Dam Mast is playing now on YouTube and listeners are divided about the Sufi iconic song!
Coke Studio itself announced the song with:
Coke Studio 12 presents Dam Mastam; composed in raag Bhimpalasi, the song uses the metaphor of being mast, a state of forgetting one’s self in love of the Divine. @RFAKWorld
We were a bit stumped on first listen of Dam Mast as, though the definitive brilliance of Rahat Fateh Ali Khan’s voice cannot be mistaken, we felt something’s missing. A Sufi song of the caliber of Dam Mastam has had so many iconic renditions than anything less would fall short.
So it is with bated breath and much trepidation that we played it on repeat. This is what some Coke Studio followers had to tell us in instant first reactions:
“Slow start but when they play with the instruments after 3-4 mins, pretty gooood. Good use and mix of instruments. Not bad.”
Alizeh Shah
While another listener had this to say:
“Agreed, they have improvised. But they have not been too daring. It is not sending me into the trance-like state, the subliminal heights that a really intense Dam Mastam beat can bring about. It’s not really for me.”
Another listener wasn’t so divided in her criticism, and she called out Coke Studio for it:
I didn’t like it. Not one bit! A waste of RFAK!
Mashaal Khan
Sohail Anwar had this to say:
This is what happens when you stop making music for yourself and make it for masses. Just went from season 6 to season 6-1. @rohailhyatt
While Mehvish Khan echoed our thoughts:
Idk what I feel about this one?
Artists to look forward to in Coke Studio 12
How ever all was not lost as some listeners greatly appreciated the effort:
Out of the park! @RohailHyatt Thank you! Says Asad!
Perhaps the nation’s feelings can be summarized here by some:
This time Coke Studio started with the name of Allah and Now Mola Ali. Beautiful kalam recited by my all time favourite singer Ustad Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and composed by one of the greatest composers Rohail Hyatt.
Hamza Gujjar
And others praised the finale:
The last part uff … Tweets Smavia.
We trust you’ve had a listen to Dam Mast by now. Coke Studio 12 say buhat umeedain wabasta hain. It is the kind of josh and jazba that only Pakistanis are capable of. It happens perhaps twice in our lives. One is when we win or lose a cricket match, and the other is, when we win or lose a melody on Coke Studio.
Dam Mastam is a classic. It has been reproduced (by many musical masters over the years) countless times, and each time, the reaction has been divided – Be it the great maestro Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan or the original and much loved rendition by Runa Laila.
When the makers of Coke Studio and Rohail Hyat decided to take on this classic, they were aware of the listeners’ emotional bondage to this Sufi masterpiece. So we assume they took on the challenge with eyes wide open! Music enthusiasts will either love a new version, or hate it. But one thing’s for sure, they’ll never be indifferent to it! So which one is it for you?
