Anyone ever heard of the band Radja? Samson maybe? The one that sings the song Kenangan Terindah? Or maybe you have heard Padi? I'm sure you've heard Dewa 19? Their song, Pupus? Kasidah Cinta? How about the band Peterpan or Sheila on 7?
Damn big names here in Malaysia rite? I mean loads of albums being sold, special concerts and awards all going to them. Give credit where its due right? So far, I have no real problems with the music they SELL (or do they call it play?). I kinda dig some of the tunes. Where are they from?
Well, this is a place to rant, and there will be some..
So...what's the real deal?
Indonesian bands here are very dominant to an extant that it overshadows our local acts. As I said, give credit where it's due, some Indonesian bands are good, but are they really as phenomenal back home in the streets of Jakarta?
The Malaysian general listener will automatically prefer music with Indonesian flavour. People actually prefer Radja and Samson and diss Spoon (not a real big fan of all 3). They play the same kind of music...and Malaysians prefer the one with Indonesian flavour. Well, here's a news flash.. Indonesian Pop/Rock bands' sales back in Indonesia are crap! They rely on us here in Malaysia to make them rich. People here worship the ground they walk on. It's ridiculous...but true.
How can this go on with radios and all blasting support your local scene. Well here's another nail in the back of the head... Have you heard Butterfingers on air? NO!! Our stations dedicate one pathetic chart a week and cramp the same old LOCAL ENGLISH bands in it! Why not let our bands mingle with the big boys of UK or the USA on air? Or are we giving our bands "preferential" treatment? Is there some kind of subliminal message saying our bands are not good enough to be played on our stations for our people to hear and enjoy (or critic..depends which side of the coin you prefer..you narcissistic b*stard..haha)
Speaking of not good enough...if lets say we had one band...local...playing the theme song for a international brand's promo...wouldn't that deserve some airtime which is not at bloody 3:45am when even the guards are asleep! Wouldn't it be cool having a band playing the theme for Nike? Well Seven Collar t-Shirt plays My Generation (not the Limp Bizkit version) and have we heard it on air? I don't think so...!
Outrage..at our local Anugerah Industri Musik, we have a special catergory for best Indonesian artiste. Do our bands get the same reception, honour there? Does the Best Malaysian Artiste Award get any recognition? NO!! Hell, I have reason to belive that our records are discarded over there.
Astro...what have you been doing all these years? Of all who won in reality music contests in Astro, Mawi is the only one seriously making it big...the arguement of whether he can sing or not, I wont discuss here. Is it the company policy to promote the wrong people? Of six Akademi Fantasias and three Blast Offs, I don't see anyone carrying their name without the tag "AF' behind their name besides Vince..You've got Khai AF, Adam AF, what the hell?
On that same note, how is pur local scene going to grow? Until when are our music going to be rated second class compared to Indonesia? Are we supposed to launch our songs outside of Malaysia and make it big outside..then only come back and play it on radio.
We've seen it with Guy Sebastian and Che'nelle. They migrate and make it big and here comes our local radios in line to play their songs. It doesn't matter if the artiste spent one hour here or a week, but as long as the artiste migarates and make it big...here comes the Anak Malaysia tag! BULLSHIT!!
From the way I see it, our musicians can kiss the dream of making it big locally goodbye, until we can make less of a mockery of Akademi Fantasia and promote really talented musicians. Thank God for youtube...
Monday 21 April 2008
Thursday 17 April 2008
How About Us?
OK..I did some checking up and I found out that about 40% of the Klang Valley working class people who between 25-65 indulge in maybe once a fortnight or more at the local pub. May it be from listening to the Os Pombos in Ol' Skool Bistro on Fridays or the Zarzadias Brothers at Backyard Pub on Thursdays...heck come check us, Blister, out at Backyard Pub every Saturday in May (cheap publicity...haha), one question lingers...what lies for the future of the musicians?
We all got our EPF or government pension or some other pension plan, basically something to sustain us in our later years...the musicians, well they don't have an EPF deduction! These are the same people who go on night after night giving us songs as we sip or gulp our larger. No, I'm not ranting out at the people, nor am I ranting out at the pubs. All I propose is system where musicians are able to taste the long term joys of an EPF payout!
Why aren't musicians eligible?
We all got our EPF or government pension or some other pension plan, basically something to sustain us in our later years...the musicians, well they don't have an EPF deduction! These are the same people who go on night after night giving us songs as we sip or gulp our larger. No, I'm not ranting out at the people, nor am I ranting out at the pubs. All I propose is system where musicians are able to taste the long term joys of an EPF payout!
Why aren't musicians eligible?
- They are part-time employees at a certain pub depending on the duration of their contract.
- Pubs rotate the talent from time to time.
- Probably because it'll be too "leceh" to go back and forth to the EPF office for the paperwork.
