Disco Deewane
Encyclopedia
Disco Deewane is a Pakistani pop album, performed by Pakistani singer Nazia Hassan
and produced by the famous Indian producer Biddu
, that was released in 1981. It charted in fourteen countries worldwide and became the best-selling Asian pop record up until that time. It changed trends in music across South Asia
, where it broke sales records, such as selling 100,000 records within a day of its release in India
's capital Bombay
alone. In South Asia, where the music industry was previously dominated by filmi
soundtrack
s, Disco Deewaane was the first non-soundtrack album to become a major success across the region, paving the way for the emergence of independent Pakistani and Indian pop
music scenes. It was also the first South Asian pop album to top the charts in Brazil
, while also becoming a hit in Russia
, South Africa
, and Indonesia
, and a success among the South Asian diaspora
in regions such as the United Kingdom
, United States
, and West Indies.
decided to produce a private album with Nazia Hassan
. He entered into a contract with H.M.V. India Ltd. to produce an album with Nazia Hassan. Biddu composed eight songs for the album. He thought that it would, like his other albums, do good business. So, he sent this album to Mr. Sood in India.
The song Disco Deewane was written by Anwar Khalid, and became the title song for the album; Mr. Sood had asked him to suggest a name for the album and he suggested names like "Disco" and "Dil Toh Deewane" and finally came up with Disco Deewane. Biddu went to his studio and composed the music for the whole song in one night. The next day Nazia and Zoheb arrived at the studio and recorded the song. The song became a super hit.
"I thought we would sell 4 lakh copies. But, the actual sales were over 14 million all over the world, especially in India, Pakistan
, Bangladesh
, Russia and Brazil," said Biddu.
Nazia Hassan became a superstar. She told the people that playback singers can also release their own album. The album was on the US Billboard. It hit charts like Saturday Night Fever. Nazia Hassan’s song Disco Deewane became a number one hit on the Brazil Charts which was amazing and it was first time that a song, sung by a Pakistani artist was on the western charts.
Nazia and Zoheb were called in for an interview by the BBC
.
Their interview went this way:
"This is BBC News from London. Welcome to BBC News Today. We have with us a teenage duo by the name of Nazia and Zoheb from Pakistan
, who not only rock the music scene back home but have also revolutionized the Asian Music scene by introducing Asian pop. Their album "Disco Deewane" has sold over 14 million records, not only in Asia, but, also in far off regions in South America, South Africa and Russia. So tell me Nazia and Zoheb, what is the secret of your success?"
“Well, I don’t know, I think the reason is, we never copied anyone and we've always tried to come up with original music that young people can identify with and above all simply because we do what we enjoy the most,” came the reply from Nazia.
Nazia Hassan recorded some videos in London for her album. She recorded the English version of Disco Deewane, Dreamer Deewane for the UK charts and it was the first Pakistani album. In Pakistan, this was the era of Zia-ul-Haq and he was introducing Islamic revolution. The video was banned in Pakistan because the young duo's dancing feet and innocent faces were not acceptable for him. But these bans didn’t reduce their fame. Instead, it was increasing day by day.
Nazia Hassan
Nazia Hassan was an iconic Pakistani pop singer. Her song "Aap Jaisa Koi" from the Indian film Qurbani made her a legend and pop icon in Pakistan and all of South Asia in the 1980s, where she is admired and loved even today, years after her death...
and produced by the famous Indian producer Biddu
Biddu
Biddu or Biddu Appaiah is an Indian-British music producer, composer, song-writer and singer who produced and composed many hit records worldwide during a career spanning five decades...
, that was released in 1981. It charted in fourteen countries worldwide and became the best-selling Asian pop record up until that time. It changed trends in music across 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...
, where it broke sales records, such as selling 100,000 records within a day of its release in India
India
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...
