Azadi (album)
Encyclopedia
Azadi is the fourth studio album
and the fifth overall album of the Pakistan
i sufi rock
band, Junoon. The album was released in 1997 and establishes the Sufi rock
sound that the band pioneered on their previous album, Inquilaab
. The album was a major hit worldwide and catapulted Junoon into mainstream stardom.
Music videos were released for the two singles from the album, "Sayonee
" and "Yaar Bina". "Sayonee" is Junoon's biggest hit to date, topping all charts in South Asia
and also gaining significant airplay on satellite channels across the Middle East
.
. The album's first single, "Sayonee
", became an instant hit in South Asia
and the Middle East
, shooting to the top of all the Asian charts, and staying at #1 on both Channel V
and MTV
Asia
for over 2 months. Azadi hit platinum sales status in a record of 4 weeks. Zee TV
invited Junoon to perform at the star-studded Zee Cine Awards
in Mumbai
in March 1998, where the group received accolades from the creme de la creme of India's entertainment industry.
In 1998, Junoon won the "Best International Group" title at the Channel V Music Awards
, where they performed along with worldwide icons Sting, The Prodigy
and Def Leppard
. Azadi was nominated for Best International Album, having achieved the prestigious honour of being the highest selling album in Pakistan
and Bangladesh
1998 and 1999. Junoon headlined the BBC Mega Mela
in 1998, which was the largest Asian festival outside of the South Asia
. The album made the band famous throughout the world.
and Sabir Zafar. Except for "Khudi" which was written by Allama Iqbal.
Junoon
Additional musicians
Production
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
and the fifth overall album of the Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
i sufi rock
Sufi rock
Sufi rock is a subgenre of rock music that combines rock with classical sufi music traditions. It emerged in the early 1990s and became widely popular in the late 1990s in Pakistan. The term "sufi rock" was coined in 1993 by writer Nadeem F...
band, Junoon. The album was released in 1997 and establishes the Sufi rock
Sufi rock
Sufi rock is a subgenre of rock music that combines rock with classical sufi music traditions. It emerged in the early 1990s and became widely popular in the late 1990s in Pakistan. The term "sufi rock" was coined in 1993 by writer Nadeem F...
sound that the band pioneered on their previous album, Inquilaab
Inquilaab
-Personnel:All information is taken from the CD.Junoon*Salman Ahmad - vocals, lead guitar*Ali Azmat - vocals, backing vocals*Brian O'Connell - bass guitar, backing vocalsAdditional musicians*Drums by Malcolm Goveas*Tablas and Dholak by Ashiq Ali Mir...
. The album was a major hit worldwide and catapulted Junoon into mainstream stardom.
Music videos were released for the two singles from the album, "Sayonee
Sayonee
"Sayonee" is a song by the Pakistani sufi rock band Junoon, released in April, 1997. It is the first track from the band's album fourth album, Azadi , released on EMI Records...
" and "Yaar Bina". "Sayonee" is Junoon's biggest hit to date, topping all charts in South Asia
South Asia
South Asia, also known as Southern Asia, is the southern region of the Asian continent, which comprises the sub-Himalayan countries and, for some authorities , also includes the adjoining countries to the west and the east...
and also gaining significant airplay on satellite channels across the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
.
Background
Azadi was released by Junoon in 1997 and was the band's debut album in IndiaIndia
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. The album's first single, "Sayonee
Sayonee
"Sayonee" is a song by the Pakistani sufi rock band Junoon, released in April, 1997. It is the first track from the band's album fourth album, Azadi , released on EMI Records...
