RAWALPINDI: Heartbroken messages poured in from Pakistani Twitter users on Thursday and Friday as Strings, arguably one of Pakistan’s most famous pop-rock bands, announced that it was breaking up after 33 years.
Strings, which comprises Bilal Maqsood and Faisal Kapadia, announced on Instagram that “today, 25/03/2021, is the day we graciously get to conclude STRINGS.”
Many fans wished Maqsood and Kapadia good luck, others thanked them for their music and yet others asked why they would give fans such devastating news during a global pandemic.
Digital rights activist Usama Khilji shared a message of love for the band, saying he had seen them live four times and was “happy that they made music together for 33 years that we can listen to forever.”
. @stringsonline is the band I’ve seen live at least four times since childhood, and I’d always want to see them live again!
Not sad that they have decided to end the band, but happy that they made music together for 33 years that we can listen to forever.— Usama Khilji (@UsamaKhilji) March 25, 2021
Sincere farewells were shared by Pakistan streaming platform Patari, and politicians Sikander Fayyaz Bhadera and Muhammad Jibran Nasir:
Thank you @stringsonline (1988-2021)
Goodbye to one of the the biggest bands of Pakistan. We all have wonderful memories with your songs. Thank you for giving us the best music.
Listen to Strings on Patari: https://t.co/QE54l4D3M0#Strings #StringsForever #StringsBreakup— Patari (@patarimusic) March 25, 2021
For many who grew up in the 90s, 'sar kiye yeh pahar' was almost as iconic as 'dil dil Pakistan.'
Strings will forever be the band that was everyone's second favourite, as the favourite kept changing every few years - but Strings remained.
Na Jane Kion..Na Jane Kion...— Sikander Fayyaz Bhadera (@SikanderFayyaz) March 25, 2021
Thank you for all the beautiful music and the memories. True Legends @stringsonline https://t.co/QXJndjKerc
— M. Jibran Nasir (@MJibranNasir) March 25, 2021
Fans across the border, including Indian journalist Uday Rana, also bid farewell to the band, saying Strings was one thing the nuclear arch-rivals could agree on.
Here’s something india and Pakistan can agree on.
Thank you, #Strings. Thank you for all the music.
Kaash yeh Aakhri Alvida na hota. pic.twitter.com/S1As7UJIG2— Uday Rana (@UdaySRana) March 25, 2021
Then there were those who wondered about the timing of the breakup.
Twitter user @Fatmounh asked: “Why would STRINGS do this in the middle of a pandemic don’t you know we’re already barely hanging here????”
Why would STRINGS do this in the middle of a pandemic don’t you know we’re already barely hanging here????
— Husn Hai Suhana (@Fatmounh) March 25, 2021
Another user @Syyeda14 wrote: “Didn’t we have enough problems already?!”
Why Strings whyyyy???
Pehlay zindagi kay maslay kam hain kya??— Zainab (@Syyeda14) March 25, 2021
One user recommended the band get the Pride of Performance for doing what they did best — break hearts:
Strings ko pride of performance dou they are responsible for single handedly doing the nation's favorite activity to do: break hearts
— Kabutarr ja ja ja (@queserasarasara) March 25, 2021
One Twitter user asked newly elected US President Joe Biden to intervene:
What is Joe Biden’s plan to get Strings back together?
— eman (@spiritsarehigh) March 25, 2021
But at the end of the day, most fans were grateful for the music; and as @Bluemagicboxes put it, she was fine with the breakup, as long as the duo stayed “friends forever.”
as long as bilal and faisal are friends forever guys
— Aimun (@bluemagicboxes) March 25, 2021
