Bulleya
Encyclopedia
"Bulleya" 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
.
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 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).
is a Kafi written by the sufi saint
Bulleh Shah
, famous for his spiritual and metaphysical poetry, 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).
In his poem, Bullah Shah is expressing the relationship between Man and God. Also, Bulleh Shah contemplates the origins of mankind using himself as a metaphor
. 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
.
Additional musicians
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, released in 1999. It is the first track from the band's fifth album, Parvaaz
Parvaaz
-Personnel:Junoon*Salman Ahmad - vocals, lead guitar*Ali Azmat - vocals, backing vocals*Brian O'Connell - bass guitar, backing vocalsAdditional musicians*Malcolm Goveas - drums*Ashiq Ali Mir - tabla, dholakProduction...
(1999), recorded at Abbey Road Studios
Abbey Road Studios
Abbey Road Studios is a recording studio located at 3 Abbey Road, St John's Wood, City of Westminster, London, England. It was established in November 1931 by the Gramophone Company, a predecessor of British music company EMI, its present owner...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and released on EMI Records
EMI Records
EMI Records is the flagship record label founded by the EMI company in 1972 and launched in January 1973 as the successor to its Columbia label. The EMI label was launched worldwide...
. The song is a famous kafi written by the sufi saint
Saint
A saint is a holy person. In various religions, saints are people who are believed to have exceptional holiness.In Christian usage, "saint" refers to any believer who is "in Christ", and in whom Christ dwells, whether in heaven or in earth...
Bulleh Shah
Bulleh Shah
Bulleh Shah was a Punjabi Sufi poet, a humanist and philosopher.-Early life:Bulleh Shah is believed to have been born in 1680, in the small village of Uch, Bahawalpur, Punjab, in present day Pakistan. His father, Shah Muhammad Darwaish, was a teacher and preacher in a village mosque...
. Bulleh Shah is famous for his spiritual and metaphysical poetry, and Bullah Ki Jaana
Bullah Ki Jaana
Bullah ki jaana is a Kafi written by the Sufi saint Bulleh Shah. Bulleh Shah is famous for his spiritual and metaphysical poetry, and "Bullah ki janaa" is one of his well-known poems...
(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
Salman 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...
. It is the lead single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
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
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
.
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 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
Rock & Roll Jihad
Rock & Roll Jihad is the first soundtrack album and the eighteenth overall album of the Pakistani band, Junoon. The soundtrack is based on Salman Ahmad and Junoon's musical journey...
, released in 2010. The song has also featured in several other albums by the band like Junoon for Peace
Junoon for Peace
Junoon for Peace is the first live album and the eleventh overall album by the Pakistani band, Junoon. The album was recorded live on October 27, 2001....
(2001), United for Peace
United for Peace
United For Peace is the second video album and the tenth overall album by the Pakistani band, Junoon. The album contains four music videos from Junoon's previous albums, which include "Azadi", theme from "Jinnah the Movie", "Bulleya" from Parvaaz, "Jazba-e-Junoon" from Inquilaab and "Zamane Ke...
(2001) and Dewaar: The Best of Junoon
Dewaar: The Best of Junoon
-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*Vocals on "Azadi" by Samina Ahmad...
(2004).
Background
Bullah Ki JaanaBullah Ki Jaana
Bullah ki jaana is a Kafi written by the Sufi saint Bulleh Shah. Bulleh Shah is famous for his spiritual and metaphysical poetry, and "Bullah ki janaa" is one of his well-known poems...
is a Kafi written by the sufi saint
Saint
A saint is a holy person. In various religions, saints are people who are believed to have exceptional holiness.In Christian usage, "saint" refers to any believer who is "in Christ", and in whom Christ dwells, whether in heaven or in earth...
Bulleh Shah
Bulleh Shah
Bulleh Shah was a Punjabi Sufi poet, a humanist and philosopher.-Early life:Bulleh Shah is believed to have been born in 1680, in the small village of Uch, Bahawalpur, Punjab, in present day Pakistan. His father, Shah Muhammad Darwaish, was a teacher and preacher in a village mosque...
, famous for his spiritual and metaphysical poetry, 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).
In his poem, Bullah Shah is expressing the relationship between Man and God. Also, Bulleh Shah contemplates the origins of mankind using himself as a metaphor
Metaphor
A metaphor is a literary figure of speech that uses an image, story or tangible thing to represent a less tangible thing or some intangible quality or idea; e.g., "Her eyes were glistening jewels." Metaphor may also be used for any rhetorical figures of speech that achieve their effects via...
. 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
Universe
The Universe is commonly defined as the totality of everything that exists, including all matter and energy, the planets, stars, galaxies, and the contents of intergalactic space. Definitions and usage vary and similar terms include the cosmos, the world and nature...
.
Track listing
BulleyaCover versions
- Pakistani rock band Call performed a live session cover of Junoon's hit song "Bulleya" on Indus Music.
- In 2005, Rabbi ShergillRabbi ShergillRabbi Shergill in Jatt Sikh family is an Indian musician well known for his debut album Rabbi and the chart-topper song of 2005, "Bulla Ki Jaana"...
's covered a rock/fusion version of the song, which became a chart-topper in IndiaIndiaIndia , 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...
.
Personnel
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 Mir - dholak, tabla