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Bakhtawar Bhutto Zardari remixes PPP song
Political songs in Pakistan are iconic. From Faiz Ahmed Faiz's “Hum Dekheinge” to the Muttahida Qaumi Movement's...
Bakhtawar Bhutto Zardari's last rap song, 'I Would Take the Pain Away' was a tribute to her mother. PHOTO: EPA
Political songs in Pakistan are iconic. From Faiz Ahmed Faiz’s “Hum Dekheinge” to the Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s “Saathi”, the lyrics to the songs chosen by political parties are as familiar as the politicians themselves.
For the soundtrack of the documentary Bhutto, which released in Pakistan on Friday, Benazir Bhutto’s daughter Bakhtawar teamed up with Stewart Copeland to rework the Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) iconic song “Dila Teer Bija”. Copeland is the ex-drummer for The Police.
The reworked version, approximately 10 minutes long, is a darker, thumping version than the original. It’s a remix, so it features the same familiar lyrics, ‘Jiye Bhutto’ chants and the folk beat, but it also includes Bakhtawar rapping on the song.
Bakhtawar raps about her mother “No words to describe you / There’s nobody like you / my mother’s so vital” and cites how she was an inspiration. Bakhtawar raps that her mother “taught her how to behave / how to get better grades” and how her “body still shakes” when she thinks of her mother’s death. The rap ends with the chorus of “who could have ever thought?”
The song plays in the closing credits of the documentary and minus the rap, it is a groovy, catchy song. With the rap – delivered in an unnecessarily angst-ridden manner – it is jarring and more reminiscent of a gangster rap song than a political anthem.
Bakhtawar’s first rap song about her mother, “I Would Take the Pain Away”, made headlines worldwide.
It was played on Pakistan Television and then-Information Minister Sherry Rehman told Reuters, “It is a tribute of a grieving daughter to her iconic and loving mother.”
Pakistani political parties have dozens of songs associated with them. Cassettes and CDs with the anthems of political parties sell in scores during election season, and there are hundreds of videos on YouTube available of the same.
In 2008, the Pakistan Muslim League (Q) roped in Abrarul Haq for their election campaign song. Haq reworked his “Aaja Te Beja Cycle Tay” to make it “Thappa Laga Cycle Tay”. The cycle was the election symbol for the party.
Published in the Express Tribune, June 12th, 2010.
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Paisa phek tamasha dekh!Recommend
is saba has something good to say about bhuttos.frankly,i like this new version of song too.with due respect ,its too rude of ms.saba to say that the new version is ”more reminiscent of a gangster rap song than a political anthem”.i wonder how easily our socio- political analyst and newspaper editors can become a music and art critic.Recommend
@Fawad Khan, I agree with you 110% ! Our people don’t have money to cover themselves up with some cloths, the prices of daily essentials are raised every day and I guess the people in our Govt spend them on the crazy projects like these.
God Speed !Recommend
Take this Pain away……….for good!Recommend
better have young in political arena.best job is politics to become millioner in Pakistan.that why every politician want their kids to follow his path. I see only one politician who will bring Pakistan to success is Imran khan.Recommend
i heard the song at the link provided but couldnt hear any rapping.
just a remixed version of the older song. ??Recommend
We are proud of Bakhtawar Bhutto Zardari.Recommend
And this prodigy is being groomed through resources the average Pakistani was deprived of to one day inherit the throne her elders found themselves “elected” to.
Hail Democracy.Recommend
Proud of Bakhtawar? Why? Because she has Bhutto genes?
