Sayonee

"Sayonee سیو نی"
Single by Junoon
from the album Azadi
Released April, 1997
Format Cassette, CD
Recorded 1997
Genre Sufi rock
Length 5:05 (album version)
4:58 (music video)
Label EMI Pakistan, Universal Music, Sadaf Stereo
Writer(s) Sabir Zafar, Salman Ahmad
Producer(s) John Alec, Salman Ahmad
Junoon singles chronology
"Saeein"
(1997)		 "Sayonee"
(1997)		 "Yaar Bina"
(1997)
Azadi track listing
"Sayonee"
(1)		 "Meri Awaz Suno"
(2)
Music sample
"Sayonee"

"Sayonee" (Urdu: سیونی, literal English translation: "soulmate") is a song by the Pakistani sufi rock band Junoon, released in April, 1997. It is the first track from the band's fourth album, Azadi (1997), released on EMI Records.[1] Written by lead guitarist and founder of the band Salman Ahmad and writer Sabir Zafar, it is the lead single on the album, the song uses blends of rock guitars and bluesy vocals with traditional Pakistani musical elements like the tabla percussion drums, Hindustani raga-inspired melodies styled and blended into Pakistani folk music.

The unexpected success of "Sayonee" in 1997 propelled Azadi at the local and international music charts, within three months of the release of Azadi, the album had sold over half a million copies and hit platinum sales status in a record of four weeks.[2][3] The music video of the single, "Sayonee", was shot by Asim Reza which became an instant hit in South Asia and the Middle East, shooting to the top of all the Asian charts, and staying at #1 on both Channel V and MTV Asia for over two months. The single was a hit in South Asia, topping all music charts in Pakistan, India and Bangladesh. The success of the single led the album being the band's highest selling album in South Asia and Junoon received a platinum certification for hitting platinum sales for their album. Also, the single was nominated for the 'Best International Song' at the Channel V Music Awards in 1998. Junoon won the 'Best International Group' title at the Channel V Music Awards, where they performed along with world-wide icons Sting, The Prodigy and Def Leppard.[4][5] Azadi was nominated for 'Best International Album', having achieved the prestigious honour of being the highest selling album in Pakistan, Bangladesh and India that year.

To this day, it is considered one of the best sufi rock songs ever recorded, and is often performed at concerts by Junoon. The song is one of the most well known and popular track by Junoon, also listeners and critics have continued to praise "Sayonee" as one of the greatest rock songs of all time in Pakistani music industry. Also, "Sayonee" was named at #1 in a list of Junoon's top 10 songs published by Gibson Guitar on their website.[6]

In addition, the live version performed at Central Park, New York City, in 1998 of the song featured in the live album Daur-e-Junoon, released in 2002.[7] The song has also featured in several other albums by the band like Junoon for Peace (2001) and Dewaar: The Best of Junoon (2004).

Music video

The music video of "Sayonee", literal English meaning "Soulmate", was directed by Asim Reza, and was shot entirely in the Pakistani city of Multan. The plot of the music video rotates around a boy who struggles to find his soul mate and goes through many troubles in life. Furthermore, as the music video proceeds the boy is shown all grown up but still struggling to find his soulmate and thus, is shown running in order to try to save himself from the troubles he has been into. The music video also showed the band performing the song wearing traditional sufi clothing and in between the music video short clips of traditional sufi dancers were seen performing sufi dance.

Track listing

Sayonee

All tracks written by Junoon. 

No.TitleLength
1."Sayonee"  5:05
2."Sayonee" (Video)4:58

Personnel

Junoon
Additional musicians

References

  1. ↑ Azadi review, Retrieved on May 6, 2011.
  2. ↑ Junoon - Biography Retrieved on May 30, 2010
  3. ↑ Junoon's album Azadi hits platinum in record time Retrieved on April 1, 1998.
  4. ↑ "Junoon - V Award Ceremony 1998 Junoon Wins Best International Band Award". Retrieved July 16, 2010.
  5. ↑ Junoon to perform at MTV Awards Retrieved on April 19, 2011.
  6. ↑ The Perfect Mix: The Top 10 Junoon Songs Retrieved on August 20, 2011.
  7. ↑ Daur-e-Junoon review, May 6, 2011.
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