taken from The New Straits Times 9 June 2007
SINGAPORE: It was a sweepstakes win for Malaysia at the Anugerah Planet Muzik (APM) 2007.The country’s top performers took home eight of the 13 awards, with singer Datuk Siti Nurhaliza bagging the Most Popular Female Artiste for the seventh consecutive year, Best Female Artiste and Best Song for Biarlah Rahsia from the album Transkripsi.
M. Nasir won the Most Popular Male Artiste for his album Sang Pencinta while Mawi picked up two awards, Most Popular Male Artiste and Most Popular Song for his hit number Kian, written by Fauzi Marzuki and Lukhman S.
Best New Female Artiste went to Noryn Aziz for her album Alam Maya, while Zainal Abidin won the Inaugural Planet Muzik Humanitarian Award for his contribution towards creating awareness on environmental issues through his music.
Held at the Singapore Indoor Stadium here last night, the show was carried live over Astro Ria. It was hosted by popular Malaysian television host Aznil Nawawi, Singaporean presenters Suhaini Yusoff and Fiza O, as well as Indonesia’s Fika.
APM 2007 is an annual showcase of talented artistes from Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore.
Sabtu, Jun 09, 2007
Jumaat, Jun 08, 2007
Nostalgia: Senandung Semalam buat Loga
petikan Berita Harian 8 Jun 2007
Oleh Zainuri Misfar
Pemergian penyanyi kedua Alleycats amat dirasai
“DALAM banyak lagu Melayu yang saya nyanyikan, Senandung Semalam paling saya suka. Lagu itu benar-benar menyentuh perasaan. Saya menghayati lagu itu. Jiwa saya melayang entah ke mana apabila menyanyikan Senandung Semalam.” Itulah antara kata-kata Loga ketika akhbar ini pernah menemubualnya sewaktu persembahan Alleycats di Hotel Hilton, Petaling Jaya.
Peramah orangnya. Lagu Senandung Semalam, liriknya mengenai lamunan seseorang yang kehilangan orang tersayang - mungkin isteri, suami, ayah, ibu, anak, sahabat, tunang atau kekasih. Selain menyanyi, dalam persembahan itu, Loga meniup flute atau seruling selain bermain percussion. Kadang-kadang dia terbatuk kecil setiap kali selepas meniup flute.
Loga yang dilihat sering senyum, sesekali lalu menepuk bahu abangnya, David yang asyik tersasul atau lupa lirik ketika menyanyikan lagu Hingga Akhir Nanti dan Seribu Bintang. Tapi itulah kemesraan dua beradik ini.
Keceriaan Loga pernah diakui M Nasir, orang yang bertanggungjawab menaikkan nama Alleycats.
“Mereka tidak banyak perubahan walaupun sudah berusia. Suara David bertambah sedih dan suara Loga bertambah ceria,” kata Nasir sambil ketawa pada pelancaran album Alleycats 2001.
Loga atau Loganathan, adik kepada David Arumugam mengasaskan bersama Alleycats pada 1968. Loga sebenarnya lebih lincah ketika di pentas. Dia boleh bertutur bahasa Malaysia agak baik berbanding David. Bahkan, loghat Pulau Pinang masih melekat dalam pertuturannya. Dalam temu bual itu, Loga ada menyatakan keutuhan Alleycats kerana keserasiannya bekerja dengan David.
“Saya dengan dia (David) ngam (serasi) sebab itulah boleh bersama. Dalam apa kerja, kalau ngam, senang buat kerja. Kalau tak ngam, bukan saja dengan abang, dengan orang lain pun kita tak boleh kerja,” kata Loga.
Pemergiannya pada Isnin lalu (4 Jun) di sebuah hospital di Pulau Pinang kerana barah paru-paru memang amat dirasai, bukan saja David, atau mereka yang pernah menganggotai kumpulan ini tetapi peminat Alleycats.
Senandung Semalam ciptaan Wan Ibrahim dan seni katanya karya M Nasir, adalah antara lagu daripada Alleycats yang segar hingga sekarang. Ia meletakkan Alleycats sebagai kumpulan muzik bukan Melayu paling berjaya memikat hati pendengar muzik Melayu. Alleycats yang mula menyanyi di kelab dan menghasilkan album sejak tahun 70-an masih kekal hingga sekarang dan masih aktif menyanyi.
