Coke Studio Pakistan is the longest running annual television music show in Pakistan. Coke Studio was a hit since the airing of Season 1 & it's very first episode in June, 2008, with just 4 episodes season 1 ended in Aug, 2008.
With Rohail Hyatt producing the first 6 seasons, Coke Studio had fan following & listeners all over the world. So much so, that in 2012 Coca-Cola launched the Indian version Coke Studio @ MTV, with a similar format, which has proven to be both critically acclaimed and commercially successful.
In April 2012, an Arab version of the show, Coke Studio بالعربي was launched in the Middle East featuring performances by various Arabic and international music artists, produced by the songwriter Michel Elefteriades.
With Season 6 being the last season produced by Rohail Hyatt in 2013, Fans of Coke Studio were both skeptical & looking forward for Season 7.
In 2014, Bilal & Faisal from Pakistan’s most popular pop bands called 'Strings' took up the responsibility of producing Season 7 to 10. About 90% of the popular CS Pakistan songs that you know, heard, remember, love, sing from time to time are likely to be from one of the seasons produced by Strings.
In 2017, we saw Coke Studio taking over the African Continent, we now have Coke Studio Nigeria, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Mozambique, Ethiopia, Ghana & Mauritius.
In South east Asia, Coke Studio Philippines was also launched in 2017 as well, entertaining Filipinos with some of the best known and unknown talents of the country.
Throughout Season 1 to 10, the Objective of Coke Studio & CS Pakistan specifically was always to find hidden talent and give them a platform to perform. It didn't focus much on the format or arrangements of tracks. It was pretty random to be honest.
July 2018, Coke Studio Explorer. As Sonya Rehman writes in Forbes & I quote " Coke Studio, under the banner of its exciting new initiative – Coke Studio Explorer – cuts through the mainstream and brings previously undiscovered music talent to the public eye."
Ali Hamza and Zohaib Kazi the producers of Season 11, who were also leading the effort from the front for Coke Studio Explorer have come up with the most beautiful format of all CS Seasons. As the title of my article suggests, Season 11 of Coke Studio Pakistan represents the image of New Pakistan the average Pakistani wants to build, a tolerant Pakistan, a terror free Pakistan, an inclusive Pakistan, a place for everyone who is a Pakistani.
This was made clear with the seasons introductory song "Hum Dekhenge", on their Official page, they also said "Spearheaded by producers Ali Hamza and Zohaib Kazi, Coke Studio celebrates the message of unity, hope and peace through the words of Pakistan’s most revered poet and intellectual Mr. Faiz Ahmed Faiz. ‘Hum Dekhenge’ is another jewel in the repertory of Mr. Faiz as Coke Studio lends to this powerful nazam the voice of over 70 talented artists to bring new life to ‘Hum Dekhenge. Coke Studio has gone an extra mile this season to ensure that all of Pakistan is truly represented on its platform which has become the pride of the nation.
Speaking about the country’s much celebrated platform, the General Manager of Coca-Cola Pakistan, Rizwan U. Khan said, “At Coca-Cola we pride ourselves on being at the forefront of new dynamic innovations and inspiring content. Coke Studio has always been a source of pride for Pakistani's world over as a music platform they can identify with. We all look forward to bringing another groundbreaking season of Coke Studio to the nation."
The timing of even the simplest of things is so impactful & plays such an important role in delivering the message that the producers trying to convey to Pakistan and the rest of the world. Take this for example, Season 11's introductory song introduces Lucky & Naghma, a transgender duo on it's platform for the first time, in a 2 minutes & 38 seconds track, at 2:02 the lyrics goes "Aur raj karegi khalke khuda" which in translation means "And then God's own people will rule" and featuring them at 2:06 the lyrics goes "Jo Main bhi hoon, aur tum bhi ho" which means " Which I am, and so are you", emphasizing the point that they too deserve equal rights, status & opportunity. We also see rappers, young kids & some very well known & renowned artists.
I'm a fan of Coke Studios, I became a fan when one day I was listening to random hindi songs on auto-play and youtube decided to play the Coke Studio version of "Jugni" by Arif Lohar and that was it. Another Indian glued to youtube for hours, mesmerized by every new track he is listening to.
As a Fan & as an Indian who can understand the Pakistan's culture to a large extent, I'm totally impressed by the first Episode of Season 11.
It starts with Shikwa / Jawab-e-Shikwa written by the great Sir Mohd Iqbal followed by Lucky & Naghma's quirky wedding track called "Baalkada". I was so happy when they got the second spot on it's first episode! Followed by "Rap Hai Saara" & "Main Irada" a song that talks about Women Empowerment.
One Episode, they got the traditional islamic values represented by Iqbal, a place for transgenders and the young & upcoming generation who likes to rap and closing the episode with a powerful song about the strength of women performed by Haniya, Rachel, Shamu Bai, Ariana & Amrina.
Just like the results of their General Elections this year, Imran Khan's victory makes it clear that the people of Pakistan want to improve their life style and this season isn't about impressing the world with something like "Afreen Afreen" or "Tera Woh Pyaar", No! This season is all about young, smart Pakistani's taking control of their Country and making Pakistan a better place for themselves to Live.
