Pop princess wins over politics-weary crowd at Malaysia’s ruling party congress

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia: Malaysia’s political elite proved no match for a pop sweetheart.

Siti Nurhaliza, Malaysia’s top female singer, stole the show at the United Malays National Organization ruling party’s annual congress Thursday, making a special appearance to help promote the government’s economic development programs.

Hundreds of star-struck people stopped watching the assembly debate and flooded a separate hall, where Siti chatted with fans and belted out an impromptu, a cappella performance of one of her famous ballads.

Siti’s hour-long, gossip-heavy session was music to many people’s ears, after they had spent four days listening to top politicians expound on serious subjects like the protection of Islam’s status as Malaysia’s official religion.

Spectators begged the newly married Siti to reveal when she plans to have a child. Siti, 27, smiled demurely and replied, “Anytime. If I am blessed with a child sooner, I would accept this with a happy heart.”

Siti, a Malay-language star with massive followings in Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei, occasionally conceded the limelight to her political surroundings.

Asked about the secret to her success, she said she believed in something Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi mentioned in his keynote speech Wednesday. “He talked about sincerity, which I believe is the important thing,” Siti said.

Siti also praised the government’s recently unveiled Ninth Malaysia Plan infrastructure development blueprint, voicing confidence that it would boost the ethnic Malay majority’s economic standing over the next five years.

Civil servant Kamariah Daud said the government should use Siti and other popular figures to make the public more attentive to topics such as politics and the economy.

“When politicians open their mouth, not everybody listens. When Siti speaks, everybody climbs over each other to hear her,” Kamariah said.

http://www.iht.com/

Pop princess ties the knot

August 21 2006 at 10:47AM

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Malaysia’s pop icon sweetheart Siti Nurhaliza Taruddin, 27, married a businessman two decades her senior in a lavish wedding ceremony steeped in Malay tradition and broadcast live on television on Monday.

Dressed in a white Malay costume with silver embroidery and encrusted with blue crystals, a veil and a tiara, Siti sat a distance away from divorcee Khalid Mohamed Jiwa while a Muslim religious leader pronounced them husband and wife.

“I accept her hand in marriage, with the dowry of 22 222 ringgit (R42 730),” Khalid said, sealing the ceremony held the Masjid Wilayah Persekutuan mosque in central Kuala Lumpur, aired live on Malaysia’s largest private network, TV3.

Siti did not speak during the ceremony. Instead, a man appointed by her father stated her intent to get married.

The wedding will culminate in a grand dinner reception on August 28 in Kuala Lumpur and another reception in Siti’s hometown in central Pahang state on September 3 for family and fans.

The couple’s announcement of their marriage was also carried live by the network on a women’s television programme last month.

The bride and groom’s sides earlier on Monday morning exchanged about 16 gilded silver and gold trays of “hantaran” – elaborate gifts like silver wedding rings and decorative items that serve as welcoming presents in Malay culture – while representatives from both sides traded love poems and ditties.

The pair had been the talk of the town for more than a year, but both had been tightlipped over their romance. Malaysian newspapers dedicated pages to news and features on Siti’s wedding after the couple formally announced it.

The wedding follows the finalisation of Khalid’s divorce from his first wife, Tengku Zawyah Tengku Izham. They have four children, ages eight to 19.

Siti, one of Malaysia’s top-selling artists, has won numerous awards both at home and in regional competitions since she launched her career in 1996. She is a household name in Malaysia, but also has significant followings in neighbouring Indonesia, Singapore and Brunei.

Her wedding has also generated interest in Indonesia, where the couple plans to host another reception. The reception to be held there is expected to be aired over a television station there. Details were not immediately available. – Sapa-AP

http://www.iol.co.za/

Business forum to focus on pop diva

PENANG: Malaysia’s number one pop singer Siti Nurhaliza will become the subject of academic discussion by economic and business management lecturers at a forum in Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM).

Themed Strategic Positioning and Branding of a Diva: A Case Study of Siti Nurhaliza, the forum is set to be the first scholastic analysis of the Malaysian entertainment industry from a management perspective.

Assoc Prof Dr Fauziah Md Taib, who will be among the panellists, said it would be the first time that Siti Nurhaliza would be analysed as a “successful product” and not on her artistic skills.

“We will look at Siti from a business perspective and as a product and brand that has a life-cycle of its own,” she told a press conference yesterday.

The forum will be organised by USM’s School of Management on July 23, in conjunction with the school’s 15th anniversary celebrations. About 500 people are expected to attend the forum at the Dewan Budaya.

Dr Fauziah said the music industry had significantly contributed to the local economy, with record sales estimated at RM90.82mil in 2003.

“The entertainment world has also influenced Malaysians greatly from the social aspect,” she said.

She said Siti Nurhaliza was chosen for the pioneer case study as she had successfully maintained her position as the No 1 singer in the country for almost a decade.

“She has even carved a name in the Malaysian Book of Records for bagging the most number of awards ever won by a local singer,” she added.

She noted that the singer had also performed in London’s prestigious Royal Albert Hall and was gradually penetrating into the international market.

The other panellists are the dean of the school Prof Datuk Daing Nasir Ibrahim, lecturers Shahidan Shafie and Dr Ellisha Nasruddin, and The Star entertainment journalist Zieman.

Siti Nurhaliza will be at the forum to state her views on the project.

Dr Fauziah also added that the School of Management and Asian Academy of Management would present the inaugural “Young Entrepreneurial Artist Achievement Award” to Siti Nurhaliza in honour of her contributions to the local music industry.

The forum will be opened to the public and limited passes can be obtained on a first come, first served basis from the school. For enquiries, call 04-6533370/6532533/6533888 (ext 2520/3363).

Siti Nurhaliza , Malaysia’s pop princess

KUALA LUMPUR, March 28, 2005 – Malaysian pop princess Siti Nurhaliza Taruddin once dreamed of being a policewoman, but instead of capturing crooks she now captures hearts and is hot in pursuit of international stardom.

The pretty 26-year-old Muslim popster will perform at London’s Royal Albert Hall on April 1, becoming the first Malaysian and third Asian artist after Indian singer Lata Mangeshkar and renowned sitarist Ravi Shankar to hold a solo concert at the famous London venue.

The concert, where Siti will be backed by the London Symphony Orchestra and some of Asia’s top musicians, marks a new chapter in a career that has transformed a smalltown girl into a national icon and a household name in the Malay archipelago.

“It will be my first step onto the global stage and April 1 is symbolic. The show date is the same date my first album — “Jerat Percintaan” (Love’s Trap) — was released 10 years ago,” she tells AFP in an interview.

“I look at it as a chance to test international waters. I feel like I am starting all over again.”

The rapid rise to fame for Malaysia’s poster girl reads like a fairy tale.

