INSTEP Magzine

In an era when most musicians have chosen to keep quiet about what is happening, Junaid Jamshed comes as a breath of fresh air. The man turned up at the Jang Building to show solidarity with the journalists who had been baton charged and detained by the police. He was the hot favourite that night. After all, how often do you get to hear Junaid sing the incredible 'Maula' one of Vital Signs' most underrated and thought-provoking songs? That he sang it without any music accompaniment made his rendition all the more haunting. And to see him singing 'Dil Dil Pakistan' all alone on stage without music… aah… every Vital Signs' fan out there will get the picture. The crowd sang along softly and went crazy when he was done.
Speaking to the audience, Junaid made a very poignant speech. "I loved you then, I loved you now. I was calling you towards happiness then, I am calling you towards happiness now."
He came to show solidarity with the journalists who are experiencing curbs on their freedom of expression and who risked arrest by protesting and that is something they will never forget. Though many find his new avtar rather uncomfortable, old associates like Shoaib Mansoor, who are offended by the route he chose to take, we believe let a thousand flowers bloom. So Junaid, this one goes out to you - we loved you then, and we love you now!