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Bringing peace through
music
Nov 2, 2002
Brandeis University
Junoon at Brandeis University
On Saturday night, Levin ballroom was filled with music-lovers eager to see
Junoon, South Asia's biggest rock band. Packed with a multitude of Brandeis
students and people from the surrounding community, the room was so full that
the curtains closing off the backstage area had to be pushed back.
The concert, sponsored by groups such as the Hewlett Pluralism Alliance, Hillel,
the Muslim Student Association and the Student Union, brought together a wide
range of listeners, from long-time Junoon fans to curious students who had never
before heard of the band.
Before the band made their entrance, the audience watched a VH1 video
documentary about Junoon made called "Islamabad: Rock City." Although this
introduction was longer than necessary, the video provided an interesting and
informative account of Junoon's difficult journey to become respected musicians.
The documentary related how Junoon's popularity and political activism
threatened the Pakastani government and caused the band Junoon to be banned for
seven of the years since they formed in 1990. No longer banned, the group has
gained international success since their break out single, "Jazaba-e-junoon" in
1996.
Although their popularity in the east, especially in India, was phenomenal, they
were still virtually unknown in the west. After September 11th, Junoon gave a
benefit concert for Trade Center victims in New York. This gesture was
especially significant due to the adversity Muslims faced after the attacks.
Last month, Junoon played a concert for Peace for the U.N. General Assembly in
New York. Currently, Junoon is spreading their musical message of peace and
goodwill in tour of the United States and plans to release an English album.
The documentary concluded with of music video of their first song in English,
"No More," inspired by New Yorker Polar Levine's poem of the same name written
in response to September 11th.
Following the documentary, Brandeis students Omar Haq '04, Moha Shah '04 and
Amna Mirza '04 proudly introduced Junoon. The audience immediately stood and
moved in towards the stage.
The guitarist, Pakastani-American Salman Ahmad, welcomed enthusiastically the
audience and introduced his band members: vocalist Pakastani Ali Azmat and
bassist New Yorker Brian O'Connell. After a brief explanation of the band's aims
as musicians to promote peace and understanding universally, Junoon proceeded to
play.
At first the crowd was a little unsure of how to react to the unique fusion of
Western rock and Eastern mystical music, but Brandeisians soon took the cues
from the animated Junoon fans and started to move to the beat. Their initially
awkward movements turned to enthusiastic clapping and dancing as the infectious
energy of Azmat warmed up the crowd.
The crowd responded positively to the Santana-like guitar riffs and the vigorous
drum beat. Despite the fact that many Brandeis students couldn't understand the
words, the melodic voice of Azmat, likened to that of U2's Bono, captivated the
listeners. The similarity between the two musicians was uncanny when Junoon
performed a rousing and perfect cover of U2's song "Where the Streets Have No
Name."
Eager to include the newly inducted Junoon fans, the band encouraged audience
participation in a sing-along during one of their songs. After several more of
their songs, the group preformed another cover, this time of the Led Zeppelin
song, "Rock and Roll," by the band that Ahmad cited as one of his musical
inspirations. After this song, Junoon left the stage, but readily came back for
the demanded encore.
Bringing cultural awareness and entertainment to the Brandeis audience, Junoon
proved that the language of music is truly universal.
Rachel Resnick
Kedar Kulkami/the Justice
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