Sayonee
Encyclopedia
"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
(1997), released on EMI Records
. Written by lead guitarist and founder of the band Salman Ahmad
and writer Sabir Zafar, 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
.
The unexpected success of "Sayonee" in 1997 propelled Azadi at the local and international music charts, within three months of the release of Azadi, the album had sold over half a million copies and hit platinum sales status in a record of four weeks. The music video of the single, "Sayonee", was shot by Asim Reza which 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 two months. The single was a hit in South Asia
, topping all music charts in Pakistan
, India
and Bangladesh
. The success of the single led the album being the band's highest selling album in South Asia and Junoon received a platinum certification for hitting platinum sales for their album. Also, the single was nominated for the 'Best International Song' at the Channel V Music Awards
in 1998. Junoon won the 'Best International Group' title at the Channel V Music Awards, where they performed along with world-wide 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
, Bangladesh
and India
that year.
To this day, it is considered one of the best sufi rock songs ever recorded, and is often performed at concerts by Junoon. The song is one of most well known and popular track by Junoon, also listeners and critics have continued to praise "Sayonee" as one of the greatest rock songs of all time in Pakistani music industry. Also, "Sayonee" was named at #1 in a list of Junoon's top 10 songs published by Gibson Guitar on their website.
In addition, the live version performed at Central Park
, New York
, in 1998 of the song featured in the live album Daur-e-Junoon
, released in 2002. The song has also featured in several other albums by the band like Junoon for Peace
(2001) and Dewaar: The Best of Junoon
(2004).
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 April, 1997. It is the first track from the band's album fourth album, Azadi
Azadi (album)
Azadi is the fourth studio album and the fifth overall album of the Pakistani 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...
(1997), 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...
. Written 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...
and writer Sabir Zafar, 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....
.
The unexpected success of "Sayonee" in 1997 propelled Azadi at the local and international music charts, within three months of the release of Azadi, the album had sold over half a million copies and hit platinum sales status in a record of four weeks. The music video of the single, "Sayonee", was shot by Asim Reza which 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 Asia for over two months. The single was a 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...
, topping all music charts 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...
, 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...
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...
. The success of the single led the album being the band's highest selling album in South Asia and Junoon received a platinum certification for hitting platinum sales for their album. Also, the single was nominated for the 'Best International Song' 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:...
in 1998. Junoon won the 'Best International Group' title at the Channel V Music Awards, where they performed along with world-wide 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...
, 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...
and 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...
that year.
To this day, it is considered one of the best sufi rock songs ever recorded, and is often performed at concerts by Junoon. The song is one of most well known and popular track by Junoon, also listeners and critics have continued to praise "Sayonee" as one of the greatest rock songs of all time in Pakistani music industry. Also, "Sayonee" was named at #1 in a list of Junoon's top 10 songs published by Gibson Guitar on their website.
In addition, the live version performed at Central Park
Central Park
Central Park is a public park in the center of Manhattan in New York City, United States. The park initially opened in 1857, on of city-owned land. In 1858, Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux won a design competition to improve and expand the park with a plan they entitled the Greensward Plan...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, in 1998 of the song featured in the live album Daur-e-Junoon
Daur-e-Junoon
Daur-e-Junoon is the second live album and overall the twelfth album released by the Pakistan rock band, Junoon. The album was released on March 29, 2002....
, released in 2002. 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) 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).
Music video
The music video of "Sayonee", literal English meaning "Soulmate", was directed by Asim Reza. The plot of the music video rotates around a boy who struggles to find his soul mate and goes through many troubles in life. Furthermore, as the music video proceeds the boy is shown all grown up but still struggling to find his soulmate and thus, is shown running in order to try to save himself from the troubles he has been into. The music video also showed the band performing the song wearing traditional sufi clothing and in between the music video short clips of traditional sufi dancers were seen performing sufi dance.Track listing
SayoneePersonnel
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