Summary The song was heavily criticised by anyone and everyone, calling out Coke Studio for its terrible take on it. Photo: Coke Studio Pakistan’s Official Website
By Abdullah Zafar
The latest season of Coke Studio started on a low note as compared to the previous series, after their version of the national anthem failed to impress fans who had high expectations for the tenth season of the music production franchise, that too, at a time when the country was celebrating its 70 years of Independence.
Even then, fans had hoped that the rendered version was the only ill that would trouble them this season. Apparently that proved to be wrong. The reviews of the recently released takes by the franchise seem to be on a harsh receiving end.
When it comes to reforming the classics, Coke Studio hasn’t just come out with some brilliant renditions, but within the last nine years has also nailed with takes on legendary classics, including ‘Rang’ and ‘Afreen Afreen’. While maintaining its position in the public eye for a long time, and reforming the music industry, Coke Studio has given some brilliant performances by the greatest artistes of the country.
But its take on ‘Sayonee’, in the current season, has sadly missed the mark. The song was heavily criticised by anyone and everyone, calling out Coke Studio for its terrible take on it.
The song has also been bashed on social media with Coke Studio enthusiasts taking to strongly critiquing the cover.
Salman Ahmed has been arrested for butchering an all time classic #Sayonee
— Basit Subhani (@BasitSubhani) August 19, 2017
Yes, do the needful! pic.twitter.com/92EFov1Cbc
So basically Coke Studio ruined two anthems in one season #Sayonee
— Rafay Mahmood (@Rafay_Mahmood) August 18, 2017
Had to listen to the original #sayonee to undo the damage done by RFAK to one of fav songs.#CokeStudio10
— Zaka Khan (@isapzey) August 18, 2017
After listening to #cokestudio version of #sayonee @cokestudio pic.twitter.com/NvBqVc3CnM
— Its Him (@DeadPandit) August 18, 2017
Rahat Fateh Ali Khan s role in Sayonee is pretty much similar to Ahmed Shehzad s role in Champions Trophy 2017 #CokeStudio10 #Sayonee
— Mehwish Ijaz (@MehwishIjazi) August 18, 2017
chalo that s one fond memory of the good old days massacred forever, thank you @cokestudio. #Sayonee
— Ahmed (@azkhawaja1) August 18, 2017
Again, why #Sayonee? Neither a reworking, nor a cover. Very disappointing. We grew up on #Sayonee, #Maeri #DoobaDooba #Durr. Let them be. https://t.co/SDF1Gs0g5K
— Anamika (@OnlyAnamika) August 18, 2017
Produced by Strings, music directed by Junoon’s Salman Ahmed and sung by vocal maestros Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and Noori’s lead – Ali Noor, the track was expected to be a musical blockbuster but unfortunately, it didn’t quite manage to be one.
In case you haven’t listened to Coke Studio’s version of Ali Azmat’s hit, here it is:
However, Ali Noor didn’t let the criticism deter his affection towards the song or Junoon - the band itself. In a recent video on his YouTube channel – ‘This Is Ali Noor’, Noori’s main has responded to the critics in the most agile way.
When asked as to what his reply to the critics would be, he said, “I think what’s important to say over here is that I believe that this song is absolutely, absolutely meant for Ali Azmat’s voice.”
“My relationship with both Salman Ahmed and Ali is very very old, it’s almost five, six years even before Noori”, he added. Discussing the history he shares with the legendary song, he quipped, “When I first met Ahmed, it was at my grandfather’s law firm for a case…that his song, Sayonee, was banned by PTV and Ahmed wanted a notice to be sent. After the notice was sent, and the ban was lifted. It was then when they went to India and Junoon became huge.”
Retorting to the reviews he further told that this was when he wrote ‘Mujhe Roko’ because he was so inspired by Salman Ahmed who gave Ali Noor his own guitar.
“The fact that I have this long relationship with this song and I got a chance to sing it, that’s a huge thing for me. No criticism in the world is of any value since my emotional connection to the song is a huge deal for me.”
“As far as Azmat’s voice is concerned, it’s extremely uncomplicated. This song would have been the best if he would have sung it, because there undoubtedly is something about the song that only he can relate to and feel about it”, he continued.
“I can only hope and pray that someday, Junoon will reunite and will continue to make the magic that they can. The reason that so many people are so critical of it is because many of us can really, really relate to it.”
