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Is Pashto music losing its charm?
The Pashto music industry seems to be in troubled waters as genuine
singers who took an oath to music and believed it was an art, have now
lost the spotlight. The Express Tribune spoke to Pashto artists to gain
some insight on the present anticipated state of the industry only to
discover that the passion and level of dedication to music has largely
diminished.
Pashto music has largely been inspired by folk music — there was always a
message in the lyrics, depicting real life stories which the public could
relate to. The queen of Pashto music Mashooq Sultan and many others
including Mahjabeen Qazalbash, Hidayatullah, Gulraiz Tabassum and Gulzar
Alam greatly banked on this. These artists still perform, but unfortunately,
with changing trends in the Pashto music scene where the quality of lyrical
content is evidently declining, they are left with a small audience.
Earlier on, writers like Hamza Shinwari, Ghani Khan Baba and Saadullah Jan
Burq wrote songs with deeply inspiring lyrics. Now, however, an average
lyricist has forgotten the importance of meaningful and ethical lyrics and
the fact that they have a responsibility towards society. Songs like “Za
Bottle the Black Label Ym” and “Khudkusha Dhamka” are being written
today, where the former track suggests “I am like a bottle of wine,” not
exactly portraying a wholesome or meaningful image of society.
Legendary Pashto ghazal singer Hidayatullah expresses his opinion: “Singers
prefer songs which have good poetry, today’s music might be popular but
it’s not meaningful.” He also feels the overall quality of poetry has declined.
“Common people don’t understand what good poetry is — they just want
upbeat music and this is exactly what today’s musicians are catering to,”
he regretfully adds.While older Pashto artists put their heart and soul in
composing songs, newer artists don’t seem to have the time. “We just
come to the studio, where the song is handed to us and we record it,”
says Iram Khan, a young Pashto artist. “In earlier times, artists would
rehearse for a week, before recording a song,” she adds. Current singers on
the other hand don’t put in the same effort, with computer softwares
available to edit their work through which their music is recorded.
“Today, Pashto music has adopted modern trends, which is a good sign but
emphasis should still be on our own culture,” says Hidayatullah. “Old music
was simple with a few instruments like rabab, sitar and the harmonium, now
music has become very complicated with numerous instruments,” he adds.
Along with this, Hidayatullah also disappointedly states, “Singers today are
unaware of basic surs. Majority of these singers are not professionals –
they lack experience and have adopted singing as a part-time job, whereas
music requires full dedication and spiritual devotion.”
On the other hand, another young artist, Raheem Khan, feels the music
scene has not changed much. “The same instruments are still used,” states
Khan who is not too pleased about it and would like to add a more hip hop
feel to the music.
http://tribune.com.pk/story/424823/i...ing-its-charm/
The Pashto music industry seems to be in troubled waters as genuine
singers who took an oath to music and believed it was an art, have now
lost the spotlight. The Express Tribune spoke to Pashto artists to gain
some insight on the present anticipated state of the industry only to
discover that the passion and level of dedication to music has largely
diminished.
Pashto music has largely been inspired by folk music — there was always a
message in the lyrics, depicting real life stories which the public could
relate to. The queen of Pashto music Mashooq Sultan and many others
including Mahjabeen Qazalbash, Hidayatullah, Gulraiz Tabassum and Gulzar
Alam greatly banked on this. These artists still perform, but unfortunately,
with changing trends in the Pashto music scene where the quality of lyrical
content is evidently declining, they are left with a small audience.
Earlier on, writers like Hamza Shinwari, Ghani Khan Baba and Saadullah Jan
Burq wrote songs with deeply inspiring lyrics. Now, however, an average
lyricist has forgotten the importance of meaningful and ethical lyrics and
the fact that they have a responsibility towards society. Songs like “Za
Bottle the Black Label Ym” and “Khudkusha Dhamka” are being written
today, where the former track suggests “I am like a bottle of wine,” not
exactly portraying a wholesome or meaningful image of society.
Legendary Pashto ghazal singer Hidayatullah expresses his opinion: “Singers
prefer songs which have good poetry, today’s music might be popular but
it’s not meaningful.” He also feels the overall quality of poetry has declined.
“Common people don’t understand what good poetry is — they just want
upbeat music and this is exactly what today’s musicians are catering to,”
he regretfully adds.While older Pashto artists put their heart and soul in
composing songs, newer artists don’t seem to have the time. “We just
come to the studio, where the song is handed to us and we record it,”
says Iram Khan, a young Pashto artist. “In earlier times, artists would
rehearse for a week, before recording a song,” she adds. Current singers on
the other hand don’t put in the same effort, with computer softwares
available to edit their work through which their music is recorded.
“Today, Pashto music has adopted modern trends, which is a good sign but
emphasis should still be on our own culture,” says Hidayatullah. “Old music
was simple with a few instruments like rabab, sitar and the harmonium, now
music has become very complicated with numerous instruments,” he adds.
Along with this, Hidayatullah also disappointedly states, “Singers today are
unaware of basic surs. Majority of these singers are not professionals –
they lack experience and have adopted singing as a part-time job, whereas
music requires full dedication and spiritual devotion.”
On the other hand, another young artist, Raheem Khan, feels the music
scene has not changed much. “The same instruments are still used,” states
Khan who is not too pleased about it and would like to add a more hip hop
feel to the music.
http://tribune.com.pk/story/424823/i...ing-its-charm/
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