As ‘Pasoori’ tops YouTube charts, creators say global journey ‘only beginning’ for Pakistani music

This screengrab, taken on December 27, 2022 from the music video of popular song Pasoori, released by Coke Studio Pakistan on February 7, 2022, shows Pakistani singers Ali Sethi and Shae Gill. (Photo courtesy: Coke Studio)
Short Url
Updated 27 December 2022
Follow

As ‘Pasoori’ tops YouTube charts, creators say global journey ‘only beginning’ for Pakistani music

  • Punjabi-language song sung by Ali Sethi and Shae Gill was featured on Coke Studio Pakistan’s Season 14 this year
  • Since its release, track has crossed 475 million views on YouTube, coming 53rd on “global top music videos” list

KARACHI: The creators of the globally acclaimed Pakistani song ‘Pasoori,’ which made it to YouTube’s global music video charts last week, said on Tuesday the song’s success had proved that Pakistani music and content was "world class" and its journey to global success was "only beginning."

The Punjabi-language pop-folk song sung by Ali Sethi and Shae Gill was featured on Coke Studio Pakistan’s Season 14 this year. Since its release, the track has crossed 475 million views on YouTube and made it to 53rd spot on the “global top music videos” list on the website.

The song also topped Google's list of songs most hummed to search in 2022 and became the first Pakistani song to rank third on the Spotify’s Global Viral 50 list.

“I am sure everyone will have their own stories knitted from Pasoori’s ideology and narrative of love, liberation, transcending boundaries and communal oneness,” Coke Studio Season 14 producer Zulfiqar Jabbar Khan told Arab News on Tuesday, saying the song had “something that makes people feel ‘together’.”

“That unified emotion is very powerful. Songs that succeed on that level, they all achieve that power,” he said. "A song’s timelessness is in its ability to talk authentically to people. To not just a few people, but to communities, to ideologies, to individual sensitivities. To give people emotional threads of relatability.”

Coke Studio Pakistan manager, Zeeshan Sikandar, said the response to Pasoori had solidified the belief that Pakistani music and content was “world-class.”

“Pasoori’s narrative of transcending borders and boundaries has made it resonate with so many fans across the globe. The Coke Studio community is present in over 180 countries, and we believe it is this community that has helped us create this level of impact.”

“[With Coke Studio Season 14,] we aimed to showcase Pakistani music that is world-class,” Sikandar said, “and the response we received has made us realize we are onto something and that the journey is only beginning.”


REVIEW: Metallica prove why they are still the champions of heavy metal at Abu Dhabi show

Updated 07 December 2025
Follow

REVIEW: Metallica prove why they are still the champions of heavy metal at Abu Dhabi show

ABU DHABI: US heavy metal rockers Metallica treated their fans to a smorgasbord of their biggest hits from a career spanning 40 years, with an energy that shows no signs of slowing down, at the Abu Dhabi Formula One after-race concert at Etihad Park.

A full-on eruption of sound and visuals, the set lasted for nearly two hours, with the sexagenarians — returning to the capital after 2013 — not stopping for any breaks. From the moment the first chords struck of their first track of the night, “Creeping Death,” James Hetfield’s vocals dominated the atmosphere, proving once again why he remains one of rock’s most commanding frontmen.

And while they entertained the crowd with hit after hit, including “For Whom the Bell Tolls,” “Wherever I May Roam,” and “Seek and Destroy,” they saved the best for the last, rewarding their fans with a triple treat: “One,” “Nothing Else Matters,” and “Enter Sandman.”

But it wasn’t just the setlist that made the night extraordinary — it was the unmatched energy. The band played like they were feeding off every cheer, every raised metal sign, every head bang. The atmosphere was simply electric, in a way that only a legacy band like Metallica can conjure at this scale.

Layered atop the music was a visual spectacle worthy of the band’s legacy. Pyro lit up the stage throughout the night — towering flames, erupting fire bursts, synchronized flashes, and animated scenes that turned the performance into a cinematic show.

Powerful, immersive, and unforgettable, Metallica’s Abu Dhabi performance was a masterclass in how a legendary band continues to dominate.