Klik GAMBAR Dibawah Untuk Lebih Info

Sumber Asal Berita :-

Posted: 22 Jun 2011 03:48 AM PDT

Indie rock star Radhi OAG is taking charge of his life after checking into a drug rehab centre.

BEING in the Pengasih rehab centre has made indie rock singer Radhi OAG view things differently. For one, the recent stint helped him to address his drug problem and face his demons. He has been under treatment for the last four months and things are looking up for the pint-sized star. In fact, he is now inspired more than ever to continue sharing his music with his fans after his time at Pengasih – a rehab centre/halfway house using therapeutic treatment to treat drug addicts, and chemical and alcohol users.

This Saturday, Radhi will hold a free admission show at Downtown @ Bukit Dukung, R&R Cheras-Kajang Highway in Kuala Lumpur with his new group Outlet at 8.30pm.

Radhi, whose real name is Mohd Radhi bin Razali, checked into Pengasih early this year. As the lead singer of the indie group OAG, which was formed in 1992, the 33-year-old has been a constant fixture in the homegrown music scene.

Apart from creating indie hits and living the celebrity life, there was a dark side that Radhi had to face up to – his drug addiction.

"Joining Pengasih was probably the best thing I've done so far. I found new friends and formed a band called Outlet. In Pengasih, I was called the 'King of Outlet'. Outlet means playful and gila gila. Somehow, I earned that name when I was inside there," said Radhi, spotting a clean, fresh look with a new hair cut, during a press conference at Rumah Pengasih in KL recently.

Radhi, known for his quick-witted replies, is not ashamed to admit that he has joined the ranks of popular singer Jamal Abdillah as one of Pengasih VIP inmates.

"I've learned my lessons well. I view many things from different perspective now. This will be my first performance in a long time after undergoing rehab at Pengasih. I will bring the familiar tunes during my OAG days and new songs which I composed while in Pengasih," said the outspoken singer who kicked off his singing career at 17.

Outlet is a band consisting Pengasih members, which includes two of his buddies, Hafizi Harun (drummer) and Muhammad Kamil Muhammad Muazam (guitarist).

Though he is with Outlet now, Radhi's heart is also with OAG which he described "as still active."

Apart from his ongoing treatment to kick the drug habit, Radhi said that he also quit smoking in the last month."It dawned on me that I could also quit smoking if I wanted to. And that's how I stopped smoking," said the Radhi who went through a bad divorce recently.

Radhi – who had recent hits Radio Rosak and Senyuman Ragamu (with Gerhana Ska Cinta) – was also inspired to write a song based on the idea of him quitting the nicotine habit. Hence a song titled, I'm A Stupid Smoker.

Then he wrote the poignant Tears Spark Street about how he viewed the outside world when he was an addict.

"From now on, I will only sing songs which have positive messages," said the singer who was born in Kuching, Sarawak.

He recalled how he ended up in Pengasih. "I remember that very day ... I was really feeling down and out. I was desperate and I thought of my son, my family and I just pulled myself together and drove to Pengasih. I checked myself in. Now I consider this as my second chance," he said.

"I have only regrets when I look back at the past. I kept messing up, over and over again. As a father, I realised I should not have done what I did. Everything that happened – my failed marriage, my difficult personal life, my chaotic lifestyle – all these have affected my career very badly. It's time I took charge of my life before it's too late."

Of all the things he regrets the most, nothing beats not being able to give his best to his six-year-old son Mohd Rifdhi Muslim.

"I'm sure my boy will be heartbroken if he were to read about the mess I've been in. The last five years have been the most painful and most unproductive years of my career."

While talking about the pride and joy of his life, Radhi's face lit up. Although he doesn't see Rifdhi as frequently as he wants to – now that he is at the rehab centre – Radhi makes sure he spends quality time with his son when he visits.

"My ex-wife Shazlin Sharif and I celebrated Rifdhi's sixth birthday at Pengasih on May 25. Rifdhi showed me some pictures and books. I was so touched ... as a birthday gift for him, I vowed that I would quit smoking.

"As a father I want to give the best to Rifdhi because he is everything to me," said Radhi who has starred in the telemovie, Ora Ora Yeah (TV2) and played the main character, Pohjee, in the movie Antoofighter.

For now, he is playing the leading role in cleaning up his own life – with the promise of a sobered up Radhi ready to return to the entertainment scene filled with a new zest for life.

