Music in retrograde: Our favourite cover songs of 2021

Looking back at some of the most forward renditions of the year.

KARACHI:

2021 was the year of new musicians taking centre stage as veterans showed the way. Many like Taha G brought their A-game to live shows that finally kicked off after several halts because of the pandemic. Everyone grooved to Hassan Raheem’s Joona while Natasha Noorani’s Choro sprinkled life over a dark and commercialised world. Danish Roomi also made room in our hearts with his Iraday while many of our established performers shined too.

Ali Suhail released White Flag and Noori went back in time with a music video for Bol. Meesha Shafi’s Hot Mango Chutney Sauce became all the rage and Abdullah Siddiqui, Aima Baig made us stop, and think with Be Myself. Asim Azhar, with his revamped live band and Bilal Maqsood’s help, had quite a few successful concerts too and Faraz Anwar teased his upcoming music ensemble, Tale of the Lunatics.

But while it’s great to see so much original music finally churning out and being appreciated in Pakistan, 2021 also brought with itself its fair share of memorable covers and one of them even nabbed a Grammy nod. Here’s a lowdown of the five best renditions we heard this year without any branded show forcing them down our throats.

‘Mohabbat’ – Arooj Aftab

This year saw Arooj Aftab take the world by storm with the release of her third album Vulture Prince which features her beautiful take on Hafeez Hoshiarpuri’s ghazal, Mohabbat.

Initially rendered by the likes of Mehdi Hasan and Farida Khanum, Aftab’s version of the song is quite dissimilar to its predecessors but keeps the vigour alive. Its minimalistic instrumentation and subtle brass sections remind one of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s collaboration with Michael Brookes, Night Song. The harp blends in seamlessly with the acoustic strumming pattern, almost sounding like a sitar in places, creating a melancholic vibe. Aftab resorts to singing only three couplets of the nine written by Hoshiarpuri but does so with precision, heart and soul. It is a rendition that might not please a purist ghazal fan but stands on a merit of its own.

Aftab’s Mohabbat first gained more popularity after landing on former US President Barack Obama’s summer playlist of 2021, following which, Aftab nabbed Grammy nominations in the categories of Best New Artist and Best Global Music Performance, the former being a first for any singer of Pakistani origin.

‘Dil Jalane Ki Baat’ – Atif Aslam

After mesmerising listeners with soulful renditions of devotional offerings like Wohi Khuda Hai and Mustafa Jaan-e-Rehmat, this year, Atif Aslam tried his hand at Noor Jehan’s Aashiyane Ki Baat and took the trophy for providing the perfect example of a cover done right.

Aslam’s Dil Jalane Ki Baat fuses South Asian Classical elements with western music, courtesy of Saad Sultan, who’s created a trance of sorts to offer us with a taste of two worlds. Released by SufiScore, the song is backed by Aslam’s soft vocals, making his interpretation of the song much sadder than the original without bringing many changes to how it is sung. Aslam also hits all the right notes, impeccably crooning the track using his signature vocal belting.

‘Paharon Ki Qasam’ – Ali Zafar

After becoming an instant hit among residents and tourists up north, Paharon Ki Kasam gained new life following Ali Sadpara’s demise in the form of Ali Zafar’s rendition. Originally sung by Kamal Mahsud, Tum Chalay Aao Paharon Ki Kasam (Come back for the sake of the mountains), assembled the late mountaineer’s journey into phrases that hauntingly delivered everything he longed for while expressing the grief and guilt of those that longed for him.

Zafar reenvisioned the song with a modern sound while retaining its core elements. His version allows the flute and rabab to create an eerie mountain atmosphere with the signature Pashto groove being brought to life using electronic percussive elements.

The video accompanying the song is also heartwarming, featuring glimpses of Sadpara from the various expeditions he went on. While some accused the Channo hitmaker of profiting from the climber’s death, others appreciated his efforts to “sing for an unsung hero.” Even Mahsud’s son threw his weight behind Zafar for using his father’s song as a vessel to reach and celebrate Sadpara.

‘Woh Kaun Thi’ – Kashmir

 

 

 

 

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Kashmir have proved time and again that they really know how to make any song their own. Be it their infamous rendition of Aamir Zaki’s Mera Pyaar or EP’s Waqt, the band has been making great covers for years now. Their recent, an acoustic take on the Vital Sign’s classic Woh Kaun Thi, is another that struck a chord with listeners instantly.

Bilal Ali’s soothing voice leads with a charm that is chiseled further by the band’s minimalistic percussion work which is fun and goes with the vibe. The guitar strums beautiful open chords while the bass grooves lurk behind. The rendition doesn’t take away much from the original but definitely adds a dose of fresh, youthful energy that is inspiring.

‘Manike Mage Hithe’ – Natasha Baig

 

 

 

 

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Natasha Baig is no stranger to the realm of cover songs either. Known to excel at singing in various languages and of different folklore from around the region, the Hunzai singer recently rendered a version of Yohani’s Manike Mage Hithe, a Sri Lankan Sinhala-language song by Satheeshan Rathnayaka. Baig rendered the track after sharing how she fell in love with its melody.

Effortlessly crooning the same with a ukulele in her hand, Baig’s rendition is on point, courtesy of her commendable pronunciation and enunciation. While she plays a simple three-chord structure on the instrument, the heavy timbre of her vocal tone also adds a very raw and authentic feel to the song previously made famous in Yohani’s featherweight voice.

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