INSTEP Magzine

The title track of drama serial of the same name, this song marked the first collaboration between veteran pop queen Hadiqa Kiani and superstar of Pakistani music Atif Aslam. Musically, it is a definite pop song but one with a lot of character that comes from instruments like morbid flute and subtle acoustic guitar. Lyrically, the song is desperate at times, hopeful at others and plays with a variety of moods as the wordplay goes, “Meray saaye ki tarah/Tum tou roh gi har pal mein/Meray pass pass”. Hadiqa Kiani is on top of her game on this number and surprisingly so is Atif. A lovely ballad, it gets two thumps up and should definitely be downloaded.

2. ‘Shiddat’
Waqar Ali

Waqar Ali is ace composer, especially for soundtracks of television plays. This song is one of his best numbers. One of the most underrated singers of our times, Waqar Ali shines on vocals in this slightly filmi-pop ditty. This is an addictive song, one that is in entity a love song but it builds itself up, hits a crescendo and slowly comes back. ‘Shiddat’ refers to an obsessive love and its repercussions, good and bad. Lyrically its heartbreaking as the song goes, “Apney apney hisay ka sab ko pyar milta hai/Kyun phir aaj deewana khali hath phirta hai/Jeeta hai na marta hai/Shiddat-e-mohabbat se.” Waqar Ali sings quite like his brother Sajjad Ali and the resemblance between the two is uncanny. This song was never released on record but is available online for download so do check it out!


3. ‘Like a Rolling Stone’ Bob Dylan Ranked by Rolling Stone Magazine in 2004 as “the greatest song of all times”, ‘Like a Rolling Stone’ is one of Bob Dylan’s biggest hits to date. Off the album, Highway 61 Revisited, it is a groundbreaking song in many ways. The 1965 release is a six-minute song, something that was uncommon back in the ‘60s. Poetic in wordplay as the song goes, “How does it feel/How does it feel/To be on your own/With no direction home/Like a complete unknown/Like a rolling stone?” extremely melodic in composition and a fusion of various style of music with a plethora of instruments forming the musical structure like a flirtatious organ, dominant drums and eclectic guitars, it remains a classic to date. Even today if the lyrics were about two individuals or world happening in general but critics of the time state that the album was a statement towards the political scenario of the time when American troops were being sent to Vietnam. Other artistes who have covered this particular single include Jimi Hendrix, The Rolling Stones and Neil Young.

4. ‘All That She Wants’ Ace of Base The nineties was the era of great pop moments. ‘All That She Wants’ is amongst those moments. Initially titled ‘Mr Ace’ the song was later names ‘All That She Wants’ and was Ace of Base’s claim to international fame. Off their 1992 album, Happy Nation, the song is a true blend of dance and pop. Musically a dark meaty sound reminiscent of Depeche Mode, ‘All That She Wants’ became the trademark sound of this Swedish band. Linn Berggren sings in a sultry, confident demeanour as the track goes, “When she woke up late in the morning/Light and the day had just begun/She opened up her eyes and thought/O’ what a morning/It’s not a day for work/It’s a day for catching tan/Just laying on the beach and having fun/She’s going to get you” giving the tune an addictive quality that exists even today.
Ace of Base comprises of siblings Jenny Berggren, Jonas Berggren and Linn Berggren along with member Ulf Ekberg. After reaching international fame with ‘All That She Wants’, the band quickly produced and released Happy Nation after which they went onto release three more studio albums and two compilation albums. Contrary to popular belief that the band has called it quits, they are still very much alive and together. In 2007, it was stated by the band’s manager that Ace of Base are back in the studio and will be out with a new album in 2008. But until then, check out this fine pop moment.