Heartbreak Hotel: Re-inventing classics

We take a look at some cover songs that are inspiring, innovative and musically accomplished.

KARACHI: Song: Gharoli

Cover Artist: Mooroo’s Music

Original Song: Abida Parveen



Taimoor Salahuddin aka Mooroo’s Music is a dynamic talent. He’s bold enough to take an Abida Parveen song like Gharoli and experiment to such a daring degree that one can’t help but marvel at the innovation.

Released earlier this August, Mooroo’s Gharoli hits you with just the first listen. It’s got thick, heavy bass lines, a whole lot of funk and groove happening and a certain musical frenzy that adds to the song. Rest assured, Mooroo sounds different, edgier and it totally fits.

Special mention: Aaroh’s cover of Gharoli is another popular cover with fans. With its grungy and slightly metallic feel and Farooq’s feisty vocals on display, it’s a fabulous effort.

Song: Pyar Ka Jadu

Cover Artist: Mauj

Original Song: Zoheb Hassan



Pyar Ka Jadu is one of the most popular songs in the history of modern pop in Pakistan. The groove-funk nature of this song mixed with a surreal music video, makes it a memorable song for millions of Nazia-Zoheb Hassan fans around the world.

Covering it took courage but Omran Shafique is nothing if not a fearless musician, always willing to push the musical envelope.

And he did just that with this song. Reinventing the sound of this song completely, Mauj’s version has certain grit and an edgy rock flavour to it mixed with a grungy singer who breathes life into this classic in his signature style.

Song: Ajnabee

Cover Artist: Aaroh

Original Song: Vital Signs



Artists, both old and new, regularly cover Vital Signs songs. So, it’s no surprise that the defining pop act in modern music history of Pakistan makes a second appearance on this list.

Covered by the original Aaroh — not the new and revamped lineup minus Farooq Ahmed — the song is as different from the original as possible.

While the original song is bluesy, haunting and heartbreaking, Aaroh’s version is mixed with distorted riffs on top of wild drums, angry emotions and a majestic singer. This song is Aaroh at its best. Whoever steps in place of Farooq Ahmed now has some seriously big shoes to fill.

Song: Mera Bichra Yaar

Cover Artist: Zoe Viccaji feat. Strings

Original Song: Strings



Zoe Viccaji may have featured on Coke Studio but it was her beautiful rendition of this Strings tune that made us pay undivided attention to her.

Zoe went with Mera Bichra Yaar — a hugely popular number from Strings’ album, Dhaani — and chose to sing the song in acapella, a rarity in our music scene or so it seems.

In a sense, this cover leaves behind the original song because Zoe’s cover also features Strings.

With final polishing by Omran Shafique, Mera Bichra Yaar is crisp, sweet-sounding and comes attached with a moody music video from Adnan Malik, which picked up a Lux Style Award for Best Music Video Director in 2012.

Song: Yeh Shaam

Cover Artist: Kaavish

Original Song: Vital Signs



There are countless covers of Vital Signs’ classic number, Yeh Shaam but no one sings it better than Jaffer Zaidi. And that’s saying something because Junaid Jamshed brought such conviction and conflicting emotions to the song that it remains a fan favourite even today.

While the sound is signature Kaavish with gorgeous piano notes at the forefront, its Jaffer Zaidi’s interpretation as a singer, full of heart that makes it a cut above every other cover.

Forget surpassing the original, to even match up is sheer pop ballad wizardry and Kaavish pass with flying covers.

Song: Pyar Di Ganderi

Cover Artist: SYMT

Original Song: Naseebo Lal



Naseebo Lal can sing, there’s no doubt about it. But if you hear the original version of Pyar Di Ganderi by the said singer, you might find the sound overwhelming, partly futuristic and partly bhangra-esque loud. It’s chaotic.

SYMT, led by Haroon Shahid, reinvented this strange song with such playfulness and bounce that it surpasses the original. The innuendo behind the song is obviously not lost. What makes it remarkable is that Haroon doesn’t sound vile or vulgar — just in his musical element alongside band member Hassan Omer and guest musicians Farhad Humayun and Mahmood Rehman. This is pop-funk and it puts a cheeky smile on one’s face upon listening.

Song: Saeen

Cover Artist: Usman Riaz

Original Song: Junoon



Junoon has an extensive catalogue of magnificent albums and singles. One of those singles is Saeen which featured the original Junoon line-up of Ali Azmat, Salman Ahmed and Brian O’ Connell.

Saeen was Junoon’s version of sufi rock and it made waves all across the board, resonating with fans of Pakistan’s biggest rock band all over the place. Salman Ahmed’s majestic guitar riffs mixed with haunting bass and an inimitable singer like Ali Azmat — Saeen commanded attention every time.

To create a cover for such an accomplished song is a herculean task, but the prodigal Usman Riaz, lived up to his talent.

Usman went for a complete instrumental with strong Middle-Eastern ethos and a hint of melancholia that made his version just as strong as the original.

Usman wrote and/or played ‘almost’ all the instruments on the song including the mandolin, certain darbuka parts, guitars, harmonium, tanpura and ceramic drum. Consequently, Usman’ Saeen totally works as a moody orchestral piece and a fine one at that.

Song: Mera Pyar

Cover Artist: Arooj Aftab

Original Song: Aamir Zaki



The defining song in Aamir Zaki’s career, Mera Pyar remains popular to this date. From featuring as a soundtrack to Marina Khan’s telly serial Tum Hi To Ho to covers from acts like EP and Hadiqa Kiyani, it doesn’t get old, ever.

Call it a heartbreaking ballad or unabashed love song, the original is tricky to beat because Aamir Zaki doesn’t show-off his guitar genius, but let’s the words and music come together in a seamless blend.

The closest anyone has come to doing justice to this timeless track is Arooj Aftab. Arooj gives the song a more upbeat vibe and takes away the morbidity. She reminds one of Candy Perira (The Milestones) from time to time but never as a copycat. Arooj gives her own spin on the song. It’s less dramatic in nature but has enough musical flair to demand infinite listening. 

Maheen Sabeeh is a freelance journalist. She blogs at maheensabeeh.wordpress.com and tweets@maheensabeeh

Published in The Express Tribune, August 29^th, 2013.

Like Life & Style on Facebook, follow @ETLifeandStyle on Twitter for the latest in fashion, gossip and entertainment.