April 24, 2009 09:16 AM ET
Mitchell Peters, L.A.
Propelled by the runaway success of his hit single "Te Quiero," Felix Danilo Gómez, the Panamenian DJ and singer better known as Flex, was the big winner at the 2009 Billboard Latin Music awards presented by State Farm Insurance on April 23. Flex took home eight awards, including hot Latin song of the year, Latin ringmaster of the year and hot Latin song of the year, male.
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| Felix Danilo Gómez, the Panamenian DJ and singer better known as Flex, won eight Billboard Latin Music Awards. |
Flex's multiple wins as a newcomer were all the more remarkable in a sea of established acts. He was followed in number of wins by Enrique Iglesias, who won in six categories, including hot Latin songs artist of the year and Latin album of the year for "95/08," a greatest hits compilation that included two new tracks.
Urban bachata stars Aventura took home four awards, including top Latin album of the year, duo or group, as did Mexican rockers Maná, whose wins included hot Latin song of the year, duo or group, for their remake of the Marco Antonio Solis hit "Si No Te Hubieras Ido." Jenni Rivera, Vicente Fernández, Gloria Trevi and Ivy Queen all won two awards each, with Fernández winning top Latin albums artist of the year.
Flex's success as a newcomer evoked memories of a former new group, Son By Four, who in 2001 won seven Billboard Latin awards, thanks to their hit "A Puro Dolor." This time around, Flex's song won in tropical and Latin rhythmic categories and also swept in the newly launched new artist categories, where he won in the hot Latin song of the year and top Latin album of the year.
Flex's "romantic reggaetón" style, a mellower, more pop-leaning variation on reggaetón's dembow beat, also allowed him to lead the charge in the Latin Rhythm categories, where his album "Te Quiero" won Latin rhythm album of the year, solo. Reggaetón hitmakers Wisin & Yandel won in the Latin rhythm album of the year, duo or group for "Los Extraterrestres."
The 2009 edition of the Latin Music Awards took place at the BankUnited Center in Miami and aired live on the Telemundo network. The show featured performances by Wisin & Yandel, Akon, Don Omar and Maná, as well as Ruben Blades and his legendary band, Seis del Solar, making their first televised appearance in years.
Special awards were given to Carlos Santana, who was honored with the Lifteime Achievement Award, and Daddy Yankee, who won the Spirit of Hope Award for his humanitarian work. Santana was given his award by Maná, a group with whom he's recorded and toured in the past, and with whom he played Thursday night.
Label and publishing awards were given April 22 at the Billboard Bash, with Espinoza Paz, who just last month won BMI's Latin songwriter of the year award, also taking the Billboard trophy as songwriter of the year. Fellow Mexican Armando Avila won for producer of the year while Paz's publishing company, Arpa, BMI, won publisher of the year. Warner/Chappell Music won publishing corporation of the year.
In the label of the year categories, Sony Music Latin won hot Latin songs label of the year and Tropical albums label of the year while Universal Music Latin Entertainment won top Latin albums label of the year, Latin pop, regional Mexican and Latin rhythm label of the year.
Rapper Pitbull was the winner in the newly created Latin digital download artist of the year category.
Finalists and winners to the Billboard Latin Music Awards are determined by their performance on the Billboard charts, as measured by Nielsen SoundScan and BDS during a one-year period from the issue dated February 9, 2008 issue through the January 31, 2009 issue.
Kamis, 23 April 2009
Lingkungan bermainnya juga turut mengasah bakat Faiz (panggilan Fariz RM) di lingkungan anak Menteng, seperti Debby dan Odink Nasution. Karir bermusiknya makin menanjak setelah mengikuti Lomba Cipta Lagu Remaja yang digelar radio Prambors bersama sejumlah temannya di SMA 3 Jakarta, seperti Adjie Soetama, Raidy Noor, Adie MS, dan Ikang Fawzi.
Album Fariz kedua bertitel SAKURA yang dirilis tahun 1980, langsung melejitkan karir bermusik Faiz dan menggelorakan jiwa bermusik untuk terus aktif menciptakan tembang-tembang andalan. Album Sakura terdiri dari sembilan lagu ; Sakura, Selangkah Keseberang, Belenggu (Perjalanan), Semusim, Nada Cinta, Mega Bhuana, Suasana (Yang Ada), Cermin Noda, dan Malam Kesembilan.
Setahun sebelum album ini muncul, sebetulnya Fariz sudah menelurkan satu album bertitel "Selangkah Keseberang". Perusahaan label "Pramaqua" yang menggarap album tersebut konon terlalu lama membuat kalkulasi bisnis. Mereka disebutkan, ragu dengan gaya musik yang diusung Fariz. Dan memang, musiknya beda dengan musik-musik pasaran saat itu apa bisa diterima pasar. Maklum kala itu dunia musik Indonesia sedang diserbu musik cengeng berirama mendayu-dayu. Dan diluar dugaan, Fariz bisa membuktikan bahwa musik diluar mainstream kala itu ternyata bisa juga diterima telinga pencinta musik Indonesia.
Sesuai dengan titel albumnya, tembang "Sakura" diposisikan paling awal dalam album ini. Dan betul, lagu ini melejitkan nama Fariz RM dan menjadikan album ini masterpiece, sebagai album yang layak dikoleksi oleh pecinta musik Indonesia.
Senada cinta bersemi Diantara kita
Menyandang anggunnya Peranan jiwa asmara
Terlanjut untuk terhenti Dijalan yang tekah tertempuh Semenjak dini
Sehidup semati ...