Born to a policeman father and a housewife mother in the sleepy town of Kuala Lipis in Pahang state, Siti is the fifth of eight children and grew up wearing hand-me-down clothing and helping the household budget by hawking homemade delicacies to her schoolfriends.

She may not have a glamorous pedigree but she inherited her singing talent from her mother, a traditional singer who performs at weddings and police events.

At the tender age of six, Siti was already entertaining her peers in school with traditional hits and began entering local singing contests when she was 12.

But singing was not her first love during childhood. “I had wanted to become a policewoman because I like challenges, I enjoy rugged activities,” she says, flashing her famous wide-screen smile. It is hard to imagine the soft-spoken, doe-eyed singer, who is unabashedly feminine, as a gun-toting officer.

But, she says coyly: “I may be soft, but I’m firm.” Destiny, however, had other plans for her. At the age of 16, Siti won a 1995 television talent contest that put her career on a rocket launcher.

Her debut album was released the same year and she now has a total of 14 Malay albums in her bag, offering a wide repertoire of mainly love songs — from ballads, RB (Rhythm and Blues), and pop to traditional — that appeal to a wide spectrum of society.

Siti has garnered legions of adoring fans in neighbouring Indonesia, Brunei and Singapore, and has been voted by MTV Asia as the region’s favourite Malaysian artiste for four consecutive years.

She is a familiar face in television commercials and government campaigns and was crowned “Teen Princess” by the ruling United Malays National Organisation. The post office named her “Malaysia’s Stamp Princess” for the tens of thousands of fan letters she receives each year.

Siti has won so many local and regional accolades that she set a local record for being the artist with the most number of awards — more than 100.

Siti’s appeal — apart from her honeyed voice — comes in large part from her wholesome, girl-next-door cuteness that strikes a chord with the region’s large Muslim population which frowns on sexy foreign artists.

She does not wear the Muslim headscarf, but dresses in a conservative modern style.

There is no hot-blooded performance on stage and Siti is seen as good, clean entertainment, winning approval even from Indonesia’s influential religious preacher Abdullah Gymnastiar, who called her a “gift from God”.

When Indonesian activists earlier this year staged anti-Malaysian riots amid a bilateral row over territorial rights, a commonly heard slogan was: “Crush Malaysia, but save Siti Nurhaliza”.

“If we have talent, we don’t need to be sexy to be popular,” Siti says when asked how she planned to win over Western fans. “I don’t have to be someone else to be the best in the industry. I am confident in the music that I bring and in my singing.”

She names Canadian songster Celine Dion and Barbra Streisand as her idols.

The ambitious pop star is hoping to release an English album. She is already planning for her next concert in June in Perth as well as for a traditional concert in Kuala Lumpur next year.

But fame comes at a price, as Siti has discovered.

She became the target of hatemail last year, alleging she had artificially enhanced her beauty and indulged in sex romps. The disparaging e-mails were sent to entertainment journalists and later widely disseminated.

The nation was agog when veteran diva Sharifah Aini Syed Jaafar, 51, was hauled to court in December for allegedly slandering the popster, who dethroned her as the country’s most popular singer.

Sharifah Aini, who started singing at the age of seven and released some 77 albums throughout her 35-year career, pleaded not guilty to the charge of defamation. The trial is ongoing.

“I don’t want to think about it. Of course I am disturbed by the case but I try to take it professionally,” Siti says.

Love still eludes her, but she says she is too busy to worry about it.

Who is her ideal mate?

“Maybe Superman, Clark Kent,” she says, laughing.

Is she looking for a hero? “No, a man with a good heart is more important. Having inner beauty, that’s what I search for.”

Siti says her production house also hopes to produce a movie this year but remained vague about her plans to venture into celluloid. “If I feel I am ready, I may also try out acting,” she says.

Perhaps Siti will get her wish after all to become a policewoman — in reel life.

* * * * *

16 ogos 2004

To: sitijarum@utusan.com.my
Sent: Mon, 16 Aug 2004 04:18:26 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: 16 ogos 2004

16 ogos 2004

Assalamualikum Kuseman ( Siti Jarum )dan semua Media am nya.

Saya bahasakan diri saya sebagai Asmah saja, bukan nama betul, kami ni betiga berkerja di Astro. Kami tertarik dengan tulisan Kuseman berkenaan Siti Norhaliza buat show free untuk peminat. Kawan-kawan saya dari Astro mengikuti rombongan Siti untuk 15 pertunjukan all over, biarlah kami memberitahu Keseman dan semua media. Siti hari ini tidak seperti Siti yang kami minat dahulu, dia perimadona yang dah keterlaluan, kalau awak nak tahu, kenapa? Demand nya kalahkan anak raja dari Brunei, keluarga nya macam kaduk naik junjung, kami orang orang Astro tak boleh bercakap dgn Siti. Dua minggu sudah, kami diberitahu oleh Astro official, Siti menghalau isteri Bad, PR syarikat rakaman nya dari menaiki Bas yang dinaiki oleh Siti, Isteri Bad menangis, Siti tidak mahu isteri Bad berada didalam bas istimewa yang dibuat untuk Siti, begitu sombong nya Siti kini. Ayie pula berkata dgn sombong, jika kami sampaikan pesan yang media mahu menemubual Siti, cepat kata nya ( Ah, kita tak mahu jumpa wartawan, semua orang dah kenal Siti, nak tanya apa lagi? Siti dah malas nak jumpa wartawan.

Satu insiden berlaku di Johor, dimana Astro sudah jadualkan 13 orang fan untuk bertemu Siti, dah sediakan rumah dan durian sudah disiapkan untuk menjamu Siti dan keluarga nya, tapi last minute Siti memberitahu dia penat dan malas, ,ini berlaku dibanyak tempat,hampa nya hati peminat dan orang yg telah memasak dan membuka durian, kalau Siti dah penat dah lah, tapi si Ayi dan yg lain-lain tak reti ke berbahasa? sikap nya kasar menolak orang dgn muka yag masam semua peminat Siti, tak sedar diri ke dia tu siapa dulu?

Sekarang baru rasa duit, lapar duit ke dia orang ni semua? Keluarga Siti memang lapar duit. Saya dengar dgn telinga saya, Ayi kata adik dia Siti tak perlu wartawan. Apa dah jadi dgn dia orang ni Siti Jarum?

Semua orang boleh buat show free, Siti dibayar bukan NYANYI FREE! Sejak bila pulak Siti mahu nyanyi free? Ayi tu mata duitan tau tak?

