Tuesday 31 July 2018

10 years of Coke Studio Pakistan

“Music is the universal language of mankind.” ― Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
I never get the right words to explain what music means to me and my life. I am not a musician or composer but I keep looking for the kind of songs that help me forget chaos around me and somehow quench my inner thirst. Music is the only thing that stays with me irrespective of my circumstances. Believe me, it can help you get better and win over depression, sadness and loneliness. 

We have different genres of music with millions of artists and billion of listeners around the globe. One such show which is my all-time favourite is Coke Studio Pakistan. It started in 2008 by The Coca-Cola Company and Rohail Hyatt. It features famous and new talents together in their live recorded studio. The best thing about it is that it creates amazing compositions with fusion. Rohail Hyatt was an executive producer from Season 1 to 6 then he was replaced by Strings who managed from seasons 7 to 10.

Here I have put together all seasons in one post with their video links to Youtube. This is not a copy-pasted post, I have listened to each and every song from all the seasons before compiling it in this form. This has been a journey for me. Watching the BTS (behind the scenes) videos before the actual song to understand how it was made and what it means. Coke Studio is like a dictionary of all kinds of songs. Some songs are so spectacular that you go into a state of introspection and feel that all materialistic things are useless. Hats off to everyone who is associated directly or indirectly with the Coke Studio. What we see is the final product but a lot of hard work has been put in to make this work wonderfully.

Season 1: February 6 – April 18, 2008
  • No. of Episodes: 4
  • Episode 1 : Featured Artists - Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Ali Azmat & Mauj Band (Link)
  • Episode 2 : Featured Artists - Strings Band, Ustaad Gullu, Saba & Selina (Link)
  • Episode 3 : Featured Artists - Sajid & Zeeshan, Ali Zafar, Saaein Tufail (Link)
  • Episode 4 : Featured Artists - Strings & Ustaad Gullu (Link
Backing Vocalists: Saba Shabbir, Athar Sani and Selina Rashid

My Favourite songs from season 1: Zinda by Strings, Durr by Strings & Ustaad Gullu

Season 2: June 14 – August 14, 2009
  • No. of Episodes: 5
  • Episode 1 : Featured Artists - Javed Bashir, Zeb & Haniya, Atif Aslam, Shafqat Amanat Ali, Noori & Saieen Zahoor (Link)
  • Episode 2 : Featured Artists - Josh Band, Ali Zafar, Saieen Zahoor, Shafqat Amanat Ali, Atif Aslam & Riaz A Khan (Link)
  • Episode 3 : Featured Artists - Ali Zafar, Noori, Josh Band, Atif Aslam, Zeb & Haniya, Javed Bashir (Link)
  • Episode 4 : Featured Artists - Atif Aslam, Riaz Ali Khan, Zeb & Haniya, Noori, Josh Band & Shafqat Amanat Ali (Link
  • Episode 5 : Featured Artists - Arieb Azhar, Strings Band, Zeb & Haniya and Javed Bashir, Ali Zafar, Ajab Khail, Shafqat Amanat Ali, Atif Aslam, Noori & Saieen Zahoor (Link)
Backing Vocalists: Natasha De Sousa and Saba Shabbir

My Favourite songs from season 2: Khamaaj by Shafqat Amanat Ali, Aik Alif by Noori & Saieen Zahoor, Nahi Ray Nahi by Ali Zafar

Season 3: June 6 – August 6, 2010
  • No. of Episodes: 5
  • Episode 1 : Featured Artists - Arieb Azhar, Abida Parveen, Arif Lohar & Meesha Shafi, Karavan, Zeb and Haniya (Link)
  • Episode 2 : Featured Artists - Amanat Ali, Moomal Rano, Fakir Juman Shah, Tann Dolay, Noori and Zeb & Haniya, Entity Paradigm, Rizwan & Muazzam (Link)
  • Episode 3 : Featured Artists - Sanam Marvi, Meesha Shafi, Tina Sani, ADP, Abida Parveen (Link)
  • Episode 4 : Featured Artists - Noori, Karavan Band, Zeb & Haniya, Amanat Ali & Sanam Marvi, Arif Lohar (Link)
  • Episode 5 : Featured Artists - Amanat Ali, Tina Sani, Sanam Marvi, Abida Parveen, Rizwan & Muazzam (Link)
Backing Vocalists: Sanam Saeed, Zoe Viccaji, Saba Shabbir

