‘Khul Ke Khel’: Is good old 'naach gaana' the homeground of PSL anthems?

After much commotion, Pakistani singer Ali Zafar has reprised his role as the voice for Pakistan Super League’s official song. Titled Khul Ke Khel, the anthem for the cricket league’s 9th edition dropped on Wednesday, marking Zafar’s comeback after 5 years.

Lending his voice to the first three PSL songs including the hit 2017 entry Ab Khel Jamey Ga, which amassed over 22 million views on YouTube, Zafar’s return to the league was much anticipated after the past few songs failed to generate hype. Partnering with Aima Baig, the anthem is an unmistakable pop song with a catchy chorus, set to celebrate a widely beloved sports - at least for those who haven’t heard this all before.

To give credit where it’s due, PSL’s musical trend since inception has tried to match its dynamism with the cricket fever of the masses. Zafar's 2016 and 2017 songs carried the oomph of your typical sports anthem, flaunting synth horns, anthemic drums and singing crowds tucked under layers of reverb. However, 2021 saw PSL making a 180-degree shift with Groove Mera, an unexpected collaboration of Aima Baig, Naseebo Lal and the Young Stunners. The track turned the cricket league’s gears to hip hop and modern pop influences, reflecting a more contemporary taste of the youth.

In the age of digital streaming, the perfect cricket song has a lot to get right, from animating stadiums to carving out a popular music taste across different demographics. For many recipients, Groove Mera’s innovative turn was felt at odds with the immersive aggression of fans in a cricket stadium.

2022’s Agay Dekh’s lasting saving grace turned out to be Atif Aslam’s stardom but as many contended, it failed to assume a sportly aesthetic. Last year’s anthem, Sab Sitaray Humaray gathered big names in today’s music scene with a bigger letdown. Not only did Asim Azhar, Faris Shafi, Shae Gill and Abdullah Siddiqui’s collaboration not impress cricket enthusiasts, but each artist somehow managed to disappoint their respective fans.

With Zafar’s 2024 comeback, it appears hip hop and electronica have officially been declared brief flirtations in the PSL anthem’s journey. Not much can be said about Khul Ke Khel, a song that will work for all the same reasons that Ab Khel Jamey Ga did. The similar drumbeat, progression and melodic structure will likely evoke nostalgia for whom 7 years is a long time and boredom for those who remember.

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