Selepas 10 tahun ditubuhkan, mereka hanya berpeluang menghasilkan album bahasa Melayu pertama berjudul Terima Kasih pada 1978. Gaya rambut afro David dan Loga menjadi identiti cukup dikenali dan sinonim dengan Alleycats. Di sebalik gaya rambut itu, David dan Loga ada kisah suka dukanya. Rambut afro Loga pernah terbakar ketika dia tidur di sebuah hotel di Subang pada akhir 1994. Akibat kejadian itu, mukanya melecur dan terpaksa menarik diri daripada membuat persembahan di hotel itu.
Dalam sejarah Alleycats, pencapaiannya lebih 20 album adalah satu kebanggaan. Walaupun kebanyakan lagu dan album dalam imej Melayu tetapi ia banyak ditangani Eric Yeo, komposer bukan Melayu yang berkhidmat untuk Alleycats menerusi 19 album. Penerbit lain, M Nasir,Wan Ibrahim, Aman dan Razman Mohd Nor.
Selain David dan Loga, anggota asal Alleycats ialah Tan Chin Hock, Shanmugam, Fook Meng dan Francis Khor. Selepas album Terima Kasih, Alleycats muncul dengan Dapatkah (1980). David dan Loga pernah muncul solo. Album solo Loga, Bumi diterbitkan pada 1994, manakala album solo David bertajuk Segarkah Cinta.
Nama Alleycats meledak menerusi album Alleycats 4 yang memuatkan lagu Hingga Akhir Nanti, Seribu Bintang dan Berita Dari Rantau. Diikuti dengan album Kucing (1981) yang mengandungi banyak lagu popular hingga sekarang seperti Andainya Aku Pergi Dulu, Jangan Telefon Lagi dan Sekuntum Mawar Merah.
Dalam album Enam Kucing (1982), Alleycats memuatkan lagu Setahun Sudah Berlalu, manakala album Suara Kekasih (1985) pula ada lagu Suara Kekasih, Layang-Layang Putus Tali dan Istana Pasir.
Apa yang pasti, setiap album Alleycats memang meninggalkan lagu yang memberikan nostalgia kepada pendengar dan peminatnya dengan David dan adiknya, Loga menjadi ikon tersendiri dengan gaya rambut afro mereka. Tidak dilupakan ungkapan David; “Ma...kasihhh!”
Profil Alleycats
Tahun Diasaskan: 1968
Asal: Pulau Pinang
Mula hasilkan album: 1978
Anggota Asal Alleycats:
* David Arumugam (vokal)
* Loganathan (vokal/percussion)
* Chef (saksofon)
* Tan Chin Hock (dram)
* Shanmugam (gitar utama)
* Tham Fook Meng (gitar)
* Francis Khor (keyboard).
Album: Alleycats (album Inggeris/1978); Penyanyi (album Melayu pertama/1978); Terima Kasih (1979); Dapatkah (1980); Alleycats 4 (Awal 1981); Kucing (Akhir 1981); Enam Kucing (1982); Alleycats (1983); Kerana (awal 1984); Irama Kehidupan (akhir 1984); Suara Kekasih (1985); Sampaikan Salam (awal 1986); Alleycats 12 (1986); Aku Kerinduan (1987); Suatu Pengertian (awal 1988); Akhir Tetap Merindu (akhir 1988); Dilema Sekuntum Cinta (1989); C.I.N.T.A (1990); Selagi Tangis Belum Terhenti (1991); Untukmu (1992); Alleycats 20 (1993); Alleycats 21 (1996); Alleycats 22 (1997) dan Alleycats 2001 (2001)
Senandung Semalam
Berirama
Senandung Semalam
Ku terkenang peristiwa silam
Di mana aku dan si dia
Cinta benar cinta
Kau mencurah apa yang dirasa
Kau dibuai oleh angin senja
Budimu yang seikhlas itu
Akulah kekasihmu
Kini tinggal kenangan belaka
Di taburan bunga di pusaramu
Ku berdoa agar dikau
Aman bertemu-Nya
Oh kenangan
Tinggallah kenangan
Engkau pergi telah ditakdirkan
Diriku termenung menjauh
Bersama senandung semalam
Lagu: Wan Ibrahim
Lirik: M Nasir
Oleh Zainuri Misfar
Pemergian penyanyi kedua Alleycats amat dirasai
“DALAM banyak lagu Melayu yang saya nyanyikan, Senandung Semalam paling saya suka. Lagu itu benar-benar menyentuh perasaan. Saya menghayati lagu itu. Jiwa saya melayang entah ke mana apabila menyanyikan Senandung Semalam.” Itulah antara kata-kata Loga ketika akhbar ini pernah menemubualnya sewaktu persembahan Alleycats di Hotel Hilton, Petaling Jaya.