With Rohail Hyatt producing the first 6 seasons, Coke Studio had fan following & listeners all over the world. So much so, that in 2012 Coca-Cola launched the Indian version Coke Studio @ MTV, with a similar format, which has proven to be both critically acclaimed and commercially successful.
In April 2012, an Arab version of the show, Coke Studio بالعربي was launched in the Middle East featuring performances by various Arabic and international music artists, produced by the songwriter Michel Elefteriades.
With Season 6 being the last season produced by Rohail Hyatt in 2013, Fans of Coke Studio were both skeptical & looking forward for Season 7.
In 2014, Bilal & Faisal from Pakistan’s most popular pop bands called 'Strings' took up the responsibility of producing Season 7 to 10. About 90% of the popular CS Pakistan songs that you know, heard, remember, love, sing from time to time are likely to be from one of the seasons produced by Strings.
In 2017, we saw Coke Studio taking over the African Continent, we now have Coke Studio Nigeria, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Mozambique, Ethiopia, Ghana & Mauritius.
In South east Asia, Coke Studio Philippines was also launched in 2017 as well, entertaining Filipinos with some of the best known and unknown talents of the country.
Throughout Season 1 to 10, the Objective of Coke Studio & CS Pakistan specifically was always to find hidden talent and give them a platform to perform. It didn't focus much on the format or arrangements of tracks. It was pretty random to be honest.
July 2018, Coke Studio Explorer. As Sonya Rehman writes in Forbes & I quote " Coke Studio, under the banner of its exciting new initiative – Coke Studio Explorer – cuts through the mainstream and brings previously undiscovered music talent to the public eye."
Ali Hamza and Zohaib Kazi the producers of Season 11, who were also leading the effort from the front for Coke Studio Explorer have come up with the most beautiful format of all CS Seasons. As the title of my article suggests, Season 11 of Coke Studio Pakistan represents the image of New Pakistan the average Pakistani wants to build, a tolerant Pakistan, a terror free Pakistan, an inclusive Pakistan, a place for everyone who is a Pakistani.
This was made clear with the seasons introductory song "Hum Dekhenge", on their Official page, they also said "Spearheaded by producers Ali Hamza and Zohaib Kazi, Coke Studio celebrates the message of unity, hope and peace through the words of Pakistan’s most revered poet and intellectual Mr. Faiz Ahmed Faiz. ‘Hum Dekhenge’ is another jewel in the repertory of Mr. Faiz as Coke Studio lends to this powerful nazam the voice of over 70 talented artists to bring new life to ‘Hum Dekhenge. Coke Studio has gone an extra mile this season to ensure that all of Pakistan is truly represented on its platform which has become the pride of the nation.
Speaking about the country’s much celebrated platform, the General Manager of Coca-Cola Pakistan, Rizwan U. Khan said, “At Coca-Cola we pride ourselves on being at the forefront of new dynamic innovations and inspiring content. Coke Studio has always been a source of pride for Pakistani's world over as a music platform they can identify with. We all look forward to bringing another groundbreaking season of Coke Studio to the nation."
The timing of even the simplest of things is so impactful & plays such an important role in delivering the message that the producers trying to convey to Pakistan and the rest of the world. Take this for example, Season 11's introductory song introduces Lucky & Naghma, a transgender duo on it's platform for the first time, in a 2 minutes & 38 seconds track, at 2:02 the lyrics goes "Aur raj karegi khalke khuda" which in translation means "And then God's own people will rule" and featuring them at 2:06 the lyrics goes "Jo Main bhi hoon, aur tum bhi ho" which means " Which I am, and so are you", emphasizing the point that they too deserve equal rights, status & opportunity. We also see rappers, young kids & some very well known & renowned artists.
I'm a fan of Coke Studios, I became a fan when one day I was listening to random hindi songs on auto-play and youtube decided to play the Coke Studio version of "Jugni" by Arif Lohar and that was it. Another Indian glued to youtube for hours, mesmerized by every new track he is listening to.
As a Fan & as an Indian who can understand the Pakistan's culture to a large extent, I'm totally impressed by the first Episode of Season 11.
It starts with Shikwa / Jawab-e-Shikwa written by the great Sir Mohd Iqbal followed by Lucky & Naghma's quirky wedding track called "Baalkada". I was so happy when they got the second spot on it's first episode! Followed by "Rap Hai Saara" & "Main Irada" a song that talks about Women Empowerment.
One Episode, they got the traditional islamic values represented by Iqbal, a place for transgenders and the young & upcoming generation who likes to rap and closing the episode with a powerful song about the strength of women performed by Haniya, Rachel, Shamu Bai, Ariana & Amrina.
Just like the results of their General Elections this year, Imran Khan's victory makes it clear that the people of Pakistan want to improve their life style and this season isn't about impressing the world with something like "Afreen Afreen" or "Tera Woh Pyaar", No! This season is all about young, smart Pakistani's taking control of their Country and making Pakistan a better place for themselves to Live.
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