Have a fabulous 2012

FOR PHOTOS: PLEASE ASK FIRST, I WOULD APPRECIATE THE COURTESY OF BEING ASKED!

FOR PHOTOS: PLEASE ASK FIRST, I WOULD APPRECIATE THE COURTESY OF BEING ASKED!
Gaga: Rest in Peace (b.2002 - d.2010)

Saturday, December 28, 2013

ALAMGIR -Aamay Bhashaili Rey, Coke Studio Pakistan, Season 6



Artists:

Alamgir and Fariha Pervez
Song:

Aamay Bhashaili Rey – You have set me adrift – আমায় ভাসাইলি রে
Download Now!
Song Info

Turning over the pages of a story that has come to pass in our history is Alamgir’s contribution to this season of Coke Studio with the soulful Bengali folk composition ‘Aamay Bhashaili Rey’. The roots of the song are old, and has always been a source of inspiration for Alamgir reminding him of his youthful beginnings as a 14 year old boy who had come to Karachi on his own to find his passion and what would become his new home. The song was also featured in Alamgir’s second album and he feels that the song’s enchanting quality has always connected with people irrespective of whether the language was understood. Thematically, the song is one of Struggle. It asks for the devotion and spirit to endure the toil and risks that eventually reaches the finish line of Success – something that resonated with Alamgir’s struggle to keep going in the early stages of his career. In the subtle melancholy of what is almost a lament; the song is met by Fariha Pervez’s rendition of ‘Saiyyan Bina Ghar Suna’, which speaks out on the other end on the need for companionship and the yearning for Completeness. The instrumentation of the song is used to complement and mirror the flow of emotions that transition between the vocals and carry the theme into its resolution. The overall piece is a glimpse of a bridge to the past, asking what it truly means to belong in the face of displacement and how our choices make a difference in the world today.
Lyrics of Aamay Bhashaili Rey; Language: Bengali & Braj

আমায় ভাসাইলি রে
آمائے بھاشائلی رے
aamaay bhaashaaili re
You have set me adrift

আমায় ডুবাইলি রে
آمائے ڈوبائلی رے
aamaay ḍoobaaili re
You are causing me to drown

অকুল দরিয়ার বুঝি কূল নাই রে
اوکول دوریار بوجھی کول نائی رے
okool dauriaar boojhi kool naai re
The river seems endless as if there were no shore

কূল নাই কিনার নাই
کول نائی کنار نائی
kool naai kinaar naai
No border, no shore

নাই কো দরিয়ার পারি
نائی کو دوریار پاری
naai ko dauriaar paari
The river has no limits

সাবধানে চালাইও মাঝি
شابدھانے چالائیو ماجھی
shaabdhaane chaalaaiyo maajhi
Steer it most cautiously, boatman

আমার ভাঙ্গা তরি রে
آمار بھانگا توری رے
aamaar bhaanga tori re
This boat of mine with a broken rim

অকুল দরিয়ার বুঝি কূল নাই রে
اوکول دوریار بوجھی کول نائی رے
okool dauriaar boojhi kool naai re
The river seems endless as if there were no shore

چاہے آندھی آئے رے
chaahe aandhi aaye re
Whether a storm rages

چاہے میگھا چھائے رے
chaahe megha chhaaye re
Whether rainclouds rumble

ہمیں تو اس پار لیکے جانا ماجھی رے
hamen tu us paar leke jaana maajhi re
Take us across to the other end, boatman

چاہے جتنا شور کریں یہ ندیا کے دھارے
chaahe jitna shor karen ye nadiya ke dhaare
However loud these river torrents roar

ساتھ میرے لگائیو ماجھی ناؤ مری کنارے رے
saath mere lagaaiyo maajhi naao miri kinaare re
Help me get my boat to the shore, boatman

ہمیں تو اس پار لیکے جانا ماجھی رے
hamen tu us paar leke jaana maajhi re
Take us across to the other end, boatman

(sargam)

