August 3, 2012
Merdeka 2012 Theme Song is a Work in Progress, says its Composer
by BERNAMA (08-02-12)
The “Promises Kept” song is still at the processing stage and has yet to be finalized for the 55th Merdeka Day celebrations on August 31, said its composer Jasnie Mohd Yaakub.
He said it was his original work with two other composers, Arman E Six and Aye. Thus, he denied the similarity of the song with a spiritual song from Indonesia.
“This song is not finalised yet. We work on the song stage by stage until the final stage. If we are approved for the final stage, then, we will finalise it.The inspiration of the song came all of a sudden, (we) did not follow any songs,” he told a media conference which was also attended by Arman and Aye at Erama records headquarters here, today.
Jasnie, who is also the producer and music director at Erama Records, explained that he only became aware of the existence of the song that was claimed by certain parties to be almost the same with “Promises Kept” yesterday and heard its melody today.
However, he did not deny that there were some similarities in terms of chords and rhythm but not the melody.
“In any part of the world, there are songs using pop rhythm, rock, doremi and many others. Any composer who tries to evaluate the melody of ‘Promises Kept’ will find it is certainly not the same (with the other song),” he explained.
The controversy on the similarity was raised by a blogger several days ago, besides it (Promises Kept) being uploaded on YouTube.
Jasnie pointed out that it was not they who uploaded “Promises Kept” on YouTube as it was not finalised yet.
On the early composition of the song, he explained that they took two days to produce the melody based on the lyrics given.
“At first, the song was composed in ‘hip hop’. We have not produced the song, only it had been heard during the launch of ‘Raise The Flag’ campaign recently,” he said.
Until today, he said the arrangement of “Promises Kept” had been changed four times.Asked whether this issue could affect the music composition process and the possibility of changing the song, Jasnie said: “Certainly, not.”
“I will not change it. I stick with my stand. If I change the song, people would say, ‘So, it is true he copied the song, now he changes it’. But it depends, if there is a request from any party,” he said.
He said he hoped that the explanation could answer all the questions raised and asked that the song not be compared with other songs.
Jasnie is a professional song composer and has been involved in composing songs for local artistes like Noraniza Idris, Hazama and Mila and has won a few music awards at national level.
The Composer has spoken. Now we wait for the Mode Change Minister to explain. –Din Merican
Confusing, “The “Promises Kept” song is still at the processing stage and has yet to be finalized for the 55th Merdeka Day celebrations on August 31, said its composer Jasnie Mohd Yaakub.”
but
Rais had already said this will be the Merdeka theme song.
How to use a song when its still in process and yet to be finalized?
My guess is the composer and artists were asked to come out with this press statement after the roar against it.
The song is still work in progress but still were played at the launch of the “Raise the Flag” campaign? You mean they played a half-baked song at the launch of a campaign???
“Until today, he said the arrangement of “Promises Kept” had been changed four times.Asked whether this issue could affect the music composition process and the possibility of changing the song, Jasnie said: “Certainly, not.”
“I will not change it. I stick with my stand. If I change the song, people would say, ‘So, it is true he copied the song, now he changes it’. But it depends, if there is a request from any party,” he said.”
So basically it’s a finalized work then since he’s not making any changes to it? He’s learning well from flip-flop rais.
this should be a song involving ALL malaysians, not just the ruling party or a certain section of the population, so why not an open ‘tender’ and let the ‘pop’ulation choose the best ? wake up Herr Minister from your beauty sleep,
even in these minor affairs you are not ready to show a little bit of generosity.
how can you call this a functioning democratic system?
does this not clearly demonstrate the inabilities of the politicians holding office in solving simple tasks, are they not predominantly stupid and can’t even be trusted to walk the dog. isn’t the time right for the intelligent rakyat to take over?
stupidity seem to prevail in malaysian politics nowadays where politicians advise ladies not to carry handbags because of snatch thieves but make no attempt to catch these vermins. for what do we have the police, to protect the politicians only?!