", became an instant hit in South Asia
South Asia
South Asia, also known as Southern Asia, is the southern region of the Asian continent, which comprises the sub-Himalayan countries and, for some authorities , also includes the adjoining countries to the west and the east...
and the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
, shooting to the top of all the Asian charts, and staying at #1 on both Channel V
Channel V
Channel [V] is the brand name for multiple international music television networks owned by STAR TV and Fox International Channels, fully owned subsidiaries of News Corporation.-Channel [V] International:...
and MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
for over 2 months. Azadi hit platinum sales status in a record of 4 weeks. Zee TV
Zee TV
Zee TV is an India-based satellite television channel owned by Zee Entertainment Enterprises based in Mumbai, Maharashtra, which broadcasts various programmes in Hindi and other regional languages of India. Broadcasting is also present in various nations of South Asia, Europe, the Middle East,...
invited Junoon to perform at the star-studded Zee Cine Awards
Zee Cine Awards
The Zee Cine Awards or "ZCA" for short is an awards ceremony for the Hindi film industry. It was first held in 1998 in Mumbai. Since then, it has gained substantial popularity as a notable awards ceremony to the Indian population as well as to the viewers of Zee Network.In 2004, the ZCA went...
in Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
in March 1998, where the group received accolades from the creme de la creme of India's entertainment industry.
In 1998, Junoon won the "Best International Group" title at the Channel V Music Awards
Channel V
Channel [V] is the brand name for multiple international music television networks owned by STAR TV and Fox International Channels, fully owned subsidiaries of News Corporation.-Channel [V] International:...
, where they performed along with worldwide icons Sting, The Prodigy
The Prodigy
The Prodigy are an English electronic dance music group formed by Liam Howlett in 1990 in Braintree, Essex. Along with Fatboy Slim, The Chemical Brothers, and other acts, The Prodigy have been credited as pioneers of the big beat genre, which achieved mainstream popularity in the 1990s and 2000s...
and Def Leppard
Def Leppard
Def Leppard are an English rock band formed in 1977 in Sheffield as part of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement. Since 1992, the band have consisted of Joe Elliott , Rick Savage , Rick Allen , Phil Collen , and Vivian Campbell...
. Azadi was nominated for Best International Album, having achieved the prestigious honour of being the highest selling album in Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
and Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
1998 and 1999. Junoon headlined the BBC Mega Mela
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
in 1998, which was the largest Asian festival outside of the South Asia
South Asia
South Asia, also known as Southern Asia, is the southern region of the Asian continent, which comprises the sub-Himalayan countries and, for some authorities , also includes the adjoining countries to the west and the east...
. The album made the band famous throughout the world.
Track listing
All music written & composed by Salman AhmadSalman Ahmad
Salman Ahmad is a Pakistani musician and former actor, who used to be a member of Vital Signs but left after their debut album due to creative differences. He went on to form Junoon, South Asia's biggest and longest-lasting rock band. While still enjoying the success of Junoon, he was involved in...
and Sabir Zafar. Except for "Khudi" which was written by Allama Iqbal.
Personnel
All information is taken from the CD.Junoon
- Salman AhmadSalman AhmadSalman Ahmad is a Pakistani musician and former actor, who used to be a member of Vital Signs but left after their debut album due to creative differences. He went on to form Junoon, South Asia's biggest and longest-lasting rock band. While still enjoying the success of Junoon, he was involved in...
- vocals, lead guitarLead guitarLead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure... - Ali AzmatAli AzmatAli Azmat is a Ali Azmat is a...
- vocals, backing vocalsBacking vocalistA backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists... - Brian O'ConnellBrian O'Connell (musician)Brian O'Connell is an American multi-instrumentalist, composer, arranger, record producer and actor. Best known as the bassist and producer for Pakistani sufi rock band Junoon, O'Connell has since gained respect as both a musician and a producer in the Pakistani music industry. O'Connell and Salman...
- bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, backing vocalsBacking vocalistA backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists...
Additional musicians
- Ustad Aashiq Ali: Tambourin, Tabla
Production
- Produced by John Alec & Salman AhmadSalman AhmadSalman Ahmad is a Pakistani musician and former actor, who used to be a member of Vital Signs but left after their debut album due to creative differences. He went on to form Junoon, South Asia's biggest and longest-lasting rock band. While still enjoying the success of Junoon, he was involved in...
- Engineered & Mixed by John Alec