On the 22nd anniversary of her passing, Nazia Hassan, the late Queen of Pop, lighted up Times Square in New York thanks to Spotify. Nazia’s ambassadorship was planned to coincide with her passing as a way to honour the pop star, who is regarded as one of the most influential vocalists of all time.
Nazia is one of the select group of musicians who have left an enduring impression on people’s hearts. She is revered as a legend not only in Pakistan but also throughout the world for redefining the pop music genre at a time when it was largely unexplored. The music streaming service is honouring Nazia by placing her on the cover of its Global EQUAL playlist as her voice and contributions to society continue to live on.
In a press release, Nazia’s brother Zoheb Hassan is quoted as stating, “My sister always viewed herself as a social worker, and not really a musician. He remembers Nazia as a woman of substance and shared his thoughts on this memorable occasion. She collaborated with the UN to promote children’s rights and regional peace. In addition, she was highly charitable and worked hard to aid children and young adults in need.
She didn’t discuss this aspect of her life with anyone, not even her own family, the singer-songwriter and producer continued. We didn’t learn the truth till after she had already passed away. She was amazing in that she never spoke about it. Additionally, Zoheb used the occasion to praise Spotify for designating her “beloved sister” as the ambassador for EQUAL Pakistan and Global and for “promoting the female musicians of the region.”
Nazia’s nieces Allanya and Amelia Hassan also showed their thanks. We love her music and she was a wonderful person, so she has always had a big impact on us as we were growing up. Additionally, she and her music served as a great inspiration for us when it came to writing and singing our own songs. We are grateful and proud to be a part of this legacy, they added.
As a member of the singing duo Nazia and Zoheb in the 1980s, Nazia began her career as a singer-songwriter, lawyer, and social activist. Over 65 million records have been sold globally by her and her brother. The song Aap Jaisa Koi, which was featured in the 1980 Indian film Qurbani, marked Nazia’s singing debut. She was the first Pakistani to receive the Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer when she received it at the age of 15 in 1981. She continues to be the award’s youngest recipient.
When her debut album Disco Deewane was published in 1981, it topped the charts in fourteen different countries, making it the best-selling Asian pop album of the time. She became the first Pakistani singer to reach the British charts thanks to the album’s English-language hit Dreamer Deewane.
Following that, Nazia released the album Boom Boom in 1982, which served as a portion of the soundtrack for the 1982 movie Star, Young Tarang in 1984, which featured the song Dum Dum Dede, and Hotline in 1986. (1987). In 1992, she released Camera Camera, which served as the centrepiece of a drug-advocacy campaign.
Nazia became one of Pakistan’s most admired celebrities in the course of a brief 15-year career. She was given Pakistan’s Pride of Performance Award, and UNICEF designated her as its cultural ambassador in 1991 as a result of her charitable work. She was 35 years old when she passed away in London from lung cancer in 2000.
