Activism in Malaysian Music

Is there something tangible in Malaysian music? Perhaps not until now. While I was growing up there has been one too many doses of patriotic songs courtesy of RTM. But it is all just about loving your country, be merry that it is peaceful and be great full of whatever the government has done. There has been one or two done specifically by artistes on their own initiative. There were those like the late Sudirman and Papa Rock Ramli Sarip and until very recently Pete Teoh.

Otherwise the majority of the Malaysian Music scene has pretty much been dominated by either love songs and urmmm…. love songs. But I guess you can’t blame them because it does sell perfectly all the time. Alright, but before you judge me as shallow just turn on your local favourite radio station. Thats right….you’ll hear love songs. A million different types of love songs scenarios to be modest.

I am somewhat proud to say that the non-mainstream or indie acts do have some sense in them to raise issues pertaining to current affairs of our society’s predicaments. So as of late if you are indeed starting to puke over the song by Pete Teo and his merry band of Malaysian Artist try to look out for the activism minus the publicity by others.

If many say that Here In My Home is the first song of it’s kind ever I seriously beg to differ. From Hip-Hop alone there are two groups currently which have songs that tries to highlight social issues. One is by The Rebel Scum titled “Manusia” and previously released before that to celebrate 50 years of Merdeka is KLG Sqwad’s “Freedom”. I don’t think we need to even start with the indie rock scene they have plenty…. but one that is currently hot is Butterfingers latest single “1000 Tahun (Mahu Hidup)”.

I may have missed a few more and in which case please leave your pointers to other songs done by local acts of late that might have slipped my buttery fingers in my comments section. It would certainly do all of us a tiny favour.

Is it DOPE?:
2.5

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