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album profile
The original pop wonder boy returns!
Move over Ali Zafar and Atif Aslam, the original blue eyed
boy of pop is back and he has become quite a man. Ali Haider's
Jaanay Do is a mature pop album
By Maheen Sabeeh
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Artist:
Ali Haider
Album:
Jaanay Do***1/2
With over 12 albums to his credit and a career spun over two decades,
pop man Ali Haider has done quite a lot in his career, literally.
But the last few years have seen him struggle. The odds were stacked
up as high as they go. Ali's last few albums - from Jadu to Tera Naam
Liya To - didn't manage to make a huge mark. They didn't create the
musical magic and hence fanfare - the kind that was bestowed by fans
and critics alike on Ali's earlier works like Dastaan, Qarar and the
brilliant Sandesa. The most consistent pop act in the country (after
Sajjad Ali) was suddenly having a hard time creating joyful pop moments
that have been his forte.
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Amidst all this, Atif Aslam and Ali Zafar rose. They rose and flew
high, giving every musician in the country a run for their money.
With Jaanay Do, not only is Ali Haider back in the music game but
he's back with his biggest bang in years. And here's why...
A massive comeback
Even though Jaanay Do doesn't match the across the board appeal of
Sandesa - Ali's finest pop achievement to date - but Jaanay Do works
because it is a startling achievement for an aging pop star, who stretches
his talent to optimum effect. Ali not only produces this album but
also writes melodies and a major chunk of the lyrics. What comes through
is slightly dark, multi-layered music with dramatic maturity.
Mostly, these tracks are sad love ditties, some of breakup, some of
heartache, loneliness and so forth. And even so, this isn't complex
wordplay but very straightforward in the lyrics area, detailing relationships
that may or may not survive.
It's a dominant factor in most numbers. From the soft title track
'Jaanay Do' where Ali croons, "Aana Jaana Tera/Lagta Hai Fasana
Tha/Hum Se Milna Baatein Karna Bahana Tha" to the regal and beautiful
'Sandul' where Ali sings with fabulous vocal command: "Basti
Ka Woh Rasta Bhulay/Apnay Bhi Anjaane Log/".
The heartache is persistent in most tracks. It continues with the
beautiful 'Hamesha'. With its flirtatious bass and classic somber
singing by Ali, 'Hamesha' is one of the album's outstanding tracks.
With its slightly strange and pessimistic wordplay that goes, "Jitna
Dard Hai Utna Chain Bhi/Jalney Mein Kitna Maza/Ek Aas Mein Kitni/Pyaas
Hai/Kahan Chuphi Hai Wafa", it is just a lovely ballad. Another
version of this track comes in the form of 'Hamesha chilled mix' but
that works too, with the difference that of one singular persistent
'chill beat'.
Rhythmic numbers come through with 'Jub Kabhi', which reminds one
of Ali Haider from his Jadu days but with a more clear understanding
of the genre. With a beat comes a bevy of instruments, creating highly
entertaining pop moments as Ali sings almost nonchalantly, "Manzil
Kahan/Hum Ajnabi/Ya Razadan/".
The foot-tapping melodies continue with 'Dosti' which is a simple
modern pop/rock ditty. It is the most optimistic number on the album.
On a similar musical note one finds 'Jhoote Nain' where Ali sings
emotively: "Main Nay Tujhe Itna Kahan Tha/Aaja Yahan" but
the club music here is just average. Musically, it's much too flashy
with a lot of beats changing gears much too quickly. But vocal wise,
it sees Ali experimenting.
And then comes the funky 'Har Sada' that observes another look at
love, as Ali goes, 'Pyar Ke Liya/Pyar Chahiye''. In other words, it
is a tale of a lonely heart.
Rejuvenating the old
First featured on Sandesa, the new version of 'Agar Pyar' surprisingly
works. Where the original was deeply haunting, this version of 'Agar
Pyar' is more soft, delicate and extended.
'Agar Pyar' has been one of Ali's best tracks and even with the new
version it remains the same. As the track goes, "Agar Pyar Kabhi
Phir Huwa/Jaan Lo Tum Se Hoga/" it's a love song but it's much
more desperate than it ever has been and that is essentially because
of how Ali sings. And it must be said that guitars by Amman really
shine here, with riffs playing softly in the background.
'Purani Jeans' original was just so much fun. It was one of those
songs that really defined the rise of a pop star, of the inevitable
change, of freedom and power of music. It was also a reflection of
how boys will always be boys... somehow! Ali Haider released a remix
many years later but that version didn't have that 'grabbing' quality.
But as they say, third time's a charm. And that's exactly what has
happened here. The rock007 version of 'Purani Jeans' is superb. It's
grittier in sound, a fun rock fiasco but it manages to retain the
essence of 'Purani Jeans Aur Guitar'.
Faraz Anwar deserves applause here for re-creating this wonderfully
melodic track without being ambitious about his signature riffs.
The final re-done song comes in the form of 'Qarar', which is another
one of Ali's classic hits. The original was soft with a mélange
of keyboards magic that was quite delightful, and heartbreaking. This
one's fast and furious. Most importantly, it just doesn't match 'Qarar'
- the original.
Pop matters
Some problems do arise, however. The new version of 'Qarar' passes
one by rather sadly and you would just rather listen to the original.
The music is stretched a bit too thin on numbers like 'Jhoote Nain'
and 'Yaron Ne Kaha' with its overt ghazal-meets-modern pop feel.
That said these tracks do not take the album down. Because in the
end, Jaanay Do is a cohesive album, which doesn't have one foot in
hip hop, one in eastern classical and a third in rock. It only 'touches'
various styles and varied instrumentations, even if it doesn't experiment
too much.
In some ways, it reminds one of Vital Signs' Hum Tum, perhaps because
Rohail Hyatt plays an integral part in this album by mixing and mastering
almost all songs. At the same time, Jaanay Do has a strong character
of its own minus the psychedelic nature of Hum Tum.
Whether Jaanay Do fares well in the local music scene will depend
on its pop virtues, which are present throughout the album.
The production quality here is fabulous, crisp, tight and extremely
sharp. Old Ali Haider fans will find the same musical charm that has
been synonymous with Ali's first few albums.
Finally! Along with some loveliest ballads of his career such as 'Jaanay
Do, 'Hamesha' and 'Agar Pyar', one also finds some clear, impassioned
singing that was last visible on the track 'Rahan', which was a collaborative
effort between Ali Haider and the marvelous duo of Rushk.
With Jaanay Do, it is clear that the charm of the first pop wonder
boy of Pakistan isn't over just yet! –
Jaanay Do is out in stores now!
*YUCK
**WHATEVER
***GOOD
****SUPER
*****AWESOM |
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