This is one album I just had to write about. Somehow the cd landed up at my house, so I popped it in. I listen to just about every new/upcoming Pakistani artist, as these days the local music scene is improving in leaps and bounds.
Well it just took a *massive step backwards*:
bq.. … this album that I’m reviewing, Ali Zafar’s Huqa Pani, is a combination of Pachees Paisa machine beats, horrible quantization, clich�d rhythms and beyond clich�d lyrics, and that’s only the good part. It offers no treats to the sonic interests of a listener with half a musical brain cell.
… As for now, the poor music aficionados who went out and spent money on this album, and share with me, my honest opinion, I have good news. There really is a way to enjoy this album:
1- Walk over to your microwave.
2- Pop in the CD.
3- Set the timer to 45 seconds.
4- Hit the start button.
Stand back and watch in awe the blazing visuals along with the crackling vocals.
>> “Bandbaja.org: Sameem Lufti”:http://bandbaja.org/issues/005/reviews/alizafar.php , ‘Google cache’:http://64.233.183.104/search?q=cache:5zRzvWQeedcJ:www.bandbaja.org/issues/005/reviews/alizafar.php+&hl=en
p. Some might think the above reviewer is being overly harsh to the poor chap, but I think he let him off easy. In the not so distant past, Pakistan has had the shittiest pop music scene imaginable, with all sorts of craps polluting the airwaves… finally after years things were improving, and musicians were actually making music. It seems Ali Zafar has missed the current generation all together, and while copying god knows who’s shit music made it even more terrible. Maybe he got saddled with a producer who saw he had singing talent and rushed this album to market for a quick buck…
Some people do “seem to like Huqa Pani”:http://www.pakipop.com/evaluation/huqa_pani.html. Bandbaja “interviewed Ali Zafar in March 2004”:http://www.bandbaja.org/issues/005/interviews/alizafar.php – seems like a good chap, pity about the music though. Hmm.. the interview says the album took more than 3 years, so it’s not the producer out for a quick buck who messed up the album.
*In conclusion:* Burn it at the stake.
*Review Update:* It’s been almost 3 months since I wrote this review, and in retrospect, this album really does deserve it. Many people who like him try to make this album to be somewhat decent by denigrating all the others, but thats a really cheap tactic and just proves my point even strongly. Those who say that it’s just meant to be bubblegum pop and does really well at that, have a point, but that doesn’t make it good music. Hit music indeed, but a definite step back for the Pakistani music scene. It’s popularity is what makes it dangerous – perhaps the next Mehkal Hassan band will decide to become the next NKOTB band instead, and that will be a sad day.
h4. related links
* “Ali Zafar’s official site”:http://www.alizafar.net/
* “Salambazar: lots of comments about huqa pani here”:http://www.salambazar.com/umairsBlog/archives/2003/12/index.html#000971
*Update:* It has to be said, that there are some people for whom this music is eminently suitable. You will find them driving around, polluting the soundwaves (both by breathing and their taste of music) for miles around.
h4. errata
Judging by the comments below, there are a large number of Ali Zafar fanatics. To those people – please note that the above is a review of his *music* and not the man. I’m sure he’s a fine person, but his music sucks all kind of ass. It happens to the best of people – after all look what happened to poor innocent little Britney.
I heard someone mention how trends tend to make a comeback every 30 years or so, in some form or another. I guess it isn’t surprising that his 70s-like music is popular among today’s teens, who are the main target of this album.
Well if you would like to compare the album with any of its eastern contemporaries or even indian ones it is not as good but even then the masses seem to love the nos. on the album. I will agree to sajjad that the teens seem to be the target population of this perticular release and its pretty damn successful
ali zafar sucks big time. i dont know why ppl love his music? hold on. i have to purge. i still cant get him out of my system.
Its Sameem, not Saleem =)
I value my microwave too much though. Perhaps the tawwa would be a better alternative. Or the neighbourhood garbage burning dump.
Name changed above. Burning might just be too good a fate for this album.
But regardless of everything, there will always be a niche market for Ali Zafar’s style and genre of music.
i think he is overrated. there is nothing orignal about him period.
