Pretty Simply Normal: 26th Anugerah Juara Lagu

Sunday 12 February 2012

26th Anugerah Juara Lagu

Okay, so it may be basi (stale) already because it happened two weeks ago. You already know the outcome of this prestigious song competition, perhaps because you were there at the Stadium Putra, Bukit Jalil, or you watched it live on TV, or you read it in all the newspapers. Anyway this is my take on the 26th Anugerah Juara Lagu (AJL) because it was my first time watching it live, not on TV (done this umpteen times), but at the venue of the competition.

The water theme was well carried throughout - especially during the opening act when guest performer Jamal Abdillah* came out in a mist, sang interspersed with thunder and lightning, and then rain fell! Awie rocked in red and Sheila Majid was all fresh and pastoral. Anyway the whole show was also ... colourful. See the pictures below if you don't believe me.

Jamal Abdillah in mist, thunder, lightning & rain (CNB 2012)

Awie rocked in red (CNB 2012)

Sheila Majid, the jazz queen (CNB 2012)

The twelve songs competing were Wanita Seluruh Dunia/composer Boy Clifford/lyricist BC/singer Projek Pistol; Gadis Semasa/Yuna; Cinta Muka Buku/Najwa Latif; Kekanda Adinda/Monoloque/M/Atilia & Monoloque; Sungai Lui/Aizat & Anas/A & A/Aizat; Kalau Berpacaran/Shohaimi Mior Hassan & Ana Rafali & Altimet; Penakut/ Yuna; Sedetik Lebih/Edry A Halim/EAH/Jaclyn Victor; Awan Nano/M Nasir/Budi Hekayat/Hafiz; Kisah Hati/Manusia Putih/MP/Alyah; Beribu Sesalan/Kevin Chen/Tinta/3 Suara (Shila Amzah, Ning Baizura, Jaclyn Victor); and Karma (Audi Mok/FT/Faizal Tahir).

1. Wanita Seluruh Dunia (CNB 2012)

2. Sedetik Lebih (CNB 2012)

3. Kekanda Adinda (CNB 2012)

4. Penakut (CNB 2012)

5. Kalau Berpacaran, with the devil on motorbike (CNB 2012)

6. Cinta Muka Buku (CNB 2012)

7. Karma and a burning piano (CNB 2012)

8. Kisah Hati (CNB 2012)

9. Sungai Lui; no Aizat because the onscreen sand art
distracted me (CNB 2012)

10. Gadis Semasa (CNB 2012)

11. Awan Nano (CNB 2012)

12. Beribu Sesalan (CNB 2012)

On the whole, performances were not only brilliant and creative, but also dramatic (Faizal Tahir and his burning piano), and heartfelt (Hafiz). Indeed I (& so many others?) guessed that the ballad Awan Nano would be the best song, and of course it was! So melancholic, so melodious, so lyrical, so beautiful... ok, enough already, I think you get it. By the way, nano in (Johor) Malay means berselerak/tidak tentu arah/pelindung.