PLAUDITS FOR THE REST

WHEN Noraniza Idris, the newly crowned best performer of the evening, said to composer Pak Ngah, ``Don't worry, I'll always be known as the second best or the number two, three or four singer and I know where I stand ...'' during the press conference of Juara Lagu 2000 after the event ended last Sunday, it was not merely a resentful comment. There is a grain of truth in her forthrightness.

Perhaps what made Noraniza speak her mind was the fact that Pak Ngah had told members of the press earlier that he was a bit worried if Noraniza's extraordinary feat and impressive choreography on Ngajat Tampi (Rosli Selasih/Siso), which has a Sarawak folk tune feel, would cloud the judgment of the jury.

To this, Noraniza replied that she was fully aware of the Pak Ngah-Siti Nurhaliza winning combination of Balqis and the strength of that song. The choice, she said, did not surprise her. ``Surely, the jury is professional and know what they are doing,'' said Noraniza when referring to members of the jury comprising novelist Khadijah Hashim, composers Freddie Fernandez and Johan Nawawi, singer M. Nasir and lyricist Habsah Hassan, headed by veteran composer Johari Salleh.

Balqis, composed by Pak Ngah with lyrics by Hairul Anuar Harun, was picked Best Ethnic Creative song and the overall Juara Lagu 2000. It overshadowed Ngajat Tampi, Tinting (Pak Ngah/Hairul Anura Harun) and Cepat Kaya (Azmeer/Zira Wahid Azlee) from the same category.

However, the sad fact that the songs sung by Noraniza, who won the best performance award for three consecutive years - Dikir Puteri (Juara Lagu 1998) and last year in Dendang Dondang, did not win in any other categories, created discontentment.

After all the hard work, not forgetting 16 years of singing experience to her credit, Noraniza, the unofficial Irama Malaysia queen, is heartbroken not because the song she rendered didn't win but because the jury could not look beyond her performance.

One should not have discounted her arduous effort and determination in presenting the song. She tried hard to prove that she is more than just ``best performer'' material when she practically turned the auditorium into a carnival when the 41-member Sarawak dancers performed some ``acrobatic'' acts. She ended the fiesta by blowing fire from her mouth like a Sarawakian warrior.

Choosing the best song must not have been easy. Or was it?

The predictable wins, Best Ballad for Kau Kekasihku (Ajai/Alam Maya) and Best Ethnic Creative/Juara Lagu 2000 through Balqis (Pak Ngah/Hairul Anuar Harun) made some in the audience baulk at the results. Both were sung by Siti.

It was disputable how Balqis could have won since the entries sung by Noraniza were equally strong, if not better. Was Balqis, with its haunting Middle Eastern strains, considered more ethnic than Tinting which fully utilised our home-grown hadrah (traditional Malay music) and kompang (Malay percussion instrument used to greet the bride and groom at weddings)?

What about Ngajat Tampi? How could one dismiss the intensity and profundity of this Sarawak song with all its ethnic influences? Even at one listen, it could easily trigger nationalistic sentiment in any Malaysian. And the way it was presented by Noraniza and her Sarawak dancers, back-up vocals and traditional musicians, with the delightful sape (a Sarawakian lute) made it even more attractive.

Since it was a Juara Lagu contest, picking the best song and the right one at that should be the main priority. As the main objective is to give recognition to the best song with the best composition and lyrics, it would be appropriate to set aside favouritism and popularity of singers.

Scrutinising the results could lead one to believe that the evaluation of the jury could have been swayed by other factors too. Another surprise winner was Bintang Hati sung by Amy Mastura in the Pop cate-gory. The monotonous composition by Goh Boon Hoe was a letdown compared to Aubrey N Suwito's Impian Realiti sung by Shafinaz.

There is a thin line between the best song and best singer. A biased evaluation would create dissatisfaction especially in a prestigious award such as this.

Perhaps TV3 should come up with a new judging system whereby a fresh set of jurors each year could ascertain more neutral results and to ensure different tastes are taken into account. To say that Siti did not deserve to win is not fair but to suggest that other singers who competed against her that evening were not in the same league was grossly unfair too.

The fact that established singers such as Sheila Majid, Camelia and Ziana Zain pulled out from the Juara Lagu final should raise another pertinent point. A monopoly of winning songs sung by just one singer in any competition every year is a bit worrying.

For the first time too, Juara Lagu 2000 was broadcast live through three multimedia channels - TV3, Radio Era and website www.juaralagutv3.ja ring.my.

On the whole, the competition was one of the best live telecast shows in 15 years which went on without a hitch. A pat on the back to producer Hemanathan Paul and the production crew. For the first time too, it was well-conceptualised. Veteran S.M. Salim was given the long awaited recognition and honour to give away awards to all winners.

In addition, this year's Juara Lagu theme Andai Dipisah Lagu dan Irama was taken from Tan Sri P. Ramlee's masterpiece Getaran Jiwa and in line with that, Juara Lagu paid tribute to him, Puan Sri Saloma, M. Shariff and Sudirman Haji Arshad.

Popular singers were roped in to act out skits from movies Anakku Sazali and Seniman Bujang Lapok while the results were being tabulated. Among the stars who acted in the skits were Jalaluddin Hassan who did a pale imitation of the great legend. Singers Jamal Abdillah and Fauziah Latiff sang beautifully in Jiwa Rasa Gelora.

The Kristal boys sang one of M.Shariff's popular tunes while Anuar Zain rendered Sudirman's Salam Terakhir which did not do credit to the beautiful song.

The songs Siti sung came away with three awards that night - Best Ballad where she won RM12,000 and a trophy, Best Ethnic Creative (another RM12,000 and trophy) and the Juara Lagu winner (RM25,000 and a trophy). The composers and lyricists would share the awards with her. In a predictable, rehearsed line which she repeated every year, Siti thanked ``God, all my fans and the jury for choosing me. I didn't expect this win ....'' This is Siti's third win so far; she sung the Juara Lagu winner in 1996, Jerat Percintaan, and again in 1998, Cindai.

Noraniza, who won best performance, took home RM10,000 while Amy Mastura whose Melodi Hati won Best Pop Rock song walked away with RM12,000 for its composer/lyricist.

The 12 songs were categorised under Pop Rock, Ballad and Ethnic Creative and were rendered by seven solo singers and one group. The singers were accompanied by Ramli M.S.'s orchestra which displayed a brilliant performance. The event was jointly hosted by newscaster Zalina Azman and entertainment compere Adiel Abdul Ghafar who changed their outfits four times, no less.

BY ZIEMAN - PUBLISHED 23/11/2000