Ok we must admit, the guy has an OK OK voice and he CAN sing..but his HUQA PANI product was a MAJOR turn OFF !! and suprisingly you can find his songs EVERYWHERE on the net….!! it seems every1 is listening to him except US! DAMN.. the compostion is horrible and the lyrics terrifying..it seems like he just wanted to produce a CD!!
why are we even talking about him? discussing him is like giving him a lotta importance.
hey guys what is ur problem haan, if u dont like ali zafar then stop talking abt him , becase i think and everyone thinks that he is a good singer and a cute guy
Well, honestly, most people who buy his album do it because they think he’s hot. Lord knows that why half the straight women and gay men I know did it.
Hello my name is Hina and i am a very good fan of Ali Zafar. So u people out their that don’t like him leave him alone.I think ali zafar is the best so why don’t you stop writing bad comments about him.
Yes, whats wrong with all you up there? And stop picking on Britney will ya while you’re at it!
I THINK ALI ZAFAR IS THE MOST GORGUES GUY ON EARTH AND HIS ALBUMMM WASS A NUMBA ONE HITT ALL YOU HATERS OUT THERE GET YOUR FACTS RIGHT FIRST THEN CMOE CHAT!! ALII ZAFARRR RULLEEEZZZZZZZZZZ I LOVEE U ALIII!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
OOHH AND BY THE WAY IM NOT THE SAME HINA AS THE GIRL BEFOREE…HINA KHAN FROM LONDON MASSIVE UKKK WOWOWOWW…ALII ZAFARR ISS THE BESTTTTT!! STOP CHATTING RUBBISH ABOUT HIM ALL OF YOU PEOPLE ARE JUST JEALOUS…
MEMBAAA ALI IM UR NUMBAAAA ONEEE FANNNNNN
MWAAAHZZZZ
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
All u oldies stop bitchin’ bout Ali Zafar! Could u spend three years working on an album and then make it a huge hit?? Could u pull of wearing a bright blue jacket?? i don’t think so. So just lay off the guy, he’s just trying to entertain and d’ya know what? He’s good at it!
Look all of uz out dere, i am THE NO. 1 fan of ali zafar, jealous ppl plz stop pickin on im!
he iz the finest!
luv ya
i think Ali Zafar is sooo cuteeee lol!! umm so far he as done a great job with his album. he is the # 1!!! i love u!!! people write bad comments about Ali, but honestly it’s dumb. i mean how can public ever say mean stuff to this lovely guy. i mean seriously, if he was my friend i would marry him lol, i love him that much!!! haaahaa!!!!!!!!
# one fan
I don’t understand why you critisise any new singer..typing all that crap ..ur wasting your time..well it doesnt matter he has some great fans as you can see by the posts above ..anyways he has a good voice and his songs are cool…
get a life u haters..and fans keep posting..peace all.:)
Hey guys, I think Ali Zafar is the best, and for the stupid people who don’t like him, why bother coming and writing a bad comment about him, because guess what you are just wasting your own time because neither it affects Ali Zafar nor his fans! So don’t bother, maybe you are jealous of him thats why you write unhelpful comments for no reason!
i think ali zafar is they best singer in they WORLD. AND FOR THEY STUPID PEOPLE WHY U NOT LIKE/ LOVE ALI ZAFARS SONGS. BECAUS THEY ARE JEALOUS. BUT ALL ALI ZAFAR4S FAN IS THEY BEST
hi im filza n i hav listened 2 many songs of ALI ZAFAR he is a great solo artist n i hope he carrys on making songs n singing em. Im 4m London n Ali Zafars songs r a big hit hr in da uk as 4 all u know! i would say dat his best song dat i like would channo its hectick as in its cool.
hi im????????? i luvvvvvvvv my big bruv n ali zafar is my bruv n im proud 2 b his lil sista
hope u all actually go out thr n support his albums n shows, luv him his nick name issssss na ill jus leave it dnt want him gettin embarased do i
hahaaaaaa LOl
sos big bruv only jokinnnnnnnnnn!!!!!!!!!!!!!
nooooooooooooooosut7nhbkj