Kami yg bertungkus lumus berkerja, pernah Siti menjemput kami minum air tawar segelas pun tidak! Kalau senyum pun senyum tg tak ikhlas. Menjerit lah orang nak minta lebih dua tiga lagu, tak dilayan nya, kalau janji 5 lagu, itu saja, dia masuk terus, semua duit,kalau diminta oleh penganjur, kata nya Ayi minta tambah bayaran, memang lah keluarga mata duitan yg tak ada kelas.

Kami sekarang tahu siapa sebenar nya Siti Norhaliza dan keluarga yang yang sombong dan mata duitan. Minta dilayan macam anak raja, itu lah orang Lipis yg tak sadar diri, datang dari ulu, kalau make up cantik, buka make up muka macam orang toreh getah penyek. (betul gak, coz cuba korang tengok balik muka dia sewaktu buat ucapan untuk AF ari tu!)

Kami lihat dibilik air sebelum show, telan telur dalam jamban, Siti ni bela hantu ke? Kenapa tak saja telan depan orang pecah telur dalam gelas, minum, tapi memang dah banyak cerita yg Siti ni mesti telan dalam jamban, tinggalkan kulit telur dalam jamban, saya dah banyak dengar cerita ni dulu dari Artis yg buat show dgn Siti, kami tak percaya, tapi kini kami tahu cerita tu benar rupa nya. Aduhai, kami juga dengar Siti datang dgn Sara adik nya ke Bilik Hotel di KL, hantar Siti k ebilik, lepas itu Sara keluar kecoffee house, rupa rupa nya memadu kasih asmara dgn Ramli MS di Mutiara dan Concord dalam bilik dari tengah hari sampai malam, kalau lama sangat Sara pergi shopping Complex, Haiii anak dara ke Siti Norhaliza? Dah berlobang sebenar nya anak Taruddin ni .

Jgn puji melebih lebih sangat, dia pun punya perasaan macam gadis muda yg lain, anda dari media membuat Siti seperti Malaikat, tapi hakikat nya Siti tu Hipokrit yg plaing besar. Lemah lembut, cuba lihat muka dia sekarang, dah banyak sangat Botox. Tips of her nose dah dibuat di Indonesia, itu untung nya rapat dgn Kris Dayanti, Siti bukan nya Bodoh! Dia pandai sebenar nya, ini cerita yg kami dengar diAstro dan Station TV di Indonesia, tiap kali sampai saja Jakarta, pergi mandi bunga dulu, asap kemenyan muka dulu, yg tukang bawa? Kris Dayanti! Tak apa lah gasak lah Siti, dia pun tahu, kalau tak buat macam tu sapa nak tengok dahi senduk dia tu, muka penyek dia tu, kena lah taruh mata biru, hijau & hazel.

Nurul make up artis beritahu orang Siti merokok, memang betul, sekarang dah ramai sangat orang yg terapat tahu, kalau tak betul berani ke Nurul nak cerita? Kalau Siti Jarum dan semua media sayang sangat dekat Siti, tegur dia supaya dia menjadi lebih ikhlas, jangan berlakun, jangan bertuhankan duit, belajar berbahasa, Ayi ingat Siti tu Beyonce ke? Nak tolak tolak peminat, nak kurang ajar dgn media dan peminat? Sapa dia tu? Bangsat dari Lipis aje, Si Ayi tu kalau tak keran Siti, tempat dia kat felda aja dgn Rozie yg sombong tu, semua dah tak sedar diri.

Dulu sapa tak kenal Rozie, hantar diri kat bilik sewa Ayi, buka kaki, ingat lah diri awak tu siapa dulu. Bagi tahu bapak Siti, bukan dia sorang yg sakit pergi kelinik nak tolak pesakit lain kebelakang buat bising (Tak kenal aku siapa? Aku bapak Siti Norhaliza, who cares? Begini rupa nya kelu! arga Sit i Norhaliza yg sangat kurang ajar.

Saya memang peminat gila Siti dulu, tapi bila saya dapat berkerja dan semua kawan kawan saya diperlakukan seperti kuli kelas ketiga rakyat Malaysia, kami semua jadi terlalu benci kepada penyanyi itu. Siti dan Keluarga nya kena belajar PR dan pandai melayan orang dengan budi bahasa, bukan bila hanya hendak publicity baru melayan media dan orang lain, anda MEDIA telah diperbodohkan oleh Siti dan keluarga nya yg dah lupa asal usul. Memang susah bila kaduk dah naik junjung, bila orang susah dah kenal duit, bila senduk penyek berlagak nak jadi puteri.

Satu insiden di Penang, keluarga VVIP ini membenarkan Siti, Ayi dan Rozi yg sombong menaiki kereta Merc nya mengambil Siti & Co dari Airport dan bagi mereka ni pakai kereta mewah selama Siti & Co berada di Penang, tapi bila waktu show malam nya, keluarga ini mahu mengambil photo untuk album mereka, Siti menolak dan disokong oleh Ayi bangsat ni. Cuba anda lihat apa jenis manusia mereka bertiga ni? Mereka ni Binatang dari Ulu Lipis sebenar nya, tak reti berbahasa dan berterima kasih.

Show 3 lagu di Shangrilla minta Rm 45 ribu, kami tahu mereka ni semua dah lapar duit, lepas nyanyi orang minta tambah lagu terus BELAH! Tak kata terima kasih. Sebelum show dah ambil dulu duit balance.

Ramai yg tak tahu show di Istana Budaya, Siti dan Ayi menjerit cekak pinggang dibelakang pentas minta bayaran sebelum nyanyi, demand orang IB minta duit, memang tak ada kelas, dah lah show not up to the standard, kami semua pergi memberi sokongan, walaupun ketika itu saya terlalu meminati Siti, tapi persembahan Siti memang tidak bagus, saya bukan peminat bodoh, kami semua bersetuju persemmbahan Siti memang tak ada kelas, tapi kami maafkan Siti, ok di IB Siti cekak pinggang dan abang nya kalau tak bagi duit Siti tak mahu perform, kenapa Media buta dan kenapa tak tulis? Kenapa sikap Siti yg kurang ajar tu MEDIA nak tutupkan? Siti Jarum dah dibayar ke? Huzz dah dibayar ke? Shaharuddin Mustapa dah dibeli ke?

Orang lihat Siti lembut, Siti tu baik, anda Cuma lihat Siti yg anda Media semua tak pernah kenal, Siti penuh dgn kepura puraan. Anda dari Media semua telah tertipu. Saya dan teman teman lain sudah bertukar haluan, kami buang semua CD Siti, Siti bukan puteri yg kami puja dulu, tapi Siti puaka jelmaan bela hantu untuk cantik dan diminati.

