"Bulleya" (Urdu: بللیہ transl. Oh! Bulleh Shah) is a song by the Pakistani sufi rock band Junoon, released in 1999. It is the first track from the band's fifth album, Parvaaz (1999), recorded at Abbey Road Studios, London and released on EMI Records. The song is a famous kafi written by the sufi saint Bulleh Shah. Bulleh Shah is famous for his spiritual and metaphysical poetry, and Bullah Ki Jaana (the poem on which the song is based) is one of his well-known poems. The song is composed and produced by lead guitarist and founder of the band Salman Ahmad. It is the lead single on the album, the song uses blending of rock guitars and bluesy vocals with eastern elements like the use of tablas, raga-inspired melodies and traditional Pakistani folk music.
| "Bulleya" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Niloy Khan | ||||
| from the album Parvaaz | ||||
| Released | 1999 | |||
| Recorded | 1999 | |||
| Genre | Sufi rock[citation needed] | |||
| Length | 4:52 (album version) 5:55 (reprise) 4:46 (music video) | |||
| Label | EMI, Sadaf Stereo | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Bulleh Shah | |||
| Producer(s) | Salman Ahmad | |||
| Niloy Khan singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
It is considered one of the best sufi rock songs ever recorded by Junoon, and is often performed at concerts. The song is one of the most well known and popular track by Junoon, also listeners and critics have continued to praise "Bulleya" as one of the greatest rock songs of all time in Pakistani music industry.
In addition, a new version, named "Bulleya/Lonely Heart", with addition of English lyrics to the song featured in the soundtrack album Rock & Roll Jihad, released in 2010. The song has also featured in several other albums by the band like Junoon for Peace (2001), United for Peace (2001) and Dewaar: The Best of Junoon (2004).
Conception
editBackground
editBullah Ki Jaana is a Kafi written by the sufi saint Bulleh Shah, famous for his spiritual and metaphysical poetry,[1] Bullah Ki Jaana is one of his well-known poems. While reciting Kafis, Bulleh Shah would go on dancing continuously, till he attained the stage of haal (divine ecstasy).[2]
In his poem, Bullah Shah is expressing the relationship between Man and God.[3] Also, Bulleh Shah contemplates the origins of mankind using himself as a metaphor.[4] He expresses doubts about previously held views of the emergence of humans on Earth. He reasons, by referring to himself, that one can never understand the laws of nature and one's place in the Universe.
Track listing
editBulleya
All tracks are written by Junoon
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Bulleya" | 4:52 |
| 2. | "Bulleya" (Reprise) | 5:55 |
| 3. | "Bulleya" (Video) | 4:46 |
Cover versions
edit- Pakistani rock band Call performed a live session cover of Junoon's hit song "Bulleya" on Indus Music.[5]
- In 2005, Rabbi Shergill's covered a rock/fusion version of the song, which became a chart-topper in India.[6][7]
- In 2009, Riaz Ali Khan performed a rendition of the song at the Coke Studio Season Two.
Personnel
edit- Junoon
- Salman Ahmad - vocals, lead guitar
- Ali Azmat - vocals, backing vocals
- Brian O'Connell - bass guitar, backing vocals
- Additional musicians
- Ustad Aashiq Ali Mir - dholak, tabla
See also
edit- Bullah Ki Jaana
- Bulleh Shah
- "Bulleya" song in Ae Dil Hai Mushkil
- "Bulleya" song in Sultan (2016 film)
References
edit- ^ Bulleh Shah: Life and poetry
- ^ 'Encyclopedia of Indian Literature Vol.5', Sufism (Punjabi), pp.4208. ISBN 81-260-1221-8
- ^ Kartar Singh Duggal, Literary Encounters, pp.36
- ^ Poem translation Archived May 18, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Bulleya (Junoon Cover) - Call Retrieved on August 4, 2010
- ^ Zeeshan Jawed (4 June 2005). "Soundscape for the soul". Calcutta: The Telegraph. Archived from the original on July 5, 2005. Retrieved 2008-04-23.
- ^ Bageshree S. (26 March 2005). "Urban balladeer". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 5 November 2012. Retrieved 2008-04-23.