In '96, Ali Noor and his brother Ali Hamza started a band called Noori. The word is a play on the last name Noor, and means 'light'. In spite of local success, it wasn't until Coke Studio that I heard about this group and their songs. The songs always tend to be sung well, based on classical or light classical Hindustani music.
The first time I heard Zeb was when she recorded along with her cousin. Together, Zeb and Haniya were a superbly refreshing talented duo, when I heard their rendition of Bibi Sanam Janem, I was hooked! Since then, Zeb Bangash has also recorded Bollywood songs, a recurring theme in her music is a blend of folksy tunes, dhuns, with electronic, largely keyboard based music.Coke studio season 9. The first episode has 'heavy hitters' such as Abida Parveen, but the song that steals the show is Aaja Moray Saiyaan.
Noori starts off the song. A folksy tune probably sung in Maand raga. (Don't quote me on this one, the style certainly seems like it, but need better sources) A popular style of song in Rajasthan, the songs sung in this style typically refer to ordinary occurrences around us that feel special, the green buds of spring, the joyous sensation of a light breeze, the earth that adorns the feet like mehendi, and, for a desert region, the ultimate joy of nature is seeing the dark monsoon clouds in the sky that will lead to the rain that can reinvigorate a desert like no one else could.
It is this that evokes in the bosoms of a lovers, a new sensation. The song is sung by a girl. A girl inviting a lover, sharing her emotions, enticing him to meet. A sensation to be united with the loved one. It is the season to meet. The season to start lives afresh, just like the buds in the spring time. The season to forget the rest of the world, and think only of the charming one. And with the pitter patter of the rain, she says 'Mohe rang de', adorn me in all the colors of life.
Zeb Bangash sings this song with a light touch, but uses elements of classical music very well. The song builds up with lyrics and notes to a certain point. Suddenly, the tune changes into a reflective, repetitive bit with 'Megha barase rimzhim rimzhim', perhaps a slight melancholy from the adoring girl, reflecting, almost lost for words to express. The style is anticlimactic and the mood is a little pensive. At that precise point, Noori joins in! The charming prince the girl has been waiting for has chimed in, and the song lifts to its previous light hearted romance, and simply soars from that point.
Watch Aaja Moray Saiyaan on youtube or listen to it on soundcloud
