Artists: Zeb and Haniya
Song: Laili Jaan
Produced By Rohail Hyatt
Language: Dari
‘Laili Jaan’ is a song that took the world of Afghan Pop by storm in the 70’s by a man who is considered as the King of Afghan music – Ahmad Zahir. While Afghanistan is known for its wealth of heritage music, Zahir contributed towards creating a legacy of Pop and Rock music that mirrored Elvis Presley, which led him to be regarded as the ‘Elvis of Afghanistan’. The song talks about classic heartbreak – with just the right amount of pleasure in the experience of love that accompanies the sorrow of heartbreak. A song that represents the tragedy of love lost with a comical tinge, the feel of contrasting emotions comes through in the way that our aggrieved lover puts on a brave face to smile through the agony of heartbreak.
This Season Zeb & Haniya take on the song as an ode to Ahmad Zahir as well as reimagining the song through the female perspective of a song sung by a man. The song is reminiscent of a time where the rich tunes of Afghan music prevailed in various parts of the world and had become a huge part of growing up in cities like Peshawar – something Zeb and Haniya remember fondly from their childhood days. Flash forward to 2013 and the duo bring to the song a gypsy feel that is complemented by the instrumentation performed by L’Orchestra di Piazza Vittorio – a modern sound that meets the tone of rhythm and blues with an added layer of jazz.
Performance Credits:
Haniya Aslam | Semi-Acoustic Guitar
L’Orchestra di Piazza Vittorio
MARIO TRONCO | Italy – Artistic Director
EMANUELE BULTRINI | Italy – Guitars
PEPPE D’ARGENZIO | Italy – Sax
ERNESTO LOPEZ MATURELL | Cuba – Drums
OMAR LOPEZ VALLE | Cuba – Trumpet
PINO PECORELLI | Italy – Basses
LEANDRO PICCIONI | Italy – Piano and Keyboards
PAP YERI SAMB | Senegal – Percussion
RAUL SCEBBA | Argentina – Percussion
KAW DIALY MADI SISSOKO | Senegal – Kora
ZIAD TRABELSI | Tunisia – Oud
Siddiq Kamash | Rubab
Babar Ali Khanna | Dholak
Backing Vocal: Rachel Viccaji, Zoe Viccaji
Download Mp3!
Watch video song below:
Take a listen to the song below:
لیلی، لیلی، لیلی جان، جان، جان
laili laili laili jaan jaan
jaan Laila, dear Laila
دلِ من کردی ویران
dil-i man kardi wairaan
You have devastated my heart
درین قشلاق نیامدی
dareen qishlaaq na-aamadi
You didn’t come to my winter village
وائے وائے
waaye waaye
Alas! Alas!
مرا کشتی بہ ارمان
mara kushti bah armaan
You have killed me with longing
لیلی، لیلی، لیلی جان، جان، جان
laili laili laili jaan jaan jaan Laila,
dear Laila
دلِ من کردی ویران
dil-i man kardi wairaan
You have devastated my heart
درین قشلاق نیامدی
dareen qishlaaq na-aamadi
You didn’t come to my winter village
وائے وائے
waaye waaye
Alas! Alas!
مرا کشتی بہ ارمان
mara kushti bah armaan
You have killed me with longing
از بالا باران آمد
az baala baaraan aamad
Rain fell from the skies
یارم بہ دالان آمد
yaaram bah daalaan aamad
My beloved emerged onto the verandah
از بالا باران آمد
az baala baaraan aamad
Rain fell from the skies
یارم بہ دالان آمد
yaaram bah daalaan aamad
My beloved emerged onto the verandah
از بالا باران آمد
az baala baaraan aamad
Rain fell from the skies
یارم بہ دالان آمد
yaaram bah daalaan aamad
My beloved emerged onto the verandah
یک بوسہ طلب کردم
yak bosah talab kardam
I asked for a kiss
وائے وائے
waaye waaye
Alas! Alas!
