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Thank you Strings for all the memories, love Dawn.com

Thank you Strings for all the memories, love Dawn.com

The band has broken up but our memories will remain forever. Here are our favourite Strings songs and why we love them.
26 Mar, 2021

Strings is no more and we're all devastated. Almost every Pakistani kid has memories of the two-man band and now that they have broken up, we're all remembering our favourite songs.

Everyone has different reasons why they love Strings and a different favourite song. The Dawn.com team is no exception so we decided to ask everyone what their favourite Strings song is and why it's so iconic to them.

Hai Koi Hum Jaisa

Siham Basir, Images Managing Editor

The energy, the music, the nostalgia. What's not to love? For me, this is the ultimate Pakistani song. It's what I wish our new 'patriotic' songs would be but of course they're never going to match up. The chorus is so iconic that even as an 11-year-old I was 'ae oh ae oh ae oh ah-ing' all over town.

Yeh Hai Meri Kahani

Yusra Habib, Senior Sub Editor Images

Intense and uplifting at the same time, this song is a vibe of its own. Just Strings, Sanjay Dutt and John Abraham casually jamming in a room with some BTS shots for us to feel like we’re almost there — but not quite. It's the only song that does justice to Anwar Maqsood’s inspiring poetry.

Surrounded by my closest buddies, fireworks and a mesmerised crowd, I got the chance to hear the iconic duo perform it live on stage last March, just a week before lockdown — and to think of that as my last memory of Strings gives me goosebumps and tears at the same time!

Sar Kiye Yeh Pahar

Zahrah Mazhar, Managing Editor

Who doesn’t love this song? It’s one of my earliest pop rock discoveries and the video with Faisal Kapadia’s pink guitar was “so cool” in the 90s. Also, nothing will beat hearing this song performed live and the absolute electric feeling of having the crowd sing along to it.

Ali Umair Jaffery, Administrative Manager

I was introduced to Strings by this song. There was an Eid party at our school and we took special permission from the principal to bring a cassette tape recorder for music. My friend told me that you have to listen to this song. I still remember he took out that spectrum cassette, put it in the tape recorder and played it. The moment this track started I instantly fell in love with it and since that day Strings become one of my favourite bands from Pakistan.

Anjanay Kyun

Fatima Azeem, Senior Sub Editor, Branded Content

If there was anything lit in the 90s it was the vibe of this song and Bilal’s soothing vocals on that peppy tune! The track has been part of some of my life’s most vivid memories; I still remember how the fam would jam to this song in the car while we drove past the city, turn the volume up to 100 every single time PTV played it, and sing all parts that ended on ‘kyun’ with an energy we’d dispense for no other song. With Strings gone, it feels like there will always be a void in my heart that no other music will ever fill.

Mera Bichra Yaar

Omer Hayat, News Editor

It was probably the coolest music video I’d seen at the time. Even though it looks pretty simple, but the video was something new for me. The colours, the concept: Just two guys chilling in a messy room, watching tv, eating, playing music. I mean as a teenager, this was the dream — spending summer vacations like this. And of course the song is brilliant, Bilal's vocals are amazing

Sheneir Khan, Interactive Producer

A memory associated with it is going to a Strings concert last year with my closest friends and singing all their songs, and then on New Year's night we had a bonfire at my house and we all sang Strings songs around the bonfire till the clock hit 12!

Urooj Imran, Sub Editor, News Desk

Every time I listen to it, it takes me back to my university trip when we were driving between the mountains in Hingol National Park with Strings' songs playing in the background.

Najanay Kyun

Shahzeb Ahmed, Editorial Consultant

It was my go to song when I was being melodramatic and thought my life was khatam after a bad grade or the end of a one-sided love affair. I also played it a lot when I was feeling homesick in the UK.

