Well its been a real while since I wrote on this blog. And the truth is that quite frankly I just didn’t feel like writing at all…

It was the 14th of june… Karachi…Almost 10 pm and Ali Hamza, Mandana and I along with a 100 or so other celebrities were sitting at the grand MTV awards. We had also invited Mandana’s brother Raad, who  was incidentally on a business trip to Karachi. He has no association whatsoever with music and is in the fuel marketing business.

We were nominated for 2 catagories but our real excitement was about performing our brand new single ”Kedaar”.  We had rehearsed like  maniacs for it. It was all very exciting.

So this is what happens…

The nominations for best rock songs began and Do Dil was the second one…

my heart starts pounding.

The presenters started their usual chit chat before announcing the winner..

And suddenly someone grabs my hand from behind and tells me to get up and come on the side….it was Mandana’s brother Raad.

The next scentence I hear is…

”Baba just called …Ammi has passed away…”

Then from a long distance I hear a scream…”AND THE WINNER IS DO DIL BY NOORI!!!”

Mandana’s mother just passed away…

I almost fell down to the ground..

I dropped on a bench nearby and started chanting ”oh my God..oh my God..oh my God”…I thought I was gonna have a heart attack….

And then Hamza grabs me..”lets go yaar”..

”Don’t tell Mandana”..i whispered to Raad.

…and we were on the stage receiving an award

and then we performed the song..

…and then Mandana found out.

Got back to Lahore..had the funeral the next day..

Flew back to Karachi the day after that performed a concert..

Flew back for the Qul

…..a really dirty Deja Vu

Isn’t this what happened to me exactly the same way a year ago when Mandana’s brother died..

Everything’s a blur now

don’t have the courage to write any further…

I’m sorry….

August 3rd, 2009
Categories: The Diary . Author: Ali Noor . Comments: 27 Comments

Its 2:00 am……….. just finished Marley and Me….

I have cried so much that my eyes hurt…

Mandana’s completely freaked out…she’s never seen me cry…

Kamla I miss  you sooooo much…..I’m really sorry…

April 29th, 2009
Categories: The Diary . Author: Ali Noor . Comments: 19 Comments

trying to …get life back on the “tracks”…confused about how to make a work plan…

Leaving for abbotabad  this weekend and won’t come back till I have an album in my hand!!!

April 21st, 2009
Categories: The Diary . Author: Ali Noor . Comments: 16 Comments

Heeeeelloooooo,

Its been a month since I wrote here.

But if you recall, the last post was titled “Kuch Kaam Ho Jayay”

…and its true that since then I have worked so much that saari phoonk nikal gayee!!!

It was impossible to even come close to a laptop…let alone write a blog

Well for starters work on the new Album is in full swing so that might excite a few…

had some concerts….

But the most exciting thing of all was the Coke Studio….

Although I have been strictly prohibited by the PR company to divulge any information about the content and working of the coke studio but I can surely talk about our very interesting re-union with Gumby…. Read more…

April 2nd, 2009
Categories: The Diary . Author: Ali Noor . Comments: 62 Comments

Hey…

Just love the facebook status updating through my cell phone…the bill has hit the roof though!!

been sick like hell…some serious screw up in my throat…and life’s on hold

slumdog got 8 awards so i look like an idiot..but like always that’s OK

Kate Winslet won the the best actress and that’s amazing as I think the movie of the year was the Reader…

There is a pregnant cat sitting outside our door…i gave her food but I think she wants something else…

Sanjana got her injections and cried like a maniac…it was pretty freaky

ok..buhut ho giya…

ab kuch kaam ho jayay…!!!

February 23rd, 2009
Categories: The Diary . Author: Ali Noor . Comments: 25 Comments

Just finished watching Slumdog Millionaire. What the hell was it?

I try my best to be pretty less critical about most of the stuff I see. I even watched 8 seasons of “Charmed” and have enjoyed lots of chick flicks….

I went to cinemas in Delhi and saw movies that I would never dare to buy as DVDs in Pakistan, and still came out feeling my money’s well spent, if not for anything but the impact and ambience of the cinema hall and sound etc.

But with this movie I simply felt disturbed. Please don’t for a minute think that the depiction of the slums disturbed me. I have been to India enough to breathe the poverty in (one big reason why my love for Pakistan just does not cease to diminish) .

..what was it it…i can’t seem to place it…

For starters the movie is surely too damn overrated. Secondly I smell serious propaganda here… is this a primer of the “real” India for the West?

And considering the western response in the form the massive oscar nominations blah ..blah blah…it just goes to show that westerners seem a bit too over excited by their new found insight…Its like they discovered Yoga or Kama Sutra all over gain!!!

Waisay goron ki simplicity ka andaza un ki countries mein hi ja kar  hota hai…correct me if I am wrong.

I did not get the English being spoken by the Slumdogs!!!

