Video Games 2019

It is next to impossible to include every single music video that has released in 2019 for more reasons than one.But those that stand out more than the others, particularly at a time when corporate sponsorship in music remains a debate, some music videos need to be discussed because, well, how can we not given the content?The story therefore begins with Junoon’s newest music video backed by a new, original single. The idea was that the band was making a music video to support the Pakistan Cricket team during the 2019 World Cup. But let me say this outright, there is absolutely no comparison between ‘Jazba Junoon’ that still echoes in memory and in stadiums with this almost forced single that can be called decent only because of its music video. As promised, the music video for the single, ‘Choolay Aasman’ includes marginalized communities from Hindus to Sikhs, to Kalasha to young individuals and other cultures we refuse to own or even acknowledge. Shot in gorgeous locales of Pakistan, the song is only worthwhile because of its music video. I’m still searching for the Ali Azmat who blew us away last year with his three collaborations on Coke Studio 11 and his solo albums. Now that the magic of the Junoon reunion concert has worn off, it has to be said that so far there seems to be no chemistry between the band. It feels a little like forced chemistry between the reunited Junoon onstage and in the studio as is made palpable by the generic ‘Choolay Aasman’. Moving on, last year’s winners of Pepsi Battle of the Bands, Bayaan is back with a new music video that has been recorded/mixed and mastered by Farhan Zameer and directed by Awais Tahir and Hamza Bin Tahir. Titled ‘Hum Nadaan’, it is right on the money in these war mongering times and manages to depict an interesting idea. A wall with two sides and a map depicting the world, ready to kill each other as the song asks whether you have learnt anything and it changes again and we see the band as a number of flags accompany the background. There is an entire narrative to the song, which you will truly connect to if you watch the music video. This may well be Bayaan’s strongest release, both as a single and a music video. Bayaan has potential to go places if they continue to write such powerful, socio-political songs as ‘Hum Nadaan’.Another person to return with a new song is Abid Brohi of ‘The Sibbi Song’ fame. After releasing the brilliant ‘Kaam Dou’, he is back with his third single, called ‘Kill the Haters’, which is a collaboration with DJ Lucky and Rapthor. Despite the title, the song is a great depiction of how eclectic the rap scene in Pakistan truly is. From bilingual to trilingual verses, the single is good enough to be played at any club (if we had them). Abid Brohi may be the star factor but the credit for the song belongs to everyone involved because the music video includes dance moves, aerial shots and the hip hop culture within Pakistan on full display. Music by Dj Abdur and direction by QBaloch QB is superb; it’s the song you must check out to see how music is no longer restricted to the pop genre as it once was. Another music video worth discussing is Janoobi Khargosh (Waleed Ahmed)’s latest, called ‘Jungle’. After the sci-fi deliverance ‘One’ that was visually very sci-fi and had a sound that comes close to, in my head, at least, a gorgeous merger of Tame Impala-meets-The Stone Roses tune and not as a rip-off but sonically; it is meant to be a compliment to the band because it ain’t a rip off. The music group that is helmed by Waleed Ahmed and goes by the name, Janoobi Khargosh is back, with another music video for a single called ‘Jungle’. The audio credits basically have Waleed written all over them except for mastering, which was done by Adeel Tahir (Eridu). The music video, directed by Meer Farhad Jamali, begins with an aerial shot of what looks like a series of buildings before coming back to earth. The hard-hitting song showcases street life with children carrying boxes and taking away stuff from other children. This sequence is followed by another where the same child, who was leading the two boys to steal earlier, is playing a game on the streets. He is good at it but when another falters, he is mocked by everyone around. The music video punches you in the gut and as the director notes on YouTube, “A short film that we shot recently and then turned it into a music video” and that effort is very, very obvious. The child who was mocked is sitting alone afterwards and hurts a crow. The music video features children but not the band and sends out a strong message of how we are raising our children, particularly ones on the streets and taking away their innocence while perpetuating a culture that is no good. Take a bow, Janoobi Khargosh.

from The News International - Instep Today http://bit.ly/2Kh1wMO