Material boys
Jasmine Singh
Ki banu duniya da, sache pathsha waheguru jaaney…Gurdas Maan first asked this question in old film, and he asked it again in a contemporary style in Coke Studio along with Diljit Dosanjh.
The answer to the question is something we haven’t got any closer to. But the same query, if put to the Punjabi music industry, will have some serious answers coming by. If you have been thorough with Youtube or a die-hard Punjabi music fan, you would know how the lyrics in this industry have been surfing in the high and low tide. At present, however, it seems to be riding on the tides of various sizes and shapes, like these…
The car bike phase
Punjabi music industry’s obsession with cars, bikes, tractors is accelerated with each passing day. If Punjabi singer Jassi Gill innocently sings Odi chitti lancer waddi jandi fahey ji, the new singing sensation Sukh-E sings Baby kehndi pehle Jaguar lai lavo, fer jina marzi pyar lai lavo and the handsome Roshan Prince sings all praise for Ford. It might sound like they are singing for an automobile company, but this is how it is. Jassi Gill laughs out aloud. “A fan told me that after listening to my song, he and many of his friends bought Lancer. So, I did well for the company, didn’t I?”
On the other hand, popular singer Roshan Prince only feels it is about striking the chord with the listeners. “When youngsters in Punjab and abroad listen to such lyrics, such words, it is a like instant click. Yes, excessive use of such words or lyrics can be too much sometimes.”
Much is the popularity of the song Jaguar that another singer has written and sung a similar one, Jaguar Reply To Girl, which is already making waves.
Brands bargain
Given the rising number of young singers in Punjabi music industry, it is but natural that every second song has a generous mention of brands like Gucci, Armaani, Tommy Hilfiger, Rolex and so on. Singer Ranjit Bawa sings, Yaari Chandigarh waliye ni teri, Kara gi hath yaar de khade, Ho caprese de tu rahi mangdi press, Jeana tommy Armaani diya pa layian….
Apparel & more
When they are not talking about Jaguar, Hummer or Gucci, singers are crooning all about suits, salwaar kameez and pyjama kurta. Singer Preet Harpal has at least three songs, all on ‘black suit’ to his credit. The Angrej star talks about the kurta pyjama that he got stitched from Abohar (Punjab) in his song Pendu.
As he adds, “What we wear defines our attitude, which is very Punjabi, which is exactly what is brought out through these songs.” Preet Harpal knows how to woo the female audience. “Women are always conscious about what they wear, and black undoubtedly their favouritre colour, so the songs.”
The fight is on
This is the favourite topic of any Punjabi singer. At any given time they can shoot from a 32 bore, they will stand for their friends, fight for them, help them elope with their lover, and all these are currently trending in Punjabi music scene.
Singer-actor Nishawn Bhullar’s recent song Yaaran De Siran Te, Dilpreet Dhillon’s Gunday No 1 and Gunday Returns validates it. Nishawn Bhullar, who is known for his high-pitched songs, answers this.
“The lyrics of any song represent a trend. Also, Punjabi is a daring race, and if a singer sings a song that has a sense of bravado, imagine the hooting he or she gets.”
jasmine@tribunemail.com