My Favourite songs from season 3: Alif Allah, Jugni by Arif Lohar & Meesha, Mirza Sahibaan by Arif Lohar

Season 4: May 22 – July 17, 2011
  • No. of Episodes: 5
  • Episode 1 : Featured Artists - Bilal Khan, Mizraab, Akhtar Chanal Zahri, Komal Rizvi, Jal Band, Sanam Marvi (Link
  • Episode 2 : Featured Artists - Sajjad Ali, Asif Hussain Samraat, Zoe Viccaji, Attaullah Khan Esakhelvi, Kaavish Band, Fareed Ayaz & Abu Muhammad,  (Link)
  • Episode 3 : Featured Artists - Mole, Sanam Marvi, Bilal Khan, Jal Band, Quratulain Balouch, Ustaad Naseer-ud-din Saami,  (Link)
  • Episode 4 : Featured Artists - The Sketches Band, Attaullah Khan Esakhelvi, Akhtar Chanal Zahri, Sajjad Ali, Sanam Marvi, Komal Rizvi (Link)
  • Episode 5 : Featured Artists - Asif Hussain Samraat, Fareed Ayaz & Abu Muhammad (Link)
Backing Vocalists: Zoe Viccaji and Rachel Viccaji
My Favourite songs from season 4: To Kia Hua by Bilal Khan, Ni Oothaan Waale by Attaullah Khan Esakhelvi, Panchi by Jal & Quratulain Balouch, Pyaar Naal by Attaullah Khan Esakhelvi

Season 5May 13 – July 8, 2012
  • No. of Episodes: 5
  • Episode 1 : Featured Artists - Bohemia, Symt Band, Hadiqa Kiani, Hamayoon Khan, Atif Aslam and Qayaas (Link)
  • Episode 2 : Featured Artists - Bilal Khan, Chakwal Group and Meesha Shafi, Fareed Ayaz and Abu Muhammad, Mithu Tahir, Atif Aslam (Link)
  • Episode 3 : Featured Artists - Bohemia, Bilal Khan, Uzair Jaswal, Overload Band,  Rachel Viccaji, Hadiqa Kiani (Link)
  • Episode 4 : Featured Artists - Chakwal Group, Bohemia, Uzair Jaswal, Atif Aslam, Hamayoon Khan, Fareed Ayaz and Abu Muhammad (Link)
  • Episode 5 : Featured Artists - Overload Band, Farhan Rais Khan, Chakwal Group, Meesha Shafi, Symt Band (Link)
Backing Vocalists: Zoe Viccaji and Rachel Viccaji

My Favourite songs from season 5: Charkha Nolakha by Atif Aslam and Qayaas, Nindiya Ke Paar by Uzair Jaswal, Neray Aah by Overload and Rachel Viccaji, Koi Labda by Symt

Season 6October 27 – December 21, 2013
  • No. of Episodes: 5
  • Episode 1 : Featured Artists - Umair Jaswal, Saieen Zahoor, Sanam Marvi, Ali Azmat (Link
  • Episode 2 : Featured Artists - Abrar-ul-Haq, Ayesha Omer, Rustam Fateh Ali Khan & Sumru Ağıryürüyen (Link)
  • Episode 3 : Featured Artists - Zoe Viccaji, Zara Madani, Sanam Marvi, Atif Aslam (Link)
  • Episode 4 : Featured Artists - Rostam Mirlashari, Alamgir, Fariha Pervez, Sumru Ağıryürüyen, Zoe Vicajji (Link)
  • Episode 5 : Featured Artists - Zara Madani, Ayesha Omer, Fariha Pervez, Zara Madani, Saieen Zahoor, Abrar-ul-Haq, Ali Azmat, Muazzam Ali Khan (Link)
 Backing Vocalists: Zoe Viccaji and Rachel Viccaji

