Time to bring the rest of ASIA into JPHiP:
Junoon جنونJunoon (meaning "obsession" in Urdu and "craziness" in Arabic) is one of Pakistan and South Asia's most popular Rock bands. Junoon has changed the world of rock forever by transforming an American art form into Arabic music.
My buddy Zain introduced me to em in 2001, and they ARE ROCKING!! A mix of traditional Pakistani music with a blend of modern U2-style rock. They rock in English too, they covered John Lennon's imagine among others. Their message of peace and goodwill is truly inspirational. Fave tunes incl. "No More" & "Ghoom"
HISTORY (from wiki)
Though the band's first album, the self titled "Junoon" barely made a dent in the Pakistani music industry. Their second album "Talaash" (the quest) began creating a cult following for Junoon.
It was only after their 1995 release of their third album "Inquilaab" (Revolution), that Junoon developed a nationwide fan following, blending rock guitars and bluesy vocals with eastern elements like the use of tablas (traditional south Asian hand drums), raga-inspired melodies, traditional Pakistani folk music, and Eastern inspired poetry.
The band were one of the first bands in Pakistan to insist on playing live music where most music was sampled and programmed synth pop. Heavily influenced by rock bands like Led Zeppelin, Junoon aimed at combining loud guitar riffs with the tranquility of sufi poetry by the likes of Maulana Rumi, Allama Iqbal and Baba Bulleh Shah.
Success didn't come easy to Junoon as they tried to defy traditions in a conservative country like Pakistan. Their politically influenced songs were often subject to censorship, which led to the eventual ban from all state run television and radio during the rule of former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
In 1998, the band took both Pakistan and India by storm with their hit single "Sayonee" which was part of their tremendously successful fourth studio album "Azadi" (Freedom) released by EMI. In 1999, Junoon released their fifth studio album "Parvaaz" (The Flight), which was based mostly on the poetry of Baba Bulleh Shah. "Parvaaz" was recorded and mixed at Abbey Road Studios in London and was hailed by critics as Junoon's finest work to date. Junoon won the award of "Best International Group" at the Channel V Music Awards in New Delhi, India in November 1999, where Sting, Def Leppard, and Prodigy performed with Junoon.
UNESCO invited Junoon to perform at their Millennium Peace concert in 1999 in Paris. The synergy created by Junoon aimed at peace, was an inspiration to all those present, which included renowned legendary artists like Lionel Richie, Dr. K.J. Yesudas, Ray Charles, Montserrat Caballé and Zubin Mehta conducting the Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra. The famous actors Gregory Peck, Sidney Poitier, and Peter Ustinov were the masters of ceremony. Dignitaries from around the world, including the heads of the European union and the ambassadors from 170 countries attended this global event.
continued:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Junoon_%28band%29Members* Ali Azmat (Lead Vocalist)
* Salman Ahmad (Guitar/Songwriter)
* Brian O'Connell (Bass)
* Shehryar Ahmad (Band Manager)
* John Alec (Producer/Bassist)
* Nusrat Hussain (Keyboards)
sample muzaks:"No More" english song...dedicated to 9/11
[youtube=425,350]SAkpsYcH93s[/youtube]
"Ghoom" Live in Kalamazoo
[youtube=425,350]3J2xUpyLO3c[/youtube]
live in New York, "Sayonee"
[youtube=425,350]3rWYkY2GyBI[/youtube]
HAUNTING, eh?!
on CNN:
[youtube=425,350]wwh9YvejoXU[/youtube]
Discography Junoon
* Released: 1991
* Singles: "Khaub", "Neend Aati Nahin"
* Label: EMI: Pakistan
Talaash (The Search)
* Released: 1993
* Singles: "Bheegi Yaadein", "Jazba-E-Junoon", "Talaash"
* Label: EMI: Pakistan
Inquilaab (Revolution)
* Released: 1996
* Singles: "Dosti","Rooh Ki Pyas", "Mein Kaun Hoon"
* Label: VCI
Azadi (Freedom)
* Released: 1997
* Singles: "Khudi", "Meri Awaz Suno", "Sayonee", "Yaar Bina"
* Label: EMI Arabia / VCI
Parvaaz (The Flight)
* Released: 1999
* Singles: "Bulleya","Ghoom"
* Label: EMI Arabia / Lips Records
Ishq (Love)
* Released: 2001
* Singles: "Chal Kuriye","Chaen", "Ishq"
* Label: Lips Records
Dewaar (The Wall)
* Released: 2003
* Singles: "Deewar","Baarish", "Garaj Baras", "Yeh Maza Zindagi Ka", "Hungama"
* Label: Sadaf Stereo
and their best of:
LINKSOfficial site:
http://www.junoon.com/home2.htmOfficial forums:
http://www.junoonforums.com/Bio:
http://www.pakistanimusic.com/artistes/junoon.htmlwiki:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Junoon_%28band%29http://homepage1.nifty.com/uspaar/junoondisc.htm (Japanese fansite)
On 9/11:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3377671.stmCHECK EM OUT!!! Ali Azmat new album drops soon and Salman Ahmad may drop by a campus near you!