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MUSIC BOX: Highly addictive!
Until a few years ago, there were very few pop singers and those at the top were not regular with their releases. With the success of pop music and a host of music programmes, such as VJ and Music Channel Charts, that promoted the local pop scene, many new bands surfaced. Music first became a thriving, and later a highly, competitive industry. Only those who adhered to excellence in their work survived while those compromising on quality slowly faded into oblivion. String Fellows’ is one of the lesser-known groups who have been making their existence felt intermittently since 1985. For some peculiar reason the group has only released three albums in 16 years. Their earlier hits include Thora matkay say Paani, Chan chan and Baby I Love You. While listening to their latest album Challa, one cannot help but wonder why the group does not do regular albums and high profile concerts since their work is delightful.
The album opens with the title song, instantly captivating the listener with Gur kha kay, an amusing number that makes one nod in approval. The band’s mellow approach towards Tarana, their music maturity in Ranjhna, and waywardness in MacDonald would surprise any music buff. Even the ‘Hamd’, Mairay Khuda is surprisingly brilliant, whereas Boliyan challenges Abrar’s Bay Ja Cycle Tay!
String Fellows’ success indisputably lies in the bold experimentation they have done and the miscellany of their music. The album offers a diverse variety of songs that range from folk to pop, slow to zany. Since professionals like Khwaja Pervaiz and Nasir Ali Nasir have penned the lyrics, the songs have their own aesthetic appeal. The album is highly addictive and one must praise String Fellows’ for bringing out a gem of an album, even though, it’s their fourth in 16 years.—Jawad Daud
America still mourning
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God Bless America is a kind of tribute to those who lost their lives on September 11, during the attack on the World Trade Centre. The collection has been compiled by various well-known artists who render soothing songs for the departed souls. The album, at times, it seems is engulfed with grief rather than songs.Music celebrities such as Bruce Springsteen, Celine Dion, Mariah Carey, etc sing in this collection and shed tears in tribute for the victims of the WTC attack. It’s a pity they haven’t shed tears for the innocent Afghan victims killed by the Americans with the blessings of the world and its government.
Celine Dion starts the show with God Bless America, followed by the ‘The Boss’ Springsteen with his Land of Hope And Dreams. Springsteen makes full and good use of his vocals making it the song to remember.
Mariah Carey seems to shatter glasses with her evocative Hero, reminding us instantly of the cries and terror during the attack. Tramaine Hawkins is not far behind Carey with Amazing Grace that tends to send a shiver up your spine. Listening to these tracks, one needs a gut feeling to control his or her emotions as tears might roll down.
Some of the best songs in this compilation are Bob Dylan’s eternal peace song Blowin’ In The Wind, Simon & Garfunkel’s Bridge Over Troubled Water and Bill Withers’ Lean On Me. These songs create a rhythm in the album making you to keep listening to the tracks coming one by one.
There are other patriotic songs such as Pete Seeger’s This Land Is Your Land, Frank Sinatra’s America The Beautiful and the rousing Star Spangled Banner.
And though this is an album to remember, at the end of the album one feels sick and tired of all the patriotic songs. —Azeem Haider
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