Music: Patriotic Pop Songs: A Compilation

Artists: VariousVariousVarious

Main Bhi Pakistan Hoon: Mohammad Ali Shaki (1980)
Perhaps the first ever popized “patriotic” song in Pakistan, even if for nothing other than Shaiki’s revived late ‘70s bellbottoms. Was a huge hit, quite unlike the myopic dictatorship it was made under. Also marked the end of the Socialist national songs of the Bhutto era.

Khiyaal Rakhna: Alamgir (1981)
The time for young pop enthusiasts mouthing off odes to Gen. Zia’s idea of Pakistan
had arrived. Alamgir couldn’t care less, though. To him it was just another opportunity for some valuable air time on PTV. The irony of it all being that he was a Bengali who had refused to go to Bengladesh after the 1971 debacle. Perhaps that’s why the then pro-Zia Jamat-e-Islami had no problems with his longish hair and denim disco drainpipes?

Huma, Huma: Mohd. Ali Shaki & Alan Fakir (1985)
A wonderful proto-Sufi-Pop chestnut, but really, controversy theories aside, the Zia dictatorship was doing all it could to indoctrinate (and control) the Berlavi mizaar/pir/fakeer culture in Sindh and the Punjab which had a life of its own and was way outside the Saudi-inspired “Islam” propagated by the state and most pro-Zia politico-religious parties. Coupling a secular pop icon with a famous Sindhi Sufi musician was a clever (and at least one) way to achieve this. No wonder the very next year Alan Fakir was kidnapped by a group of anti-Zia Sindhi youth and forced to sing at ultra-Sindhi
nationalist, GM Syed’s birthday celebrations.

Dil, Dil Pakistan: Vital Signs (1987)
By now the whole idea of patriotic pop ditties had devolved as being no more than strategic ploys used to appease right-wing moral brigades (so they would make less noise regarding Pakistani youth indulging in “decadent” and “immoral” activities such as pop music). “Dil, Dil Pakistan” opened a brand new chapter in Pakistani pop, with a more modern beat and feel, even though the lyrics treat the country as the next best thing to heaven (albeit state-owned).

Pepsi, Pepsi Pakistan: Vital Signs (1989)
One of the first examples (in Pakistan) of an American/western (and allegedly “Zionist”), MNC using local pop acts to spout out its love of Pakistan. Also one of the first examples of a local pop act selling out so profoundly, proudly, and, of course, so patriotically.


Aye Jawan: Awaz (1993)
An archetypical boy band melody topped with the usual (lyrical) xenophobia and chauvinism found in most Pakistani/Indian “national songs.” However, such songs always made me want to burn the flag, instead. All flags.


Hum Jeetain Gay: Vital Signs (1995)
If the Signs can be excused for youthful naivety regarding “Dil, Dil Pakistan”, they stand guilty for an unabashed show of cynical lip-service and utter chauvinistic nonsense.

Jazba-e-Junoon: Junoon (1996)
Junoon boldly confronted the whole idea of formulaic pop anthems with their angry and
anti-heroic “Talaash” (1993), but by 1996 they just couldn’t deny the temptation to finally cash-in on the lucrative and cynical sides of the idiotic genre. This once angry-young-band was soon seen selling this chunk of patriotic hogwash for a whooping Rs. 1.2 million to Coke. Interestingly, the same cola company had also dished out similar contracts to a couple of right-wing Israeli bands at same time. *chuckle*

Jeet: Najam Shiraz (2002)
It was funny, rather surrealistic, watching Najam preaching the “true meaning and glory of the Koran”, then bouncing off to do a tea commercial (Tapal) then returning with a huge Pakistani flag in one hand and the usual patriotic gibberish about how wonderful the country was ... especially when seen through the tiny (myopic?) holes of a Tapal tea bag!

Pak Fauj: Jawad Ahmed (2003)
By the start of the new millennium the genre of patriotic pop song had further devolved into exactly what repressive, chauvinistic, right-wing tyrants like Gen. Zia would’ve loved to hear from young urban Pakistani men. As Indian filmakers masturbated upon their own versions of post-Kargil glory (and paranoia), Jawad Ahmed led the local pop lot in romanticizing the dust, death (and dumbness) of the battlefield and right-wing heroism. *vomit*

Dil Say: Haroon (2003)
Don’t know about the Dil, but do know that Unilever-Pakistan paid the bill for this melodramatic ode to the common heroes of 1947. Did Lord Mountbatten by any chance have any financial interests in Unilever? I know Jinnah didn’t.