The Star Online: Entertainment: TV & Radio

Posted: 11 Jun 2011 04:43 PM PDT

Astro aspires to foster unity through music via its new and purpose-designed channel MyMusic.

WHAT defines Malaysia? Is it the people or the culture? Is it the food or the music? The answer to that simple question is: all of the above! And media group Astro is celebrating that diversity that unifies us with its all-new MyMusic channel, Astro Ch 318. In conjunction with the 54th Merdeka Day, the new free channel invites Malaysians to celebrate 1Malaysia by sending their own music videos to be aired from the auspicious Aug 31 (Ch 318, get it?) to Sept 16, which is Malaysia Day.

The Malaysian-themed music videos should feature anything from instrumental or vocal performances using traditional instruments, local folklore songs, performances using home-made instruments, alternative performing arts (beat boxing, rapping etc) incorporating original lyrics containing Malaysian elements, to describing Malaysian life through song, with original lyrics, of course. Truly, the sky's the limit.

Living in a country as diverse and culturally-rich as Malaysia, any number of musical instruments, lyrical subjects and sound sources are available. For those completely stunted by musical ability, by all means, record the sounds of birds chirping, or horns tooting in rush hour traffic, or the sound of cutlery during lunch hour at a kedai mamak.

Astro chief operating officer Henry Tan sees this exercise as the perfect opportunity for Malaysians to express themselves in the name of song and unity.

"Some of us may not be able to express our thoughts and feelings in words, but we are more than capable of doing so with music. MyMusic allows these expression to be made and shared by all Malaysians alike," he said during MyMusic's recent launch at Pavilion, Kuala Lumpur.

The MyMusic endeavour targets the younger generation, in particular, though there are no age restrictions.

"Malaysian youth are viewed as individuals with plenty of energy and passion ... and they also have time on their side, so why not make videos that can be shared with the nation?" reasoned Tan.

He also pointed out that music is a universal language of unity, bringing communities together, stressing that it's integral in all entertainment, education and worship.

"Music is deeply rooted in our own community, as Malaysia boasts a rich history of music with legends such as P. Ramlee and Sudirman, musical instruments like the angklung, sape and gendang. Then there's music which exists in the combination of vocal, dance and theatrical music such as mak yong, dikir barat, dondang sayang and boria featured in our cultural history," Tan explained.

MyMusic takes from Astro's endeavour last year, MyStory, which invited Malaysians to talk about their lives as citizens of this nation, sans the constraints of race, religion or social strata.

For MyMusic, each video submitted must not exceed five minutes in length. All videos can be uploaded onto astro.com.my/mymusic, snail mailed or passed on to Astro's ground crew (in any format), yes, those radio personnel who cruise around the city in sleek machines, all by the closing date Aug 8, though.

MyMusic, the channel, which will be available for free to all subscribers in the duration between Aug 31 to Sept 16.

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Tracy Morgan apologises for anti-gay comedy rant

Posted: 10 Jun 2011 09:54 PM PDT

NEW YORK (AP) - Tracy Morgan said Friday that he was sorry for telling an audience in Nashville, Tennessee, that if his son were gay, he would "pull out a knife and stab" him.

The comedian and "30 Rock" actor apologized to his fans and the gay and lesbian community for what he called "my choice of words" but what was characterized by others as an anti-gay rant during his June 3 appearance at the Ryman Auditorium.

A Facebook account posted by an audience member said Morgan's stand-up performance was full of homophobic references. The Ryman issued its own apology afterward for Morgan's behavior.

In his statement, Morgan, who has three sons, denied being a hateful person and acknowledged that "even in a comedy club" what he said went too far "and was not funny in any context." Late Friday, Morgan's apology was welcomed by Tina Fey, the star and executive producer of NBC's "30 Rock," where Morgan is a cast member, and by NBC Entertainment Chairman Bob Greenblatt.

Fey said "the violent imagery of Tracy's rant was disturbing to me." Then, with a wry touch, she added, "I hope for his sake that Tracy's apology will be accepted as sincere by his gay and lesbian co-workers at '30 Rock,' without whom Tracy would not have lines to say, clothes to wear, sets to stand on, scene partners to act with, or a printed-out paycheck from accounting to put in his pocket."

In a more sharply worded statement, Greenblatt said Morgan's comments "reflect negatively on both '30 Rock' and NBC - two very all-inclusive and diverse organizations - and we have made it clear to him that this kind of behavior will not be tolerated."

Morgan's outbursts triggered heated comment on Twitter, making him a "trending" topic Thursday and Friday.

Meanwhile, the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation called on Morgan to remove anti-gay remarks from his routine "and send a strong message that anti-gay violence is not something to joke about." GLAAD wants Morgan to meet with families who have lost children to anti-gay violence, and with gay and lesbian young people who have been estranged from their families because of their sexual orientation, said spokesman Rich Ferraro.

The Human Rights Campaign also said apologizing wasn't enough. The gay civil rights organization said Morgan "now has a responsibility to make amends for his horribly hurtful and dangerous 'comedy' routine."

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Sabtu, 11 Jun 2011