In the later afternoon just now, I get a phone call from Faizal Tahir, the guy who sings "Mahakarya Cinta" and a few other songs that you can hear on my imeem page. He starts off with the weirdest opening line:

"Dude. I just want to be the first to tell you...whatever happens, I am sorry."

Well, since the label had already called me to tell me about the incident, I wasn't too surprised.

You see...Faizal performed at this concert the night before, which was also televised live on 8TV. During his performance, he starts taking off his clothes and he ends up with his shoes and jeans. And so today, there is hell to pay. All this is coming from a guy who got so excited that he did a power slide on live TV when "Mahakarya Cinta" got into the finals of Juara Lagu. Evidently, there was hell to pay there as well.

For the rest of the day, I get calls and SMS telling me about the strip job. One even suggested I plan for a back-up singer for "Mahakarya Cinta" because there was talk that Faizal will be banned from radio and TV. Well, to hell with that. Personally, if Faizal gets banned, I won't go to the finals of Juara Lagu as a sign of protest. I would go as far as to withdraw the song if the lyricist agrees. And I will tell you why.

Because, ladies and gentlemen, what we have here is a honest-to-goodness rock star!

Yes people! Surprise surprise! In case you do not know what kind of species this is, Faizal Tahir is a rock star! It seems that with the endless surplus of ballad singers in this country, we have forgotten what a rock star looks like, their characteristics, and feeding schedule.

If you cannot accept that, then you are the very reason why the Malaysian music industry is still in the stone-age. Therefore, it should come as no surprise if he takes his shirt off. It's all part of the act. Wait till he gets into videotaped orgies, starts wearing women's underwear and heels, and then changes his name into an unpronounceable symbol. But he is not weird. I don't think he'd go there because this guy is just fueled by honest and pure passion. And God knows, we need more of that in our business.

Yesterday, Faizal Tahir rocked the boat.

We cannot appreciate his form of expression. (And I am waiting for the critics to say it's un-Islamic because apparently, Muslims are not passionate people....well, not out in the open anyway.)

As much as I love the whole "soft and gentle way of the Asian culture", we really just need someone to grab us by the balls and say "Hey! There is still some life yet in this scene." As a fan, I love it. I love it when there is some excitement in a performance. And when was the last time something like this happened?

So tomorrow morning, Faizal and the label will be having a press conference. And I am sure the press cannot wait to ask that one question: WHY?

And I am sure Faizal will give some stupid politically-correct answer like he (if) was (you) just (have) excited (to) and (ask) got (you) caught (will) up (never) with (know) the (you passionless nutsack!) crowd.

Reporter: "Do you think this will affect your career?"
Faizal: "I (only) leave (if) this (you) all (make) up (a) to (big) the (deal) fans (out) to (of) decide (this)!"

So everybody, just mop it up and move on.

By the way, go buy the CD. Faizal Tahir. Aku. Muzik. Kamu.

This post is going to make me a lot of friends. I am going to go out on a limb here, shoot my mouth off and probably end up digging a hole for myself.

The Malay newspapers have been highlighting this matter of the local Malay stations playing more music from Indonesia and not supporting local music. This newspaper interviews a bunch of washed-up veteran producers and writers. Of course, they all collectively blame the radio stations for the state of the local music scene and why they cannot make a living because the radio stations support Indonesian music.

And today, I read that the government is actually conducting an investigation! As if there is nothing else more important to do in government, the government is looking into this complaint and will probably have a quota on how many produced-in-Malaysia songs they have to play.

While you may think this is ironic and it goes against my personal interest for me to comment on this, I think this is the most ridiculous and most offensive thing anyone can do to creative works and the free market. Of course, such a ruling would benefit me tremendously since I am a songwriter and I stand to make more money if the local stations are forced to play locally produced music. Hence the irony.

All the arguments that were brought up by these veteran writers have no merit.

A radio station is a business. They cater to the demands of the market. (Of course, some stations take this way to personally and actually think they know what the market wants and then become an imposition.)

The reason why radio stations are not playing as much local music is because no one wants to hear it. And not many people want to hear it because the music, simply put, SUCKS. (That's the technical marketing term.)

