Jaan Jaan Kehke by Jassi Gill

Not every song from Jaan Jaan Kehke lingers, but Jaan Jaan Kehke is the one that stays. Behind the melody is the work of G Guri, whose composition choices give Jaan Jaan Kehke its distinctive texture.

The performance by Jassi Gill is the centrepiece here — controlled where it needs to be, open where it counts. For fans of a talented ensemble cast, Jaan Jaan Kehke is one of those songs that immediately conjures specific scenes and emotions.

2011 was a strong year for Punjabi music, and Jaan Jaan Kehke was among the reasons why. It fits the playlist for almost any occasion, which is rare — most songs have a narrow emotional window. This one does not.

Running to 5:00, the song is exactly as long as it needs to be, which is the hardest length for a songwriter to find. Songs like Jaan Jaan Kehke are the reason people fall in love with Punjabi music and never quite fall out of it.