KARACHI:
Junoon’s founder and lead guitarist Salman Ahmad’s collaborative song with Jamaican artist Ziggy Marley and Somali sister-duo Sweet Rush was premiered at the World Humanitarian Day on August 19 at an event presided by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. The song titled “If I Could Change” features Ahmad’s playback vocals and music.
“Great to be with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and watch ‘If I Could Change’ on the giant video screens in the UN general assembly hall,” Ahmad tweeted an update for his fans.
Paying tribute to the humanitarian efforts being conducted across the globe, the video features images of disaster-struck areas including the flood-affected areas of Pakistan. The song hopes for a bright future, addressing a positive change through humanitarian campaigns: “If I could change the world today. I’d turn the sky to blue from grey. Take away the hurt I see. Make sure that we all live happy.”
Other than the UN general assembly hall, the video was also scheduled to be screened at Times Square in New York. “‘If I Could Change’ featuring Ziggy Marley and Salman Ahmad will premiere in NYC Time Square digital billboard and 70 other countries,” said the official page of Sweet Rush on Twitter.
“I’m very moved by that and I’m always moved by the images of the children who are playing and smiling,” commented the Unicef Executive Director Anthony Lake right after the screening.
“I hope that the song will inspire a new generation of humanitarian workers and indeed inspire people everywhere to get involved. It’s all about the fact that we can all change our world for the better,” Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Valerie Amos said at a news conference conducted after the launch.
August 19 was declared as World Humanitarian Day by the UN General Assembly in 2008 to honour Sergio Vieira de Mello, a humanitarian worker.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 24th, 2011.
COMMENTS (9)
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Watch the video, he is barely in it :/
"Salman Ahmad: The guy who sang aayats of Quran on guitar and called Islam as 'sexy' religion"
really a lovely song!!!!! music makes u work out becux u do it on the beat.. it hepls u focus betta!!!!
Ghoom Tana, Balama and alot others really do give Goose Bumps . . I which the legendary band did not break. They speak of an era, an era where there lyrics provoked integrity and wisdom, through some best of Great Iqbal Sb and Gulzar Sb verses. Junoon broke up leaving behind extremely talented Ali Azmat, just like Fuzon another great Paki Band with some amazing music with Shafquat on the lead vocals. Irony of the situation is both of these singers have been doing well if not great after parting ways. . "Ajj agar Junoon Hota, too Shayad Inquilab Asaan Hota . . " Kaash for once we could get them together.
I love Salman's raw & sensous voice, listening to Ghoom Tana gives me goose bumps! just imagine if Bob Dylan listened to people who crticized his singing style!
I really wish he hadn't messed up with Junoon. The guy's a great guitarist and musician (even though his singing is cringe-worthy nonetheless) and one of the few Pakistani celebrities who have actually done anything positive with their status. He should've pulled a Carlos Santana and released a guitar album with guest musicians in Pakistan instead of going on to massacre classic Junoon tunes with his singing - that would've been great.
Salman is a brilliant producer but he needs to knock this "I can sing" notion of his head.
Nice to know because after-all salman is a Pakistani and efforts like these leaves a rare nice image.........but salman has historically been what you call in punjabi a big "Shoda" ..:) ....(Salman please dont take me wrong, i still am the fan of your skills with guitar....)