, and the coming one, has been all about people getting married, with the rate of marriages now reaching a J shaped growth trajectory!! Seriously, its not even funny anymore. I have attended three weddings in the last month, missed three others (sorry guys), and will be attending at least three more in the next couple of months, and missing many more.

And all this while I have been wondering about how life will be once these people get married. Will we still hang out as much. Will we still have fun together.

But that one call from Kshitij made me feel I was there. In the midst of it all. Having fun. Maybe it won’t be so different after all.

Thanks guys! Keep rocking!

Khuda hota

Another lovely song from East India Company.

ना था कुछ तो खुदा था, कुछ ना होता तो खुदा होता
डुबोया मुझको होने ने, ना होता मैं तो क्या होता

Coldplay offers free music

Following the footsteps of a lot of musicians (Nine Inch Nails), the UK based band has decided to offer a free download of their latest single “Violet Hill” for free download from their website for a week. (Got this from Facebook.)

We’re very pleased to announce that Coldplay’s new single, Violet Hill, will be available as a free download exclusively from Coldplay.com for one week starting tomorrow, Tuesday April 29th, at 12.15pm UK time. This is a full week ahead of the single’s conventional paid-for digital release, on Tuesday May 6th.

Way to go guys! Good music – that too for free, legally that is. Awesome! Also, they have announced a couple of free gigs in UK. Ojas, you might be interested.

Is this another nail in the coffin of the music industry? I don’t know. But this sure is a huge step in that direction.