{"id":438693,"date":"2025-04-04T15:16:55","date_gmt":"2025-04-04T10:16:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/propakistani.pk\/lens\/?p=438693"},"modified":"2025-04-04T15:16:55","modified_gmt":"2025-04-04T10:16:55","slug":"ali-zafar-brings-the-star-power-but-wheres-the-x-factor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/propakistani.pk\/lens\/ali-zafar-brings-the-star-power-but-wheres-the-x-factor\/","title":{"rendered":"Ali Zafar Brings the Star Power, But Where\u2019s the X Factor?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The much-awaited anthem <a href=\"https:\/\/propakistani.pk\/lens\/ali-zafar-returns-to-psl-to-perform-official-anthem\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">&#8220;<em>X Dekho&#8221; <\/em>by Ali Zafar\u00a0<\/a>for the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2025 just dropped, and no one&#8217;s really feeling the &#8220;groove.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Released on Wednesday, the track celebrates PSL\u2019s decade-long journey, with the \u2018X\u2019 in the title symbolizing both ten years and the elusive \u2018X factor.\u2019 Featuring a powerhouse lineup of Ali Zafar, Abrarul Haq, Natasha Baig, and Talha Anjum, the anthem promises a mix of pride, energy, and attitude. But does it live up to the hype? Not really.<\/p>\n\t\t<div class=\"p-alsoread\">\r\n\t\t\t<div class=\"heading\">ALSO READ<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t<div><a href=\"https:\/\/propakistani.pk\/lens\/kanye-west-confirms-split-with-bianca-censori-in-new-song\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Kanye West Confirms Split With Bianca Censori in New Song<\/a><\/div>\r\n\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\n\n<div data-mode=\"normal\" data-oembed=\"1\" data-provider=\"youtube\" id=\"arve-youtube-espzihh4mky\" style=\"max-width:800px;\" class=\"arve aligncenter\">\n\t<div class=\"arve-inner\">\n\t\t<div style=\"aspect-ratio:331\/186\" class=\"arve-embed arve-embed--has-aspect-ratio\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"arve-ar\" style=\"padding-top:56.193353%\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<iframe allow=\"accelerometer &#039;none&#039;;autoplay &#039;none&#039;;bluetooth &#039;none&#039;;browsing-topics &#039;none&#039;;camera &#039;none&#039;;clipboard-read &#039;none&#039;;clipboard-write;display-capture &#039;none&#039;;encrypted-media &#039;none&#039;;gamepad &#039;none&#039;;geolocation &#039;none&#039;;gyroscope &#039;none&#039;;hid &#039;none&#039;;identity-credentials-get &#039;none&#039;;idle-detection &#039;none&#039;;keyboard-map &#039;none&#039;;local-fonts;magnetometer &#039;none&#039;;microphone &#039;none&#039;;midi &#039;none&#039;;otp-credentials &#039;none&#039;;payment &#039;none&#039;;picture-in-picture;publickey-credentials-create &#039;none&#039;;publickey-credentials-get &#039;none&#039;;screen-wake-lock &#039;none&#039;;serial &#039;none&#039;;summarizer &#039;none&#039;;sync-xhr;usb &#039;none&#039;;web-share;window-management &#039;none&#039;;xr-spatial-tracking &#039;none&#039;;\" allowfullscreen=\"\" class=\"arve-iframe fitvidsignore\" credentialless data-arve=\"arve-youtube-espzihh4mky\" data-lenis-prevent=\"\" data-src-no-ap=\"https:\/\/www.youtube-nocookie.com\/embed\/eSPzIHh4MKY?feature=oembed&amp;iv_load_policy=3&amp;modestbranding=1&amp;rel=0&amp;autohide=1&amp;playsinline=0&amp;autoplay=0\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"449.54682779456\" loading=\"lazy\" name=\"\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-presentation allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube-nocookie.com\/embed\/eSPzIHh4MKY?feature=oembed&#038;iv_load_policy=3&#038;modestbranding=1&#038;rel=0&#038;autohide=1&#038;playsinline=0&#038;autoplay=0\" title=\"\" width=\"800\"><\/iframe>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n<\/div>\n<p>The song kicks off with a nod to Sindhi and Baloch folk sounds, teasing a \u201ccomplete image\u201d of Pakistan. However, these elements are fleeting, leaving the representation feeling more like a token gesture than an organic integration.<\/p>\n<p>The lyrics, led by Zafar and Baig\u2019s commanding vocals, rally fans with lines like \u201c<em>Roz macha shor \/ Aaj kuch hona hai<\/em>\u201d. Yet, the beat remains predictable\u2014good for stadium chants but lacking the dynamism to make it truly electrifying.<\/p>\n<p>Zafar\u2019s return to PSL anthems brings continuity, but it overshadows the other artists. Baig\u2019s powerful voice is underutilized, while Anjum\u2019s razor-sharp rap feels like an isolated interlude rather than a cohesive part of the track. Haq injects Punjabi energy, but his segment feels more like a remix add-on than a seamless contribution.