Назия и Зобех: Пионеры пакистанской поп-музыки

Pakistani pop duo

Nazia and Zoheb were Pakistani pop duo from Karachi, Sindh formed in 1980. The group consisted of two siblings, Nazia Hassan and Zoheb Hassan (collectively known as Hassans, The Hassans or Hazan), who were singing sensations and pop icons across South Asia. They are regarded as pioneers of the Pakistani pop scenes, and were one of the most successful Asian pop duos of all time, selling more than 105 million albums worldwide. The duo initially gained prominence with their music single "Aap Jaisa Koi" first featured as a soundtrack for the 1980 Indian film Qurbani. The song was on the group's debut album Disco Deewane released in 1981 produced by Indian producer Biddu which became the best selling Asian pop album at the time charting in 14 countries worldwide becoming a hit in countries such as Brazil, Russia, South Africa, and Indonesia. The duo released their second album Boom Boom in 1982 which was the soundtrack for the Bollywood movie Star. After two years, the band recorded their critically acclaimed album Young Tarang in 1983. It was the first album of Pakistan pre MTV to feature music videos. Nazia and Zoheb released their fourth hit album, Hotline in 1987, which featured the duo's younger sister, Zahra Hassan. The group released their last studio album Camera Camera in 1992, which was written and produced solely by Zoheb.

Nazia and Zoheb spent their childhood in Karachi as well as London. In the late 1970s, both siblings participated in "Sang Sang Chalien" and "Kaliyon Ke Mala"; both are famous musical shows for children hosted by the music maestro Sohail Rana. In 1976, Nazia and Zoheb both made a cameo appearance in the Pakistani film Beyond the Last Mountain as extras in a musical scene. Nazia's professional career started at the age of fifteen when she provided lead vocals for the song "Aap Jaisa Koi" from the 1980 film Qurbani. Nazia was introduced to the film's director Feroz Khan by his friend Biddu, an Indian music producer based in the United Kingdom. The song was a huge success in India and despite Nazia being a Pakistani, she gained overnight fame there, too. In 1981, Nazia won the Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer for "Aap Jaisa Koi".

After the success of "Aap Jaisa Koi", Qurbani became a big hit, and Nazia once again collaborated with Biddu and her equally talented brother, Zoheb. In 1981, Nazia/Zoheb became the first teen singers to release a pop album. The album was titled "Disco Deewane". The album broke record sales in Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, South Africa and even topped the charts in the West Indies, Latin America and Russia. Zoheb composed 6 out of the 10 tracks on the album to establish himself as a successful singer/songwriter. After the release of "Disco Deewane", Nazia and Zoheb were offered the chance to act in a movie by Biddu, but they refused to act and chose singing. Nazia's second album Star/Boom Boom was released in 1982. The soundtrack of the album was used in the movie Star. The film did not do well at the box office, but the album was successful.

Nazia's third album, Young Tarang, was released in 1983. It was the first album in Pakistan to feature music videos, which were made in London by David and Kathy Rose. The album sold over 40 million copies. The album made Nazia/Zoheb into one of the most known pop icons in South East Asia. "Ankhien Milane Wale", "Zara Chehra" and "Dum Dum Dee Dee" became the most popular songs on the album. Over thirty years later, an India Today article titled "Nazia makes a lovely comeback" celebrated Nazia Hassan's music appearing in the cult 2012 film, Miss Lovely that had premiered at the Cannes Film Festival: "The film has made the audience nostalgic over Ahluwalia's use of the song "Dum dum de de" from Hassan's 1984 album, Young Tarang." Miss Lovely director, Ashim Ahluwalia, described keeping the original track untouched: "The song symbolises the '80s and the lyrics of the song were in sync with the mood of the film. [We] retained the original voice of Nazia. We didn't want to remix this song because the original was perfect." She was admitted to North Finchley Hospice three days prior as her condition deteriorated. She showed signs of mild recovery the day before she died and it was thought that doctors would allow her to go home. But early Sunday morning, her mother, Muneeza, was called to the hospital where her daughter had started coughing heavily at around 9:15am. She died within minutes. Nazia is buried at the Muslim Hendon Cemetery in London. On Saturday, 9 March 2002, Zoheb Hassan organised a tribute concert for his late sister Nazia Hassan at the Gymkhana Cricket Ground in front of 10,000 people. Zoheb sang a compilation of his hits to a hysterical crowd. The classic line up of Vital Signs performed together on stage for the first time in almost 7 years. The concert, which featured over 30 artists and bands, was reported by The News International as one of the best concerts ever seen in Pakistan. On 23 March 2002, the Government of Pakistan posthumously conferred the Pride of Performance award, the highest civilian award in the country, upon Nazia Hassan. The award was presented to Muniza Basir, mother of Nazia Hassan, by the President of Pakistan Pervez Musharraf in an official ceremony held at Islamabad. Zoheb went on to become the Honorary Advisor to the Governor of Sindh and went on to organise mega festivals such as "Sindh Festival", "Media & Entertainment Expo", "Pakistan UK Connect Expo" (UK), "Pakistan Arts & Crafts Fair", etc. He also started his own media company, B&H International Pvt. Limited. In 2003, Nazia's family established the Nazia Hassan Foundation, a charitable organization. The organization was established in continuation of her lifelong charitable and social efforts to make the world a better place to live in for all irrespective of color, creed or religion.

Zoheb Hassan acted in the drama serial "Kismat" in 2006 and released his solo album of the same title. Soon after, he decided to quit his music career to focus on his family's extensive property and media business.

Get a Little Closer, by Hazan, remixed by Sal Solo.