Peramah orangnya. Lagu Senandung Semalam, liriknya mengenai lamunan seseorang yang kehilangan orang tersayang - mungkin isteri, suami, ayah, ibu, anak, sahabat, tunang atau kekasih. Selain menyanyi, dalam persembahan itu, Loga meniup flute atau seruling selain bermain percussion. Kadang-kadang dia terbatuk kecil setiap kali selepas meniup flute.
Loga yang dilihat sering senyum, sesekali lalu menepuk bahu abangnya, David yang asyik tersasul atau lupa lirik ketika menyanyikan lagu Hingga Akhir Nanti dan Seribu Bintang. Tapi itulah kemesraan dua beradik ini.
Keceriaan Loga pernah diakui M Nasir, orang yang bertanggungjawab menaikkan nama Alleycats.
“Mereka tidak banyak perubahan walaupun sudah berusia. Suara David bertambah sedih dan suara Loga bertambah ceria,” kata Nasir sambil ketawa pada pelancaran album Alleycats 2001.
Loga atau Loganathan, adik kepada David Arumugam mengasaskan bersama Alleycats pada 1968. Loga sebenarnya lebih lincah ketika di pentas. Dia boleh bertutur bahasa Malaysia agak baik berbanding David. Bahkan, loghat Pulau Pinang masih melekat dalam pertuturannya. Dalam temu bual itu, Loga ada menyatakan keutuhan Alleycats kerana keserasiannya bekerja dengan David.
“Saya dengan dia (David) ngam (serasi) sebab itulah boleh bersama. Dalam apa kerja, kalau ngam, senang buat kerja. Kalau tak ngam, bukan saja dengan abang, dengan orang lain pun kita tak boleh kerja,” kata Loga.
Pemergiannya pada Isnin lalu (4 Jun) di sebuah hospital di Pulau Pinang kerana barah paru-paru memang amat dirasai, bukan saja David, atau mereka yang pernah menganggotai kumpulan ini tetapi peminat Alleycats.
Senandung Semalam ciptaan Wan Ibrahim dan seni katanya karya M Nasir, adalah antara lagu daripada Alleycats yang segar hingga sekarang. Ia meletakkan Alleycats sebagai kumpulan muzik bukan Melayu paling berjaya memikat hati pendengar muzik Melayu. Alleycats yang mula menyanyi di kelab dan menghasilkan album sejak tahun 70-an masih kekal hingga sekarang dan masih aktif menyanyi.
Selepas 10 tahun ditubuhkan, mereka hanya berpeluang menghasilkan album bahasa Melayu pertama berjudul Terima Kasih pada 1978. Gaya rambut afro David dan Loga menjadi identiti cukup dikenali dan sinonim dengan Alleycats. Di sebalik gaya rambut itu, David dan Loga ada kisah suka dukanya. Rambut afro Loga pernah terbakar ketika dia tidur di sebuah hotel di Subang pada akhir 1994. Akibat kejadian itu, mukanya melecur dan terpaksa menarik diri daripada membuat persembahan di hotel itu.
Dalam sejarah Alleycats, pencapaiannya lebih 20 album adalah satu kebanggaan. Walaupun kebanyakan lagu dan album dalam imej Melayu tetapi ia banyak ditangani Eric Yeo, komposer bukan Melayu yang berkhidmat untuk Alleycats menerusi 19 album. Penerbit lain, M Nasir,Wan Ibrahim, Aman dan Razman Mohd Nor.
Selain David dan Loga, anggota asal Alleycats ialah Tan Chin Hock, Shanmugam, Fook Meng dan Francis Khor. Selepas album Terima Kasih, Alleycats muncul dengan Dapatkah (1980). David dan Loga pernah muncul solo. Album solo Loga, Bumi diterbitkan pada 1994, manakala album solo David bertajuk Segarkah Cinta.
Nama Alleycats meledak menerusi album Alleycats 4 yang memuatkan lagu Hingga Akhir Nanti, Seribu Bintang dan Berita Dari Rantau. Diikuti dengan album Kucing (1981) yang mengandungi banyak lagu popular hingga sekarang seperti Andainya Aku Pergi Dulu, Jangan Telefon Lagi dan Sekuntum Mawar Merah.
