Rabbi Shergill & Shiv Batalvi

Listening to Rabbi's music suddenly seems like a breath of fresh air. Its nice to hear good punjabi music with a very fresh approach. Lately the punjabi music was set in a mould of party/ jazzy music just to liven up the atmosphere and get people on the dance floors rather than meaningful hummable numbers. Rabbi's music lingers for a long time after you have heard it. Punjabi music needs more of this kind of experimentation. The fusion by Rabbi is a good start . hope it continues and is not just a spark in the night.

I am particularly fond of Shiv batalvi's poetry and the way Rabbi has shaped the rendition of "ek kudi jihada naam mohabbat" in his song titled "Ishtihaar" is awesome.

One of the poems of Shiv written expressing his agony and pain over division of Punjab called "dudh da katal" is one of my favorites. "Dudh da Katal" or the murder of milk, which signifies murder of the milk of his mother, the mother Punjab, who was murdered by its division. The english translation of the same is as follows :

I still remember it today
And you must remember it too
When together we murdered our mother
They killed my childhood they killed my mother
And a cold corpse was left at my place to rot.

I have a longing to die young
To go to realm of youth
After my demise.

I sing to conceal my agonies
Under the guise of lyrics
Sweet and serene the curses
Miserable and doleful verses.

I have been occupied
With burning the lamps
Of my own existence , fears
Feeding it with flowing oils
From my own saline tears.

I would love to hear Rabbi's version of its rendition.

The title song of Rabbi's "Bulla ki jaana main kaun " brings alive on of the greatest sufi poets "Bulle Shah" poetry. The song is not only like a sheet of water for ears but Rabbi's voice is enchanting because of its crispness and certain roughness at the same time.

Punjabi version ( as rendered by Bulle Shah)
Bulla ki jaana maen koun ?
Na maen momin vich maseet aan
Na maen vich kufar diyan reet aan
Na maen paakaan vich paleet aan
Na maen moosa na pharaun.

Bulleh! ki jaana maen kaun

Na maen andar ved kitaabaan,
Na vich bhangaan na sharaabaan
Na vich rindaan masat khawaabaan
Na vich jaagan na vich saun.

Bulleh! ki jaana maen kaun.

Na vich shaadi na ghamnaaki
Na maen vich paleeti paaki
Na maen aabi na maen khaki
Na maen aatish na maen paun

Bulleh!, ki jaana maen kaun

Na maen arabi na lahori
Na maen hindi shehar nagauri
Na hindu na turak peshawri
Na maen rehnda vich nadaun

Bulla, ki jaana maen kaun

Na maen bheth mazhab da paaya
Ne maen aadam havva jaaya
Na maen apna naam dharaaya
Na vich baitthan na vich bhaun

Bulleh , ki jaana maen kaun

Avval aakhir aap nu jaana
Na koi dooja hor pehchaana
Maethon hor na koi siyaana
Bulla! ooh khadda hai kaun

Punjabi version : (lyrics as in song by Rabbi)
Bulla ki jaana maen koun ? - 4

Na maen momin vich maseetaan
Na maen vich kufar diyan reetaan
Na maen paakaan vich paleetaan

Na maen andar ved kitaabaan,
Na maen rehanda bhang sharaabaan
Na maen rehdaan masat khawaabaan

Na maen shaadi na ghamnaaki
Na maen vich paleeti paaki
Na maen aabi na maen khaki
Na maen aatish na maen paun

Bulleh! ki jaana maen kaun-4

Na maen arabi na lahori
Na maen hindi shehar nagauri
Na hindu na turak peshawri

Na maen bhaee mazhab da paaya
Ne maen aadam havva jaaya
Na maen apna naam dharaaya

Avval aakhir aap nu jaana
Na koi dooja hor pehchaana
Maethon na koi hor siyaana
Bulla shah khadda hai kaun

bulleh! ki jaana maen kaun? - 4

Na maen moosa na pharaun
Na maen jaagan na vich saun
Na maen aatish na maen paun

Na maen rehnda vich nadaun
Na vich baitthan na vich bhaun
Bulla shah khadda hai kaun

Bulla! ki jaana maen kaun?

English version:
Bulleh! to me , I am not Known
Not a believer inside the mosque, am I
Nor a pagan disciple of false rites
Not the pure amongst the impure
Neither Moses, nor the Pharoh

Bulleh! to me, I am not known

Not in the holy Vedas, am I
Nor in opium, neither in wine
Not in the drunkard`s craze
Niether awake, nor in a sleeping daze

Bulleh! to me, I am not known

In happiness nor in sorrow, am I
Neither clean, nor a filthy mire
Not from water, nor from earth
Neither fire, nor from air, is my birth

Bulleh! to me, I am not known

Not an Arab, nor Lahori
Neither Hindi, nor Nagauri
Hindu, Turk (Muslim), nor Peshawari
Nor do I live in Nadaun

Bulleh! to me, I am not known

Secrets of religion, I have not known
From Adam and Eve, I am not born
I am not the name I assume
Not in stillness, nor on the move

Bulleh! to me, I am not known

I am the first, I am the last
None other, have I ever known
I am the wisest of them all
Bulleh! do I stand alone?

Bulleh! to me, I am not known.

Hope this string of experimentation continues and we get to hear good music.