Archive for the ‘Anita Sarawak’ Category
Hail The ’sifu’
The renowned Teresa Carpio.
DENNIS CHUA speaks to the grand lady of Hong Kong’s pop scene who will be in Kuala Lumpur for a private function.
A MEMORABLE face of the Hong Kong cinema world for over two decades, Teresa Carpio excels in portraying nasty spouses, managers or mothers-in-law. Her hilarious scenes in comedies has also made their impact on movie lovers.
As a singer, she is greatly respected for her golden voice and easy rapport with fans. And as a mother of three, she is overjoyed over the rave reviews her eldest child Teresa Victoria (or TV) has received for her spirited portrayal of lonely Prudence in the Beatles-themed musical movie Across The Universe.
“I’ve just arrived back in Hong Kong from Los Angeles,” she said in a recent phone interview.
“I’m busy with my new English language album which I’m recording in LA. It’s going to be my first English album in 18 years. I spend six months in the United States annually.”
Carpio has been managing a music school in Hong Kong for two decades now. She also had one in Toronto, Canada, but it closed recently. Carpio wants to focus on the Hong Kong school.
“I love working with youngsters, especially those who are keen on doing musicals. Schoolgoing children are very enthusiastic learners and full of creative ideas,” she said.
As a music teacher, Carpio has been the sifu to popular Hong Kong singers such as Sandy Lam, Sammi Cheng and Gigi Leung.
“TV wasn’t my student but she certainly inherited my passion for music and acting. She honed her skills studying in the United States, particularly in New York, and has also performed in Broadway,” she said.
“She’s performed one song with me in my English album, and also writes songs.”
Carpio, 50, is of Filipino and Chinese ancestry and hails from a musically-inclined family. Her grandfather was a concert violinist and jazz guitarist, while her father was a noted jazz drummer. Some of her uncles were professional musicians.
Her singing and acting career began in 1963, when at six, she won Hong Kong’s first Amateur Talent Quest.
In the 1970s, she hosted her television variety show as a soloist and with guest artistes.
She released several successful Cantonese and English albums in Hong Kong beginning 1976, and six of them went gold.
In these albums, she took on popular hits such as We May Never Love Like This Again, Could We Start Again Please and When Will I See You Again, giving them her own melodious interpretations.
Her Cantonese hit songs included the aching ballad If, True Love (a cover version of Kyu Sakamoto’s Sukiyaki), I Still Remember The Time and Why Give Up.
Carpio also performed duets with mustachioed crooner George Lam, and emerged as one of Hong Kong’s top female singers in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
Carpio’s popularity also spread to other Asian markets including Japan, where at 14, she became the first Hong Kong singer, and its youngest, ever, to appear on national television.
Subsequently performing in Singapore, Tahiti, the United States, Canada and Brunei, she broadened her career to star in films and also auditioned unsuccessfully for the lead role in the Broadway musical Miss Saigon.
The role eventually went to acclaimed Filipino singer and actress Lea Salonga.
Nevertheless, she took the lead role in the California production of the musical City of Broken Promises, a story set in Macau, and appeared in 68 performances of producer Clifton Ko’s musical I Have A Date With Spring in Hong Kong.
“In Clifton’s musical, I was a brash, nightclub singer who sang Carmen,” she said, adding that her performance in the musical “brought the house down night after night”.
In Christmas 2002, Carpio held six concerts with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra. Titled Diva, the performances brought the classical and pop worlds together in an English music extravaganza which also featured three of her Cantonese songs.
The concerts’ subsequent CD and DVD became Hong Kong’s 2003 bestseller. Two years later, Carpio performed for two nights at the 12,000-seat Hong Kong Coliseum which she had opened in 1985.
She returned to the venue last year for a four-night concert with Lam, and they performed Always In My Heart, a hit song which earned them the Best Collaboration with Vocals at the 30th Golden Sail Music Awards that year.
Early this year, Carpio won the Golden Needle Award for lifetime achievement in music at the Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) 30th Top 10 Chinese Music Awards.
“It came as a ‘pleasant shock’ for me,” she said, adding that she dedicated the award to all her collaborators, fans and family members for their undying love and support.
While Carpio feels the Hong Kong music scene is “not what it used to be”, she does not believe in reminiscing about “good old days”.
“In every decade, Hong Kong has had its fair share of iconic singers. There are many talented performers in Hong Kong, but in many instances, they do not reach their full potential,” she said.
“Music piracy is a major menace to many of our artistes, and that’s really sad.”
Carpio will perform at the Standard Chartered Gala Dinner in Shangri-La Hotel, Jalan Sultan Ismail, Kuala Lumpur, at 7pm on Dec 12.
Themed One Night, Two Divas, Carpio will sing 15 of her all-time favourites to a 900-strong crowd comprising the bank’s customers and business partners.
A spokesperson from the bank confirmed that the response was overwhelming and they are expecting a full turnout.