Full Feed Generated by Get Full RSS, sponsored by USA Best Price.

Chou’s golden Era

Posted: 22 Jun 2011 03:48 AM PDT

Jay Chou, Jonathan Lee and Karen Mok bag top honours at the 22nd Golden Melody Awards in Taipei, Taiwan.

IT'S been a milestone year for Jay Chou. The Asian pop sensation marked a decade in the music business with his 10th studio album, which became the latest in his recent string of bestsellers. He also made his Hollywood debut by playing Kato in the hit action comedy The Green Hornet.

The Taiwanese singer-songwriter added to an already decorated year on Saturday by clinching the top awards at his home island's 22nd Golden Melody Awards – Chinese pop's answer to the Grammys – picking up the best Mandarin album and best Mandarin male singer trophies for his recent release The Era.

Industry veteran Jonathan Lee also had a strong showing, sweeping song of the year, best composer and best lyricist for his single Jonathan's Song. The soul-searching look at a man's love life was a product of his "Super Band" collaboration with fellow Chinese pop standouts Emil Chau, Lo Da-yu and Chang Chen-yue, which yielded a year-long tour and two albums.

The award for best Mandarin female performer went to Hong Kong's Karen Mok, who showcased her jazzy and laid-back vocals on the CD, Precious.

Chou, who has won 13 Golden Melody trophies over his career, was playful in his acceptance speech after clinching best Mandarin singer award, joking about his superstitious belief that he tended to win when he didn't attend the awards ceremony.

"The Golden Melody jury is different every year. I like the one this year," he said. "I've always debated whether or not to attend the awards ceremony. Usually, when I skip it, I win the big prizes. Thanks to the jury for changing my mind."

Chou's logic seemed to apply to Lee. The veteran singer-songwriter missed the Saturday night ceremony at Taipei Arena because of work obligations.

He said of Jonathan's Song in a statement published in the ceremony's official booklet: "This isn't just a song. This is the cry of the soul of everyone who is in love."

Mok, who was also named best female singer in 2002, was emotional when her win was announced, raising her trophy aloft in celebration.

She wrote all the songs on the album, a collaboration with famed mainland Chinese producer Zhang Yadong, who oversaw several of Hong Kong diva Faye Wong's albums.

"I can't believe I've won this award the second time. The more I win this prize, the more I want to win it again. I am addicted to it," she said.

Taiwan's Eric Hung was named best producer for the album Flower Of Love, which drew inspiration from the classic songs of his father, legendary Taiwanese singer Hung I-feng, who passed away last year.

A smaller version of the massive Japanese girl band AKB48 – which has 58 members – was a guest performer. Dressed in identical blue scarves, ruffled white dresses and white boots, 16 members of the group waved their hands and swayed their bodies through two fast numbers and thanked the Taiwanese public for their donations to Japanese earthquake and tsunami relief.

Taiwanese pop diva A-Mei Chang anchored a tribute to late Chinese pop composers, singing a medley of their works with orchestral backing.

Organisers also presented seven awards to musicians performing in Taiwan's aboriginal Min and Hakka dialects, in a nod to the linguistic diversity of the country's music industry. Taiwan's President Ma Ying-jeou announced the best aboriginal album and congratulated the winners.

Aboriginal musicians also crossed over to the main categories, with aboriginal reggae group Matzka taking home the best rock group honours.

Best pop group went to Da Mouth, the Taiwanese-Japanese hip-hop group that has drawn comparisons to the Black Eyed Peas. Da Mouth also prevailed in the same category in 2008.

The winner of the lifetime achievement award was Huang Min, a veteran composer and producer of Mandarin and Min dialect pop. Huang was also honoured with a medley performance of his classic songs. – AP

MAIN WINNERS

> Song Of The Year: Jonathan Lee, Jonathan's Song

> Best Mandarin Album: Jay Chou, The Era

> Best Mandarin Male Singer: Jay Chou, The Era

> Best Mandarin Female Singer: Karen Mok, Precious

> Best Pop Group: Da Mouth

> Best Rock Group: Matzka

> Best Music Video: Hebe Tien, Things Will Look Up If You Spend Some Time Alone

> Best Newcomer: WeiBird (pic, right)

Full Feed Generated by Get Full RSS, sponsored by USA Best Price.

Clemons' death leaves void for Springsteen

Posted: 21 Jun 2011 11:38 PM PDT

NEW YORK (AP): E Street will never be quite the same.

