(Lady Gaga - Photo from her Myspace page | Jiaja - Photo by Frog's Eye)
As a young woman in her early twenties born and bred in Sabah, I am rather ashamed to admit that my knowledge of the local music scene is close to non-existent. Sure, I occasionally hear about local bands (the likes of Jiaja and Estranged), but the keyword there is hear about. I am (again), ashamed to admit that I have not actually listened to their tunes and music.
After reading almost all of Bandwidth editions at my intern desk at the Bandwidth office, I begin to realize the extent of my ignorance. The fact of the matter is, musical talents in Sabah are abundant. I should have realized that earlier as I sat through the numerous karaoke sessions in kampung during Kaamatan. The pak cik – pak cik (even though drunk in the spirit of Aramaitii) bring forth the melodies of the songs effortlessly and flawlessly, beer in one hand and microphone in the other. It is a feat I would love to learn as alcohol does not make me sing beautifully. It seems to have the opposite effect.
I digress.
What I am trying to say is this. We idolize the likes of Lady Gaga and Kanye West. We pay hundreds of dollars on tickets to watch NeYo sing onstage, and we cry in protest when Beyonce is a no-show. But we don’t pay the same respects toward our own homegrown musical talents. They are just as good entertainers and maybe even better. Yet, we don’t give them the time of the day. Even our house bands at local clubs are mostly imported from the Philippines. Granted, they are gifted entertainers, but would we be as willing to go to a local pub or club if a local unheard-of band plays there? It’s a food for thought.
It is true what they say, ‘the grass is always greener on the other side’. It is evident when we pay so much more attention Che’Nelle, the Sabahan born lass but has lived most of her life overseas and less attention to the likes of Jo – Anna Sue Henley Rampas, born and bred in Sabah.
Maybe it is time we delve into the local music scene and give it the credit it deserves. Local music magazines like Bandwidth can only do so much as to expose you to the local music scene, but at the end of the day it is up to us to support our local gigs.
Sabah boleh bah!
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