Evergreen diva Anita Sarawak will also perform at the event.
“I’ve been to Kuala Lumpur several times and performed twice with fellow Hong Kong singers in Genting Highlands in the last four years. KL is a wonderful city with great food, music and energy and I’m looking forward to my trip,” Carpio said.
New Straits Times
Oh, Kathy!
Khadijah was in her element at the Dewan Filharmonik Petronas, Kuala Lumpur.
Khadijah Ibrahim’s The Pearl Anniversary Concert at Dewan Filharmonik Petronas had the audience mesmerised.
SHUIB TAIB was one of them.
THIRTY years of a glittering showbiz career sallied forth in a remarkable show by Khadijah Ibrahim billed “The Pearl Anniversary Concert” at Dewan Filharmonik Petronas, Kuala Lumpur.
Khadijah took her audience back to the days when her hits like Ku Sangka Siang Kiranya Malam, Ku Pendam Sebuah Duka, Tangisan Hati Yang Derita and Janji Mu dominated the airwaves.
She began the show by singing a line from Leaving on a Jetplane, the first song she sang in public. Kathy, as she was known when she started her career, also entertained the audience with anecdotes.
“To finally make it here is just great. It’s tough competing with all the new stars like Mawi, er, who is he?, she joked. When I first started touring, I went to places like Jengka, Machang, Tasik Cini… not Los Angeles, mind you!
“With my looks, height, a name like Kathy and the fact that I could speak a little English, kampung folk thought I was a mat salleh. So it was all right for me to sing in English. They found it surprising though that I could sing in Malay as well.”
Back in 1979, this writer attended a RM5 concert on a school football field in Kampung Manjoi, Ipoh.
Artistes included Khadijah’s brother Latiff and comedians A.R Badul and the late Yusni Jaafar but Khadijah was the main draw with a 40-minute slot.
Those days, anyone worth her salt would be compared to the dynamic Anita Sarawak who was already well-known in the Asian region. The local Press was predicting Kathy to be the next Anita.
Thankfully, there was no need for comparisons. Khadijah proved that she could hold her own.
And her Pearl concert was added proof. With her powerful and at times husky vocals, Khadijah had the audience in the packed hall mesmerised.
“Before I recorded my first English album, I was required to prove that I could sing in English. I was asked to sing a song of Donna Summer’s (the queen of disco at the time),” said Khadijah before giving a soulful rendition of Summer’s version of MacArthur’s Park, another song she used to sing.
Khadijah recalled how her father did not get to see the day when she released her first album in 1978.
“Mum would follow me around then but after six months, I lost her too. Ladies and gentlemen, I dedicate this next song to my mother,” she said before belting out Mama Oh Mama.
Khadijah’s following medley of numbers reflected her career journey, with the audience cheering her on: Oh Kekasih Ku (a Malay version of Wishing on a Star), Ku Gembira Di Samping Mu, Potret Kasih, Kau Timbul Kembali, Sabar Menanti and English numbers like Memories (which she dedicated to her ex-husband, Mohd Rashid Fahmi Bastaloo), Everyday Girl as well as a cover version of Autumn Leaves.
In between her three costume changes, Khadijah introduced her guests, Datuk Ahmad Nawab and Ramli Sarip.
Ahmad was the man who was instrumental in Khadijah’s success, her mentor of sorts, having penned more than 2,000 songs and so many of her hits. The 75-year-old saxman hit the right notes with the audience when he played Spanish number Besame Mucho and his self-composed winner, Kali Terakhir Ku Lihat Wajah Mu.
Khadijah and Ramli did a beautiful duet with Doa Buat Kekasih, one of their evergreen hits. It also turned out to be the favourite number of Raja Permaisuri Agong, Tuanku Nur Zahirah, who was also present.
Others in the audience included singers Syafinaz Selamat, Halil Chik, politician Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil and several corporate figures.
She ended her show with Peristiwa Di Bulan November, and from her performance that day, November 2008 will be hard to forget.
If you haven’t caught any of her shows, you should not miss any of her performances. For here is one entertainer who can lift up your spirit as high as her immitable vocals can soar!
New Straits Times
Tidak Ada Orang Ketiga
Oleh Rudy Imran Shamsudin
imran@hmetro.com.my
Rap
SELEPAS penyanyi popular Ning Baizura (Ning) Hamzah, 33, mengumumkan membubarkan syarikat pengurusannya Ning & Associate Sdn Bhd (NASB) kelmarin, ramai bertanya bagaimana dengan nasib dua lagi artis bernaung di bawah anak syarikat ditubuhkan, Artistes United Records Sdn Bhd (AURSB) iaitu Nubhan dan Nikki.
Dalam hal yang mengejutkan ramai peminat ini, kelebihan dilihat berpihak kepada Nubhan kerana pemenang tempat ketiga Akademi Fantasia musim keenam (AF6) ini mempunyai kontrak pengurusan bersama Maestro Talent And Management.