As I said before, in Malaysia nobody gives a damn about plagiarizing other people’s work. A lot of Malaysian students don’t know or don’t care about stealing other people’s work. They think copying articles in Wikipedia constitutes to “researching”. I’ll just give them Fs for their course but surprisingly they still continue on doing the same thing for other courses.
I’ve learnt music too and I am aware that songs from certain era would have similar melodies but this is too similar that it’s hard to not accuse them of plagiarizing the gospel song. Silly response from the composer but he shocked me more when he said the song was originally composed as a hip-hop song. The hip-hop part at the end was horrible enough so I can’t imagine the whole song being a hip-hop song. Who in the right state of mind would even consider hip-hop as the national day theme song????!
Which is your preferred Merdeka theme?
‘Janji Ditepati’ (Promises fulfilled)
3%
‘Sebangsa, Senegara, Sejiwa’ (One nation, one country, one soul)
97%
Total votes: 880
View the Malay Mail poll here http://www.mmail.com.my/
I think the 3% is Rais, Najib and Rosmah.
“..The inspiration of the song came all of a sudden, (we) did not follow any songs,” he told a media conference …..
Did the inspiration come from Jesus?
“Janji diTepati, Halleluia, Thank You UMNO-BN, Praise the Lord Hossana Most High. Now Let Us Pray, Our Father Who Art in Heaven….”
The inspiration of the song came all of a sudden, (we) did not follow any songs,” he told a media conference …..Did the inspiration come from Jesus?- Sam01
The composers of the melody were at one of Jakim’s retreats to seek what is called “ilham” to come out with a melody for Merdeka. Suddenly, a bright light flashes in the middle of the night where the composers had gathered. And there Jesus gave them the notes for the song.
Unfortunately, Rais Yatim was not at Jakim’s retreat. So he organised a stag party for a group of Pro-UMNO bloggers and supporters at a hotel in Port Dickson to come out with the lyrics.
And the rest is history.
If you want to know more, ask those composers and Rais Yatim.
does this not clearly demonstrate the inabilities of the politicians holding office in solving simple tasks, are they not predominantly stupid and can’t even be trusted to walk the dog.- reeperbahn
Are you referring to politicians in Greece and Italy? Or is it Spain.
It is haram for UMNO politicians to walk the dog, by the way.
The song is still work in progress…
That is true because the composers work in JKR (Jabatan Kerja Raya). It has always been a corporate culture and tradition of JKR. All roads in the Klang Valley is always work in progress. Even if the road is completed ,it is still work in progress. Itulah cara cari makan.
The hip-hop part at the end was horrible enough- didi
I think it was recommended by Rosmah. She loves hip hop. Helps in reducing her weight during aerobic classes.
Sebangsa, Senegara, Sejiwa’ (One nation, one country, one soul)-
Bad idea. Take out the “soul” part, then it is ok. Soul is unreal and only exists between the ears.
It should be, Sebangsa, Senegara, Sehati. (One nation, one country, one heart).
Souls are only believed by insecured individuals. We need to present ourselves as a very secured nation.
Silly idea by Pakatan to put “soul” in.
My guess is the composer and artists were asked to come out with this press statement after the roar against it.- Richard Loh
Aaahh!! How clever of you to guess. I didn’t know that. None of the Malaysians ever guess that!!! Wow!!
“Bad idea. Take out the “soul” part, then it is ok. Soul is unreal and only exists between the ears.” Frank
“Soul” can mean more than that. It could also mean “one’s moral or emotional nature or sense of identity / emotional or intellectual energy or intensity”. (Oxford Dictionary)
Inevitably it can’t be more real a product of desperate square peg! He was trying to make-up a whore borrowing from sacred hymn and eureka!
Real artists, designer and musician alike, have long puked over such ngada-ngada stuff and dare not comment lest splattered by the 1M shit
.
Why don’t ask him put into ronggeng and get all un-bersih blokes hit The Dataran?
Half-past six budding minister-cum-seniman should long ago resign. Arts is for the the talented only- not inborn sycophant!