Abida Parveen - Tu Han Sakhi, Mai Han Pyasi

Abida Parveen is a Pakistani singer whom I've wanted to sketch for a while, but could not pull off anything I was willing to post until tonight. She is known for singing the poetry of many Sufi Saints from all over Pakistan and India in a number of languages. Her singing is beautiful and the poetry she chooses equally so. I'd like to share translations of this type of poetry more in the future, but for now a taste.(poetry by Bulleh Shah with translated subtitles)Kithe Mehr AliDamadam Mast Qalandar (traditional Sindhi song about Lal Shahbaz Qalander with mention of Jhulelal)Mahi Yaar Di GharoliTo me, many of these songs are mysteries to be unravelled. Names and titles mentioned in this poetry is often the starting point of discovering where the song came from and what the social context is, though the meanings tend to be universal themes. The context simply makes it that much more rich.