My Favourite songs from season 6: Ishq di Booti by Abrar-ul-Haq, Channa by Atif Aslam, Aamay Bhashaili Rey by Alamgir, Fariha Pervez, Ishq Kinara - Üsküdar'a Gider Iken by Sumru Ağıryürüyen, Zoe Vicajji


Season 7: 21 September – 22 November 2014
  • No. of Episodes: 7
  • Episode 1 : Featured Artists - Asrar, Sajjad Ali, Niazi Brothers, Ustaad Raees Khan & Abida Parveen (Link
  • Episode 2 : Featured Artists - Akhtar Chanal, Komal Rizvi, Momin Durrani, Humera Channa, Abbas Ali Khan, Javed Bashir, Zoheb Hassan (Link
  • Episode 3 : Featured Artists - Sajjad Ali, Fariha Pervez, Meesha Shafi, Jimmy Khan, Rahma Ali, Abida Parveen (Link
  • Episode 4 : Featured Artists - Asrar, Javed Bashir, Humera Channa, Zoheb Hassan, Usman Riaz (Link
  • Episode 5 : Featured Artists - Abbas Ali Khan, Jimmy Khan, Jawad Ahmad, Niazi Brothers (Link)
  • Episode 6 : Featured Artists - Abida Parveen, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Usman Riaz, Javed Bashir, Zoheb Hasan & Zoe Viccaji (Link)  
  • Episode 7 : Featured Artists - Sajjad Ali, Naseer & Shahab, Abrar-Ul-Haq, Ustad Raees Khan (Link)
Backing Vocalists: Momin Durrani, Sara Haider and Rachel Viccaji

My Favourite songs from season 7: Tum Naraaz Ho by Sajjad Ali, Dost by Abida Parveen, Mujhay Baar Baar by Abbas Ali Khan, Mitti da Pehlwan by Jawad Ahmad

Season 8: 16 August – 4 October 2015
  • No. of Episodes: 7
  • Episode 1 : Featured Artists - Mai Dhai, Karam Abbas, Nabeel Shaukat Ali, Mekaal Hasan Band, Atif Aslam (Link
  • Episode 2 : Featured Artists - Rizwan & Muazzam Ali Khan, Umair Jaswal, Quratulain Balouch, Suraiya Khanum, Anwar Maqsood, Ali Zafar (Link)
  • Episode 3 : Featured Artists - Gul Panrra, Atif Aslam, Ali Sethi, Nabeel Shaukat, Kaavish, Arif Lohar (Link)
  • Episode 4 : Featured Artists - Mulazim Hussain, Siege, Ustad Hamid Ali Khan, Nafees Ahmed, Ali Zafar & Sara Haider (Link)
  • Episode 5 : Featured Artists - Samra Khan, Asim Azhar, Bakhshi Brothers, Mekaal Hassan Band, Ali Azmat (Link
  • Episode 6 : Featured Artists - Fizza Javed, Mulazim Hussain, Shazia Manzoor, Rizwan, Muazzam, Ali Haider, Sara Raza, Mai Dhai & Atif Aslam (Link)
  • Episode 7 : Featured Artists - Farida Khanum, Malang Party, Ali Zafar, Siege & Alycia Dias (Link)
Backing Vocalists: Momin Durrani, Sara Haider and Rachel Viccaji

My Favourite songs from season 8: Bewajah by Nabeel Shaukat Ali, Tajdar-e-Haram by Atif Aslam, Sammi Meri Waar by Umair Jaswal & Quratulain Balouch, Khalis Makhan by Bakhshi Brothers