نہ میں مانگوں سونا چاندی
nah main maangoon sona chaandi
I don’t ask for gold and silver

مانگوں توسے پریت
mangoon tose preet
I ask you for love

بلما مئیکا چھاڑ گئے
balma maeeka chaaṛ gaye
My lover has left me and gone

یہی جگت کی ریت
yihi jagat ki reet
This is the way of the world

سئیاں بنا
saiyaan bina
Without my beloved…

سئیاں بنا
saiyaan bina
Without my beloved…

سئیاں بنا
saiyaan bina
Without my beloved…

سئیاں بنا گھر سونا
saiyaan bina ghar soona
Without my beloved, my house is desolate

سئیاں بنا گھر سونا
saiyaan bina ghar soona
Without my beloved, my house is desolate

ساوریا نہ آئے
saawariya na aaye
My handsome love did not come

ساوریا
saawariya
My handsome love

یاد تہاری
yaad tihaari
The thought of you…

یاد تہاری
yaad tihaari
The thought of you…

مئیکا جلائے جیارا
maika jalaaye jiyaara
Makes my heart burn with longing

سئیاں بنا گھر سونا
saiyaan bina ghar soona
Without my beloved, my house is desolate

نہ آئے
na aaye
…didn’t come

نہ آئے
na aaye
…didn’t come

سئیاں بنا گھر سونا
saiyaan bina ghar soona
Without my beloved, my house is desolate

جیارا جلائے مورا
jiyaara jalaaye mora
…makes my heart burn in longing

ہو راجا چین جیا ناہیں آئے
ho raaja chain jiya naaheen aaye
O dearest, my heart gets no peace

چین جیا ناہیں آئے
chain jiya naaheen aaye
My heart gets no peace

چین جیا ناہیں آئے
chain jiya naaheen aaye
My heart gets no peace

چین جیا ناہیں آئے
chain jiya naaheen aaye
My heart gets no peace

سونا
soona
Desolate

سونا
soona
Desolate

سونا
soona
Desolate

ساوریا نہ آئے
saawariya na aaye
My handsome love did not come

سئیاں بنا گھر سونا
saiyaan bina ghar soona
Without my beloved, my house is desolate


Performance Credits


Serbian House Band

Goran Antovic | Piano, Keyboards
Branko Trijic | Guitar – Acoustic and Electric
Dejan Antovic | Bass, Electric Upright
Jovan Satric | Drums


Harp
Ivana Pavlović

Piano
Jaffer Ali Zaidi

Dholak
Babar Ali Khanna

String Orchestra/ Violins

Tijana Milosević
Mirjana Nešković
Ksenija Milošević
Jelena Dimitrijević

II Violins
Selena Jakovljević
Jelena Dragnić
Tamara Zivković
Violas

Ivana Uzelac
Aleksandra Damjanović
Cellos

Julijana Marković
Uroš Zikić
Acoustic Upright

Srdjan Djordjević

Thursday, December 26, 2013

Faiz Mohammad Baluch - Layla o Layla (Original - 1960s)

Laila O Laila - Behind The Scene, Coke Studio Pakistan, Season 6, Episode 4

Laila O Laila, Coke Studio Pakistan, Season 6, Episode 4



Artist: Rostam Mirlashari


Song: Laila O Laila – Laila, O beautiful Laila — لیلیٰ ءُ لیلیٰ

Song Info:
Upon the journey of tracing one’s roots, Coke Studio had the pleasure of connecting with music from across the border – in bridging the great tradition of Balochi music with its family across the border in Iran. In walks Rostam Mirlashari, a Balochi from Iran with his rendition of the folk song ‘Laila O Laila’ – a song found in our part of Balochistan as well, demonstrating that while borders may have been put in place, cultures, traditions and heritages remain intact. The song itself is a simple, happy, love song in the pursuit of meeting with the object of one’s Love, in this case, Laila. The instrumentation is reminiscent of folklore and simpler times where music was used in the form of oral tradition, which is complemented by instruments such as the Accordion as well as the Balochi Dumboora. In connecting the elements of the music, one cannot help but notice just how instruments such as Norway’s Hardanger Fiddle find their place within the flow of the song indicating that the sounds that we hear across the globe are harmonious in the subtlest of ways. ‘Laila O Laila’ is a song that finds its home where there are those to connect with it. Past all borders, it begs for us to look deeper when understanding the idea of what is ours.