Meski beryair cinta, namun penggarapan musiknya jauh dari kesan cengeng. Irama pop yang diusungnya memang beda. Fariz memang pandai memainkan loop-loop ringan dari intonasi nada yang digarapnya. Suara yang lembut dan intonasi stabil saat membawakan nada tinggi, plus alunan suara dalam falseto-nya menjadi ciri khas Fariz.
Lagu Sakura ini juga yang membuat kepincut kakak dari bos Pertamina kala itu, Ponco Sutowo, yang kebetulan akan membuat sebuah film layar lebar. Rupanya dia tertarik dengan warna musik Fariz RM dan meminta Fariz untuk membuat sound track dari film yang akan digarapnya. Judul filmya adalah "Sakura Dalam Pelukan" dengan pemain utama seorang tokoh yang namanya saat itu lagi ngetop, yaitu Liem Swie King, jago bulutangkis yang sudah beberapa kali merebut juara All England. Namun sayang, Film tersebut tidak selaris lagunya.
Duet dengan penyanyi Anita Carolina M menjadi duet yang pas dalam tembang "Malam Kesembilan" yang digarap dengan nada yang Jazzy. Irama easylistening lagu ini yang diikuti dengan teriakan false-nya yang stabil, plus perkusi yang mengiring menjadikan musik yang "sulit" semakin enak untuk dinikmati.
Tembang "Selangkah Keseberang" digarap serius oleh Fariz. Intronya yang Jazzy, plus kombinasi elektrik piano pada intro menghasilkan musik berciri khas Fariz. Di lagu ini kita bersama-sama bisa menilai kemampuan Fariz dalam mencipta lagu-lagu yang bagus. Dan memang, dalam proses penggarapan album ini Farizlah yang memainkan alat musik seperti drum, piano, gitar, bas dan kibor.
Perjalanan bermusik Faiz memang panjang dan berliku. Beberapa kali membentuk band, seperti Transs, Symphony, Wow, GIF dan bersolo karir semakin membentuk karakter bermusiknya. Tidak hanya itu, proyek bermusiknya juga banyak, seperti membantu band Gank Pegangsaan, menjadi penata musik, membuat soundtrack, duet hingga merambah kedunia Film.
Sifat kerja kerasnya Fariz membuat suami dari Oneng Diana Riyadini, mantan peragawati asal Semarang, pernah membuatnya terjerembab dalam penggunaan Obat-obat terlarang dan sempat mendekam dalam rumah tahanan Cipinang. Lepas permasalahannya itu, sepertinya Fariz RM kini sudah lebih kalem dan bijak menyikapi hidup. Publik pecinta musik Indonesia masih dan selalu menanti karya-karya terbaru dari Fariz RM. Hayo berkarya lagi Bang Faiz... [lysthano/foto:akurama record]
| Artist / Band | Fariz RM |
| Judul Album | Sakura |
| Label | Akurama |
| Rating |  |
Art Brut will be releasing its third studio album, Art Brut vs Satan (COOKCD492) on Monday 20th April, which will be preceded by a new single, Alcoholics Unanimous on Monday 6th April. Available on CD and as a digital download, the single features an extra track “Just Desserts”. There will also be a limited edition two track 7” single which will feature a different b-side – “Positively 5th St”.
Recorded over twelve days in December 2008, and produced by Black Francis, Art Brut vs Satan is the record Brut-o-philes have been waiting for since debut single ‘Formed A Band’ illuminated the musical universe back in 2004. From ‘Passengers’, a neat inversion of Iggy Pop’s ode to isolation, to the deeply personal ‘DC Comics And Chocolate Milk’ (“From delivering post to serving beer/I’ve never had much of a career”), it’s a rummage through the diaries of British pop’s sharpest observationist.
The pivotal ‘Demons Out!’, meanwhile, casts singer Argos as an indie Witchfinder General on the trail of those who would corrupt music to their own ends, complete with the lyric: “This is Art Brut versus Satan/The record buying public, we hate them!” But the surprise comes with a final ‘Mysterious Bruises’, a seven minute excursion into the agit-funk of ’77 era Talking Heads complete with the Pullitzer-prize worthy couplet: “I can’t remember anything I’ve done/I fought the floor and the floor won!” it’s a sobering account of the morning after the night before which seems destined to fill dance floors from Paris to Pasadena.
Art Brut vs Satan will be available on CD, as a digital download and as an exclusive iTunes bundle, which will include a bonus track, “Moved To LA”.
Full track listing as follows:
1. Alcoholics Unanimous
2. DC Comics and Chocolate Milkshake
3. The Passenger
4. Am I Normal?
5. What A Rush
6. Demons Out!
7. Slap Dash For No Cash
8. The Replacements
9. Twist and Shout
10. Summer Job
11. Mysterious Bruises
12. Moved To LA (iTunes only)
Art Brut will be doing a 10 date UK tour in April and May.
Full dates below:
Sun 26th April POOLE, Mr Kyps £10.00 BO: 01202 748 945
Mon 27th April MANCHESTER, Academy 3 £9.50 BO: 0161 832 1111
Tue 28th April BIRMINGHAM, 02 Academy £9.50 BO: 0844 477 2000
Wed 29th April NEWCASTLE, Other Rooms £9.00 BO: 0191 261 9755
Fri 1st May LEEDS, Cockpit £10.00 BO: 0113 245 5570
Sat 2nd May GLASGOW, Stereo £8.50 BO: 0844 847 2487
Mon 4th May NOTTINGHAM, Rescue Rooms £10.00 BO: 0871 310 0000
Tue 5th May BRISTOL, Thekla £10.00 BO: 0870 444 4400
Wed 6th May BRIGHTON, Concorde 2 £9.00 BO: 01273 637 311
Thu 7th May LONDON, Electric Ballroom £11.00 BO: 020 7403 3331
Click here for the Art Brut biography in full and below for the video.