Maliq & d'Essentials

I have been saving this for a while and now I am sharing my #1 favorite Indonesian artist with you. Maliq & d'Essential is a jazz and soul musician/band from Jakarta, Indonesia. They combined both english and bahasa indonesian in most of their songs.

This band/group was introduced to me by a friend 6 years ago and their songs are the only song I listen in my car.  You ride with me, you ride along with Maliq and d'Essentials. I do not play other songs unless my other half said he wants to listen to another artist.

I collected most of their CDs during my trips to Bali and Bandung but still could not get hold of their first album, simply titled as '1st'. But thank you to You Tube,...yang jauh dapat di dekatkan...hahaha....I have so many favourites  but let me just share a few. For other videos you can search on You Tube la....

 Sampai Kapan (featuring Camelia) - Credit to You Tube and Indosan.

Itu Adanya - Credit to You Tube and 0345district

 Menikmati Cinta - Credit to You Tube and iliveibreath.

They do not have an official video for the above songs but I hope you'll enjoy them anyway.

The name MALIQ itself is an acronym from Music And Live Instrument Quality. They have performed in Penang, Malaysia during an International Jazz Festival and a RM98 ticket a piece for a free standing concert in Kuala Lumpur...Haih, free standing? Akak dah tak larat nak terkinja-kinja menari....at this age I am more of a lazy listener. Lepak kat pub ke kat bar...minum cocktail ke, coffee ke while listening to Maliq live.  Bila tu,...entah lah.

One thing I notice from each of Maliq's performance, they always put more twists and explore their music. The older the song, the better improvisation they do in their performance. That's a sign of a great band and great performer.

Happy listening....

A Night Like This - Caro Emerald

Yum, yum.....it's been while kan.....ada byk lagu nak update but I do not have enough time. Most times both kids uses my note book for their own personal reasons. So I started reading again and recently I complete 2 malay books by up coming author, Evelyn Rose.

This piece of song I discovered in her book, 13 jam A380.Simply love the book and the song. I have never heard of Caro Emerald before this book and her songs are mostly jazz. She is a Dutch and this song was the most played song in The Netherlands in 2010.

You can check out the official video on You Tube but I much prefer the live version. You will know when they are good or not. 

Credit to You Tube and SzigetOfficial

Checkout the bald guy on trumpet...cutenyeeee.....Cun la lagunya. It has that 40's, 50's feel. Bila dengar lagu ni then terbayan-bayang scene dalam buku tu. Kena je dengan jalan cerita. The lyrics fitted well with what Hana Sofea was experiencing at that time and place...

Enjoy!!

Ready or Not - After 7

This is among my all time favorites. All time favoraite in my dictionary means no matter what, you will never get bored listening to this song. This song is so smooth and silky. They don't do ballads like this anymore for sure!

Melvin Edmonds, Kevon Edmonds and Keith Mitchell form the group After 7. They had their share of success but later broke up. Kevon, your voice was simply awesome.

Merayu dan mendayu...the lyrics ohhhhhooo....... mabuk cinta la katakan...hanyut......Classic love song. Bring back memories. I wish I could go back in time. ANOTHER banger that puts a smile on my face everytime i hear this song....and when you say something like that..that's when you know you're getting old!!!

What I would not give for a man to say these words to me.....oops, did I said it out loud? hehehehehh....Below are the lyrics to this song.

I'll give you the sun, the rain, the moon, the stars and the mountains
I'll give you the world and all that you wish for
And even more, girl, I love you more than you could know
And that's for sure

I'd climb the highest hill, cross the widest sea
Nothin' could discourage me
And I pray that you'll be always there for me
Forevermore....

Ready or not
I'll give you everything and more
All that I've got, it's yours
I'll give you everything
All that you're looking for

I'll give you my heart, my soul, my time my love is a fountain
I will be your earth and all that you need for and even more
'Cause girl I love you more than words can show
My love is pure

I'll, I'll walk a thousand miles sail a thousand seas
Nothin' will discourage me
And I pray that you will be always there for me
Forevermore....

Ready or not
I'll give you everything and more
All that I've got
I'll give you everything
All that you're looking for

Everything is not anything
If you're not here to share my dreams
You don't know what it means to me
If you'll accept my love

I dedicate my love, my soul
My heart beats for you
Girl I can't get enough so I'll wait for your love
There's nothin that I'd rather do

Ready or not
I'll give you everything and more
All that I've got
I'll give you everything, all that you're looking for

Ready or not
I'll give you everything and more
All that I've got
I'll give you everything
All that you're looking for

 Ready or not
I'll give you everything and more

Dato' Shake - TU SAIS JE T'AIME

I am proud to introduce Dato' Shake, a Malaysian artist who started his international singing career in France. Ooo Yaa you can talk in French to me the whole night babe!!!

