Calling all budding musicians: write an anthem for Glasgow’s sister city Lahore

Residents of Glasgow’s sister city Lahore are calling on budding local musicians to take part in a new campaign and help write a new song that celebrates all that is best about the culture and values of Pakistan.

While the two cities are separated by thousands of miles, the links between them are strong with many thousands of British Pakistanis choosing to live and work in Glasgow. These strong links were cemented in 2006 when Lahore and Glasgow officially became sister cities.

Now, Lahoris want to build on these links further by inviting Glaswegians to take part in Pakistan’s National Song Competition which has been launched to celebrate the 70^th anniversary of the signing of the Lahore Resolution, a document that’s seen by many Pakistanis as the foundation stone of the Nation. The competition’s organisers are hopeful that thousands of budding musicians from Glasgow’s large Pakistani community will contribute their ideas to help define what it means to be a Pakistani in 2010.

Taher Khan, the head of the group behind the initiative, said: “Though thousands of miles separate us physically, I know there are a large number of proud Pakistanis living in and around Glasgow today who will relish this opportunity to give something back to Pakistan in this 70^th anniversary year. I’m delighted to be able to invite them to take part in this competition and hope many will take the chance to celebrate all that is best about Pakistan through the medium of song.”

The organisers are offering the winning entrant the opportunity to appear in their own music video and to have their work judged by the internationally acclaimed and multi-award winning Pakistani pop group Strings. The winning song will also become the anthem for a new grass roots campaign that will run throughout 2010 with the aim of helping Pakistanis to celebrate their real identity, culture and values, and to challenge negative images of the country around the world.

 “The national song competition is a critical part of the wider Azme Alishan campaign”, said Mr Khan, “ which is about us as a people, taking part in something together, renewing our faith in each other and rekindling the communal spirit that enabled the creation of Pakistan 70 years ago. It doesn’t matter where you live. If you’re someone who loves Pakistan and wants to speak up for all that’s good about it, this is your chance to get involved”.

To find out more and submit your entry to the competition, please go to www.azmealishan.com. The competition closes on 30^th April.

HOW TO ENTER

1. Song must be an original composition.
2. The lyrics for the song must be original and in the case any exisiting lyrics of a Pakistani poet are used then permission from the copyright holders of the content wil be the contenstants responsibility.
3. Songs can be submitted with or without any music in any audio format.
4. Songs should be accompanied by a detailed profile of the artist/band, including all songwriting and music credits.Plus photographs and complete addresss and contact details.
5. The lyrical subject of all submissions must be Pakistani, patriotic and national in theme.
6. Songs can only be submited once. Re-submissions will NOT be allowed. So please send in the final version of your songs.
7. The contest is open to all pakistani's wether residing in Pakistan or any other country in the world.