Sunday August 26, 2007
Making much of Merdeka
AIR RAVES WITH ANTHONY THANASAYAN
HERE we are, all set to celebrate a historic, half-century mark of national independence, and has radio been setting my patriotism alight and moving me to nostalgic tears? Not really....
I tuned in as usual to my trusty portable receiver during the weekend evening listening hours last week and simply couldn’t satiate my appetite for a feel and flavour of the excitement that is sure to grip the nation on Friday when we celebrate our 50th birthday.
Although TraxxFM’s Maya really lived up to the name of her show, Smashing Saturday, by being terrific company for listeners bored with their daily routines, there was no Merdeka flavour when I was tuned in. LiteFM’s Saturday Nite Live was another great show to listen to. But National Day specials? Forget it.
A reader and long-time radio listener from Penang concurred with my observation in last week’s Air Raves that our radio waves aren’t exactly overflowing with the Merdeka spirit.
“What a pity,” he wrote in an e-mail, adding that, “it is such a sharp contrast to television stations, which are airing numerous Merdeka features for our nation’s birthday!”
But this week ahead is what truly counts for everyone as we begin the countdown to Aug 31 – and radio stations had better get ready for it. Expectations are sure to be high, especially among listeners who are and will be on the road and away from their TV sets.
The good news is that some stations are gearing up and lifting their game over the next few days, I discovered. This is the information on Merdeka programming I managed to glean before press time; all information is from Airtime Management and Programming radio networks.
Hitz.fm: Don’t miss this top English language broadcaster’s 50-hour Merdeka Broadcast Special that starts on Wednesday at 6am and concludes at 8am on National Day.
Listeners will be treated to a variety of interviews, live and recorded, with local artistes and celebrities. There will be chat sessions about Malaysian “icons” of an unusual kind: much-beloved things ranging from roti canai, the Petronas Twin Towers and the Penang Bridge to durian, our king of fruits that elicits equal amounts of admiration and revulsion.
Fans of Morning Crew J.J. and Rudy’s Gotcha segments in the daily morning show will get to hear more of this feature throughout the 50-hour special so keep your ears pricked. (Gotcha is a prank video interview conducted by Hitz.fm announcers of unsuspecting listeners that is rebroadcast as an audio clip as well as a video feed.)
Xfresh FM: The station’s very own Khairil turns into radio superhero Super K to save the station’s young audiences from their woes, whether they are relationship troubles, school issues, sibling rivalry, etc. Whatever it is, if you require Super K’s help, call Xfresh on Aug 30 or 31. Visit the station’s website, xfresh.com.my, for further details. The website even claims that Super K is willing to rush to your aid with his Xfresh Street Surfers (the radio station’s ground team).
ERA FM: This top Bahasa Malaysia broadcaster – that says it plays songs that are “100% Malaysian”, ranging from 1980s favourites to the present day – will be airing the Top 50 great Malaysian songs. Listen especially for two very special numbers from the legendary Tan Sri P. Ramlee. Showtime is from 10am until 3pm on Thursday, the eve of Merdeka.
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