Adil Najam
Let me repeat something I wrote last year: Rohail Hyatt’s Coke Studio is one of the best things that has happened to Pakistan music in a long time. Needless to say, I remain a big fan. Arieb Azhar’s Husn-i-Haqiqi is something that still mesmerizes me every time I listen to it: and I listen to it every time I can. The big hit from this year’s (Season 3) Coke Studio is Arif Lohar’s (with Meesha Shafi) singing Jugni: “Alif Allah Chambay di Booti“
This is an absolutely captivating song from Coke Studio. In many ways this may be the ultimate Coke Studio song. Like so many other Coke Studio productions, but maybe more than most others this song would just not have happened this way were it not for Rohail Hyatt and Coke Studio. The fusion is not just in the instrumentation, the composition and the set, it is in every sound and every placement of emphasis of the song. It remains Arif Lohar’s song to its core, but it would just not have been the same without Meesha Shafi. For all of this one has to thank Arif, Meesha, and of course Rohail.
But in some ways, we must also thank – and remember – Alam Lohar with this song. I have been meaning to write about Alam Lohar for a long time (and let me say, that I still owe him that post). In essence, Alam Lohar was the ultimate showman. A giant in a generation of great folk artists (here, here, here). And the Jugni was one of his signature songs.
I must confess that I have never ever heard anyone sing the Jungni without Alam Lohar’s (Arif’s father, for those who may bot have guessed) sound track playing at the back of my head. For those who are unfamiliar with the great showmanship of that soundtrack, here is a dusty glimpse. The quality is not that good – one just wonders what Alam Lohar could have done in Coke Studio! – but the mastery is all too evident.
If Alam Lohar was alive today, I am sure he would agree that his son has done him proud!
I have become lifelong fan of Arif Lohar after this performance. I looked for his previous work completely loved everything he did in last 20 years. He has been amazing with Jugni, “Ek Phul”, “Naam Moula Naam” and others.
It is interesting to compare the simplicity of Alam Lohar’s clip with this new one produced with the help of all the modern music production technology. I think Lohar senior still has an upper hand.
Excellent. Although I wish it had been Arif Lohar alone maybe with only the chorus.
That was a Fantastic episode and I loved it. The chorus made it more lovely to listen and Hats off to Arif Lohar’s singing. Fabulous.
Ver nice but
I thought Ali zafar and Tufail ahmed sung the same song better than Arif and Meesha.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BwlKTWjAOk
I really like Meesha. she has a very strong and powerful voice but on occasions she sounds like a man :-)
I belong to old generation and I still prefer Alam Lohar. His ChamTA music perfectly accompanies the song and his simple body movement conveys the message of the words.
Both Arif and Alam are true representative of real Punjabi culture,both have excellent command on”Sur ,Taal” (vocal cord/rythem)which mostly is missing in all our modern super star singers.
Indian singers rightly crticise them, but its all commercialization so “sub Chalta hai.”
I was wondering why I was feeling uncomfortable and I think AHsn explained it well. With both Arif and Alam Lohar it is clear that they are ‘into’ the words and they are feeling what they are saying. With the girl in the new video it seems she is enjoying the music but not feeling the words. And the less the singer feels the words the less the words do for me.
I love both versions, but I have been repeat playing the old one for the last one hour now.
Thanks for posting both.
Love the song.
But I also think that Arieb’s song yesterday was tops.
Nice selection. The future of music in Pakistan is secure. Actually there is some great music happening in Pakistan today. And Coke Studio is great.
simply saying coke studio rocks…listening to the musical compositions you can say that there is a genius behind all this…my personal favourite is noori’s “saari raat jaaga” from the 2nd season. simply amazing!
My favorite :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ra5nTlty6CM&feature=PlayList&p=8FB626E96D11F6B8&playnext_from=PL&index=7&playnext=1
All the songs in the first episode were awesome but Bibi sanam and Jugni by Arif & Meesha is rocking ………….. what a blend of drums, guitars, ……….. all praise to Rohael …….. Im listening it all day
Very impressive – while the simplicity of Alam Lohar is beautiful and nostalgia-inducing, the new sound from his son and others is remarkably lush. Sometimes modernity adds a new dimension. My test, listen to the audio without the video, really works well for both these songs.
can someone translate this beautiful naat
Amazing. I think Coke Studio is doing a tremendous job for Pakistan music.
I have been enjoying both videos. Had never heard the father before, now I know where Arif Lohar gets his magic from.
Coke Studio and its ‘Jugni’ epitomize the culture cancer afflicting the youth of Pakistan. Take the name of the Almighty and His Messenger in vain; take Islam to the discotheque; and make the ‘Niswaan–e Islam’ gyrate and make sexy eyes in public to infiltrate and beguile the soul, mind and psyche of the nation – a far more powerful weapon to enslave a people than any armed invasion.
Haram prevails in Pakistan.