چشمش بہ گریان آمد
chashmash bah giryaan aumad
Her eyes filled with tears
یک بوسہ طلب کردم
yak bosah talab kardam
I asked for a kiss
وائے وائے
waaye waaye
Alas! Alas!
چشمش بہ گریان آمد
chashmash bah giryaan aumad
Her eyes filled with tears
لیلی، لیلی، لیلی جان، جان، جان
laili laili laili jaan jaan jaan Laila,
dear Laila
دلِ من کردی ویران
dil-i man kardi wairaan
You have devastated my heart
لیلی، لیلی جان
laili laili jaan Laila,
dear Laila
چشمِ سیاہِ زاغت
chashm-i siyaah-i zaaghat
Your eyes are raven-black
مادر نبینہ داغت
maadar nabeenah daaghat
May your mother never suffer your loss
چشمِ سیاہِ زاغت
chashm-i siyaah-i zaaghat
Your eyes are raven-black
مادر نبینہ داغت
maadar nabeenah daaghat
May your mother never suffer your loss
چشمِ سیاہِ زاغت
chashm-i siyaah-i zaaghat
Your eyes are raven-black
مادر نبینہ داغت
maadar nabeenah daaghat
May your mother never suffer your loss
مادر بینہ نبینہ
maadar beenah nabeenah
May your mother never suffer your loss, but even more so…
وائے وائے
waaye waaye
Alas! Alas!
عاشق نبینہ داغت
‘aashiq nabeenah daaghat
May your lover never suffer your loss
مادر بینہ نبینہ
maadar beenah nabeenah
May your mother never suffer your loss, but even more so…
وائے وائے
waaye waaye
Alas! Alas!
عاشق نبینہ داغت ‘
aashiq nabeenah daaghat
May your lover never suffer your loss
لیلی، لیلی، لیلی جان، جان، جان
laili laili laili jaan jaan jaan Laila,
dear Laila
دلِ من کردی ویران
dil-i man kardi wairaan
You have devastated my heart
درین قشلاق نیامدی
dareen qishlaaq na-aamadi
You didn’t come to my winter village
وائے وائے
waaye waaye
Alas! Alas!
مرا کشتی بہ ارمان
mara kushti bah armaan
You have killed me with longing
لیلی، لیلی، لیلی جان، جان، جان
laili laili laili jaan jaan jaan Laila,
dear Laila
دلِ من کردی ویران
dil-i man kardi wairaan
You have devastated my heart
درین قشلاق نیامدی
dareen qishlaaq na-aamadi
You didn’t come to my winter village
وائے وائے
waaye waaye
Alas! Alas!
مرا کشتی بہ ارمان
mara kushti bah armaan
You have killed me with longing
لیلی، لیلی، لیلی جان، جان، جان
laili laili laili jaan jaan jaan Laila,
dear Laila
دلِ من کردی ویران
dil-i man kardi wairaan
You have devastated my heart
درین قشلاق نیامدی
dareen qishlaaq na-aamadi
You didn’t come to my winter village
وائے وائے
waaye waaye
Alas! Alas!
مرا کشتی بہ ارمان
mara kushti bah armaan
You have killed me with longing
لیلی، لیلی، لیلی جان، جان، جان
laili laili laili jaan jaan jaan Laila,
dear Laila
دلِ من کردی ویران
dil-i man kardi wairaan
You have devastated my heart
درین قشلاق نیامدی
dareen qishlaaq na-aamadi
You didn’t come to my winter village
وائے وائے
waaye waaye
Alas! Alas!
درین قشلاق نیامدی
dareen qishlaaq na-aamadi
You didn’t come to my winter village
وائے وائے
waaye waaye
Alas! Alas!
درین قشلاق نیامدی
dareen qishlaaq na-aamadi
You didn’t come to my winter village
وائے وائے وائے وائے وائے وائے
waaye waaye waaye waaye waaye waaye
Alas! Alas! Alas! Alas! Alas! Alas!
مرا کشتی بہ ارمان
mara kushti bah armaan
You have killed me with longing
