This song tells the well-worn story of a young lad consumed with love and chasing after a lady who in turn, has her hearts set on another man. Through the main character of the young lad we can relate to the pain of being rejected by the one we love, made worse by the humiliation… [Read more…]
February 21, 2010
One of the most inspiring icons of the Malaccan Empire is Tun Fatimah, the last Sultanah of Malacca. Tun Fatimah is the daughter of Bendahara Tun Mutahir, the Prime Minister during the reign of Sultan Mahmud Shah a.k.a The One Who Got Us Colonised. Tun Fatimah was married to Tun Ali when the Sultan set… [Read more…]
January 19, 2010
Wahai cik abang adik bertanya My dear man I would like to ask Hatimu yang kasih apalah tandanya x2 Your loving heart, what is the sign x2 Padi pulut padi lembah Glutinous paddy, paddy of the valley Padi kuning di dalam peti (x2) Yellow paddy kept in the safe (x2) Janji mulut boleh berubah A… [Read more…]
January 14, 2010
And now for something more upbeat. Like the previous ghazal tunes Memikat Janda (Charming a Divorcee) and Dia Datang (Here She Comes), Lenggang Lenggok (Swing and Sway) is a song dedicated to women – her captivating sways, her charming smiles, her glistening black Pantene locks…you get the idea. I guess women are just more interesting… [Read more…]
January 13, 2010
Menyusun tari, alah tari, sembah diberi Assembling the dance, o dance, I offer my salute Cergas tangkas, alah sayang, gerak dan geri Fit and fast, o love, the movements go Menjunjung tinggi, amboi tinggi, seni sejati In high regard I hold, o my how high, the pure arts Pusaka asli, alah asli, hai ibu pertiwi … [Read more…]
December 27, 2009
Seri Langkat Kuala Tungkal, amboi Seri Langkat Kuala Tungkal, oh my Padi pulut enak rasanya, sayang Glutinous rice it’s so delicious, my love Kalaulah kail, kalaulah kail panjang sejengkal If one’s fishing line, if one’s fishing line can only go so long Janganlah laut hendak diduga Don’t even think of challenging… [Read more…]
December 19, 2009
In the second part of what I hope will be a continuing series featuring traditional Malay tunes, I’ve picked another ghazal song by the King of Gambus the late Fadzil Ahmad. Dia Datang, which literally translates into She Comes or She Arrives, is commonly played at Malay wedding receptions just as the bride and groom… [Read more…]
December 19, 2009
I’ve always been fascinated by Malay folksongs, and the ghazal, a love-poem, is arguably one of the most spirited and uplifting of the various genres of Malay musical traditions. Borrowing from Middle Eastern and Persian influences, the ghazal is an auditory reminder of the strong cultural links between the Malay world and the Middle East… [Read more…]
April 25, 2010
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