I am not kissing ass with the radio stations. It's not a conspiracy. The radio stations are not out to kill the local industry. If
anything, the musicians and songwriters are doing it to themselves by trying to sound like Indonesians today or Indonesians back in 70s. If I were a radio station, I'd too be embarrassed to play some of the local stuff I hear. Even if I were embarrassed, but if listeners wanted it, so be it. Play it.

As a producer and songwriter, I welcome the challenge. It bugs me whenever I hear an Indonesian song on the radio. But if it is good, it is good and it deserves its place on radio. I take it as a personal challenge and I want to do better to compete. Understand that I am not anti-Indonesian. I am in awe of their progress but I do not see them as one to emulate (since they are emulating the British.)

The bottom line here is the radio stations as a business, owe the music industry nothing. They owe it to their customers and listeners.

And then there was this new argument today suggesting that there should be a law to force local stations to play local artists so that we can have international acts. He cited Australia with Savage Garden and Kylie Minogue. I don't see the logic here. How, by force-playing local acts, will the act go international. (Incidentally, Kylie made it via the U.K. and most Australians probably hate Savage Garden's music.)

So let's say the government manages to have a quota and radio stations are forced to play local music (but there isn't really enough good local stuff so they either repeat the good ones or start playing crap). First, all the stations will sound like X-Fresh. You can see where that is going.

But this is what is going to happen: Radio will lose their listeners. Listeners will go to music social networks like imeem.com or last.fm and get their music. Radio will become less relevant. It will become what the railway station is to transportation. And then we would get closer to completing our mission as a nation that takes one step forward but two steps back.

And when listeners go online for their new music discovery, NO ONE IN MALAYSIA GETS PAID.

As for the music industry, it's Proton all over again. Constantly expecting handouts and never wanting to look at the real cause of the problem.

Burn that analog tape machine and take a good look in the mirror.



























Phew! Now I feel better.

I had a comment here asking if I really have this notice posted in my studio.

"Please do not ask me to write songs that sounds like any one of the following songs: Caramu. Drama. Tak Ada Logika."

Just to get it out of the way, I did not write "Tak Ada Logika" but I did write "Caramu" and "Drama".

I am amused that this notice is known to at least one person who have not been to my studio. But YES, I do have this notice up on my studio wall.

I am grateful that "Caramu" and "Drama" were hits. I am flattered that other singers want songs that sound like them but think about it for a moment.

These songs were hits for Nikki and Ning Baizura. Even if I wrote them for you before Nikki or Ning recorded them, it doesn't mean it will be a hit for you. "Drama" was tailor-made for Ning. It's how I see her. So in my mind, no one can sing "Drama" like Ning. No one can sing "Malu Tapi Mahu" but Dina (OK. Maybe Agnes Monica also can.) So, I find these requests for "Caramu" or "Drama"-clones almost silly. It is like seeing a nice dress on one person, and then going out to buy a similar dress and expecting to look as good and original.

You see, I have noticed that the songs that work out well are songs that I write specifically for the artists. It means that these songs are custom-made. And I need to know something about the singer's personality. Then the song automatically becomes a natural extension. I hate nothing more than someone asking me "Just write me a song. Anything you like. Maybe something like "Caramu" and Celine Dion!"

Yes, a popular female singer just asked me that a few days ago!

I know nothing about this woman except that she was recently divorced and chose to make her divorce into a media circus to get sympathy. So the immediate reference song that comes to mind is not "Caramu" or "My Heart Will Go On" but instead Meridith Brooke's "Bitch".

There are people from some labels who get this point and request that I meet with the singer. Like Keon from Luncai Emas or Izham (obviously!) who would insist I hang out with the artists and write with them in the room. On the other end, we have those who just ask for songs that are bubble gum pop from ten different writers and then have ten songs that sound like they shouldn't be on the same album.

So ask for something else. I have other ideas too, you know.

Let me be perfectly honest. Coming up with a song isn't my goal anymore. It's coming up with hit songs. The difference between "a song" and "a hit song" is lost on a lot of people. The melody is one thing but the lyrics are equally important (if not, more important). I cannot tell you how many times great lyrics have saved my song when I can only pull out an OK melody out of ass.