's capital Bombay
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...
alone. In South Asia, where the music industry was previously dominated by filmi
Filmi
Filmi is Indian popular music as written and performed for Indian cinema. Music directors make up the main body of composers; the songs are performed by playback singers and it makes up 72% of the music sales in India....
soundtrack
Soundtrack
A soundtrack can be recorded music accompanying and synchronized to the images of a motion picture, book, television program or video game; a commercially released soundtrack album of music as featured in the soundtrack of a film or TV show; or the physical area of a film that contains the...
s, Disco Deewaane was the first non-soundtrack album to become a major success across the region, paving the way for the emergence of independent Pakistani and Indian pop
Indian pop
Indian pop music , often known as Indian-Pop, Hindi Pop, Indipop or Indi-pop, refers to pop music in India. Pop music really started in the South Asian region with the famous playback singer Ahmed Rushdi's song ‘Ko-Ko-Korina’ in 1966...
music scenes. It was also the first South Asian pop album to top the charts in Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, while also becoming a hit in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, and Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
, and a success among the South Asian diaspora
Desi
Desi or Deshi refers to the people, cultures, and products of the Indian subcontinent and, increasingly, to the people, cultures, and products of their diaspora. Desi countries include India, Pakistan, Bangladesh...
in regions such as the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and West Indies.
History
After the success of Aap Jaisa Koi, BidduBiddu
Biddu or Biddu Appaiah is an Indian-British music producer, composer, song-writer and singer who produced and composed many hit records worldwide during a career spanning five decades...
decided to produce a private album with Nazia Hassan
Nazia Hassan
Nazia Hassan was an iconic Pakistani pop singer. Her song "Aap Jaisa Koi" from the Indian film Qurbani made her a legend and pop icon in Pakistan and all of South Asia in the 1980s, where she is admired and loved even today, years after her death...
. He entered into a contract with H.M.V. India Ltd. to produce an album with Nazia Hassan. Biddu composed eight songs for the album. He thought that it would, like his other albums, do good business. So, he sent this album to Mr. Sood in India.
The song Disco Deewane was written by Anwar Khalid, and became the title song for the album; Mr. Sood had asked him to suggest a name for the album and he suggested names like "Disco" and "Dil Toh Deewane" and finally came up with Disco Deewane. Biddu went to his studio and composed the music for the whole song in one night. The next day Nazia and Zoheb arrived at the studio and recorded the song. The song became a super hit.
"I thought we would sell 4 lakh copies. But, the actual sales were over 14 million all over the world, especially in India, 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...
, 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...
, Russia and Brazil," said Biddu.
Nazia Hassan became a superstar. She told the people that playback singers can also release their own album. The album was on the US Billboard. It hit charts like Saturday Night Fever. Nazia Hassan’s song Disco Deewane became a number one hit on the Brazil Charts which was amazing and it was first time that a song, sung by a Pakistani artist was on the western charts.
Nazia and Zoheb were called in for an interview by the BBC
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...
.
Their interview went this way:
"This is BBC News from London. Welcome to BBC News Today. We have with us a teenage duo by the name of Nazia and Zoheb from 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...
, who not only rock the music scene back home but have also revolutionized the Asian Music scene by introducing Asian pop. Their album "Disco Deewane" has sold over 14 million records, not only in Asia, but, also in far off regions in South America, South Africa and Russia. So tell me Nazia and Zoheb, what is the secret of your success?"
“Well, I don’t know, I think the reason is, we never copied anyone and we've always tried to come up with original music that young people can identify with and above all simply because we do what we enjoy the most,” came the reply from Nazia.
Nazia Hassan recorded some videos in London for her album. She recorded the English version of Disco Deewane, Dreamer Deewane for the UK charts and it was the first Pakistani album. In Pakistan, this was the era of Zia-ul-Haq and he was introducing Islamic revolution. The video was banned in Pakistan because the young duo's dancing feet and innocent faces were not acceptable for him. But these bans didn’t reduce their fame. Instead, it was increasing day by day.
Songs
- AoNa - Nazia Hassan
- Disco Deewane - Nazia Hassan
- Lekin Mera dil - Nazia Hassan
- Mujhay Chahe - Nazia Hassan & Zoheb Hassan
- Komal Komal - Nazia Hassan (Composed by Arshad Mahmud)
- Tere Qadmoon Ko - Nazia Hassan & Zoheb Hassan
- Dil Mera - Nazia Hassan
- Dhundli Raat - Nazia Hassan (Composed by Arshad Mahmud)
- Gaien Mil Ker - Nazia Hassan (Composed by Arshad Mahmud)
- Disco Deewane Part II - Instrumental
- Aap jaisa koi meri zindagi mein aya - Nazia hassan