Yes Dr. Haq, haram prevails in Pakistan, haram like the Taliban and the Najdi biddat called Wahabism espoused by haram mongers like the JI… the temptation to add an “i” after haram is overwhelming, but this unfortunately is a family-oriented forum and one must rein oneself in…
Folk musicians have been taking God’s name (and the Prophet’s, and Ali’s, and the saints’ ) in vain for centuries, and long may they prosper… also Coke Studio isn’t Bolywood (thank God for that) so the only disco element will be Aunty Disco Project’s act…
The youth’s penchant for beards and burqas and Farhat Hashmis and Zakir Naiks is the real “culture cancer” they are afflicted with… talk about a mid-faith crisis: after centuries of being Muslim, suddenly we aren’t Muslim enough…
Someone should email the “Niswaan-e-Islam” comment to Meesha Shafi… she will get a kick out of it for sure… if only she really could “infiltrate and beguile the soul, mind and psyche of the nation,” our country would be a happier place than it is…
Wonderful selections, both, but this version from an earlier Coke Studio is also worth listening, but very different treatment http://bit.ly/aG019H
Mubarakbad. You do as proud, as usual.
I noticed you have also aded the “ATP 4 Years Ago” button on the middle column. I always look at these every day because it is fun to travel back to what we were talking about 1, 2, 3, 4 years ago… sometimes it looks like it was a totally different world then!
Beutiful music. I do not understand all the words because I do not speak Punjabi, but the sound captures you.
@Nostalgic,
nice, funny response.
Good music!
I also liked the Nostalgic response.
If this was played in the discotheque I would danced to it all night long. If she (the babe) runs(which they normally do) to join me, she would learn that my perfect moves are because of my eastern influence.
Unfortunately some doctors are not exposed to the real world. What a pity.
Thank you Allah for giving us an opportunity to loose extra
calories by dancing.
@Dr. Haq
Aapkay comments say aankhon ko thandak aur klaeejay ko sakoon mila
Thanks God after centuries, our ummah discovered the fine methods of inquisition that only Christian history was proud off for so many years. We are proud of not only inventing various ingenious ways of defining who is muslim and who is not but also to send the other haramis to the place they belong i.e either jahannum or to a political asylum to the place of kaana dajjal that is the western world. Music, respect and self and others, common sense and making life good for others have no place in the land of the pure. They are tools of Shaitan and every good Muslim should try to save him and his family from it…Ameen.
Wow Nihari, you dropped the H-bomb (no, H is not for hydrogen) on a family forum… tip of the hat in your direction, Sir (or Ma’am)…
I think a change of name for our country is in order: The Thoroughly Unislamic Republic of Pakistan… you see, we are a Kaafir-majority country… Ahmadis are de jurre non-Muslim, Shias de facto, there are whispers in pious Saudi-funded circles about Brelvis and Sufis, and the less said about Sindhis, liberals, leftists, Jiyalas and Meesha Shafi (that fine Dukhtar-e-Islam gone astray) the better… I think together all of us Infidels are a majority still, the Saudi-funded mid-faith crisis among the Fidels (not Castro, fidels as in the opposite of infidel) notwithstanding…
Can I apply for a liquor permit now?
yaar Nostalgic & Nihari kamal ka response hai. parh kar maaza agaya.
lekin aik durkhuwast mein karoon ga wo ye kay, kuch Adab o Aadab ko bhi malhooz rakhnay chaheye.
For the first minute or so, I thought it was going to be the standard Arif Lohar performance, but the mood, the rhythm and everything changes the moment the girl in bright lipstick (Meesha?) and the girls in the background join in with the chorus: Jugni ji. Te eh vay Allah waliyan di, te eh vay Nabi Pak di. Jugni ji…
It’s a delightful song and wonderful performance.
Sidhas, Adab O Adaab are swiftly relegated to the backburner when Dukhtaran-e-Islam gyrate before the eyes and infiltrate and beguile the soul, mind and psyche…
It is a Yahoodi conspiracy, I tell you… Gumby the drummer and Zoe Viccaji, one of the backing vocalists are both Christian, and Jaffer Zaidi the keyboard player is Shia… coincidence? No! Put two and two together! Also Zaidi is the son of Nayyara Noor, known to gyrate all over the stage in her day… I repeat, all this is no coincidence…
I suggest we leave religion alone… and let it stay pure…as defined, practised and instructed by the Holy Prophet (saws)…because Deen is only as much as can be traced back to him (saws). Let’s not adulterate the pristine purity of Islam with our personal interpretations, interpolations, precepts and practices. There is no music, no singing and no female performers.
We also tend to wrongly associate Sufis with music. The real Sufis never played or listened to music. Even the Samaa’ in Sufi assemblies was governed by strict principles, some of them being: no music, no singing, no female performer, the recitation to comprise decent/ reverential poetry and be delivered by an adult, male, practising Sufi.
