Archive for the ‘Singapore’ Category
50 Local And International Nominees To Be Honoured At MTV Asia Awards
The MTV Asia Awards 2008 is back and it is bigger, better and bolder.
Counting down to the Awards show in Genting on 2 August, MTV has unveiled more than 50 local and international nominees that will be honoured at Asia’s biggest pan-regional music event.
Drawing towards the big day at the Arena of Stars in Genting, MTV viewers in the region will be able to shout out to the world their preferred choice in music simply by casting votes for their favorite artists from 14 June to 25 July.
The awards will see a total of 16 categories, ten of which will be determined by MTV viewers’ votes for the Favourite Artist category.
Nominees for the Favourite Artist categories consist of the movers and shakers who shape the local music industry as well as the most popular international artists in Asia.
The other six awards are honorary awards - The Video Star Award, Breakthrough Artist, The Innovation Award, Best Hook-Up, Bring Da House Down and edc Style Award.
These awards will be presented by MTV Asia in recognition of key industry figures and trendsetters, be it in terms of fashion, music, video or live performances to the way the artists market themselves.
At this year’s awards, the regional categories - Singapore, Malaysia, Mainland China, Hong Kong, Korea, Thailand, Taiwan, Indonesia, Philippines - look to be heavily contested as Asia’s hot favorites Stefanie Sun (Singapore) and Dato’ Siti Nurhaliza (Malaysia) have been nominated once again.
But other nominees will be looking to give them a good run for their money as Singapore’s Rock ‘n’ Roll indie band Electrico, Malaysia’s mando-pop prince Nicolas Teo, and Hong Kong’s Heavenly King Andy Lau, amongst others, all vie for the prestigious award in their respective categories.
On the international front, it is anyone’s guess who this year’s Favourite Artist will be. Nominees include punk pop princess Avril Lavigne, the ever glamorous Fergie, rock band Linkin Park and prince of pop, Justin Timberlake.
Another thing to look out for at the MTV Asia Awards this year is the new design of the trophy, which transcends the conventional template of other award trophies. The design of the trophy this year embodies the “breaking rule” philosophy of MTV and winners will be presented with a gold bar in the shape of an ‘M’.
The trophy is plated in 24K gold by Risis, MTV’s official partner for the trophy. Each trophy comes in a customised velvet case and envelope.
“M is back and what more to make a statement than with a gold bar in a Casino resort, Genting - The City of Entertainment? It is extravagant, lavish and over-the-top, the ultimate Blink! Other than putting the M back into music, we’re also bringing the Mojo back into the most authoritative International Music Awards Show in Asia,” said Silvia Goh, Vice President, Multiplatform Content.
MTV is also looking to increase interactivity amongst the audiences at this year’s awards show. Apart from being able to vote for your favourite artist and international artist online or over mobile, a new exciting contest called “So You Wanna Be A Presenter” is also in store.
Viewers can send in a video of how they think their local nominees should be presented at the MTV Asia Awards 2008 to
Channel News Asia
LOUD CHEERS
Big support for S’pore singers at music awards in KL
LOUD CHEERS
…but not for the biggest winners
By Sheela Narayanan in Kuala Lumpur
MALAYSIAN artistes may have swept most of the big trophies.
Hady Mirza (far left) and Taufik Batisah, who learnt a backflip in two weeks just for the awards show. Datuk Siti Nurhaliza in a Michael Ong gown and matching headscarf. Pictures: BERITA HARIAN
But Singapore acts got most of the cheers from a largely-Singaporean audience at the Anugerah Planet Muzik (APM) awards in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday night.
The show, hosted by former MTV veejay Sarah Sechan, is the annual Malay music awards organised by Singapore radio stations Ria and Warna, and was being held there forthe second time.
Many in the 3,500-strong audience had bought a travel package with MediaCorp’s official tour agency, Azizi Tour and Travels, to attend the show at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.
Singapore Idol Taufik Batisah got cheers for his slick song-and-dance performance of his track Sesuatu Janji (A Certain Promise).
And just to raise the ante this year, the 27-year-old threw in a back flip.
The flip, he proudly told The New Paper backstage, took just two weeks to learn.
‘Every year I want to come up with something new for my APM performance. Usually it takes about six months to learn to do the back flip.
‘I managed to do it in two weeks,’ he said.
His antics won over the crowd.
Taufik took home three awards - Most Popular Singapore Act, Most Popular Singapore Song and Best Singapore Artiste.
He shared the Most Popular Singapore Act award with Asian Idol Hady Mirza and hip-hop duo Sleeq.
Singapore rock band Cradle scored two awards, Best Singapore Album, for Ceritera Awan (Poetry Of The Clouds) and Best Singapore Song for Ayu.
