Photo: Facebook/@cokestudio
KARACHI: You may disagree with all that followed the latest remake of the classic Ko Ko Korina but you can’t disagree with the fact that it wasn’t good. So we decided to make a list of some great covers that Coke Studio has produced over the years to get over the one that must not be named. Here goes:
1. Tajdar-e-Haram
This is hands down the best Coke Studio production till date. As excellent as Atif Aslam sounds in this song, the instruments and everything else at play work in unison to make this rendition of the evergreen qawwali by Sabri brothers what it is.
Okay can’t stop listening to it on repeat now. Gotta stop. No. Okay then. Will be hearing it until next year.
2. Ranjish Hi Sahi
No one thought someone could do justice to a Mehdi Hassan track. Enter Ali Sethi.
What happened after? Listen here:
3. Piya Ghar Aaya
If you’ve never heard this one and you’ve been bitching about Ko Ko Korina then shame on you. This is a great recital of Baba Bulleh Shah’s poetry by Fareed Ayaz, Abu Muhammad Qawal and Brothers. And it’s from the same season!
So stop hatin’ and turn up the volume.
4. Garaj Baras
Yes my friends. There was once a time when Coke Studio blessed us with many jewels in just one song. Ali Azmat and Rahat Fateh Ali Khan came together to produce this power-pack track, the likes of which we’ve never seen again.
Dayum!
5. Jal Pari
Backtracking to that time when Atif Aslam created similar level of magic. Jal Pari done right … forget the beginning and focus on the last few minutes where he ventures into Nusrat Fateh Ali’s ‘Tu Mera Dil’. That’s where the gold lies.
Ye?
Read: Pakistani child prodigy shocks social media with his tabla skills
6. Nindiya Ke Paar
This one’s another example of merging a song with a cover. Here, Uzair Jaswal covered yet another of Nusrat Fateh Ali’s ‘Tere bin nahi lagda’ and did an amazing job at it!
7. Jugni
Who is still listening to this Arif Lohar and Meesha Shafi track in 2018?
*raises both arms and legs*
8. Charkha Nolakha
This age-old classic by Sufi poet Baba Bulleh Shah, ‘Charkha‘ was covered by Javed Bashir. And it has our hearts.
9. Dashte-e-Tanhai
Meesha. Shafi. Doing. What. She. Does. Best. Could there be a better tribute to the legendary Iqbal Bano? We think not.
Dayum those vocals!
10. Chaap Tilak
What happens when two living legends lend their voices to Amir Khusro’s poem? Sub kuch cheen letey hain yaar.
Had been saving the best for last by Abida Parveen and Rahat Fateh Ali Khan.
Listen to all these covers to experience all that is right with Coke Studio. Xx.
