You can take the girl out of the XXX, but you can’t take the XXX out of the girl. Well, unless the girl in question is Jenny from the block, which Ayyan is not. And someone should have told her that… among a myriad of other basic things.
Since it’s never too late to learn from one’s mistakes lest you, God forbid, repeat them, we are listing down what you shouldn’t have done. And yes, YOU, Ayyan, are being addressed directly because all those who I speak for were involuntarily made a part of You and I.
Also, the XXX above is not a typo. It’s a painfully organic pun. You are a beautiful woman and you know that. With enough make-up, Photoshop and clothes, which are inversely proportional to layers of foundation on your face, we solemnly agree. Your stylist gets a discount at the second-hand fur and synthetic gowns stall at Sunday bazaar, so that you can dress up and lip sync to Lady Gaga’s songs in front of the mirror. We didn’t want to know that.
Pouting incessantly, hiking up your skirt and asking a random guy from television crime-show re-enactments to rap incoherently do not qualify for a music video. Especially, when the ‘music’ part of it is preposterous.
There is concept art and then, there is a fashion shoot for hair removal cream. The music video wasn’t supposed to be a fashion shoot. But shoot me. You blur the line between the two so freely that we cannot find it in our hearts to forgive you. And the lack of music and talent are the cherry on top.
Many singers work on the composition, quality of lyrics and, most importantly, learn how to sing when launching a song. You are not most people. In fact, the hair extensions, which you seem to have extracted after murdering a herd of lions or a coven of Latino maids in Beverly Hills, make us feel that you aren’t a model... you are a m()d3l.
Last, but quite obviously the least, are the song’s lyrics or lack thereof. From what I could decipher, the song (?) starts off with a man questioning the meaning of life and concludes with your supermodel self legitimising Darwin’s theory of evolution. And if I may ask, who and where is the ‘you’ in You and I?
The ‘music’ video, for the lack of a better word, is the reason why stereotypes about models being seen and not heard were invented. In this particular case, no one should endure the sight either.
Dear Ayyan,
Why You do this?
Sincerely,
I
The writer is the head of the Creative department at The Express Tribune and writes about fashion and popular culture.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 7th, 2014.
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COMMENTS (32)
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Thank you for writing what every one was thinking of, hopefully ayyan will read this too.
@Ali Z: I've been to couple of fashion shows and I swear when I heard this song, saw the video I was surprised cz she can't even pronounce "Orange" properly! I was there at one show it was either pakistan fashion week or karachi fashion week in PC I was a volunteer and helper for mehren syed, Ayyan was always next to us, and when these models do their trials alot of people like myself are around them, I remember she was asking for her dress and she said "oorenjh" my attention was drawn towards her so quick lol then someone corrected her she smiled and said orange. So yes I believe you! even though people here are saying oh we should support her n all, okay she is a good model but she is portraying a fake image so sorry no support here.
Don't mind the babe (or babo if you wish), but the guy is obnoxious.
I love listening to Pakistani rock bands, but this guy is pathetic at least in this video.
Someone's a little jealous methinks - the attack was too personal!
You don't like the video (I don't either) - fine; go ahead and critique it. But at least the lady in the video had the guts to shoot it and put it out there! And if that's what you consider 'XXX' rated; then you've got a lot of growing up to do.
Aayan's song might be bad in the music scene, but this piece was one of the worst things Pakistani journalism has ever produced. Please focus on being a better writer and caring less about dispensing such 'news' reports.
Aayan's song might be bad in the music scene, but this piece was one of the worst things Pakistani journalism has ever produced. Please focus on being a better write and caring less about dispensing such 'news' reports.
Worst music, horrible video. Amna Iqbal is correct. Cheap shot by model.
MUSIC= RIP :(
ET please remove this article, it's not good seriously.
"With enough make-up, Photoshop and clothes, which are inversely proportional to layers of foundation on your face, we solemnly agree. Your stylist gets a discount at the second-hand fur and synthetic gowns stall at Sunday bazaar, so that you can dress up and lip sync to Lady Gaga’s songs in front of the mirror. We didn’t want to know that."
WOW, woman you have serious issues. you cannot go personal like this on someone, even if that person is a celebrity.
Unfair criticism. A millionth copy of a genre of music videos, but no cardinal sins here. Its no different from the other such countless videos produced by...especially...the US music industry. So the UAE/Pakistanis copied? Derivative yes, but Eyes-to-Eyes no!
Ayyan, I have to agree with the author in saying, why you do this?
I know Ayaan through a friend. She cannot even speak one English sentence without a horrible accent and grammatical mistakes. I wonder how will she live by this fake image of herself she is portraying in this song
The writer seems to be jealous and holds a grudge against her....if he does not like the video and song dont listen to it. There are plenty others who do. Go for it Ayaan.
The writer of this article is obviously jealous of the singer. The writer seems to be just spewing hate and personal dislike. Please keep it to your self. This girl Ayyan rocks.
I think Ayyan could write better than you......while she's singing and modelling and laughing all the way to the bank.
not good but not bad, there is lot of pathetic stuff going out as well and its selling. people just making a fuss out of it cause she was pulling her skirts up, don't like don't see move on.
Veena Part 2?
Keep your analysis to yourself..let the beauty dance....we Pakis can't digest these things without any reason..finally she's not a Pakistani anymore..she's more western than a Pakistani..don't confuse roots with evolution!!!
@Chulbul Pandey:
This awaam deserves this.
I find the song and its video somewhat better than Mathiras joke. We shouldnt really discourage an industry which has only started developing yet.
'You can take the girl out of the XXX, but you can’t take the XXX out of the girl.' Seriously Amna? Is that the opening line you decided to run with, being a woman yourself? This whole 'article' reeks of bias against the lady. When did a national paper become a dear diary to vent your hate and jealousy? and miss, if you are forcefully trying to take a position of representing 'us', let me assure you that you are most definitely not. Please try to voice your opinions as your own and not try to include the awaam into it to try and back your own personal opinions. I being a part of the awaam actually enjoyed the song. Agreed it was not an instant hit material but a pretty darn good effort comparing it to international songs. Much better than Priyanka's 'Exotic' in MY opinion ;).
What's wrong with the video or anything for the matter of the fact ??? Why do we need to critisice everything we come across ???? Stopping bing sadist guys . She did nothing wrong in it . It was a nice video and she looked pretty init .
Priyanka chopra did a song or two in Bollywood and she is not called 'bebo', rather it is Kareena Kapoor who is nick named bebo. The writer seems to live in delusions. Also when you write a critique, one should know the finer things about the subject to be a critic. Here it seems that this is all sarcasm, no real critical points. It is a good attempt from the budding talent...new talent should be appreciated and not derided.
The girl is real pretty. Who cares what the author thinks or says about her! I like her!
A well written spontaneous reply on the behalf of Public, Yes, this is true.. Ayyan you did nothing wrong but jumped in Abyss.