Check out the video clip. Gosh he is soooo gorgeous nya.....!

Credit to You Tube and Wanz1111

Flashing his beautiful white teeth and seducing smile melted me and made me smile along, shaking left to right and bouncing in bed. Make me wanna slap him on the face....hihihi..... Hmmmm...reminded me of Don Johnson during his Miami Vice years.!!!!hahahaha..

Sheikh Abdullah Ahmad Bahkbereh was born in 1950 known as Dato' Shake came from a family with musical background. He travelled to London in 1973 to expand his musical career, before settling down in Paris, France to try his luck of becoming an artist. He later secure a label and "Tu sais je t'aime" (You know I love you) was his first single release. Noted as the first Asian singer who sings in French.

STOP! Lets stop here....I want to only remember the young Dato Shake.

David Khujadze

I don't understand Georgian language but I like this song.

Credit to You Tube and Radio Ar Daidardo

Medley of two songs which I do not have the slightest idea of its title but David Khujadze or also known as Dato is a popular Goergian pop singer.

This was performed during the Voice of Georgia 2013.

Jamal Abdillah - Di Penghujung Rindu

Introducing a local favorite and a legend in his own right.

Who cannot forgave his drug addiction episodes? Who cannot forgave and forget his naked stunt at Jalan Parliament? I forgave him and whole of Malaysia forgave him repeatedly. He repent. We embraced him.

Jamal Abdillah who was discovered from a local musical talent program, Bintang RTM 1979. He came out as the champion when he performed Alleycats, Senandung Semalam.  He was confident throughout his performance and everyone knew he would win the moment he fell on his knee coming into the chorus of the song...than the rest is history.

I like Jamal and I have acknowledged his powerful voice which never failed him in every performances. I forget his past whenever I listen to him singing. He has an aura that is quite difficult to explain in simple English.....something like a tingling sensation that gives you the goosebumps....sort off.  Ha Ha Ha! Jamal is in his own class.

Penghujung Rindu has no impact what so ever on me. This my favourite among Jamal's songs. I just loved how the lyrics compliment the music. Kena sesangat. How every words came out so organized, one at the time. Memang betul2 feeling bila dengar lagu ni.

Credit You Tube and WarnerMusicMalaysia

Jamal plays the guitar but in 2006 at Istana Budaya he revealed his talent when he sang Seniman Manangis on the piano. Sadly to say, it was also at the highlight of his drug addictions.  He looks like a living skeleton, sweating profusely and as though he was going to slip from the piano stool. Out of tune on several occasion but nevertheless, he gave a commendable performance. An entertainer is never afraid to learn new things. Even the audience in the video clip tolerated the off key tune.

Credit You Tube and WarnerMusicMalaysia

However my respect to Jamal as he has maintain his popularity for almost 35 years. I salute you!

Andy Gibb - Shadow Dancing

Those who grew up in the 80's fell in love with this guy.  He was the good looking and sexiest of the GIBBS brothers! His trademark, he likes to bare his hairy chest.

Credit to You Tube and gibbtvofficial

Being the youngest of the Gibbs, he has always looked up to his brothers especially Barry, who natured Andy into becoming an artist in his own right. A high school dropout at the age of fifteen he decided to pursue his love for music.

Andy was independent financially. Some said he lived well because of his brothers. He was energetic, hardworking and of course talented. He put 110% in everything he did. Three singles from his first album went to #1 in Music Billboard. But much later he had doubts and felt insecure thinking that his brothers influence his success.  

Kadang-kadang kalau kita tak bersyukur dengan pemberian Allah, macam tu la jadinya. Andy sepatutnya berterima kasih to Barry who created the path for his success.  So what? He should be grateful that he had the Bee Gee to back him up. There is nothing wrong for Andy to accept the reality that the success of his three brothers contributed to his own celebrity status.

Married at 18 and successful at an early age brought toll to Andy's career when drugs became his silent partner.  I may not understand the level of stress these artist fell into, but sure hell must have been extreme at certain point in their lives. But when things crash and fall apart,....he crumbled.  Depression hits him. Picking up back pieces was tough but Andy gave his shots. His mental weakness was what killed him.

The most memorable song that I first relate to Andy Gibb was Shadow Dancing. It was from his second album. Other hits includes Love is thicker than water, I just want to be your everything, and An everlasting love.

It was reported that in the late 80s Andy was free of cocaine but his depression remained. Quoting Robin Gibb, " paranoia associated with cocaine abuse shattered Andy's confidence and he became scared of people.".

He died due to inflammation of the heart muscle caused by the long cocaine abuse on 10 Mar 1988.