Kya bakwas!!!

Although the end seemed a bit better but overall the movie really ticked me off..

The cinematography was awesome though…what amazing and difficult shots
The acting for the kids was very good.

Khair yeh movie aik test hai…dekhain goron ki tarha hum mien se kaun kitna impress hota hai?

cheers

Ali Noor

P.s. There is another movie I saw called Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye! which seemed a bit similar to me. I found this movie to be much much better…I just loved the extremely amazing depiction of the punjabi culture in India…seemed a lot real and coherent…apparently inspired from true events. Do check it out and let me know

February 11th, 2009
Categories: The Diary . Author: Ali Noor . Comments: 35 Comments

Been busy
….shifted flats…
…set up a studio
…got a throat infection..took antibiotics..
had a concert..
had the most amazing jam at Ali Zafar right after the show..with Atif, Goher, Shiraz Uppal,…Sikander Mufti, Farhad Hummayun..Caramel and of course Ali Hamza…
Realized that I’m sick of playing my own songs and wanna sing covers…
also realized that music can transcend all insecurities, grudges, bitterness…and  brings people closer…

I’m so lucky to be a musician!

February 2nd, 2009
Categories: The Diary . Author: Ali Noor . Comments: 18 Comments

I got a comment from one Mr. Fawad sending me a link to a song called “Fades Away”.

I listened to it and really liked it so I thought I’d formally share it with you all. I Love the lyrics…in fact they are too good and so relevant to our times.

This song  reminds of my old days when when all underground bands used to jam at 107B. MM Alam Road.  Salman who has sung the song, used to be with Farhad Humayun’s old band Mind Riot and I can never forget his Rob Halford look!!

….take a listen

[audio http://sites.google.com/site/thisisalinoor/Home/Fades%2BAway-Aadil%2CHasnain%2CSalman%26Sarmad.mp3]

Song Name: Fades Away
Artists: Aadil Farook,Hasnain Akram,Salman Yasin,Sarmad Ghafoor
Composition: Aadil & Hasnain
Poetry:Aadil
Vocals:Salman Yasin
Lead Guitars:Sarmad Ghafoor
Production,Mixing,Mastering:Sarmad Ghafoor
Ideas (Musical&Production):Aadil

LYRICS

seen a warrior’s burst of rage
seen a martyr’s life outgrow his age
seen vile in great men
seen beauty in false women
seen rivals of a genius
seen tyrants hailed among us
seen the envy of a friend
seen love draw its own end

Seen a rainbow fade when it should stay
seen a summer wait for the next may
seen a leave wither from its youth
seen weathers play with our moods

seen a victim plead for his right
seen a culprit with his last lie
seen guilty hands turn to pray
seen aggression overwhelmed by grace

But the world just doesn’t run on grace
In the crowd, you’re just another face
when you’re gone, you dont ever leave a trace

seen faith take hold of our reason
seen wisdom go out of season
seen hatred for a chosen prophet
seen sacrifices with regret

seen ironies turn to the truth
seen lies bearing the fruits
seen impact of just a thought
seen actions ending with naught

But the world just doesn’t run on grace
In the crowd, you’re just another face
when you’re gone, you dont ever leave a trace

seen voices live longer than singers
seen a maestro play with bleeding fingers
seen life in a dead man’s painting
seen victors go down fainting

But the world just doesn’t run on grace
In the crowd, you’re just another face
when you’re gone, you dont ever leave a trace

Like a whistle it fades away (Chorus repeat)

January 21st, 2009
Categories: The Diary . Author: Ali Noor . Comments: 20 Comments

had an extremely depressing week…

almost a break down of so many things that I was used to for years….

probably it is just  a mistaken feeling…

But today I’m happy…

I guess my make up does not allow depression to seep in…lucky me

….and of course Mandana Zindabad!

It is my Grandfather Raza’s birthday today and only the grand children (and great grand children!!!) are celebrating since the parents are all missing in.action

Chinese tonight….

Excitement!!!

January 13th, 2009
Categories: The Diary . Author: Ali Noor . Comments: 11 Comments

5th January 2009….4:00 am: I was up and as always fighting with my sleep..browsing away… Got an sms from Nadia, noori’s first manager and our closest friend rather sister, she also owns Masooms cafe in lahore with her husband Usman Zaidi who has worked with us on the videos of Tum Hans Diyay and Jana The….khair the sms stated that her brother Rohail had passed away. I was shocked as I knew he was barely 35, a father of 2 and doing fairly well for himself. The SMS did not indicate how he died.

I had met usman just a few hours ago when he came to our hose telling me that Nadia has to gone to visit her family in Islamabad….I wondered if her brother was sick or something…. I called Usman but he would not pick up…. Read more…

January 7th, 2009
Categories: The Diary . Author: Ali Noor . Comments: 16 Comments