To cut to the chase. Writing lyrics isn't just about filling up a blank melody with words. It's not about stringing cliched phrases together. It's not about just writing words and rhyme. But sadly, that's what nine out of ten lyricists do today. There is no thinking in the process. And people wonder why I stick with the few lyricists I tend to work with.

In other words, writing good lyrics is A LOT OF WORK.

I have several simple rules for those who want to write lyrics to my songs.

1. Start with the title. Give me the title of the song first. And it better not be something like "Cinta Abadi" or "Bersamamu" or "Kasihmu". I hate anything with "Cinta" in the title. It gives me gas. I feel that if you start with a good title, half the job is done and you will easily get the lyrical hook. Which leads me to the next point of writing....

2. Lyrical Hooks are words that will stick to the listener. It's like a musical hook but with words. It usually repeats frequently in the song and it's usually "clever" in that it's either witty, bold, or outstanding in meaning, idea, concept or application of the word to the melody. A good lyrical hook will immediately sell the song and the listener will know the title of the song even without asking.

When you look at the lyrics and can't figure out what the title is, it probably means you do not have a lyrical hook. That's a nice way of saying that your shit sucks.

3. Never use the following words in my songs. Why? Because they will make your lyrics sound OLD! Leave the 70s and 80s behind.
- dansa
- fiesta
- pesta
- mahligai
- lara / melara
- abadi
- syahdu
- selamanya
- sandiwara
- suci
- pilu
- gelora
- asyik
- jiwa
- bisa
- kerna
- mentari

- combination of the words "menusuk" and "kalbu"
- combination of the words "berdoa" and "Maha Esa" (as in "terus berdoa, pada yang Maha Esa"). Lame! It's right up there with "Raise your hands up in the air, and wave them like you just don't care!"
- combination of the words "onak" and "duri"

Although I am waiting for someone to use all these banned words for a song just to show sarcasm. Now that would be genius.

I am more impressed with the combination of simple words used to express an idea, rather than the use of an obscure word that requires me to reach out for my Kamus Dewan Bahasa & Pustaka.

Another thing, do not think that just because using Indonesian words like "bisa" or "kapan" will make the lyrics Indonesian. It's just Malaysian lyrics with Indonesian words. The difference between Malaysian lyrics and Indonesian lyrics is perspective. Not the choice of words.

And finally, I refuse to accept the reasoning that it's difficult to write interesting lyrics in Malay because the Malay language itself is inefficient. ("You need lots of words to get a point across".) That's the excuse of a poor lyricist.

I realise my attitude and perspective towards lyric-writing isn't going to make me popular with most lyricists. But I am sure if the lyricist has pride, he/she will appreciate my views.

"Cukup sudah berkali mentari terbit tanpa diriku berteman
Malam disindir pula purnama
Menyempurnakan kesepianku

Cemburu berkunjung ke hatiku melihat pasangan yang berkasih
Seolah dunia ini tercipta hanyalah kerana mereka."

- Ad Samad for "Selama Dan Sebelumnya"

That, ladies and gentlemen, is what I call good fvcking lyrics! (Yes, I know he used "mentari"...)

I get a lot of flack for what I do. When I try to be too clever and want to move music forward by taking little baby steps, I get crap because people are generally closed-minded.

If I write the predictable pop ballad, people will say the song is boring and they want something new. If I do something new, they may not like it because it is not what they expected. Obviously, it all about balance. But that is so boring. Besides, I think I am pretty well-balanced.

But the thing is, once you leave your minds open and give it a chance, you will appreciate it. That is what progress is about. It's not about being comfortable with what you know and expect. And that's the problem with the music industry.

So Dayang's album is out. I personally think the music I've done for her are some of my personal best. It was truly a labour of love on my part. But I think I am going to get flack for it....initially. Well, if I didn't, I don't think I would have done my job. I hope her fans will give it a chance. If you need Dayang to sing more old-school ballads, listen to her previous albums. I am sure she has ballads from her last album that has not been played yet.

Many people didn't get "Sexy Back" when they first heard it. But then see what happened...

Thankfully, there are those who take risks and trust me to do something "new" and "bold" by Malaysian steps. So I have to give props to Badrul@aftersix. Vernon Kedit. Dayang & Liza. Kaer Azami.

I am blowing MySpace off.