These are some of the most iconic music legends Pakistan has had that we wish would make a comeback in 2017 to bring back the memories of the good ol’ days.
1. Junoon
Junoon was dubbed as the U2 of Pakistan by The New York Times, and with nineteen albums and having sold over 30 million copies worldwide, we wonder why they ever stopped making music. Can they please start, again?
2. Hassan Jahangir
The ultimate cool guy, Hassan Jahangir gave us so much to be happy. And he needs to come back and start making music. Till then, hatto bacho.
3. Jupiters
If you’ve ever played Antakshari, then you’d know Yaaro Yehi Dosti Hai, by heart. And we have Jupiters to thank for that. Jupiters gave our music industry superstars like Ali Azmat, Jawad Ahmed, Yasir Akhtar, and Najam Sheraz.
4. Awaz
Before there was Fawad Khan, there was Awaz for women to go cray about. These men were all about the jazz, and their music was no less! The boys went on to establishing solo careers but nothing could ever match up to what Awaz was.
5. Aamir Zaki
Possibly one of the most recognized underrated artists to ever have been in Pakistan. Recognized because there aren’t a lot of people who don’t recognise the mad genius that is Aamir Zaki; underrated because they’ve probably only ever heard Mera Pyaar Tum Hi To Ho.
6. Dr Aur Billa
The people who brought us No Love and Yes Love somehow stopped making music altogether. And we keep asking why.
7. eP
It’s almost heartbreaking when people get surprised at the fact that Fawad Khan can sing. Being the second time 8 men got on stage, eP belted out lyrics like ‘soch ke saari wo baatein hum ussi pe ro diye, aaj tau ye haal hai ke zindagi hum pe hassi, giving our generation anthems to all our angst.
8. Fringe Benefits
We’ve all been caught humming Tanhaai mein chain na aaye, aur dil ghabraye’ at some points in our lives (or is it just me?)
9. Call
If we ever got close to a mainstream heavy hard rock band in Pakistan, this was it. Call spoke to the restless youth with their album Jilawatan. Speaking about exile, their kismet and wujood, it was as relatable as it got for those who had had enough.
10. Qayaas
We see Umair Jaswal in Coke Studio belting out those notes that no one else can hit, but his real darkness lay in Qayaas. The band, which unfortunately broke up, came out of nowhere and took over the underground scene of the country. If you didn’t listen to Qayaas you just didn’t qualify to be cool enough.
11. Sahil
Where did these guys go after making that one amazing song, Dil Chahay? Also cute.
12. Mizraab
The man with the magic fingers, Faraz Anwer, brought progressive rock to Pakistan for the first time. While Faraz Anwer never stopped making music Mizraab, unfortunately, disbanded.
13. Irtaash
One more from the Jaswal clan, this Islamabadi band provided good soul rock music, something that was lacking in Pakistan, up until they came along. And then, after Kala Safaid Aasman, they broke up too early, yaar, too early.
14. Vital Signs
Our lives turned around when Junaid Jamshed passed away; he was such a deeply rooted part of growing up for us that losing him felt like we lost a part of ourselves. And if there is one thing we’d want to bring back in 2017, it’s Junaid Jamshed and his presence in Vital Signs. Thank you for the memories, sir.
Who would you like to see making a comeback in 2017?