Finally I got the translation:
http://salvi.newsvine.com/_news/2010/06/10/4491395-coke-studio
Alif allah chambay di booti, tey meray murshid mann vich lai hoo
My master has planted the fragrant seed of love in my heart
Ho nafi uss baat da paani dey kay
Which flourished with modesty, piety and acceptance of his existence
Har ragaay harjai hoo
My God is present in every throbbing pulse
Ho joog joog jeevay mera murshid sohna
My spiritual guide is ever-present
Hathay jissay booti lai ho
The one who blew life into me
(chorus # 1)
Pir meraya jugni ji
I have the spirit of my guide
Ae way allah waliyan di jugni ji
The spirit of all the messengers who brought His message to this Earth
Ae way nabbi pak di jugni ji
The spirit of Holy Prophet
Ae way maula ali wali jugni ji
The spirit of Ali and his followers
Ae way meray pir di jugni ji
The spirit of my saint
Ae way saaray sabaz di jugni ji
The spirit of all his words
Dum gutkoon, dum gutkoon, dum gutkoon, dum gutkun… karay Saeein
Everytime I think of you God, my heart flutters
Parhay tay kalma nabi da parhay saeein pir merya
So recite the kalma whenever I think of God
(chrous #1 repeat)
Jugni taar khaeein vich thaal
O my creation, share whatever you have
Chad duniya dey janjaal
Remove yourself from worldly concerns
Kuch nai nibna bandiya naal
There is nothing that you can get from other human beings that you can take to the after-life
(repeat)
Rakhi saabat sidh amaal
Just keep your actions and intentions pure
(chorus # 1 repeat)
Jugni dig payee vich roi
So absorbed was the creation that she stumbled into a ditch
Othay ro ro kamli hoi
There she wailed relentlessly
Oddi vaath naye lainda koi
But there was no one who enquired about her
(repeat)
Tey kalmay binna nai mildi toi
Remember, there is no salvation for anyone without remembering your creator
(chorus #1 repeat)
(chorus # 2)
Ho wanga charha lo kuriyon
Put on your bangles, girls
Meray daata dey darbaar diyan
Those that you get at your Master’s shrine
(chorus # 2 repeat)
Ho naa kar teeya khair piyari
Daughter, don’t be proud of your youth
Maan daindiya galaryaan
Your mother scoffs and scolds you
Din din talhi juwani jaandi
That with each passing day, your youth slips by
Joon sohna puthia lariyaan
Even gold when put in the furnance moulds itself, there is absolutely no permanence
Aurat marad, shehzaday sohney
Women, men are so beautiful
O moti, O laa lariyaan
Like pearls, like gems
Sir da sarfa kar naa jairey
Those who are not self-absorbed
Peen prem pya lariyan
They are the ones who truly love the humanity
O daatay day darbaan chaa akho
Whenever you visit the darbar of any saint
Pawan khair sawa lariyan
God fulfils all your wishes and showers you with his blessings
(chorus # 2 repeat)
O wanga charha lo kuriyon meray daata tey darbar diyan
Put on your bangles, girls … Those that you get at your Master’s shrines
O wangha charha lo kuriyon meray daata tey darbar diyan
Put on your bangles, girls … Those that you get at your Master’s shrines
(chorus # 2 repeat)
(chorus # 1 repeat)
Jugni ji
Jugni ji
Jugni ji…
This is awesomeness par excellence. :-)
I came across this only yesterday and have been listening to this over and over. Wonderful work Coke Studio team… especially the lead Arif Lohar and Meesha Shafi.
Ho mera jugni kandi aye
Alam Lohar, sucha lohar aye
Chota Lohar, bara “cute” aye
Nannay dey yaad dilanda aye
Alif milLay tae noon aye
Ho mera jugni kandi aye
Ho mera jugni kandi aye
Translation for Punjabi lovers:
Ho mera jugni kandi aye
Alam Lohar is true ironsmith
Young Lohar is very cute
Reminds me of “Nana”
And if with “Alif”, then is “Noon”
Ho mera jugni kandi aye
Ho mera jugni kandi aye
Really, Arif Lohar has a very cute and a shy smile. See for yourself.
The season had started so well, specially with this song. But Coke Studio has been going down ever since. Each episode now is worse than before, including the new song by Arif Lohgar this week which was quote bad and an insult to Alam Lohar’s memory. I think now Rohail is overdoing his ‘fusion’ thing.
i love panjabi song
I was born and bred in the UK. My mother is English and Father from Pakistan. One of the few things he did for me was to make sure I spoke Punjabi and Urdu like a native. Although on a personal level I don’t agree with all the lyrics in the song but the combination of traditional and modern instuments is one of the best I have seen. I have a few comments for some of the earlier posters.
Dr. Azra .S .Haq
I wouldn,t call it gyrating, it was just a bit of bopping.
ShahidnUSA
I’m guessing you’re late teens early twenties on a student visa
Nostalgic
” It is a Yahoodi conspiracy, I tell you… Gumby the drummer and Zoe Viccaji, one of the backing vocalists are both Christian, and Jaffer Zaidi the keyboard player is Shia… coincidence? No! Put two and two together! Also Zaidi is the son of Nayyara Noor, known to gyrate all over the stage in her day ”
I don’t think you should point out individuals and their religious persuasions. Yahoodi conspiracy is a term used by us to paste over our own shortcomings. We don’t need Yahoodi conspiracy we are doing quite well ourselves.