Lyrics of Laila O Laila (Language: Balochi)

لیلیٰ ءُ لیلیٰ
laila u laila
Laila, O beautiful Laila

بیا تر ءَ برانت سیل ءَ
bya tar a baraant sail a
Come, let me take you to see the sights

مجازی انت لیلیٰ
mijaazi ent laila
O high and mighty Laila

مجازی انت لیلیٰ
mijaazi ent laila
O high and mighty Laila

تو شت ءِ دیر کت
to shut e der kut
It’s been so long and you haven’t returned

زھیراں من ءَ کور کت
zaheeraan man a koor kut
Your memories have made me go blind with weeping

مجازی انت لیلیٰ
mijaazi ent laila
O high and mighty Laila

مجازی انت لیلیٰ
mijaazi ent laila
O high and mighty Laila

لیلیٰ ءُ لیلیٰ
laila u laila
Laila, O beautiful Laila

تئی سرے قید ءَ
tai sare qaid a
The beauty of your forehead ornament…

کتگ من ءَ شیدا
kutag mana shaida
Has made me fall madly in love with you

کتگ من ءَ شیدا
kutag mana shaida
Has made me fall madly in love with you

تئی سر ءِ دوری
tai sar e doori
The sorrow of your separation…

مئے چمّانی کوری
mae chammaani koori
Has made my eyes go blind with tears

تو شت ءِ پاری
to shut e paari
It’s been a year since you went away

من کشّتگ واری
man kushitag waari
And I have suffered so much grief

اے ڈگار پلکیں
ae ḍagaar pulken
This land is fertile and abundant

کوئٹہ مئے ملک انت
koeṭah mae mulk ent
And Quetta is our home

گیوارتئی ساپ انت
geewaartai saap ent
The parting of your hair is so clear and exquisite

دل منی آپ انت
dil mani aap ent
That my heart just melts to see it

لیلیٰ ءُ لیلیٰ
laila u laila
Laila, O beautiful Laila

لیلیٰ شنک لیلیٰ
laila shanko laila
Laila, I willingly give up my life for you

لیلیٰ ءُ لیلیٰ
laila u laila
Laila, O beautiful Laila

لیلیٰ ءُ وشّیں لیلیٰ
laila u washe ent laila
Laila, O sweet Laila
Performance Credits
Serbian House Band

Goran Antovic | Piano, Keyboards
Branko Trijic | Guitar – Acoustic and Electric
Dejan Antovic | Bass, Electric Upright
Jovan Satric | Drums
Dholak

Babar Ali Khanna
Hardanger Fiddle

Anne Hytta
Dumboora

Fida Baloch
Accordion

Miloš Punišić
Balochi Backing Vocals

Master Sheeraz Ali Sabzal
Mohammad Ali Osman Baloch
Shaukat Ali
String Orchestra

Violins
Tijana Milosević
Tea Balint
Svetlana Stančev
Predrag Žikić
Selena Jakovljević
Slavica Perić
Tamara Živković
Violas

Boris Brezovac
Aleksandra Damnjanović
Cellos

Julijana Marković
Katarina Stanković
Upright Bass

Srdjan Djordjević
Backing Vocal

Rachel Viccaji
Zoe Viccaji

Merry Christmas to Everyone Especially Pakistani Christians!

I wish all those who celebrate Christmas - a very Merry Christmas - holidays full of fun and enrichment!

Season's Greetings to everybody!!!