Dalam album Enam Kucing (1982), Alleycats memuatkan lagu Setahun Sudah Berlalu, manakala album Suara Kekasih (1985) pula ada lagu Suara Kekasih, Layang-Layang Putus Tali dan Istana Pasir.
Apa yang pasti, setiap album Alleycats memang meninggalkan lagu yang memberikan nostalgia kepada pendengar dan peminatnya dengan David dan adiknya, Loga menjadi ikon tersendiri dengan gaya rambut afro mereka. Tidak dilupakan ungkapan David; “Ma...kasihhh!”
Profil Alleycats
Tahun Diasaskan: 1968
Asal: Pulau Pinang
Mula hasilkan album: 1978
Anggota Asal Alleycats:
* David Arumugam (vokal)
* Loganathan (vokal/percussion)
* Chef (saksofon)
* Tan Chin Hock (dram)
* Shanmugam (gitar utama)
* Tham Fook Meng (gitar)
* Francis Khor (keyboard).
Album: Alleycats (album Inggeris/1978); Penyanyi (album Melayu pertama/1978); Terima Kasih (1979); Dapatkah (1980); Alleycats 4 (Awal 1981); Kucing (Akhir 1981); Enam Kucing (1982); Alleycats (1983); Kerana (awal 1984); Irama Kehidupan (akhir 1984); Suara Kekasih (1985); Sampaikan Salam (awal 1986); Alleycats 12 (1986); Aku Kerinduan (1987); Suatu Pengertian (awal 1988); Akhir Tetap Merindu (akhir 1988); Dilema Sekuntum Cinta (1989); C.I.N.T.A (1990); Selagi Tangis Belum Terhenti (1991); Untukmu (1992); Alleycats 20 (1993); Alleycats 21 (1996); Alleycats 22 (1997) dan Alleycats 2001 (2001)
Senandung Semalam
Berirama
Senandung Semalam
Ku terkenang peristiwa silam
Di mana aku dan si dia
Cinta benar cinta
Kau mencurah apa yang dirasa
Kau dibuai oleh angin senja
Budimu yang seikhlas itu
Akulah kekasihmu
Kini tinggal kenangan belaka
Di taburan bunga di pusaramu
Ku berdoa agar dikau
Aman bertemu-Nya
Oh kenangan
Tinggallah kenangan
Engkau pergi telah ditakdirkan
Diriku termenung menjauh
Bersama senandung semalam
Lagu: Wan Ibrahim
Lirik: M Nasir
Selasa, Jun 05, 2007
Loga, of Alleycats, dies
taken from The New Straits Times 5 Jun 2007
GEORGE TOWN: Loganathan Arumugam, a founder-member of the popular and widely followed Alleycats pop music band, died after losing a year-long battle with lung cancer.
The 54-year old musician, who was one of the most recognisable local musicians with his trademark Afro hairdo, died at the Mount Miriam Hospital here at 10.50am yesterday.
He died to the tune of a collection of early Alleycats songs being played on a portable disc player placed at his bedside.
Family members said Loga, as he was fondly known, died with a smile listening to his music which brought him and the Alleycats worldwide fame.
He leaves wife, Susan, 50; son Vigneshwaran, 24, and daughter, Priyadashini, 20.
Loga used to play the flute in the band and was also vocalist alongside his brother, David Arumugam, 57.
David said his brother’s death was fated and the family accepted it as the will of God.
"It has been a tough battle but he fought it all the way after learning that he had lung cancer in October last year. He used to smoke but gave it up many years ago," he said when met at the hospital.
The body was later taken to the family home in Jalan Tanjung Bungah here and is expected to be cremated according to Hindu rites at 11am on Wednesday.
Asked on the future of the band, David said Loga had informed him that the Alleycats music should never die.
"We recorded an album last year but its launch was put on hold after Loga was diagnosed with cancer. The launch was supposed to take place when his condition improved," he said, adding Loga’s last stage performance was at the PJ Hilton in October last year.
David said the group had also planned to release a "live" album once Loga’s condition improved and the project was already on the drawing board.
The Alleycats, formed in 1969, has contributed much to the development of the local pop music scene.
The group started by playing in clubs around the country before signing a recording deal with PolyGram Records in 1978. The Alleycats has 29 albums to its credit.
