Music | Classism and Burger Culture in Pakistan

A few months ago, singer singer-songwriter Meesha Shafi was celebrated for her flamboyant take on Pakistani classism in her single, Hot Mango Chutney Sauce. She got satire artist, Swineryy, to collaborate with her. Swineryy is famous for her satire about burger culture through her animoji character, Lina Aunty, who is a burger aunty. We talk more about Swineryy in our satire category. According to an Express Tribune article, Shafi said:

“Ultimately, the song pokes fun at our collective identity crisis, which is only worsened by our colonial hangover as many of us have begun to realize. Even within the race, we’ve come to attach a higher value to aspects of pop culture that have no roots in Pakistan or the wider South Asian community. So, whether it was cultural references in the lyrics or the visual translation of the track into a music video, I aspired to create something uniquely us – desi and proud”

The song begins with Shafi rapping a famous Pakistani idiom/tongue twister, Chandu ke chacha, except, Shafi adds her own twist to the tongue twister with her commentary on classism. The lyrics are: “Chandu ke chacha ne/ Chandu kee chachi ko/ Chandni raat mein/ Chandni Chowk pe/ Chandi ke chamach se/ Jimmy Choo ki chutney chatayee” according to a Dawn article, the lyrics translate to [Chandu’s uncle/ Got Chandu’s aunt/ Under a moonlit night/ At Chandni Chowk/ With a silver spoon/ To taste Jimmy Choo’s sauce]

Anyone who grew up in Karachi knows about the piece of problematic art that this song is. Burger e Karachi is a satirical take on burger kids and their culture. This song was released in 2013 by duo, Young Stunners. We translated the lyrics for the song for better understanding. You can find the translated lyrics below the song.

(1st Verse)
Kgs, Southshore, Beaconhouse, Nixor,
Ek se ek para hai bara bara burger,
I don’t like this, I don’t like that,
Dunhill ka zippo sath marlboro ka pack,
Fuck that,
My daddy is an hr Manager, Maazeh pe sheesha rakhen Hi Fi Calliber,
Bachi jidhar dekhen boltay hain she’s hot,
Doday ko boltay hain salay crackpot,
Kalay peelay ailay melay sath nai rakhtay, bbm k bina in k din nai kat tay,
Ek poori album from a dslr, inko pata hi nai there used to be a vcr,
Adhay din mai salay teen hazaar rupay kha chukay hain,
Inke daddy k dono daddys bhi us ja chukay hain,
Football k posters, Love song k folders,
Nike k toes ye hain greencard holders,
Sab pata hai kis larki ka boyfriend kon hai,
Baat baat pe boltay hain boy scene on hai.

[Chorus:]
B to the you to the are to the G, E to the are What you know about me?
K to the A to the are to the A, C H I we don’t work we just play,
B to the you to the are to the G, E to the are What you know about me?
K to the A to the are to the A, C H I we don’t work we just play,

(2nd Verse)
Ye Burger apni kahani kuch aise sunatay hain,
Baat baat mai hathon ko pyaar se hilatay hain,
Ulti topi sar par, iPhone hath mai.
Shakal choozay jesi magar bachiyan sath mai,
Eid k din, bhi ye tou shorts hi pehantay hain,
Adhay nangay hokay ye tou sarkon par tehaltay hain,
Har cheez mai accent, bantay hain angrez,
Twitter k bagher inka din, no waay
Marlboro ka packet, magar andar Gold leaf,
Day without Redbull? No bitch hold please,
Full sleeves shirt, skin fitted pant,
That shit is all down, dude you lookin for a chance?
Tablet, Guitar or Dre Beats k shashkay,
Jahan koi mela dikhey, bolen isse bachkay,
Sea View pe jatay nai, udhar melay atay hain,
Beach parties karnay ab tou French beach jatay hain,
Inki halat dekh kar, poori quom pareshan hai,
Ab pata chala, Meera kiun badnaam haii

(3rd Verse)
Rayban pehan k bethi, Reborn ki backseat pe,
Rickshaw tou choro ye bethi nai kabhi taxi pe,
Is k aglay pichlon ko bhi urdu nai aati,
Muchon walay bodyguard k binna baahur nai jati,
Money’s not the problem honey, let their credit card pay,
They’ll talk about me now, Say what you say,
Gloria Jeans pe coffee woh bhi dopher k time, it’s 40 degree centigrade are you outta your mind,
Hyperstar tou aisey jesey mamu jee ka ghar, teri ghalti bas ye hai k tu hai Burger,
Sari raat skyping, phir saara din ye soti hain,
Break up k baad ye aadhi raat tak roti hain,
In k fashion k lessons tou khatam hi nai hotay, Burger boys k kda par phudday bhi hai hotay,
Takar jaye koi desi jutt tou beth k hain rotay,
Koi baat nai crazy scenes hotay rehtay hain,
Boy meri bachi hai, Panga na lo,
O burger ja kar apna moon tou dho,
(Amir Liaquat: Nai dia acha)