Terlalu banyak cerita hina tentang Siti yg kami semua dah tahu dan dengar dari mereka yg pernah berkerja dgn Siti. Padan muka, si Ramli MS dah makan Siti. Ayi bercerita Ramli MS tu tak ada duit, tak ada kelas, tak sajak dgn adik dia, konon nya Ramli MS nak duit adik dia, Oiiiiii Bangsat Lipis, tolong sikit ye Ayi! Adik awak yg dah gila Ramli MS setengah nyawa tau tak? Bergantung kat HP dgn Ramli siang malam.

Kami tak suka nak sebarkan hal ni, tapi kami mahu MALAYSIA tahu siapa Siti sebenar nya, siapa KELUARGA siti sebenar nya, keluarga lokek duit, tak berbahasa, ye lah Ayi berkata ( Wartawan yg tergila gilakan Siti) Ayi lupa, Siti baru nak masuk 7 tahun menyanyi, dapat kah Siti berada disini 5 tahun lagi? Orang dah penat lihat Siti, Tolong lah, Siti, Siti, Siti, yg murah dan terlalu terdedah, lepas ni apa pulak? Dah lah bodoh, tanya lain jawab lain, ZONNN HOTLINK?

Bukan Nipple Siti tapi Dimple! Bukan tea on the cup Siti?

Kami bukan dengki ye? Tapi dah meluat sangat perangai dan demand keluarga diraja Brunei yg terpelanting di ULU LIPIS. Memang padan muka Ayi deserang oleh Tebuan dari akhbar Perdana baru ini 11 July, dah sombong, dah kalut. Semua peminat Siti dan Media sudah TERTIPU DIK KELEMBUTAN SITI. Alalahai Siti Jarum kesian awak ye? SHOW FREE? SHOW FREE APA? KALAU TAK DIBAYAR SORRY YE?

Siti Nak senyum dgn Krew konsert pun tak pernah? Kawan kawan saya tu Pariah ke? Tinggi sangat ke taraf Siti Norhaliza ? Apa lagi ajak minum? Apa lagi magic word THANK YOU! Saya cadangkan Siti balik pergi sekolah, belajar public relation, belajar berterima kasih, belajar berterima kasih, belajar mengenang budi.

Orang dah penat dgn lakunan awak. Orang kerja konsert awak semua tak happy, belakang awak semua mengata, benci dilayan macam kuli, kalau awak tu berasal keluarga kaya raya tak apa, tapi awak tu susah dulu. Siti memang tak ikhlas dgn Misha, cemburu beb! Misha smart and intelligent dan yg penting tak BERLAKUN.

Thank you all for reading.
Asmah & the gang @ Astro

http://forum.sitinurhaliza-svoa.com/

A NIGHT FOR SITI NURHALIZA

21st March 2003

“this special award has given me a renewed strength to better myself in this music business which is my greatest passion”

SUPREME diva of three nations! That’s the new tag bestowed upon Malaysia’s No. 1 songstress Siti Nurhaliza when she was named the recipient of Anugerah Planet Muzik 2003′s special award for for her string of achievements in singing.

The glittering awards night, held for the third year is aimed at honouring the music fraternity from three countries, namely Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia. Previous recipients of this award were Indonesian poetry singer Ebit G. Ade (2001) and Singapore-born but Malaysia-based prolific songwriter/singer M. Nasir (2002).

At only 24 and having been in the business for seven short years, the distinguished recognition, usually given to veterans and those who have already retired from the music business has further reinforced Siti’s position as the most popular artiste in this region.

The event, held before a packed audience last Saturday night at Stadium Putra Bukit Jalil in Kuala Lumpur, was graced by the presence of top artistes from the three countries including music honcos such as Tan Sri S. M. Salim, sifu M, Nasir, Zainal Abidin, Ning Baizura, Indonesian superstar Kris Dayanti with husband Anang and a handful of Singapore top stars, among others.

During her acceptance speech after receiving the trophy from Singapore’s Mediacorp assistant vice-president Zakiah Halim (whose company is the main organiser), Siti, holding back tears, humbly said she is still new and needed guidance from the more experienced singers.

“I have a lot more to learn to improve myself. Nevertheless, this special award has given me a renewed strength to better myself in this music business which is my greatest passion,” she said.

Siti also won the hearts of the jury from three nations when she bagged the Best Female Artiste award beating Kris, Andien, Liza Hanim and Sarah Raisuddin.

In the readers’ vote category (where forms were obtained from Singapore’s Manja magazine, Malaysia’s Sentiasa Manja and Indonesia’s Bintang), Siti won the Most Popular Female Artiste award beating nine other shortlisted singers, including Andien, Dayang Nurfaizah, Ella, Erra Fazira, Kris, Melly Goeslaw, Noraniza Idris, Rossa and Shanti.

Interspersed with excellent performances, showcasing the performances of brilliant stars from the participating countries, including Ella, Kris Dayanti, Ning, Jai, Sarah, Nurul Ajai, Triple Noize and dozen others, APM 2003, the first to be held outside Singapore was aired ‘live’ over Astro.

The two-and-a-half-hour solid performance-cum-award giving ceremony was hosted by Malaysians Aznil Haji Nawawi and ERA Radio Linda Onn and Singapore’s Najib Ali and Syah Ibrahim as well as former MTV Asia VJ Sarah Sechan from Indonesia who helped spiced up the night with jokes and hilarious banters.

Siti diburu.

DEBARAN Anugerah Bintang Popular Berita Harian (ABP-BH 2001) sudah terurai, siapa pemenang 16 kategori yang dipertandingkan sudah diumum namun kemeriahan majlis gemilang di Arena Of Stars, Genting Highlands kelmarin masih menjadi bualan ramai.

Betapa meriahnya artis memasuki dewan melalui permaidani merah di laluan Star Walk, sementara peminat yang sabar menanti di kiri kanan laluan, menjerit sambil menghulur tangan untuk bersalaman dengan penyanyi, pelakon dan juga pengacara kesayangan mereka.

Tentunya Siti Nurhaliza yang digelar penyanyi nombor satu negara paling menjadi tumpuan apabila melangkah sopan dengan gaun labuh, tersenyum manis sambil melambai tangan kepada peminat.

Tidak ketinggalan jurugambar bertugas ligat merakamkan detik-detik manis penyanyi yang kini popular dengan lagu Percayalah. Itulah dia anak kelahiran Kuala Lipis, Pahang yang mula menambat hati rakyat Malaysia berbilang bangsa kerana wajah manisnya, suara mersiknya serta dihormati kerana kesopannya.

Apa yang pasti, Siti meraih kejayaan besar petang itu apabila diumumkan Penyanyi Wanita Popular seterusnya dinobatkan Bintang Paling Popular yang menawarkan hadiah kereta Waja bernilai RM65,000.

Malah Siti mencatat kenangan paling manis sepanjang sejarah ABP-BH yang kini mencecah usia 14 tahun kerana mengekalkan dua gelaran itu selama lima tahun berturut-turut tanpa mampu digugat buat masa ini.

