This Is Why Episode 4 Of Coke Studio Was The Best One So Far

By Haadia Paracha | 3 Sep, 2016

Coke Studio is synonymous with everything I love about music. Growing up with my dad’s #SundayFunday stereo playlist, I’ve acquired a palate that appreciates Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan almost as much as Bruce Springsteen’s greatest hits. There was Michael Jackson blasting on full volume in the living room every other weekend while I’d end up sleeping to Backstreet Boys at night. My affiliation with music runs deep, the familiarity with old and the new and the 90’s in music were all about pop, rap, and alternative music infusion. This episode of Coke Studio was much like that, the vows between old and new melody. Coke Studio pulled a Rohail Hyatt by producing music people would actually love instead of banking on sheer star-power or “the frills”.

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Source: Coke Studio Via: Facebook

 

With Uddi Ja, Mohsin Abbas Haider justified his original with so much soul, it was almost impossible to not feel the power of his penmanship with the qawalli undertones in his voice.

This song felt like an overdose of cotton candy.

Favorite lyrics:Haq haq labhna ae haq mann de ander, Baat ishq di wang samandar”

“You go around searching for God but God is right here in your heart, The reality of love is boundless as the sea

 

Verdict:

 

Meesha Shafi and Naeem Abbas Rufi collaborated to give us the best mehndi song for the season.

A perfect love-ballad a.k.a tappay that is not only catchy at best but does justice to both their vocal prowess

This song will not only make you appreciate Meesha Shafi (who can practically never go wrong), it will also make you anticipate music more worthy of Naeem Abbas Rufi’s mounds of talent. Perhaps something by Nusrat ji is in the works? In the meanwhile, the rest of us peasants can do a little luddi on this one.

Favorite lyric: Meesha’s “Jeeja”  crescendo, Rufi’s melodic “apne howan kol te sajda shagnaan da eh mela

“The company of near and dear ones is what perfects the happiness of this day”

 

Verdict:

 

Next up, a cross-border collaboration between Noori and Shilpa Rao brought us sheer magic. The duet was sublime with a winner indie-rock feel.

Described as particularly close to Hamza & Ali Noor’s heart, one can feel the soul preserved in this honed family treasure.

While Ali Hamza never fails to surprise with his earthy voice, Shilpa Rao brings vocal finesse to the mix, especially when hitting the lower notes. The musical composition alone deserves a standing ovation. Not to forget, the Noori mom Noor Zehra Kazim also graced the song with her string instument, sagar veena.

Favorite lyrics: “Yaar nu milegi aaj laash yaar di”

“Tonight a lover will be greeted with the corpse of his beloved” (sorry, a bit dark)

 

Verdict:

 

The final piece of this episode brought to us an Arabic infusion minus the belly dancers with another singer from across the border. 

Nirmal Roy and Jabar Abbas bring together another love ballad combining three different languages.

The music is infectious, what with multiple Persian and Arabic elements coming together. However, Nirmal carries the song all by herself. Her male counterpart is a little underwhelming and Shiraz Uppal’s direction is questionable, in that regard. While the song started off strong, it loses all that acceleration midway. Still, suffice to say, it is a mood-lifter, despite that chorus.

Favorite lyrics: “Ala baali, anta qalbi”

“You’re on my mind, you are my heart”

 

Verdict:

 

Over all, this episode had all the makings of what Coke Studio has always promised us. Strings have truly outdone themselves.

Was this the best episode of the season?

 

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