Sajni

Aliza Anees, Sub Editor, Branded Content

I still remember when Sajni came out, it became my go-to song for every occasion, both happy and sad. We would have a full-fledged karaoke in the car with the song on repeat and just drive aimlessly through the streets, smiling to ourselves and feeling so full in our hearts.

What is your favourite Strings song and why? Let us know in the comments below.

Comments

Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad Mar 26, 2021 03:12pm
No doubt, memories are forever.
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Ali Khan Mar 26, 2021 03:24pm
Sar kye ye pahar, Jane do, oh jane wale
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Sarfraz Mar 26, 2021 03:48pm
So many memories. BTW, Duur is their most iconic song after Sir Kiye and should have been mentioned in the story, just my 2 cents.
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Awais shoukat Mar 26, 2021 03:54pm
Kahani Mohabbat Ki Hai Mukhtasar...... Gaya Dil Sy Phir Woh Na Aya Idher.. :(
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Zak Mar 26, 2021 03:56pm
" Duurrrrr....." I guess the distant journey has come to an end. Legends for all time.
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Sukena Rizvi Mar 26, 2021 04:01pm
Sar kiye ye pahar and Dur. Strings came to our school for an impromptu afternoon in 2002 and listening to them strumming the song Dur on the makeshift stage made everything perfect in that moment.
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Irfan Mar 26, 2021 04:22pm
Where is "durr"
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Sunshine Mar 26, 2021 04:24pm
What happened to Durr ....?? The iconic Strings number in early 2000 era. So powerful and subtly romantic personifying the struggle by one roaming in the deserts in a jeep in search of a loved one. Reminders of the long hard way to reach one's destination or goals!!
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Sunshine Mar 26, 2021 04:25pm
Anyone who does not remember Durr is not a true Strings fan!!
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truth Mar 26, 2021 06:28pm
they are a one(maybe two) hit wonder. highly overrated
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Percussionist Mar 26, 2021 09:05pm
There goes another memory of teenage years. Truly I have aged now. Thank you Strings, love from India.
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Logical Human Mar 26, 2021 09:08pm
Thank you for the memories. Some of their songs are hugely nostalgic. Sad to see them break up.
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SIMPLE Mar 26, 2021 10:22pm
Indeed a sad moment. will be remembered forever.
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ak4pk Mar 27, 2021 04:06am
Had an inclination of this moment coming sooner or later when Bilal Maqsood went solo with Velo Sound. Any way best of luck to both of them for the future in whatever capacity they plan to shape their careers. It was a pleasure and an enriching experience with the band ‘Strings’ that was synonymous with Pakistan. Will miss you.
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Rbs Mar 27, 2021 06:50am
Best band ever to set foot on Pak soil
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I'm okay. Mar 27, 2021 09:20am
In the world of the fastest Internet different entertainment gadgets, are exposed to the fancy world of the internet, but the fact is this all can not replace the little and beautiful world when the sole source of entertainment was PTV and hit music of strings, Fakhir, Haroon, Adnan Sami. People from the 90s would shed tears to remember those days. Live long Strings.
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nFk Mar 27, 2021 09:34am
With the feeling of a rock-star While singing “سر کئے یہ پہاڑ” An age of dreams for me began Some thirty-three years ‘fore Scaling mountains was the plan And seeking You; as its core Words alone can’t shape ‘Man’ Hence the mesmerising score Youth, teens; oh the entire span They’d sing & I’d give out a roar While I shall forever be their fan The Strings - are tied no more...
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Asad Mar 29, 2021 02:05pm
Their best work was Beirut. Unfortunately it never picked up and the video quality on youtube of that song is also poor.
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Umair Jamil Ahmad Mar 29, 2021 02:33pm
Yeah good one but where is Durr....the song that reignited it all....if Sar Kiye had Bilal's flamboyance then Durr had Faisal's depth.....
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Umair Jamil Ahmad Mar 29, 2021 02:34pm
@Sarfraz ....Same here.....not only the song but the videography set new standards.....
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