A pathetic remix. Ruined the original song.Recommend
Why not pool in some money to encourage her to stay abroad and keep rapping. Better that than have her ravaging the country like her family!!Recommend
the problem with our nation is that we bring politics into everything.judge bakhtawar’s music on merit.dont bring politics into it.Recommend
where does it say that the government has sponsored the film or the song? Please do not rub your negativity on everything.Recommend
i second the opinion of ms.rafia noor.the subject of this article is the music of the film’bhutto’not politics.the liking or disliking 4 the song depends on our personal choice.music keeps on growing to new ideas and feelings that captures its listeners.same theory must be applied when we view bakhtawar’s remixing of the ppp song.i have read somwhere that music isnt just something we listen to anymore,its who we are.and probably that is why people who hate bhuttos judges the music of this young girl(bakhtawar bhutto)through the the prism of politics and their pre-concieved notions about bhuttos rather than on merit.Recommend
according to APP,producer and director of the film”bhuttto”,duane baughman,responding to a question in the press viewing of his film in UK ha ssaid that”he spent 3 million dollars on making this 120 minute long documentary and was provided no financial assistance by the pakistani authorities”.it must be kept in mind that mr.baughman is the owner of los angeles based yellow pad productions.furthermore,he said that”the work on the film started just ‘three weeks; after the tragic assassination of benazir bhutto”.so ,to my mind there seems no question of the film being sponsored by pakistani govt.especially when its work began when ppp was out of power and musharraf was the president.anyways ,its a must watch film,not just 4 the bhutto fans but 4 the general public as well.infact,its a good history lesson.let us accept that whatever her failings might be,benazir bhutto was an extra ordinary women who showed outstanding courage,brilliance and determination in the face of the all-powerful military establishment,terrorism,and gender discrimination.she would remain a symbol of democracy,peace and gender equality in pakistan and else where in the world for generations to come.Recommend
this called new stratgy for publicity PPP to win Next election..Recommend
Realy I aecept no replacement Benazir-BHUTTORecommend
not happy if they do politics.. not happy if they do sumthing else..
Pakistani ppl can never be satisfied.. lol..
let them live ppl…Recommend
There was no money spent by the government, this project was funded entirely by Benazir’s foreign friends. Some Bhutto-haters have to find fault with everything. Bakhtawar is just a teenager.Recommend
i completely agree wid u saher.for God’s sake,”let them(bhuttos) live”.we must set aside our prejudices and appreciate the talent of our fellow pakistanis with an open mind.let us learn to tolerate and respect each other,if we want to survive as a ‘nation’.P.S:- a good effort BAKTAWAR.i really liked the new version of ‘DILA TEER BIJA’.keep it up and good luck 4 the future.Recommend
Not happy with the dictator not happy with democrats .
@ saher says Pakistani ppl can never be satisfied
but i dont think pakistani ppl is really involve bringing any govt in or out
they always get ruled .
agree with rafia noor , just comment about the song. guess this will be betterRecommend
Oh damn ! Where is the Bhutto feat. Ludacris ! … or may be Shun Kingston … put some old geezers in that too … and not to forget some booty shaking act ! … If they put all these in the next up coming video then may be I would have a change of heart ! … lmao ! … Oh my god I am laughing so hard right now !
MTV HOST VOICE : A now we present you a video of Bhutto rappin’ on another Bhutto but guess with feat. Akon ! … oh bravo, bravo ! …
R-TARDS !Recommend
I guess people in Gaza are far more better than us, who live each day with their lives in their hands, NOT to ever bow down to the attrocities caused over them. They are people of god, better than the masses who like being ravaged day and night by the thugs. Corruption exists in the very soul of each Pakistani, and yet we blame the leaders??? Why cry when you have been awarded what you really are … As you sow, so shall you reap!Recommend
dont know much about politics, but i could pretty much guess by the political hype and the over whelming financial “contributions” that independent of their family prestige, the bhutto’s cant even manage a rap by themselves,
ps. i truly hope that the song has a touch of trance so that i would zone out sooner when the song will be drummed day and night by elections.Recommend
I am just impressed she pulled in Stewart Copeland.
Besides being one of the most talented and influential drummers in rock, he has become one of the most successful composers today, penning the music for a multitude of TV and film soundtracks.
Forget the quality of the product . . . she got to jam and record with a rock legend. I’m jealous.
And I think the haters here are too. Recommend
@the dude,i agree with you. its really good to see the young pakistani talent working with legendary artist like stewart copeland ,an iconic drummer and an excellent composer.bakhtawar bhutto did an excellent job by teaming up with copeland and producing a good quality version of the famous ppp song ”dila teer bija”.i really enjoyed the song.good luck BBZ .Recommend
**i m great admire of this family mr bhtoo is a genius leader we alwas miss him .we should be proud on this family.strong text**Recommend
m great admire of this family mr bhtoo is a genius leader we alwas miss him .we should be proud on this family I love bhtto familly Specially Z.A.BhottoRecommend
Bhotto is great Bhtto familly is great they all are great their followers are great their work is great their leader ship is great I am a gret follower and love bhtto familly.Recommend