The PSL Anthem – Are 3 anthems not enough for us to get it right?
PSL 5 kicked off last week but it’s not the players who grabbed the limelight this time.
From the Tayyar Hain Anthem, to the Opening Ceremony, PSL kay sitaare gardish mein thay. We can’t seem to get it right (off the field), although we’re thankful that the on-field dramatics are in place – isn’t that what’s supposed to matter?
From Azam Khan’s Inzamam – ish batting strokes to Shaheen Afridi’s bowling and Musa’s batting heroics, we have been entertained thoroughly – pura paisa vasool PSL champions! But now, let’s come to the ahem – Anthem (s)!
It all started with Tayyar Hain
The Pepsi PSL Anthem that ended up being a trolling competition with Asim Azhar and a Twitter popularity poll for Ali Zafar?
Although our hearts went out to Asim for the vicious trolling he had to endure, and though his apology was heartfelt, and we lauded him for his humility – Asim Azhar’s Tayyar Hain Anthem did not connect with a lot of Cricket fans.
Interestingly, #BringBackALiZafar trended on Twitter overnight.
What the??? Asked some fans? Where did THAT come from?
Amidst rumours of planted bloggers and conspiracy theories, the second PSL Anthem was hastily released.
Why the need, we may ask?
Well, the first one wasn’t performing the best we guess? Just like Lahore Qalandars – every one has a soft heart for them, but they just can’t seem to get their act together. Much like the Anthem story? … because, … wait for it … the second anthem was disaster much, (we didn’t say it, Twitter did), and this one made Tayyar Hain actually sound REALLY Good!!!
Khel Ja Dil Se was so forgettable, that it never really came in the running!
600K + views as I write this as opposed to 4M + views on Tayyar Hain? Social media can be very cruel. But then it punishes if we fail to deliver quality, right? Isn’t that how it should be?
But wait a minute, there’s more! The story of the PSL Anthem continues as … someone seems to be having the last laugh. Is it Ali Zafar???
We didn’t say this either btw, but amidst a completely flop opening ceremony (remember, PCB kay Sitaare and the gardish story?), there was news (a little bird told us and the rest of the world), that Ali Zafar had been requested to compose a new song for PSL!
Kya kahen? Someone’s having the last laugh???
We were barely over this news, as yet another anthem broke ground: Hu Ha!
Believe it or not, but this number has a swing to it, a feet-tapping, sing-a- long, awami feel that we just loved! Of course, the presence of Ahmed Ali Butt, Fawad Khan, Shaniera Akram and Adnan Siddiqui was an added – eye candy never fails to hit the right spot!
But that’s not all folks – Ali Zafar has announced with a Twitter post shouting pure triumph (ahem – humbleness was not ever one of his virtues), that he might be cooking up a ‘song’.
Apparently, the singer will be releasing a PSL Anthem in response to public demand!
Ali Zafar fans are looking forward to his upcoming creation.
Not only that, but many others are also waiting with baited breath – can he really deliver a smashable number?
As we said, social media can be very ruthless – let’s see who wins this game off the field!
As a final piece of unsolicited advice to the ‘official’ PSL Anthem makers – we have to this say.
This PSL Anthem debacle has laid open the playing field. All things that don’t go your way might have a lesson, a silver lining, if you’re prepared to read between the lines.
The lesson? we have an abundance of talent in our country. Let’s open up the next PSL Anthem to a nationwide contest and select the best through public voting.
Include the awaam in a decision that should be broadly theirs – let them vote for their best PSL Anthem – because they are the ones who will be singing it out loud in cricket stadiums and in the streets of Pakistan!
Competition never hurt anyone – What doesn’t break you, makes you stronger, right? Till then, let’s enjoy the games!
