Explained: How Punjabi Music Cuts Across Linguistic Barriers

Excuses by AP Dhillon has taken every space in social media by storm. The song is part of memes, reels and almost everyone¡¯s music library. It is not the first Punjabi music to have such an impact. Punjabi songs have reached a level of popularity that is matched by none. Punjabi songs released are not confined to Punjabi people but reaches almost every corner of India, and abroad in Pakistan and among desi diaspora in America and Europe. Songs like Bijlee Bijlee, Old Skool, Jat da Mukabla, Lahore, Brown Rang are not only among the most popular songs but part of online culture in the form of memes, advertisements, posts, reels.

Twitter/@Shubhamwait

Unmatched popularity

Music is produced in India in almost every regional language including. The popularity of the Punjabi music business, on the other hand, is unmatched. Punjabi music is the most popular regional music and is comparable to Hindi music in terms of popularity. The music is not only popular in India but abroad among the Indian diaspora, specifically in US, Canada, UK.

Punjabi music happens to be one of the most famous despite being spoken in a specific region in North India. Punjabi music industry is India¡¯s biggest non-film music industry. The music is listened to by people across the country even though a good percentage of them don¡¯t understand it.

AP Dhillon | Instagram

The Punjabi music's popularity is evident from its presence on social media in terms of views on YouTube, streams across music platforms and its occupancy on social media platforms. From the time of Imran Khan¡¯s Amplifier to AP Dhillon¡¯s Excuses, Punjabi music has remained popular among people cutting across language barriers. The music industry has carved its space in a country where language changes every few kilometres.

Extending reach

Punjabi music has extended its influence to Bollywood, where Punjabi songs have become part of albums released for films. Almost every other movie has a Punjabi or Hindi-Punjabi song in it. This is unlike any other regional language. Punjabi singers have become mainstream movie singers. Singers like Honey Singh, Badshah, Diljit Dosanjh, Guru Randhawa, among others have become regular singers for Bollywood. Many Punjabi songs are put into movies or remade.

How is it so popular?

The reason for Punjabi music¡¯s immense popularity is its music, beats and composition. It is these aspects that make people groove to these songs despite not partially or completely understanding the lyrics. The song as a whole is perfect to vibe with. It is these songs that are mostly played in clubs and parties even in non Punjabi speaking areas.

Most of the Punjabi songs are extremely groovy and one would want to just move one¡¯s body with the song despite understanding it or not. Another reason that can be attributed to its success can be slight resemblance between Punjabi and Hindi giving one an idea as to what the lyrics is saying if not completely understanding it. However this reason has to accompany the before mentioned cause, because there are many languages that resemble Hindi but can¡¯t match Punjabi music influence. According to flyingpepper, ¡°Punjabi songs are extremely popular and big hits in the Indian music scene as well as abroad. Because of unique tunes, rhythmic beats, and catchy vocals¡±.

Instagram | AP Dhillon

According to The Economic Times, ¡°The heady rise of Punjabi music is a result of several factors. The state has a long-standing tradition of music and live performance. The massive Punjabi diaspora overseas, now brought closer by digital distribution, is a big market for online sales and live shows. Producers of Punjabi origin who grew up in cities such as London or Toronto brought back a distinct quality and production sensibility to the state¡±.

The great music in Punjabi songs in turn owes a lot to the influence of international music and international music studios. Most of the Punjabi musicians in the 1990s and early 2000s were either living abroad or came back from abroad. Even after that and till date most of the Punjabi musicians and singers are living in the US, Canada or UK.

Twitter

Ahead of their time

Benchmarks in Punjabi music were songs like Dil luteya by Jazzy B, Amplifier by Imran Khan, Brown Rang by Honey Singh. These songs were a rage in their time and their popularity was second to none. Every party, every club was playing these songs and these songs played some role in establishing the popularity of Punjabi music. Again more than anything it was the beats, rhythm, music of these songs that really connected with people.

Talent galore

Jazzy B is an Indo Canadian, Imran Khan is a Dutch Pakistani while Imran Khan studied music in the UK. These singers brought in foreign trippy beats and groovy music and fused them with Punjabi songs and they were instant hits in India and abroad.

Facebook

Not just these musicians like Dr Zues, a British Indian, have given music to many popular Punjabi songs in the 2000s. Another British Indian musician Bally Sagoo was involved in many popular songs during the 1990s and 2000s.

Another popular singer who emerged during the 2000s was California based Punjabi singer and rapper Bohemia. His blend of international music, rap and Punjabi lyrics made for him a loyal fan base that exists even today. And who can forget the Honey Singh phase. Almost everyone had Honey Singh songs in his or her mobile.

And now to AP Dhillon (Indo-Canadian) who has taken the music sphere by storm with his trippy songs. From Brown Munde to Insane to Desires. Four of his songs are among the top 15 on Spotify. His song Excuses is the most played song on at least three top music streaming apps, also played on almost every other reel.

For more on explainers, news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News.