- Form a body which will contribute directly to the EPF
- The musicians and pubs register themselves with the Body with a small fee(be realistic..nothing is free)
- The Body manages the EPF accounts of the musicians and pubs
- The Body contributes to the EPF every month from the money of the musicians and pubs
- When a band retires from the scene, the Body cmakes a withdrawal
Wednesday 16 April 2008
Nice Hands
Well..again as I was NOT searching porn on the net, I was asked to go to this blog by Khristabelle (free publicity). It was very interesting to see some pictures there. I tried so hard not to fall in love...
Anyhoo, here's a link to Crystal's blog and I must say this might be a reason why Mr Keris Swinging has backed down. I'm sorry this is no rant about something political. It's just something i found damn interesting. It's a long shot but I bet you can build theories.. *hint *hint
Told you she has nice hands.
Monday 14 April 2008
An Incomplete Post for Nan
All those times of wishing she'd cook my favourite food linger in my heart as I woke up at 5.45 am. It was easier pretending nothing mattered and enerything was and will be fine. In an instant my thoughts stumbled upon random memories of her. I admit not all were sweet but priceless nevertheless.
I remember as far as when I was so much younger and how much it meant spending time there. At that time of course, it was the environment that engulfed me. Those times were so carefree and loose. From catching grasshoppers to playing in the mud, all of it was done there.
I remembering seeing her at my front door with bags and bags of food. I also remember driving her everywhere, from the bank to the doctor's, from KL to market. The works! I remember how she'd never sleep in the car and how she periodically clears her throat to keep me awake.
Still a dome of sorrow looms as i thought about the last time I brought her to the clinic. I wish something better was done. I always thought I could have had more time with her. Maybe, just maybe, if
I remember as far as when I was so much younger and how much it meant spending time there. At that time of course, it was the environment that engulfed me. Those times were so carefree and loose. From catching grasshoppers to playing in the mud, all of it was done there.
I remembering seeing her at my front door with bags and bags of food. I also remember driving her everywhere, from the bank to the doctor's, from KL to market. The works! I remember how she'd never sleep in the car and how she periodically clears her throat to keep me awake.
Still a dome of sorrow looms as i thought about the last time I brought her to the clinic. I wish something better was done. I always thought I could have had more time with her. Maybe, just maybe, if
Saturday 5 April 2008
Updates From K6, UPM
Korang tau tak..
1. si worsop a.k.a jung a.k.a ular sawa nipis kini bekerja sebagai tukang masak untuk PLKN di Sarikei, Sarawak. Beliau dibayar RM624.32 sen sebulan.
2. mutu kumar yang keretanya dicalar dua kali semasa menyontot..i mean menuntut di K6 telahpun membeli kereta baru Limited Edition. Malangnya keretanya hanya boleh bergerak ke depan selepas reverse sedikit dan memang payah untuk kona baring. Beliau telah beli kereta Ferrari di Shell.
3. setelah tamatnya pelajaran mereka (Darian, Awe Snepa, Deng, Didi, Kutam Babi dan Jung) dan kemerosotan kunjungan ke cafe KC oleh Bunjai, Zaki, Acu, Harun, Sadam dan beberapa orang lagi pada semester lepas, cafe KC telah mengumumkan pengurangan defasit sebanyak RM 16.52juta dan dijangka akan mula mencapai keuntungan RM 10.00 pada minggu ke-8 semester depan. Walau bagaimanapun, keuntungan ini hanya boleh tercapai jika Bondoy menyetelkan hutang nama-nama yang tersenarai di atas.
4. setelah mengalami kekalahan tipis, calon MIC Mohan Das enggan dilantik sebagai menteri dalam Kementerian Alkohol dan Tembakau. Beliau menyatakan hasrat untuk mendirikan rumah dan tangga adalah faktor utama merehatkan diri dari politik.
Sekian,
Darian Henry
1. si worsop a.k.a jung a.k.a ular sawa nipis kini bekerja sebagai tukang masak untuk PLKN di Sarikei, Sarawak. Beliau dibayar RM624.32 sen sebulan.
2. mutu kumar yang keretanya dicalar dua kali semasa menyontot..i mean menuntut di K6 telahpun membeli kereta baru Limited Edition. Malangnya keretanya hanya boleh bergerak ke depan selepas reverse sedikit dan memang payah untuk kona baring. Beliau telah beli kereta Ferrari di Shell.
3. setelah tamatnya pelajaran mereka (Darian, Awe Snepa, Deng, Didi, Kutam Babi dan Jung) dan kemerosotan kunjungan ke cafe KC oleh Bunjai, Zaki, Acu, Harun, Sadam dan beberapa orang lagi pada semester lepas, cafe KC telah mengumumkan pengurangan defasit sebanyak RM 16.52juta dan dijangka akan mula mencapai keuntungan RM 10.00 pada minggu ke-8 semester depan. Walau bagaimanapun, keuntungan ini hanya boleh tercapai jika Bondoy menyetelkan hutang nama-nama yang tersenarai di atas.
4. setelah mengalami kekalahan tipis, calon MIC Mohan Das enggan dilantik sebagai menteri dalam Kementerian Alkohol dan Tembakau. Beliau menyatakan hasrat untuk mendirikan rumah dan tangga adalah faktor utama merehatkan diri dari politik.
Sekian,
Darian Henry
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