- Faqeera
- Shamu Bai & Vishnu
Growing up in a village in rural Sindh, Shamu Bai was classically trained from an early age and by the time she was barely seven, she started singing traditional devotional songs (called bhajans). Despite growing up as one of the nine siblings, Shamu and her younger brother Vishnu were the only two that had an incomparable vocal prowess as well as a passion to pursue it more seriously. Arjun, their father who dreamt of singing himself didn’t have the voice, and so he decided to pass on every ounce of knowledge that he had to his two children.
At 21, Shamu’s voice conveys an acute sense of intimacy which is forceful and emotive. Whereas Vishnu, 14, who only properly started training two years ago has a strong earthy tone of delivery, which is both raw and moving when heard by the listener.
The brother-sister duo, who perform live sets at weddings and local festivals featuring Vishnu on dholak and Shamu Bai taking center stage with vocals and harmonium, are all set for their debut appearance on Coke Studio Explorer.
Lyrics
Song Title: Faqeera
Original Language: Sindhi
Lyrics: Traditional
واہ واہ گزرن فقیراں دا
واہ واہ گزر فقیروں کی
Oh what a life for the wanderers
Wah wah guzran o faqeeran da
واہ واہ گزرن فقیراں دا
واہ واہ گزر فقیروں کی
Oh what a life for the wanderers
Wah wah guzran o faqeeran da
واہ واہ گزرن فقیراں دا
واہ واہ گزر فقیروں کی
Oh what a life for the wanderers
Wah wah guzran o faqeeran da
فقیراں دا
فقیروں کی
For the wanderers
Faqeeran da
فقیراں دا
فقیروں کی
For the wanderers
Faqeeran da
درویشوں دا
درویشوں کی
The Dervishes’
Darveshan da
واہ واہ گزرن فقیراں دا
واہ واہ گزر فقیروں کی
Oh what a life for the wanderers
Wah wah guzran o faqeeran da
واہ واہ گزرن فقیراں دا
واہ واہ گزر فقیروں کی
Oh what a life for the wanderers
Wah wah guzran o faqeeran da
فقیراں دا
فقیروں کی
For the wanderers
Faqeeran da
فقیراں دا
فقیروں کی
For the wanderers
Faqeeran da
درویشوں دا
درویشوں کی
The Dervishes’
Darveshan da
واہ واہ گزرن
واہ واہ گزر
What an effortless life
Wah wah guzran
الله سایؑں فقیراں دی ایویں سنیندا
رب ایسے سنے فقیروں کی
God listens to the Dervishes’
Allah saeen faqeeran di ainwain sunainda
الله سایؑں فقیراں دی ایویں سنیندا
رب ایسے سنے فقیروں کی
God listens to the Dervishes’
Allah saeen faqeeran di ainwain sunainda
بادشاہ جیویں وزیراں دا
جیسے بادشاہ اپنے وزیروں کی
Like a king listens to his consul
Badshah jaiwain wazeeran da
بادشاہ جیویں وزیراں دا
جیسے بادشاہ اپنے وزیروں کی
Like a king listens to his consul
Badshah jaiwain wazeeran da
واہ واہ گزرن فقیراں دا
واہ واہ گزر فقیروں کی
Oh what a life for the wanderers
Wah wah guzran o faqeeran da
واہ واہ گزرن فقیراں دا
واہ واہ گزر فقیروں کی
Oh what a life for the wanderers
Wah wah guzran o faqeeran da
فقیراں دا
فقیروں کی
For the wanderers
Faqeeran da
فقیراں دا
فقیروں کی
For the wanderers
Faqeeran da
درویشوں دا
درویشوں کی
The Dervishes’
Darveshan da
واہ واہ گزرن فقیراں دا
واہ واہ گزر فقیروں کی
Oh what a life for the wanderers
Wah wah guzran o faqeeran da
واہ واہ گزرن فقیراں دا
واہ واہ گزر فقیروں کی
Oh what a life for the wanderers
Wah wah guzran o faqeeran da
واہ واہ گزرن
واہ واہ گزر
What an effortless life
Wah wah guzran
کداں وت منگ پن کھاندے ٹکڑے
کبھی ملتے ہیں ٹکڑے کھانے کو
Sometimes we get mere morsels
Kidan wat mang pan khaday tukray
کداں وت منگ پن کھاندے ٹکڑے
کبھی ملتے ہیں ٹکڑے کھانے کو
Sometimes we get mere morsels
Kidan wat mang pan khaday tukray
کدے تام امیران دا
کبھی تعام امیروں کا
Sometimes we eat like kings
Kadhay taam ameeran da
کدے تام امیران دا
کبھی تعام امیروں کا
Sometimes we eat like kings
Kadhay taam ameeran da
واہ واہ گزرن فقیراں دا
واہ واہ گزر فقیروں کی
Oh what a life for the wanderer
Wah wah guzran o faqeeran da
واہ واہ گزرن فقیراں دا
واہ واہ گزر فقیروں کی
Oh what a life for the wanderer
Wah wah guzran o faqeeran da
فقیراں دا
فقیروں کی
For the wanderers
Faqeeran da
فقیراں دا
فقیروں کی
For the wanderers
Faqeeran da
درویشوں دا
درویشوں کی
The Dervishes’
Darveshan da
واہ واہ گزرن فقیراں دا
واہ واہ گزر فقیروں کی
Oh what a life for the wanderers
Wah wah guzran o faqeeran da
واہ واہ گزرن
واہ واہ گزر
What an effortless life
Wah wah guzran
Song Credits
Performed by
Shamu Bai & Vishnu
Written by
Baba Bulleh Shah
Language
Sindhi
Lyrics
Traditional
Song Info
Produced & Directed by
Zohaib Kazi and Ali Hamza
Performed by
Shamu Bai & Vishnu
Written by
Baba Bulleh Shah
Language
Sindhi
Sculpted from unvarnished words, ‘Faqeera’ feels like a glance into a world of wanderers – invoking a feeling to which anyone can relate. The nuances of Shamu Bai and Vishnu’s vocal resonance were amplified by the acoustic echoes of the ancient Haveli, where the final vocal track of the audio was recorded.
The fierce devotion of Shamu’s voice is paired with Vishnu’s warm and humid vocal tones as they drift into the soul stirring chords of the Benjo, accompanied by a further layer of light electronic beats. The groove of the modern electronic beat follows the ethnic rhythm of the dholak – making ‘Faqeera’ a brand-new take on Sindhi folk.
‘Faqeera’ is a showcase of grace and humility, by the brother-sister duo, all while paying homage to their land with this instant and classic track.