Other Singaporean performances for the night were by Hady and Aliff Aziz.
Said Singaporean fan Sarinah Abbas, 41, an administrative assistant, who paid $185 for a two-day, one-night package trip: ‘I really had a good time. I thought the performers were very good, especially Hady and Taufik.
‘They made us proud.’
The show marked the comeback performance for Malaysian singer Faizal Tahir.
The 30-year-old had been slapped with a three-month performance ban by the Malaysian Ministry of Culture, Arts and Heritage for taking off his shirt during a live show in January.
In a controversial stage stunt, he had stripped off his jacket, T-shirt and belt onstage during an anniversary concert for Malaysian television station 8TV.
The ban ended last week.
STICKING TO BALLADS
And at APM, he seemed to be very careful not to go over the top, sticking to safe ballads - one solo and a duet with Indonesian singer Bunga Citra Lestari. He also bagged two trophies - Best New Male Artiste and Most Popular Male Artiste, beating popular Malaysian singers Mawi and Anuar Zain for the latter category.
During his thank you speech, Faizal, who wore a transparent black shirt with a matching black singlet, thanked his family, management and fans for keeping ‘the faith’ with him during the last few months.
He even tugged at his shirt in an attempt to poke fun at his stunt. The audience caught on and roared with laughter.
Faizal told The New Paper backstage that winning the two awards meant a lot to him.
Especially since it came so soon after his ban ended.
‘I was spaced out when my name came out on the screen. This is a very big deal for me,’ he said.
It was not surprising that Malaysia’s pop darling Datuk Siti Nurhaliza, donning an aquamarine Michael Ong gown with a matching headscarf and coloured contact lenses, won Most Popular Female Artiste.
Her husband Datuk Khalid Mohd Jiwa, a regular companion during her recent public appearances, was noticeably absent.
Fellow diva and close friend, Indonesian singer Kris Dayanti, won Best Female Artiste.
Anuar Zain picked up the Best Male Artiste award and his performance had 10 models in various gowns parading around him.
Later, backstage, the giggly girls took turns taking photos with the 37-year-old singer, dubbed one of Malaysia’s most eligible bachelors.
With a big grin on his face, Anuar was overheard saying: ‘I am a very lucky man.’
Suria will telecast the APM show at 9pm on Saturday.
Some of the winners
Most Popular S’pore Act
Aliff Aziz
Didicazli
Taufik Batisah
Most Popular S’pore Song
Berserah (Taufik Batisah)
Masanya (Sleeq)
Sayang-Sayang (Aliff Aziz)
Best New Female Artiste
Farah Asyikin
Best New Male Artiste
Faizal Tahir
Best Singapore Song
Ayu (Cradle)
Most Popular Song
Itu Kamu (Estranged)
Most Popular Group
Estranged
Most Popular Male Artiste
Faizal Tahir
Most Popular Female Artiste
Siti Nurhaliza
Best Male Artiste
Anuar Zain
Best Female Artiste
Kris Dayanti
Best Singapore Album
Ceritera Awan (Cradle)
Best Song
Nakal (Gigi)
Best Album
Peace, Love, Respect (Gigi)
Singapore Idols Score Trophies At Anugerah Planet Musik Awards
Taufik Batisah and Hady Mirza continued their reign as two of the country’s biggest stars.
Both Singapore Idol winners scored trophies for the Most Popular Act in Singapore category at the Anugerah Planet Muzik (APM) awards in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday.
Organised by MediaCorp radio stations Ria 89.7FM and Warna 94.2FM, the awards ceremony - now in its eighth year - saw some of the biggest stars in the Malay music scene from Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore battle it out at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.
Though none of the Singaporean acts won regional awards, they were grateful to showcase their talent at the show, which was expected to draw some 160 million television viewers across the region.
Said Taufik: “APM allows us to show that despite being a small market, Singapore has got a lot of talent.”
The 26-year-old winner of the inaugural Singapore Idol in 2004 scored eight nominations the most this year including regional categories such as Most Popular Song, Best Male Artiste and Most Popular Male Artiste.
He ended the night with three awards: Most Popular Act in Singapore, Most Popular Song (Singapore), and Best Act (Singapore). The award for Most Popular Act in Singapore was also shared with his Idol successor Hady and hip-hop act Sleeq.
Local band Cradle’s track Ayu won the Best Song (Singapore) award. The top regional awards were won by Malaysians Siti Nurhaliza (Most Popular Female Artiste), Faizal Tahir (Most Popular Male Artiste), Anuar Zain (Best Male Artiste) and Indonesia’s Kris Dayanti (Best Female Artiste).
A delayed telecast of the show will be broadcast on MediaCorp TV’s Suria channel this Saturday at 9pm. -
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