PSI contestants celebrate Eid in melodious style
q Ali Haider nicknames M.Afzal as Abrar Jackson q Asad, Asif, Afzal in little danger while Sohaib, Haroon Ali in lurch
Uzma Zafar
 

PSI

The Pakistan Sangeet Icon contestants celebrated Eid with their fans in melodious style, through singing cheerful songs with respect to the Eid Songs Round, this Sunday. Where Asad Abbas, Asif Ali Babar and M.Afzal reached places where others could even dream of, Sohaib Hassan, Haroon Shahid and Ali Asad failed to make an impact on the judges. The resultant is that the three are most likely to fall in the Danger Zone this Saturday along M.Afzal maybe, as he had a sore throat again though it little showed in this singing or even Asad Abbas as his performance was not lively, provided the audience poll agrees with the judges but one out of Sohaib Hassan, Haroon Shahid and Ali Asad would most probably be eliminated. If things go justified, the eliminations, points and everything, though all things seem predictable but it has a beauty in it too. And that’s what we can say about PSI. The eliminations that have gone so far are genuine, especially since the judges have taken over!
Coming back to the Eid Songs Round, Asad Abbas sang Oye O of Sajjad Ali and though we’ve seen him doing classical most of the time, he sung the pop number too, to perfection, leaving little room for criticism. Jawad Ahmad who was the celebrity judge this time, admitted that he couldn’t have sung better. Ali Haider praised Asad for his brilliant song choice while suggesting that had he put in more impressions and liveliness, the performance would’ve turned out to be better. Mikaal Hassan too, seconded Ali Haider saying that no doubt Asad had sung great but should’ve been more involved but nevertheless, remained very consistent and top of the line. Pappu pointed that there was a bit of a problem at the start of the Antara but the contestant lifted it well. Asad Abbas, over the weeks, has become the judges’ favourite and has earned their respect through his flawless singing, which is not an easy thing to do!
Asif Ali Babar sang Bolo Naa and Jawad Ahmad rewarded him with the comments of very good. Ali Haider went out to praise him as well saying that he had sung Hari Haran Pappu’s lyrics very sweetly. Mikaal appreciated that with just one lecture, the contestant had improved so much, while kiddingly adding that everyone should be given regular scoldings for marked improvement at PSI stage. Pappu, on the other hand, suggested tips to Asif for better mike control. Sohaib Hassan was next in line who sang Ali Haider’s Karaar to destruction. Pappu was quick to point out that the musical notes were totally out with each scale change. Mikaal Hassan seconded saying that much better was expected from the contestant and had Sohaib sung the song like he sang, at the Danger Zone last time, he would definitely had been eliminated. Ali Haider was modest in putting it lightly that though Sohaib sung his song well, that Ali sang 15 years ago, but it could’ve been better but Jawad Ahmad was direct and not so gentle in saying that the song should’ve been sung in tune and was flat, in fact!
Haroon Shahid sang Sanson Ko Sanson Nein by Ali Azmat and the judges pointed out what I pointed some time back as Ali Haider told the contestant to choose a unique song, alright, but one that at least 2 out of the 4 judges would’ve heard of as Jawad Ahmad, Mikaal Hassan and Muhammad Ehsan Pappu had never even heard to song. However, giving comments, Jawad Ahmad told Haroon that even if he gets eliminated from PSI, he should try his hands on pop music and he is a pop star. Ali Haider, on the other hand, said that he had heard Junoon singing the song and provided Haroon concentrated more, he could sing much better. Mikaal Hassan praised Haroon for unique song selection that he liked while telling him to work on his vocals as his voice broke in the antara, at the transations. Pappu was short in saying that Haroon had sung in his style saying that he had but, never heard the song and that, he could’ve sung better but!
M.Afzal sang Meri Akhiyan Cho Muki Naa Udeek Vay with dark glasses all through that he very dramatically pulled out at the end stanza. Pappu commented that the contestant performed very well and jokingly added that he perhaps winded more than required! Nevertheless, sang very in, and he really liked it but noted casually that there remained a tuning problem which was probably due to the throat infection. Mikaal Hassan said that M.Afzal, like always, had given a very enjoyable performance, especially with the dark glasses. Ali Haider said that he had first named the contestant Abrar but now he was nicknaming him as Abrar Jackson, after the dark glasses’ episode! Jawad Ahmad noticed that M.Afzal seemed classically trained and he not only just sang like Abrar but also talked like him, presenting good showmanship. However, provided her chose a scale half note lower, he could’ve sung better. Nevertheless, he sang very well and he really enjoyed!
The last to go, like always, was Ali Asad, with Kaho Na Kaho and it seemed that it was not his day! He missed out lines, forgot lyrics and though, managed to cover up and go ahead but the instances were too many to ignore. Pappu noted that Ali Asad’s many notes were out though his Arabic was fluent than his Urdu. However, he needed to work loads on his tuning. Mikaal Hassan praised him for sharp and good start and his better performance than before, saying that he needed to work overall harder but. Ali Haider also noticed that the contestant was fluent in the Arabic lines but there remained some tuning issues. He had sung openly this time but forgot lyrics twice telling him to rehearse well next time while scolding him that a week was enough to learn a 3 minute song. Jawad Ahmad, on the other hand, liked the voice punch of Ali Asad saying that he had a very powerful voice and sur and should keep singing like he does.
In the end, Jawad Ahmad lauded the effort that the PSI organizers were making in bringing our the country’s singing talents and giving the budding singers to come forward n the music industry and perform before a select audience to begin with. He said that after seeing the Pakistan Sangeet Icon contestants perform with so much talent and potential, he was of the view that the whole project was worth the effort!