KRU yang pernah menang Penyanyi Berkumpulan Popular selama empat tahun sejak 1995, berjaya dirampas oleh Senario tahun lalu dan mereka mampu mengekalkannya tahun ini.

Seperti kata M Nasir, namanya saja anugerah popular yang dipilih oleh peminat, sudah tentu memberi pengiktirafan kepada mereka yang popular.

?Kemenangan anugerah ini tidak perlu dipertikaikan kerana diukur berdasarkan populariti, berbeza dengan penilaian terbaik akan timbul perbagai pendapat banyak pihak.

?Bagaimana mengukur populariti seseorang? Bagi saya tarikan personaliti dan penyanyi sudah tentu vokalnya. Itulah senjata untuk kekal lama dalam industri ini,? katanya yang hadir bersama isteri, Marlia Muda yang dijangka melahirkan anak perempuan akhir tahun ini.

M Nasir juga berjaya mempertahankan gelaran Penyanyi Lelaki Popular yang dimenanginya tahun tahun, mengecewakan empat pencabarnya, Ajai, Aqasha, Tan Sri SM Salim dan Yasin.

Arena Of Stars, yang mampu memuatkan 6,000 penonton, penuh sesak sebaik saja siaran langsung menerusi TV3 dimulakan, seterusnya menandakan bermulanya debaran kencang 68 finalis untuk merebut 16 anugerah yang dipertaruhkan tahun ini.

Namun tiada keputusan di luar jangkaan ataupun kejutan malah hampir semua pemenang mengulangi kejayaan tahun lalu seperti Siti, M Nasir, Erra Fazira, Abby Abadi, AC Mizal, Sathiya, Senario dan Rosnah Mat Aris.

Abby Abadi dan AC Mizal yang cukup sinonem dengan drama Gerak Khas diikuti filem Gerak Khas The Movie sekali lagi dipilih Pelakon TV Wanita/Lelaki Popular.

Bagaimanapun keduanya gagal menawan hati peminat untuk kategori Pelakon Filem Popular apabila anugerah berpihak kepada Erra dan Rosyam Nor. Sathiya dan Rosnah Mat Aris sekali lagi dipilih Artis Bukan Melayu Popular dan Pelakon Komedi Wanita Popular.

Sementara Pelakon Komedi Lelaki Popular dimenangi oleh anggota Senario, Mazlan Pet Pet mengecewakan dua rakannya, Yassin dan Saiful (Apek). Senario juga menang Penyanyi Berkumpulan Popular menewaskan New Boyz, Rabbani, Tyco dan Too Phat.

Namun Rabbani menebus kekalahan itu apabila dipilih Penyanyi Nasyid Popular menewaskan ?adik-adik? mereka, Hijjaz, Saujana, In-team dan Brothers.

Kemenangan Maya Karin untuk Artis Baru Popular memang sudah dijangka kerana populariti gadis campuran Melayu-Jerman ini sebagai model, pengacara dan filem filem.

Namun apa yang diragukan sekarang ini kemampuan Maya sama ada di layar perak atau bidang nyanyian. Dua filemnya, Seri Dewi Malam dan No Problem belum mampu menyerlahkan bakat Maya sementara album sulungnya hanya akan dipasarkan tidak lama lagi. Maya menewaskan Danny X-Factor, Syura, Aqasha dan Illa Sabry.

Tahun ini empat kategori baru diwujudkan iaitu Pengacara TV Lelaki/Wanita Popular Samsudin dan Penyampai Lelaki/Wanita Popular, menggantikan Penghibur TV Popular dan Artis Kanak-kanak Popular.

Untuk Pengacara TV Popular, pengacara Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, Jalaluddin Hassan mengalahkan Halim Othman, Aznil Nawawi, Afdlin Shauki dan Shamsul Ghau Ghau sementara pengacara Nora, Normala Samsudin menang kategori wanita. Bagaimanapun Jalauddin yang turut dicalonkan untuk Pelakon TV Lelaki Popular tidak hadir petang itu.

Namun Halim diumumkan Penyampai Lelaki Popular mengalahkan dua rakannya di Era, Seelan Paul dan Jamal Jamaludin. Calon lain ialah Nasarudin dan Andy Hakim.

Linda Onn yang diumumkan sebagai Penyampai Wanita Popular turut mencatat kenangan manis apabila menjadi satu-satunya pemenang yang berucap di hadapan penonton berbanding pemenang lain diberi peluang berucap di hadapan kamera di belakang pentas.

Mungkin terlalu seronok hingga Linda lupa bahawa majlis petang itu tidak menyediakan ruang untuk pemenang berucap mungkin mengelakkan ucapan panjang berjela-jela daripada pemenang.

Selain menanti keputusan diumumkan, untuk memeriahkan lagi majlis gilang-gemilang ini, persembahan artis serta kehadiran pengacara di pentas menjadi tentunya menjadi tumpuan tetamu jemputan dan juga penonton di rumah.

Siaran langsung ABP-BH 2001 yang juga dapat diikuti menerusi Radio Era dan laman web www.virtualmalaysia.com tepat jam 4 petang itu menampilkan penyanyi hebat tanah air sama ada yang baru dan juga lama.

Siti Nurhaliza berjaya memukau hadirin dengan lagu Percayalah bersama enam penari yang begitu lembut bergerak bagaikan tiupan angin sepoi-sepoi bahasa.

Ziana Zain yang anggun dengan gaun hijau dihiasi renda hitam di dada melontarkan vokal bertenaganya menyanyikan medley Madah Berhelah dan Menadah Gerimis.

Apa yang menarik, medley ini menggabungkan lagu yang menjadi taruhan album pertama Ziana 10 tahun lalu dan juga album terbarunya, Aku Cintakan Mu.

Peminat setia Ziana tentu masih ingat bagaimana penampilan Ziana 10 tahun lalu mempertaruhkan lagu ciptaan Saari Amri dan kini dalam usia 33 tahun dan bergelar isteri dan ibu menerusi lagu ciptaan Azmeer.

Sudah tentu penyanyi tampil dengan lagu dan konsep lain sesuai dengan perkembangan masa, begitu juga lagu tema ABP-BH 2001 melalui era perubahan apabila lagu ciptaan Rahim Othman dan lirik Datuk A Nazri Abdullah itu digubah semula oleh Datuk Wah Idris.

Tahun ini empat penyanyi muda yang berbakat besar, Krisya, Dayang Nurfaizah, Jeslina dan Anuar Zain diberi penghargaan menyanyikan lagu itu sebagai persembahan pembukaan.

Untuk menambat hati penaja, pembukaan ABP-BH 2001 dimulakan dengan persembahan tarian oleh penari tetap Arena Of Stars dan juga ahli silap mata Gianni Mattiolo.