The death of saxophone player Clarence Clemons ripped a hole in Bruce Springsteen's music and onstage life, taking away a figure who had served him loyally for decades and never failed to add joy to the E Street Band's epic performances.

Clemons died Saturday at age 69, about a week after he suffered a stroke at his home in Singer Island, Florida. It's not the first loss for the rock world's best-known and most accomplished backup band. Keyboard player Danny Federici died in 2008 of melanoma.

Steve Van Zandt, Springsteen's youthful friend and closest partner, left for several years in the 1980s and was replaced on guitar by Nils Lofgren. When Van Zandt returned, Lofgren stayed.

Yet Clemons' loss cuts deeply into the soul of the band. His importance was acknowledged whenever Springsteen performed "Tenth Avenue Freeze-out," when he sang, "We made that change uptown and the Big Man joined the band," inevitably followed by a wail of Clemons' sax and a roar from the crowd.

The two men met in 1971 on the New Jersey bar band circuit, and when Springsteen released his debut album two years later, Clemons left a more successful outfit for a new Boss.

Inevitably Clemons' introduction was the climax every night when Springsteen presented the individual band members to the audience, accompanied by a variety of regal nicknames like "Master of the Universe" and "King of the World."

"Do I have to say his name?" Springsteen would shout to the crowd. "No!" came the roar back. He did anyway. Last fall's release of "The Promise," which included a DVD of a 1978 Springsteen concert performance, underscored the central role of Clemons in the act.

The two men were a marked physical contrast: a bedgraggled, slightly scrawny white guitar player and a 6-foot-5-inch (1.96-metre), 270-plus-pound (122-plus-kilogramme) black man with a sax - known simply as the Big Man - who would be intimidating if he didn't so often carry a smile.

They would stalk each other on the stage, staring with ferocious eyes, and play their instruments as they stood back to back, leaning on the other for support. They'd even kiss, their relationship sending a message of brotherhood, family and - given racial undertones - tolerance and respect for all.

The relationship was captured memorably with a giant photo of the two men on the cover of Springsteen's "Born to Run" album. Clemons was musically vital, too, particularly given the longer, structurally ambitious songs Springsteen was writing in the 1970s, a potent mixture of rock, soul, jazz and folk.

Clemons' sax kicked "Born to Run" into overdrive, and his solo was a key moment in the majestic "Jungleland." He had a deep, booming voice not often displayed, although he added hearty "ho-ho-ho's" during seasonal renditions of "Santa Claus is Comin' to Town."

Truth be told, Clemons' role in the E Street Band diminished as the years went on. Springsteen's simpler song structures left less space for the sax, and the instrument competed to be heard in a dense wall of sound anchored by three electric guitar players. Clemons would add maracas or tambourines to some of Springsteen's compositions.

Clemons' physical ailments also made him a less active presence onstage. He underwent spinal surgery last year after many years of back pain and spent time in a wheelchair after double knee replacement surgery.

Springsteen generously made accommodations for the ailments, installing an elevator on the stage set for when Clemons couldn't negotiate the stairs, according to Caryn Rose and Glenn Radecki of the Springsteen website Backstreets. A throne-like golden chair was placed onstage for when Clemons needed his rest.

Clemons' death is unlikely to bring an end to the E Street Band, which Springsteen alluded to in a statement posted on his website Saturday announcing the death. "We are honored and thankful to have known him and had the opportunity to stand beside him for nearly 40 years," he said.

"He was my great friend, my partner and with Clarence at my side, my band and I were able to tell a story far deeper than those simply contained in our music. His life, his memory, and his love will live on in that story and in our band."

But the loss leaves Springsteen with a real challenge moving forward. While Federici's contributions were valued and respected, he was a back bencher, tied to the shadows of the stage and his replacement not a major issue for the casual fan.

Clemons was different, and his loss will inevitably change the onstage dynamic. The saxophone is such a major presence in Springsteen's music that it's difficult to imagine many of his songs being performed without it. They will be big shoes for anyone to fill.

"As long as we tell the stories, as long as we play the songs, the Big Man will always be with us," Rose and Radecki wrote on Backstreets following Clemons' death.

Full Feed Generated by Get Full RSS, sponsored by USA Best Price.

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

Rabu, 22 Jun 2011

The Star Online: Entertainment: Music

The Star Online: Entertainment: Music

0 ulasan:

Catat Ulasan