In The Key Of Pisces: Abida Parveen
So far, we’ve been looking at a musician (or two) for the correct day of the Pisces, but today we’ll digress a little. Yesterday’s musician, George Harrison, is credited with popularising Indian music in the West. One of his most beautiful compositions My Sweet Lord, is a musical and religious blend of East and West. The song weaves together the words hallelujah, my sweet lord, hare Krishna in a way that’s reminiscent of a South Asian devotional song.
This set me thinking about certain musical styles which seem Piscean — a kind of repetitive, loose, weaving sound — and classical Indian music fits this (currently very vague) notion very well. It also seems to me that a certain kind of devotional music ought to be rather fishy.
One of today’s greatest exponents of sufi devotional singing is Abida Parveen, who I believe was born on February 20, 1954. (This may not be correct, but it is the date I found.) This would give her Sun, Mercury and Venus in Pisces — and Chiron conjunct the North Node in Capricorn. You may have heard her work with Björk.
Here she is singing the words of the poet Bulleh Shah. If you have time, read the subtitles.
It is amazing that you should write about Adidas Parveen. She my absolute favourite Pakistani singer and I am very biased about her. I don’t think any of the other subcontinent singers come even close. Her voice is sublime and touches every one (but especially me) on a subconscious level. But then I have Mars in Pisces and Venus in Capricorn.
I believe she is plugged straight into the Big Unknown — Chiron/NN perhaps. An extraordinary person. Here’s a link to an interview http://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/jul/0…
Hi Christina
Yes I think she is plugged straight into the Big Unknown. Here is a link to one of the most amazing and spiritual sung poems by her. The combination of the lyrics and Abida’s voice together bring tears to my eyes every time I listen to it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73uN69-lXEE
I’m lucky enough to have seen Abida Parveen live and she is a tour de force! I took a friend who knew nothing about her and when she started singing, my friend burst into tears! Devotional singing and devotion in the religious sense are deeply Piscean. The amazing thing about Abida – when she sings, her voice seems to be coming from outside her at times – as if she is pulling it from another dimension.
IMO this collaboration of Abida and Ustaad Raees Khan is the most sublime expression of Sufi. Click on full screen to get the English sub titles and be prepared to be blown away! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aiPtOcI6CBE