By the way, December 25th is the birthday of Quaid e Azam - Mohammad Ali Jinnah, founder of Pakistan and it's also my mom's birthday - and then it's Christmas - well I"m super happy for all of you out there. My message is simple: Live and Let Live!!!

I remeber that In Pakistan, there is this continious persecution of our Christian brothers and sisters. I stand with them in solidarity and I hope and prey that they live comfortably in Pakistan - a state that was founded on the idea that - no matter what religion one believes in - they can practice it in peace and without fear however, over the past few years down the lane we have totally lost the entire concept of the creation of Pakistan!!

Today if Jinnah was alive - he would definitely have been hurt with the kind of religious intolerance we have in Pakistan. I can't speak for the religious minorities of Pakistan when as a Muslim woman myself - I was mentally and verbally tortured in my own homewtown - capital of Pakistan, Islamabad- for some stupid reasons , when I last visted a coupe of months ago!

Anyhow, Merry Christmas my dear Christian community of Pakistan, please do NOT give hope ad things will become normal some day1

Moving Back to Seoul with Mom!!

This is my first post after 3 months - wow ...a long break that was!!!

My mom is back  in Seoul to stay with me for a while and so my entire life pattern has changed - for good!  I've got myself a cute house, previously I was in  a guest house or with a host family...which is very different. 

She is in her 80s and so I've tried my best that she stays safe and comfortably during her stay. It's also the first time that I'm gonna take care of her solo. I've renovated the entire bathroom  on my own that cost me 1200USD or 1.2 million won - and it would have been less if the plumber and the real estate woman had not cheated on me but now, the bathroom looks chic and high tech. I 've renovated the entrance and it has cost me another 500 USD or 500,000won. My house owner declined on sharing "any cost" with me... Voilà !!

I have built up an entire kitchen from scratch  - keeping in mind her age and the requirements of food and there are a couple. I think that she is probably one of the oldest (by age) foreign visitors in Korea at the moment which is cool.

It is winters here which is a tough season but since she has lived in Seoul for 7 years between 2002 to 2009, so she knows whats' comin!!!

She was obviously much younger and we used to travel all around the city of Seoul together when we first moved here. The year was 2002 and both of us fall in love with Seoul - it's World Cup hype and ambiance,  its' very kindhearted people (with the unexplainable Jeong), vibrancy  and sense of safety as a woman. My mom loves football and when my family moved to Korea on June 1st 2002 - it was the first day of World Cup FIFA - Japan- Korea 2002 - and as they  - the rest is history!

Living here for so long and as a family unit we ended up renovating our furnished housing back then too, which we got from office. I bought all the gadgets brand new from Yongsan Electronic Market ..it was only later that I found out that there are many other and better ways in which one can buy the same stuff in a much comfortable and a cheaper way but time is the best teacher and that's how we learn - making mistakes and falling down but then again, we stand up and move on!!!!

In 2009, we moved to the US completely and I sold or gave away my belonging to friends mostly or even threw a couple of really good things coz there was no other choice...the things which I threw included our beds, oven, closets, dinning table, sofa and rug  -  all went into the trash! To save oneself from such a scenario - one needs organization and planning which I lacked then but now, I'm an expert!

While I've developed a kitchen again and so I'm on the hunt for best buys in Seoul and as its the end of the year, Christmas was around too and then Seolnal (Korean New Year) is also  coming...there are some great deals at every  nook and corner. Thus far, I loved one thing -  I've got my self a cute food processor. This food processor is one of the very basic ones but is multi-purpose and way too good for me. What used to take an hour is done in 5 minutes and as we say - time is money , now I've realized the importance.

I'm, very glad to choose it and that too on a discount!

Key Features of Kenwood Food Processor FP215 are here!

I will just say one thing: when you move somewhere, make that new place your home and that will change your life - believe me...it doesn't matter if you are there to stay for a short time or a long time. Don't live like backpackers or nomads, please don't!

Sense of belonging and a sense of having a home simply enriches life. I have a home - right here in Seoul - far away from my real home. It's great!