'SEMARAK' WITHOUT FIRE

A NOBLE idea without proper execution is pointless. This was what happened when a major event like the first Papita Music Industry Awards was not thought out carefully. The result? A let down.

The ceremony to award the creative people of the music industry was a far cry from what it could have been. What is worrisome about it is that it's going to be an annual event but the first one fell short of expectations.

The event was held at a dinner show dubbed Malam Semarak Kasih (night of appreciative passion) at a five-star hotel recently. It was planned as a moderate affair. But inviting big wigs such as Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Deputy Information Ministerdesignation? Datuk Khalid Yunus and former Information Minister Datuk Mohamed Rahmat (to name a few), how could it possibly be a simple dining experience?

Since this was the first time Papita (the National Singer-Musician-Songwriter Association) held an award ceremony, any flaws, weaknesses or limitations could be viewed as acceptable. However, glaring slip-ups throughout the dinner were less forgivable.

Showtime for that evening could certainly be improved. There were many things which could be polished up like the sound system, the sequence and choice of songs or the singers who took part. Still, nothing beats the mood of the whole presentation which was pretty bland.

There were a few good moments though. The saving grace of that evening was veteran Ahmad Jais who sang Di Ambang Sore and Datuk M. Daud Kilau with his Cek Mek Molek. Ahmad Jais proved that he still has that magic voice while our very own Datuk Gelek swayed and gyrated about oblivious to the wolf whistles. The other singers such as Siti Nurhaliza, M. Nasir and Syafinaz would have performed better if not for that miserable sound system.

But putting the loud Search towards the end of the evening was a real mistake. Worst, when they were made to sing three rock songs. It certainly distracted many people in the ballroom and at this point, many were seen leaving the hall. One restless person was Pak Lah himself.

Talk about loud, the sound system blared to the max. So much so, Siti Nurhaliza was almost wailing to compete with the overwhelming musicians. Imagine the dismay when you get noise instead of soothing music.

Why did Siti Nurhaliza, Syafinaz, Hairee, Anis Suraya and Fauziah Idris sing a medley of Ahmad Nawab's songs? They went off-key and not even Siti Nurhaliza was able to carry off Siti Fairuz's song Bila Ku Rindu Ku Sebut Namamu. Couldn't Papita get singers that were groomed by the composer to deliver these songs? Surely many would oblige. After all, this was a Papita affair and there are a hundred singers under this association, so they claim. Where were they?

The other segment which I felt was out of place and like putting the cart before the horse was the "Ahmad Nawab tribute" session. Clippings of Ahmad Nawab's past achievement spanning over a 30-year career were screened. These moments were fleetingly brief. No thanks to the excited narrator. Later, the veteran composer went on stage with his saxophone and played the stirring Kau Kunci Cinta Dalam Hatimu, the song that brought huge success to his career. Supported by the harmonious back-up singers, this was the most mesmerising moment of the evening.

The momentum was beautifully mounting until we discovered there was no special award for that poor man. He was ONLY given the Anugerah Artis Sepanjang Zaman (The All Time Artiste) award for the composer category together with three others Habsah Hassan (for the lyricist category), Fadzil Ahmad (musician) and Ahmad Jais (singer).

It's fine to give a tribute to Ahmad Nawab. After all, he pioneered Papita and is in a class of his own.

Pray, tell why all the act, citation and tribute when he is in the same category with the other three. This could be quite embarassing for the others when Ahmad Nawab is singled out in that manner. Nevertheless, Ahmad Nawab deserved a tribute. But not in this way.

There were eight main awards that evening and judging was handled by a panel of professional judges, we were told.

Of all the categories, the most deserving were Mike Bernie who won the Anugerah Aktivis Industri Muzik (Music Industry Activist Award) and Sharifah Aini who received the Anugerah Pencapai Seni Terbaik (Best Artistic AchievementAward).

Can't say the same about other awards though especially the Anugerah Kewartawanan Papita (Papita Journalist Award). What was puzzling was that the winning article was published a week before the event. How was it possible for entry to be accepted especially when the rule stipulates that ``only articles published last year could enter.'' Was it a last-minute decision to change this regulation? How come there is monetary reward in this category when other recipients only received a trophy each?

Another baffling point was the Anugerah Sudirman which had no winners. Why bother to create the award in the first place?. Is it possible for a versatile artiste like the late Sudirman to be discovered in one year if Papita hopes to give this award to someone next year?

The other predictable winners that evening were Siti Nurhaliza for Anugerah Personaliti Terbaik (Best Personality Award) and M. Nasir (for the rock category), Adnan Abu Hassan (pop) and Pak Ngah (traditional), all three for Anugerah Penulisan Lagu Terbaik (Most Creative Composition).

The Anugerah Khas Papita (Papita Special Award) went to Suria Records (for all its contribution to traditional music) and Raihan (for promoting nasyid).

Each winner received a trophy in the shape of the musical instrument kecapi. A veteran composer who had won this trophy complained that the kecapi broke into two, two hours after the event ended. He had to stick it back for sentimental reasons using a glue gun.

Overall, the Malam Semarak Kasih could be contrasted with the semarak Api (Flame of the Forest) tree the very showy tree adds to the environment and provides shelter and nutrition to lots of creatures while the awards night was somewhat showy but contributed little to its surroundings, people and the industry.

BY ZIEMAN - PUBLISHED 3/7/2000