Namun bagaimana dengan Nikki yang bakal muncul dengan album terbaru, mungkinkah kerjaya seni penyanyi dari Kota Kinabalu, Sabah ini akan berkubur begitu saja?
Menjelaskan perkara ini di majlis pengumuman pembubaran NASB, Ning berkata dia melepaskan segala ekuiti dan saham perkongsian dimiliki dalam anak syarikat ditubuhkan itu kepada rakan kongsi niaga.
“Ini bermakna dua lagi rakan kongsi iaitu bekas pengurus saya, Vernon Kedit dan Michael Ang mempunyai hak sepenuhnya terhadap AURSB membabitkan produksi rakaman dan pengurusan artis
“Sebaik membuat keputusan untuk menutup syarikat pengurusan NASB, perkara itu sudah dibincangkan lebih awal dengan Vernon dan Michael dan kami sudah mencapai kata putus.
“Sehari sebelum pengumuman dibuat, saya turut menghubungi Nikki dan Nubhan untuk menjelaskan kedudukan sebenar membabitkan keputusan yang saya ambil. Mereka nampaknya faham terutama Nikki,” katanya.
Ning bagaimanapun meluahkan keyakinannya Vernon mampu menguruskan kerjaya anak didiknya itu seperti apa yang pernah dilakukan terhadap dirinya.
“Saya sendiri banyak belajar daripada Vernon dan sepanjang tempoh 10 tahun bersama dan lapan tahun NASB ditubuhkan, banyak kejayaan yang kami raih bersama termasuklah apabila album Selagi Ada mencapai kejayaan besar di majlis Anugerah Industri Muzik (AIM) 2003.
“Waktu sama, kredibiliti Vernon sudah diketahui umum. Saya cuba mengetengahkan kemampuannya dengan mengajaknya sama-sama membabitkan diri dalam rancangan Mentor dan dia turut menjadi pengkritik dalam Geng Starz musim pertama.
“Saya sangat yakin tanpa saya, Vernon mampu membawa dua artis muda ini pergi jauh dan mencapai kejayaan seperti apa yang pernah kami lakukan sebelum ini,” katanya.
Pelbagai cerita kurang senang turut tersebar apabila Ning mengambil keputusan menutup NASB dan mahu menguruskan sendiri kerjaya seninya. Paling hangat diperkatakan apabila ada pihak menghasut agar keputusan pembubaran syarikat pengurusannya dibuat.
Apabila didesak agar mendedahkan punca sebenar mengapa dia mahu membubarkan NASB, Ning sebaliknya dengan tenang berkata, biarlah ia menjadi rahsia antara dirinya dan Vernon.
“Ingin saya tegaskan di sini, tiada pihak ketiga terbabit dalam keputusan dibuat. Ini adalah kehendak saya sendiri. Apabila sudah berkahwin, pelbagai perkara bermain di fikiran termasuklah keinginan untuk menguruskan kerjaya sendiri dan bergelar usahawanita.
“Wakil media yang rapat dengan saya tahu betapa suami (Omar Sharif Christophor Layton Delton) tidak gemar mengambil tahu mengenai kerjaya seni saya secara langsung ataupun tidak langsung.
“Bagaimanapun, sebelum saya membuat keputusan ini bermula 9 Oktober lalu dia ada bertanya adakah benar saya mahu menguruskan sendiri kerjaya seni saya. Katanya, dia akan menyokong apa saja keputusan diambil dan mendoakan segalanya berjalan seperti apa yang saya rancang,” katanya.
Begitupun, timbul persoalan dengan statusnya sebagai isteri bagaimana Ning dapat memberi tumpuan untuk menguruskan kerjaya sendiri. Bukankah mempunyai pengurus seperti Vernon membolehkan segala kerja berjalan lancar.
Paling penting sebagai penghibur apabila mempunyai pengurus, dia tidak perlu memeningkan kepala untuk memikirkan hal lain sebaliknya hanya memberikan tumpuan kepada soal persembahan yang mahu dilakukan.
“Inilah cabaran yang saya cari. Kalau Anita Sarawak boleh buat mengapa tidak saya? Sebelum ini saya banyak membaca biografi penghibur terkenal dunia antaranya Madonna. Dia bagus dalam menentukan hala tuju kerjaya seninya. Itulah yang mahu saya lakukan sekarang,” katanya.
Sidang akhbar berlangsung dalam suasana cukup tenang dan tidak ada sedikitpun situasi menunjukkan Ning dan Vernon pernah berselisih faham. Waktu sama kata Ning, walaupun mereka sudah menutup NASB, tetapi kerjasama antara dia dan bekas pengurusnya itu akan berterusan.
“Industri hiburan tempatan sangat kecil. Mengapa kami harus bermusuhan. Malah siapa tahu sekiranya usaha yang saya ambil ini tidak menunjukkan kemajuan, saya boleh kembali menyertai syarikat AURSB,” katanya.
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