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Pakistani music television series, Coke Studio took music to unparalleled heights and ruled all the charts worldwide. The programme focussed on the fusion of the diverse musical influences in Pakistan and included all types of music such as classical, bhangra, qawwali, folk, sufi, hip-hop, rock, pop music and contemporary. Pakistan based scribe, Urooj, tells us about the cultural revival in that country. Her column, Pakistan Post, will appear every Tuesday, beginning this week, exclusively in Different Truths.
At a time when the music scene in Pakistan was breathing its last, the Coca Cola Company introduced Coke Studio, in 2008.
Pakistani music television series, Coke Studio took music to unparalleled heights and ruled all the charts, not just in this country, but also worldwide. The program focussed on the fusion of the diverse musical influences in Pakistan and included all types of music such as classical, bhangra, qawwali, folk, sufi, hiphop, rock, pop music and contemporary.
The show offers an amazing platform for not only renowned but also upcoming artists of different genres to catch the lime light and collaborate musically in live studio recording studios.
The musical journey first show was premiered on June 8, 2008, under production of Rohail Hyatt.
Now, it is produced by the Pakistani band Strings. Since its inception, amazing songs have been rendered, but here are some of the most popular songs of Coke Studio that have ruled millions of hearts.
Under the supervision of producer Rohail Hyatt, Coke Studio produced music that made its mark internationally and artists like Meesha Shafi, Arif Lohar, Zeb and Haniya, Saaen Zahoor and Javed Bashir became household names in Pakistan and across the border. The hype of this unique sound in a Bollywood musicdriven Indian market inspired a collaboration of Coca Cola India and MTV India, resulting in the birth of Coke Studio @ MTV (CS @ MTV).
“In no time, Coke Studio Pakistan had taken over the Indian market,” Wasim Basir, the director of integrated marketing communications at Coca Cola India tells The Express Tribune. “It’s something that we [CS@MTV] always look up to.”
He adds, “We had conducted research, in 2010, which revealed that 25% of all Google searches in India were for Coke Studio Pakistan – this was amazing!”
“I picked up the phone and called Rohail Hyatt, to get his blessings before starting our own Coke Studio,” says Swamy. “Rohail is a genius, but no producer in India would ever dedicate themselves to one project with so many opportunities present.”
Coke Studio Pakistan has successfully produced eight seasons and the 9th is on the way. A few months after Coke Studio 8 drew to a close, rumours were rife that producers Strings were mulling a format similar to that of the show’s Indian counterpart — Coke Studio @ MTV.Weeks later, multiple sources confirmed that the show’s ninth edition would in fact be helmed by not one but six different producers, with Strings likely to assume the role of mentors. Production for the upcoming season has wrapped up only recently and it was only a matter of time before the lineup was revealed. According to sources close to The Express Tribune, Coke Studio 9 is expected to feature a host of Pakistani musicians, offering a nice mix of both the old and the new. With over 30 artists in the show this year, one can easily say that the upcoming season will be Coke Studio’s grandest outing by far.
Here are the links of few famous tracks that ruled the hearts of the peoples in Pakistan and India.
“Rang Laaga by Sajjad Ali and Sanam Marvi”
“Jogi de naal by Fariha Perveiz and Muazzam Ali Khan”
“Taajdaare Haram by Atif Aslam”
“Sammi Meri Waar by Umair Jaswal & Quratulain Balouch”
“Daanah Pah Daanah & Dama Dam Mast Kalander by Akhtar Chanal Zahri & Komal Rizvi”
©Urooj Murtaza
Pix sourced by author from Net.