Persembahan kumpulan popular Indonesia, Sheila On 7 (SO7) paling dinanti-nantikan, buktinya tepukan hebat diberikan apabila kumpulan yang popular dengan lagu Sephia ini muncul di pentas.

Vokalisnya, Duta yang ringkas dengan kemeja T warna oren memulakan persembahan dengan lagu keramatnya, Sephia, kemudian terus ligat dengan aksi ?longlai? Duta menyanyikan lagu Sahabat Sejati.

Penganjur juga memberi penghargaan kepada SO7 menerima anugerah khas kerana populariti mereka seterusnya tanda terima kasih atas kesudian SO7 datang memeriahkan majlis.

Penyanyi lain ialah Liza Hanim menyanyikan lagu Lagenda sebelum penyampaian angerah khas kepada dua pelakon veteran, Ahmad Mahmud dan Mariani. Aktres dan kini bergelar penerbit popular, Tiara Jacquelina membacakan puisi Sinar Terpilih.

Tidak ketinggalan persembahan hebat kumpulan Amuk menerusi lagu terbaru mereka, Dikir Timur serta Erra Fazira yang dinobatkan Pelakon Filem Wanita Popular menutup majlis dengan lagu Sandarkan.

Syabas diucapkan kepada penganjur, Berita Haian dan juga TV3 kerana penat lelah mereka menganjurkan majlis besar-besaran itu berlangsung dengan jayanya.

Mungkin tidak mahu dibandingkan dengan Anugerah Era 2001 yang berlangsung di tempat yang sama dua minggu lalu, ABP-BH 2001 menampilkan kelainan menerusi gimik Senario dan Raja Azura untuk segmen mengumumkan senarai calon.

Ada mengatakan segmen itu meleret-leret dan membosankan, tidak kurang juga terhibur dengan telatah Mazlan Pet Pet, Wahid, Azlee, Yassin, Apek dan Raja Azura dengan telatah mereka yang disesuaikan dengan kategori dipertandingkan.

Namun majlis ABP-BH 2001 hilang kehebatannya apabila dikendalikan ramai pengacara dan bukannya seorang atau dua orang. Antara yang terpilih ialah gandingan Normala-ND Lala, Ally Iskandar-Maya Karin, Salih Yaacob-Linda Onn dan Aidil Abdul Ghafar-Intan Suraya.

Penyampaian mereka begitu padat dengan informasi (membaca teks) menyebabkan suasana meriah atau berpesta kurang dirasai. Hakikat yang harus kita akui ialah penganjuran majlis hebat seperti ini tidak akan bermakna tanpa kehadiran pihak penaja,.

Kesannya penganjur perlu mengambil hati mereka melalui ucapan penghargaan hingga disebut berkali-kali, selain terpampang dalam buku cenderamata dan juga artikel, dengan harapan mereka akan terus memberikan kerjasama pada masa akan datang.

Siti does it again.

NEVER before had national darling Siti Nurhaliza cried in public.

As a discreet and disciplined person, she rarely displays her emotions openly, be it happy or sad. Almost everything about her, especially her private life, is a well-kept secret.

But last Sunday evening she did just that after receiving the Most Popular Star award, the highest accolade given out at the Anugerah Bintang Popular Berita Harian 2001.

Well, this is not the first time Siti is receiving an award. Indeed she is in the Malaysian Book Of Records as the artiste who has received the most awards.

The tears of joy, as they turned out to be, flowed freely down her beautiful baby-doll face ? for the first time ? on stage and in front of thousands.

Then again, this award had very special meaning for her.

There were those who felt she had dominated the local scene too long and her popularity was on the wane.

For her not to win would be a warning that the fickle public were turning their attention to other stars.

Certainly she must have had doubts if she was still No 1.

And so it was a most emotional moment for her to realise that the Malaysian fans still adored her.

In winning the prestigious title, which served as a highlight of the star-studded and glitzy awards presentation, held at Genting Highlands’ Arena Of Stars, the singing sensation got to drive home a Proton Waja 1600cc.

After accepting the award from Information Minister Tan Sri Khalid Yaakob, Siti thanked her fans for nominating her.

She received over 100,000 votes to come out tops, beating other big names including M Nasir, touted to be Siti’s toughest contender.

The two-hour event, aired live over TV3 starting at 4pm, also saw Siti receiving the Popular Female Singer award – beating other shortlisted contenders ? Ziana Zain, Erra Fazira, Noraniza Idris and Dayang Nurfaizah.

Besides the trophies, courtesy of Eurofine (M) Sdn Bhd, solo award winners received RM3,000 cash, a Tissot watch and other prizes while groups received RM5,000 and other gifts respectively. As expected the Popular Male Singer award was grabbed by M Nasir who beat Tan Sri SM Salim, Yassin, Ajai and newcomer Aqasha.

Top comedic act Senario was named Popular Singing Group, shoving away hot favourites New Boyz, Rabbani, Tyco and Too Phat.

However, Rabbani redeemed their defeat in the earlier category when they were called on stage to receive the Popular Nasyid Group award, dashing the hopes of other contenders Hijjaz, Saujana, In-Team and Brothers.

The Popular Actor award went to Rosyam Nor who beat AC Mizal, Afdlin Shauki, Hairie Othman and Norman Hakim, while Erra Fazira walked home with the Popular Actress award.

Erra left other nominees including Abby Abadi, Ida Nerina, Jeslina Hashim and Nasha Aziz in the cold.

The Popular Male TV Actor and Actress award went to AC Mizal and Abby Abadi respectively, for their roles as Inspector Mazlan and Inspector Aleza in the serial drama Gerak Khas.

They triumphed over other shortlisted candidates, among whom were Esma Daniel, Eizlan Yusof, Rosyam Nor, Jalaludin Hassan, Umie Aida, Aida Rahim, Azean Irdawaty and Vanidah Imran.

Funnyman Mazlan Pet Pet, who is part of the Senario group was named Popular Male Comedian, overshadowing his group members Yassin Yahaya and Saiful Azam (Apek) besides Afdlin Shauki and Sathiya, who secured the Popular Non-Malay Artiste award.

Sathiya was shortlisted with Janet Khoo, Angeline Tan, Hans Isaac and Rabbit.

The Popular Female Comedian award went to Rosnah Mat Aris who beat Kartina Aziz, Azean Irdawaty, Yusni Jaafar and Khatijah Tan.

For Popular New Artist, television host-turned-singer and actress Maya Karin elbowed aside other stars like Danny X-Factor, Syura, Aqasha and Illa Sabry.

Who Wants To Be A Millionaire host Jalaludin Hassan emerged as Popular Male TV Presenter in a fight with established names such as Aznil Nawawi, Halim Othman, Afdlin Shauki and Shamsul Ghau Ghau while Popular Female TV Presenter went to Normala Omar.