Season 9: 13 August – 24 September 2016
  • No. of Episodes: 7
  • Episode 1 : Featured Artists - Naseebo Lal, Umair Jaswal, Ali Khan, Zeb Bangash, Abida Parveen & Ali Sethi (Link)
  • Episode 2 : Featured Artists - Meesha Shafi, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Momina Mustehsan, Quratulain Baloch, Haroon Shahid, Javed Bashir & Ali Azmat (Link)
  • Episode 3 : Featured Artists - Ahmed Jahanzeb, Umair Jaswal, Zeb Bangash, Faakhir Mehmood, Mehwish Hayat, Shiraz Uppal, Abida Parveen (Link)   
  • Episode 4 : Featured Artists - Mohsin Abbas Haider, Meesha Shafi, Naeem Abbas Rufi, Shilpa Rao, Noori, Nirmal Roy & Jabar Abbas (Link)
  • Episode 5 : Featured Artists - Momina Mustehsan, Junaid Khan, Rachel Viccaji, Kashif Ali, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Javed Bashir, Masooma Anwar & Shahzad Nawaz (Link)
  • Episode 6 : Featured Artists - Rizwan Butt, Sara Haider, Momina Mustehsan, Asim Azhar, Basit Ali, Damia Farooq, Saieen Zahoor & Sanam Marvi (Link)
  • Episode 7 : Featured Artists - Quratulain Balouch, Shuja Haider, Shiraz Uppal, Rafaqat Ali Khan, Shani Arshad, Noori, Natasha Khan, Faakhir Mehmood, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan & Amjad Sabri (Link)
Backing Vocalists: Shahab Hussain, Nimra Rafiq and Rachel Viccaji

My Favourite songs from season 9: Janay Na Tu by Ali Khan, Afreen Afreen by Rahat Fateh Ali Khan & Momina Mustehsan, Paar Chanaa De by Shilpa Rao & Noori, Shamaan Pai Gaiyaan by Rachel Viccaji & Kashif Ali, Tera Woh Pyar by Momina Mustehsan & Asim Azhar

Season 10: 11 August – 21 September 2017
  • No. of Episodes: 7
  • Episode 1 : Featured Artists - Ahmed Jehanzeb, Shafqat Amanat, Hina Nasrullah, Amanat Ali, Danyal Zafar, Momina Mustehsan, Ali Sethi (Link
  •  Episode 2 : Featured Artists - Ali Sethi, Ali Hamza, Waqar Ehsin, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Ali Noor, Kaavish Band, Quratulain Balouch, Ali Zafar (Link)
  • Episode 3 : Featured Artists - Quratulain Balouch, Akbar Ali, Arieb Azhar, Sajjad Ali, Zaw Ali, Sahir Ali Bagga, Aima Baig, Humera Channa & Nabeel Shaukat (Link)
  • Episode 4 : Featured Artists -  Javed Bashir, Akbar Ali, Quratulain Balouch, Farhan Saeed, Ali Zafar, Danyal Zafar, Ali Hamza & Nirmal Roy (Link)
  • Episode 5 : Featured Artists - Attaullah Esakhelvi, Sanwal Esakhelvi, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Faraz Anwer, Faiza Mujahid, Shafqat Amanat Ali Khan (Link
  • Episode 6 : Featured Artists - Umair Jaswal, Jabar Abbas, Ali Zafar, Natasha Khan, Aima Baig, Humera Arshad, Rachel Viccaji, Momina Mustehsan & Irteassh (Link)
  • Episode 7 : Featured Artists - Sajjad Ali, Shuja Haider, Aima Baig, Shafqat Amanat Ali Khan, Ali Hamza & Ali Zafar (Link)
Backing Vocalists: Shahab Hussain, Natasha Khan and Rachel Viccaji

My Favourite songs from season 10: Faasle by Kaavish & Quratulain Balouch, Maula Tera Noor by Shafqat Amanat Ali Khan, Us Rah Par by Ali Hamza & Ali Zafar feat. Strings

Special Mention: The shining stars of Music who left the world but their work will be here forever : 
  1. Amjad Farid (Fareed) Sabri (23 December 1976 – 22 June 2016)
  2. Ustaad Raees Khan (25 November 1939 - 6 May 2017)
  3. Aamir Zaki (April 8, 1968 - June 2, 2017)
P.S: This is in no way a sponsored post. The views are my own and not influenced by anything. Long Live The World of Music. God Bless All :)