AF8 Coincidence or pre-imposed?

CONTROVERSIES and complaints. That appears to define what AF8 has been about. And it rages on even after the show, with a dozen new singles roll­ing out almost simultaneously.

The grapevine of the local music community has been abuzz with talks of how so many new songs will be pushed on-air and whether Astro subsidiary Era FM will be hard-selling the singles.

Astro Entertainment Sdn Bhd (AESB) executive director Zainir Aminullah shrugged off the gossip and insists the promotion for the new songs from the AF camp will not be sandwiched into a three-month period.
dira

DIRA: Performed 'Ku Ada Kamu' (Edry KRU) and 'Tiru Macam Saya' (Sheila Majid)
"It will be stretched longer than the post-AF period. So in the case of this compilation to be released, we might continue way after that.

"As for Era, we cannot influence the station, so songs have to stand on their own, but like I said before, the new songs of the finalists are very radio-friendly."

During the Press conference, the issue of why Edry KRU remains the sole composer chosen, with five new tunes - and again it was repeated that they were the best of 30 compo­sitions received.

Still when criticism was levied at the five new singles for the final performance - all penned by Edry of KRU, and principal Norman Ab­dul Halim's younger brother, Zainir merely shrugged off suggestions of 'familiarity' with the tunes.

Kebahagiaan Dalam Perpisahan (performed by Shahir), Ku Ada Kamu (Adira), Kenapa? (Daus), RSVP (Maula­na) and VIP (Iwan) bore some resem­blance to many songs heard before.

Among songs suggested by some fans as being similar to the final five included Jangan Ada Benci (Casey), Lemon Tree (Fool's Garden), Hey Gadis (Samsons), Naturally (Selena), and If We Hold On Together (Diana Ross).

"Whether the songs resemble any other tunes, it is subjective," said Zainir firmly. "A lot of people would argue that a lot of songs these days sound like The Beatles anyway."

Ahmad Shahir Zawawi or Shahir was crowned the champion in a lack­luster finale at the Stadium Putra, Bukit Jalil on Saturday night. The 22-year-old drove off with a Peugeot 207, a trip to Hong Kong Disneyland, a year's supply of Brand's Innershine, two flight tickets to New York, an Arezeo Hoffman karaoke set, two watches from Hugo Boss, a Cow­ay air purifier, a three-day two-night stay at D-CEO Village at D'Paradise Resort in Malacca, an LG Prada mo­bile phone and a trophy

Shahir put up a decent showing of his performance of Kebahagiaan Da­lam Perpisahan (Edry KRU) and Biru Mata Hitamku (originally performed by Wings). The roar of approval from the crowd made him a clear-cut favourite from the start - with others lacking any real shine almost ensuring him the default winner.

Adira came in sec­ond to get a Satria Neo 1.6 CPS from Proton, a holiday trip voucher, an Arezzo Hoffman karaoke set, two watches from Hugo Boss, a Coway Air Puri­fier, a three-day two-night star at D-CEO Village at D'Paradise Resort, Malacca, an LG Pra­da mobile phone and a trophy.

The sole female finalist Dira, per­formed Ku Ada Kamu (Edry KRU) and Tiru Macam Saya (Sheila Majid).

Third-placed Daus took home an Arezzo Hoffman karaoke set, a holiday trip voucher, two watches by Hugo Boss, a Coway Air Purifier, a three-day two-night stay at D-CEO Village at D'Paradise Resort, Malacca, an LG Electronics mobile and a trophy, after per­forming Kenapa? (Edry KRU) and Doktor Pakar Cinta (Yusry).

Fourth and fifth-placed Maul­ana and Iwan received Kipling luggage and a trophy each for performing RSVP (Edry KRU) and Susun Silang Kata (Aizat) as well as VIP (Edry KRU) and Relaku Pujuk (Spider) respectively.