Normala, who is TV3′s Nona host managed to overshadow Raja Azura, Norazlina Redzuan, Intan Suraya and Avaa Vanja.

Halim Othman stole the limelight when he walked on stage to receive the Popular Male Deejay award, forcing other contenders Andy Hakim, Jamal Jamaludin, Nasaruddin and Seelan Paul to remain in their seats.

Of all the winners, only Linda Onn made an acceptance speech, which incidently was not encouraged by the organisers, when she received the Popular Female DJ award, beating her Erra Radio boss Kudsia Kahar, old-timer Yasmin Yusoff, Abby Fana@ Cik Seri Pagi and Paula Malai Ali.

Special recognition awards were also given to veteran artistes Mariani and Ahmad Mahmood for their contributions to the Malay film industry.

Indonesian group Sheila On 7 was presented with the Special Star award for their popularity among Malaysian music lovers.

This is the 14th year Berita Harian is organising the award presentation to honour those in the entertainment industry where readers vote for their most favourite artistes.

Fans got to see and shake hands with the stars during the red-carpet welcome parade from the entrance right down to the arena.

The show opened with a dance routine by the Genting Highlands dance troupe followed by the theme song sung by Dayang Nurfaizah, Krisya, Anwar Zain and Jeslina Hashim.

There was also a short magic show by illusionist Gianni Mattiolo. Interspersed with the award presentation, handed over by big names in the industry, were songs by Ziana Zain, Indonesian group Sheila On 7, Siti Nurhaliza, Liza Hanim and rock group Amok.

Siti Bintang Paling Popular 2001.

GENTING HIGHLANDS, Ahad ? Penyanyi nombor satu negara, Siti Nurhaliza Taruddin, 22, meraih gelaran Bintang Paling Popular 2001, sekali gus melayakkannya menerima hadiah kereta Proton Waja.

Beliau menerima anugerah itu pada majlis kemuncak Anugerah Bintang Popular Berita Harian (ABP-BH 2001) yang disampaikan Menteri Penerangan, Tan Sri Khalil Yaakob dalam acara Gala Pesona Bintang di Arena Of Stars, di sini petang ini.

ABP-BH 2001 anjuran Berita Harian itu turut disiarkan secara langsung menerusi TV3.

Majlis itu turut dihadiri Ketua Pengarang Kumpulan The New Straits Times Press (M) Berhad (NSTP), Tan Sri Abdullah Ahmad; Pengarang Kumpulan Berita Harian, Datuk Ahmad Rejal Arbee dan Pengarah Urusan Edaran Otomobil Nasional Berhad (EON), Datuk Adzmi Abdul Wahab.

Kejayaan Siti itu adalah sejarah baru dalam Anugerah Bintang Popular yang sudah berusia 14 tahun kerana sebelum ini anugerah itu dikenali sebagai Artis Paling Popular.

Siti yang sudah empat kali berturut-turut memenangi anugerah Artis Paling Popular, meraih 101,175 undi menerusi pilihan pembaca Berita Harian bagi kategori Penyanyi Wanita Popular.

Penyanyi yang berasal dari Kuala Lipis, Pahang, itu mendapat saingan hebat daripada M Nasir, selain dua artis berkumpulan iaitu Rabbani dan Senario.

Selain Proton Waja sumbangan EON, Siti juga menerima hadiah jam tangan Tissot dan cendermata sumbangan Converse. Siti turut meraih wang tunai RM3,000 berikutan kejayaannya dalam kategori Penyanyi Wanita Popular, mengalahkan Dayang Nurfaizah, Ziana Zain, Erra Fazira dan Noraniza Idris.

Pelakon veteran yang terkenal dengan watak Dr Ismadi dalam filem Ibu Mertuaku, Ahmad Mahmud, dipilih menerima anugerah Seniman Veteran, manakala Anugerah Seniwati Veteran diberikan kepada Mariani.

Sementara itu, M Nasir mengekalkan gelarannya sebagai Penyanyi Lelaki Popular, manakala Senario juga masih menguasai gelaran sebagai Artis Berkumpulan Popular.

Rabbani buat pertama kali meraih gelaran Penyanyi Nasyid Popular yang sebelum ini dikuasai oleh Raihan.

Rosyam Nor pula meraih gelaran Pelakon Filem Lelaki Popular, sementara Erra Fazira berjaya mengekalkan kedudukannya sebagai Pelakon Filem Wanita Popular.

Anugerah Pelakon TV Lelaki Popular dan Pelakon TV Wanita Popular, masih mengekalkan pemenang yang sama iaitu dua watak pegawai polis dalam siri Gerak Khas, AC Mizal dan Abby Abadi.

Mazlan Pet Pet daripada kumpulan Senario mencipta gelaran barunya sebagai Artis Komedi Lelaki Popular. Anugerah Artis Komedi Wanita Popular terus dikuasai Rosnah Mat Aris.

Artis Baru Popular dimenangi Maya Karin, manakala Artis Bukan Melayu Popular dimenangi Sathiya, sekali gus mengekalkan gelaran itu buat dirinya selama tiga tahun berturut-turut.

Empat kategori baru yang diperkenalkan tahun ini juga mencatatkan kejutan apabila Jalaludin Hassan meraih gelaran Pengacara TV Lelaki Popular, Normala Samsudin (Pengacara TV Wanita Popular), Halim Othman (Penyampai Radio Lelaki Popular) dan Linda Onn (Penyampai Radio Wanita Popular).

Semua pemenang solo meraih hadiah trofi dan wang tunai RM3,000 dan berkumpulan sebanyak RM5,000.

CONCERT DIVA 2000.

“WHEN MALAY DIVAS GIVE A CONCERT… IT’S SIMPLY SEDAP

They are the new Fab Four – a dream quartet of God-given talent, lung-busting vocal prowess and crowd-pleasing manners…

Three weeks ago, the word “”diva”" invaded the Malay vocabulary with the force of a tidal wave.

Sure, the kids already knew it. It has been used to describe some of their favourite songbirds like Mariah Carey and Celine Dion.

But not the older folks. They scratched their heads at the Italian term which was used by Vincenzo Bellini in his 1831 opera, Norma, to describe an extraordinary woman who approaches her music and life with a burning passion.

But after Sunday night, there were few in the Malay community who did not know the meaning of “”diva”".

For that was the night four beautiful women with the biggest lungs in the Malay pop world got together for a concert.

For three hours, homegrown music queen Anita Sarawak, Malaysian jazz song-stress Sheila Majid, chart-topping pop princess Siti Nurhaliza and Indonesia keronong(Indonesian traditional folk music) favourite Hetty Koes Endang thrilled the crowd at the Harbour Pavilion in World Trade Centre.