It is one of Malaysia’s favourite bands with evergreen hits like Sampaikan Salam, Andainya Aku Pergi Dulu Sebelum Mu and Sekuntum Mawar Merah. The band until today is regarded as one of the classic Malaysian pop music groups.
Meanwhile Karyawan president Freddie Fernandez said Loga was a versatile and gifted artiste who had "dedicated his life to music and clubs".
"This is very sad news for the Malaysian music industry. The power of Loga’s harmonies with David was awesome and they were famous for getting crowds of all races to enjoy and appreciate their music," he said.
Composer M. Nasir, who co-produced the first Malay album for the Alleycats, Terima Kasih, in 1978, said he spoke to Loga on the phone last week.
"We talked about his illness and the treatment he was taking. He sounded fine at the time and I was confident he would be making full recovery. I will really miss him."
He remembers Loga for his positive outlook on life.
Singer Khadijah Ibrahim recalled meeting Loga with other members of Alleycats at a stage show in 1979. The first thing that struck her was his Afro hairdo.
"I remember him as a very serious person when it came to work. Off stage, he was friendly and charming. I will always remember his zest for life," she said.
For singer Francissca Peter, Loga was an intelligent musician who never stopped working to make the Alleycats music relevant to today’s audiences.
"Even the younger generation knows Alleycats. A musician like Loga is a rare commodity," said Fran, who got to know Loga and David in the late 1970s when they performed together at stage shows.
GEORGE TOWN: Loganathan Arumugam, a founder-member of the popular and widely followed Alleycats pop music band, died after losing a year-long battle with lung cancer.The 54-year old musician, who was one of the most recognisable local musicians with his trademark Afro hairdo, died at the Mount Miriam Hospital here at 10.50am yesterday.
He died to the tune of a collection of early Alleycats songs being played on a portable disc player placed at his bedside.
Family members said Loga, as he was fondly known, died with a smile listening to his music which brought him and the Alleycats worldwide fame.
He leaves wife, Susan, 50; son Vigneshwaran, 24, and daughter, Priyadashini, 20.
Loga used to play the flute in the band and was also vocalist alongside his brother, David Arumugam, 57.
David said his brother’s death was fated and the family accepted it as the will of God.
"It has been a tough battle but he fought it all the way after learning that he had lung cancer in October last year. He used to smoke but gave it up many years ago," he said when met at the hospital.
The body was later taken to the family home in Jalan Tanjung Bungah here and is expected to be cremated according to Hindu rites at 11am on Wednesday.
Asked on the future of the band, David said Loga had informed him that the Alleycats music should never die.
"We recorded an album last year but its launch was put on hold after Loga was diagnosed with cancer. The launch was supposed to take place when his condition improved," he said, adding Loga’s last stage performance was at the PJ Hilton in October last year.
David said the group had also planned to release a "live" album once Loga’s condition improved and the project was already on the drawing board.
The Alleycats, formed in 1969, has contributed much to the development of the local pop music scene.
The group started by playing in clubs around the country before signing a recording deal with PolyGram Records in 1978. The Alleycats has 29 albums to its credit.
It is one of Malaysia’s favourite bands with evergreen hits like Sampaikan Salam, Andainya Aku Pergi Dulu Sebelum Mu and Sekuntum Mawar Merah. The band until today is regarded as one of the classic Malaysian pop music groups.
Meanwhile Karyawan president Freddie Fernandez said Loga was a versatile and gifted artiste who had "dedicated his life to music and clubs".
"This is very sad news for the Malaysian music industry. The power of Loga’s harmonies with David was awesome and they were famous for getting crowds of all races to enjoy and appreciate their music," he said.
Composer M. Nasir, who co-produced the first Malay album for the Alleycats, Terima Kasih, in 1978, said he spoke to Loga on the phone last week.
"We talked about his illness and the treatment he was taking. He sounded fine at the time and I was confident he would be making full recovery. I will really miss him."
He remembers Loga for his positive outlook on life.
Singer Khadijah Ibrahim recalled meeting Loga with other members of Alleycats at a stage show in 1979. The first thing that struck her was his Afro hairdo.
"I remember him as a very serious person when it came to work. Off stage, he was friendly and charming. I will always remember his zest for life," she said.
For singer Francissca Peter, Loga was an intelligent musician who never stopped working to make the Alleycats music relevant to today’s audiences.
"Even the younger generation knows Alleycats. A musician like Loga is a rare commodity," said Fran, who got to know Loga and David in the late 1970s when they performed together at stage shows.