<\/p>\n<p>Visually, the anthem oscillates between fiery stadium shots and earthy scenes of Kabaddi and cricket fans, attempting to balance spectacle with authenticity. However, the execution feels disjointed, with segments that don\u2019t quite blend.<\/p>\n\t\t<div class=\"p-alsoread\">\r\n\t\t\t<div class=\"heading\">ALSO READ<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t<div><a href=\"https:\/\/propakistani.pk\/lens\/faysal-quraishi-takes-on-nine-roles-in-green-entertainments-behroopiya\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Faysal Quraishi Takes on Nine Roles in Green Entertainment\u2019s \u2018Behroopiya\u2019<\/a><\/div>\r\n\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\n<p>Adding to the d\u00e9j\u00e0 vu, &#8220;<em>X Dekho<\/em>&#8221; bears an uncanny resemblance to <a href=\"https:\/\/propakistani.pk\/lens\/big-dawgs-rapper-hanumankind-drops-another-banger\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Hanumankind\u2019s &#8220;<em>Run It Up<\/em>,&#8221;<\/a> from its visuals to its indigenous instrumentals, raising questions about originality.<\/p>\n<p>While &#8220;<em>X Dekho&#8221;<\/em>\u00a0 has pride, power, and attitude, it lacks the cohesion to become a decade-defining anthem. It\u2019s a collection of good elements that never fully fuse, leaving fans wanting more.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The much-awaited anthem &#8220;X Dekho&#8221; by Ali Zafar\u00a0for the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2025 just dropped, and no one&#8217;s really feeling the &#8220;groove.&#8221; Released on Wednesday, the track celebrates PSL\u2019s decade-long journey, with the \u2018X\u2019 in the title symbolizing both ten years and the elusive \u2018X factor.\u2019 Featuring a powerhouse lineup of Ali Zafar, Abrarul Haq, Natasha Baig, and Talha [&hellip;] <a class=\"g1-link g1-link-more\" href=\"https:\/\/propakistani.pk\/lens\/ali-zafar-brings-the-star-power-but-wheres-the-x-factor\/\">More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":66,"featured_media":438695,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2518,2199,2579,2529,2508,2561,2507,2562,2510],"tags":[],"adace-sponsor":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-438693","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-cricket","8":"category-featured","9":"category-music","10":"category-music-video","11":"category-musician","12":"category-rapper","13":"category-singer","14":"category-song","15":"category-sports"},"wps_subtitle":"Is the new PSL 10 anthem living up to the hype?","img_urls":{"thumbnail":["https:\/\/propakistani.pk\/lens\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/PSL-X-Anthem-364x205.jpg",364,205,true],"medium":["https:\/\/propakistani.pk\/lens\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/PSL-X-Anthem.jpg",1000,560,false],"full":["https:\/\/propakistani.pk\/lens\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/PSL-X-Anthem.jpg",1000,560,false]},"author_name":"Sher Alam","categories_name":["Cricket","Featured","Music","Music video","Musician","Rapper","Singer","Song","Sports"],"title_text":"Ali Zafar Brings the Star Power, But Where\u2019s the X Factor?","related_stories":"https:\/\/propakistani.pk\/lens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts?filter&per_page=4&categories=2518,2199,2579,2529,2508,2561,2507,2562,2510&exclude=438693","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/propakistani.pk\/lens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/438693","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/propakistani.pk\/lens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/propakistani.pk\/lens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/propakistani.pk\/lens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/66"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/propakistani.pk\/lens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=438693"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/propakistani.pk\/lens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/438693\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/propakistani.pk\/lens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/438695"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/propakistani.pk\/lens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=438693"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/propakistani.pk\/lens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=438693"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/propakistani.pk\/lens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=438693"},{"taxonomy":"adace-sponsor","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/propakistani.pk\/lens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/adace-sponsor?post=438693"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}