The event was Diva Concert 2000, organised by two Radio Corporation of Singapore stations, Warna 94.2FM and Ria 89.7, to thank listeners for their support.

If there was any confusion about the meaning of “”diva”" before, it hit them like a sock in the face at the concert.

There they were, four amazing crooners whose beauty, voices, wit and showmanship took the audience’s breath away. There was D-I-V-A personified, magnified and amplified by three huge silver screens flanking the stage and a surround-soung system.

Most of the 4,500-strong audience, just short of a sellout and comprising a wide spectrum of people, from grannies to teens, roared their appreciation throughout the night.

The concert opened with the soft strains of one of the most beautiful songs ever written in the Malay language – Legenda As her husky voice floated onto the dark stage, loud applause broke out and the unmistakable cool, jazz queen emerged in a white-sequinned dress and a sassy new cropped hair-do.

Her warm presence and effortless grace eased the audience into her set. Shelia, 35, sang six cool, familiar jazz favourites like Sinaran(Shine)

But her classy performance paled in comparison to that of Hetty Koes Endang’s the keroncong queen.

Wearing a funereal looking black gown that covered her from head to toe except for her hands and face, which was caked frightfully with powder, the Indonesian star looked bizarre, to say the least.

Yet the 43-year-old blew the audience away with her supreme showmanship, complete with flirtations hipsways, sweeping hand gestures, a wacky sence of humour and an incredible voice that hit all the right notes.

Next came baby Siti Nurhaliza, 21 who not too long ago charmed scores of fans here with a solo concert. This time round, though, her performance was a tad disappointing.

Aparting from her drop-dead gorgeous looks and strong vocals, she could not hold her own. She seemed nervous and exhibited none of the spontaneity that the other singers flaunted.

But all was not lost. For after her came the woman who took the levels of divadom to new heights.

Anita Sarawak, 48, emerged in a lava-hot purple dress with a slit so high it must have dazzled those in the front rows.

The audience’s riotous welcome showed that they had been keeping their loudest applause for the funky, homegrown singer, who has been honing her moves at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas for the past 14 years.

Sporting funky platinum-blonde hair, she roared her way into everybody’s hearts with songs that bespoke her extremely cool, sexy and funny personality – songs like Sophisticated Lady and Dengarlah Ini Cerita(Listen To This Story).

She danced, boogied and vogued at a whirland pace that left everyone breathless but begging for more.

But her high-octane act took its toll on her. For the concert’s finale, when the other singers got together to sing Legenda(Legend), she was missing from the picture. Sheonly joined them in the song’s last refrain. But by then, she had proven herself. She had made it clear that to be a real diva, one needs the age and experience.

So, until Siti has earned a few lines on her forehead and under her eyes, and perharps a marriage or two (Anita has had three divorces, Sheila one; and Hetty is into her second marriage), she could never have oodles of divadom dripping from her forehead the way the others could.

SISTERS IN HARMONY(above):
Hetty and Siti striking the right notes together in the final number of the night, which was also its opening number – Legenda(Legend) – one of the most beautiful songs in the Malay language.

THE CONCERT WAS COOL

The Stoned Revivals had that to say of the divas in its off-beat review…

LIFE! decided to take an off-the-beaten path and ask the talented, quirky members of the band, the Stoned Revivals, to review the Divas concert too.

The band’s main members are Esam Salleh, 26, who fronts the group, and Syed Ahmad, 24, the drummer. The two make all the decisions about the 10-year-old band but when they perform, they get sessionists – usually friends of theirs – to play with them.

At first, the two were alarmed when asked to review the concert.

Esam bleated: “”I don’t want to go to the concert. It’s just going to be another TV variety show – booooring!”"

Syed was more sporting; he felt that they could learn a thing or two from the performers.

But at the end of the three-hour gig, they were glad they came. Esam exclaimed enthusiastically: “”It was cool, man! I had a good time, mainly because Anita Sarawak.”"

Looking dazed, as if he was recovering from a hit on the head, Syed croaked: “”That was a nice temporary relief from reality.”"

So taken in was he by Anita that he insisted the Stoned Revivals must do a cover of one of her songs.

In April last year, the band released its critically well-received Golden Love-songs From The Evil Island Of The Handsome Tropical Cannibals.

Its songs – in English – are melodic but boast kooky lyrics. The band’s quiky love single in 1997, Goodil, for instance, came complete with references to Sesame Street chracters, Wonger Woman and the Six-Million Dollar Man. It became the No. 1 hit on the Perfect 10 music chart.

The Stoned Revivals plays on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturday nights at Vibes in Orchard Hotel wearing wrestling masks.

ESAM SALLEH’S VERDICT – SITI’S BEAUTIFUL BUT KIND OF BORING

The 25-year-old vocalist and guitarist digs “”psychedelic music, drum and bass, a bit of down-tempo, and a bit of Beck”". To him, what makes a diva is “”the X-factor thing. You know it when you see it”".

SITI NURHALIZA

How She Croons: I’ve never dug, her music, man. It’s boring, man. She doesn’t rock my world.
How She Boogies: You call that dancing? That’s secondary-school dancing.
Did She Get Them Going? She communicates to her audience like a schoolteacher. She’s not entertaining them, she’s teaching them!
How Hot Was Her Get-Up? Her dress suits her this time – usually she’s like a kid! But then again, I’d like to see her in a school uniform – I think she’d be very sexy. Her hair tonight was very womanly.
Pass The Diva Test? She’s beautiful but I don’t know if she has the other diva factors. She’s got the looks and voice.

SYED AHMAD’S VERDICT – SUPER DIVAS MUST HAVE STAGE PRESENCE

The 24-year-old drummer listens to anything from Ravi Shankar to Led Zeppelin, from Frank Zappa to Jamiroquai. And him, a diva “”should be a strong woman. She knows what she wants and you can see it in her fashin sense, her stage presence, the strength of her voice.”"

SITI NURHALIZA

How She Croons: Her voice is good, but she’s just a poster girl. When she’s singing, the guys in the audience shout horny remarks at her instead of listening to her sing. They don’t respect her the way they respect the others.
How She Boogies: Ordinary.
Did She Get Them Going? She doesn’t know how to engage them, man. Her jokes are juvenile. I’ve heard them before. She’s too caught up in the good girl image.
How Hot Was Her Get-Up? What a boring dress (Siti wore a long flowing red dress). But her hair was fantastic. She looked like a Malay Charlie’s Angels. But she wore too much make-up. She’s young, man, she doesn’t need to hide anything.
Pass The Diva Test? No, She’s not a strong person. She doesn’t strike me as intelligent.

http://www.geocities.com/izarrudin2000/info09.htm”