The hanging design inside the open hall
Stalking up the Alleycats, minus the long claws
Waiting for another sister, Fiz to appear
The men too in black.
The smile shows they are satisfied with the concert
Met Yoyo with her family
A shot before we parted our ways
Cikgu Zaharah Salleh, another person we met
Alleycats in our nationalistic colour - red and white
The band is still tight
ASTRAYED BY ALLEYCATS
My siblings and in-laws attended a two-hour concert by Alleycats last evening at Singapore Esplanade Concert Hall. 'Istimewa Buat Singapura' kicks off Raistar Entertainment’s “Icons from Malaysia 2012” concert series. The concert had promised the band playing songs from the 70s - 2000s. With more than 27 album launches, this legendary and only resident band under Universal Music Malaysia is still on the prowl, with Dato David Arumugam as lead vocalist and iconic figure.
Alleycats is probably the most well-known band of all time in Singapore and Malaysia. Having reigned the pop genre for the last 43 years, the group is still going strong with their last concert performance at Istana Budaya, Malaysia in September 2011. Datuk David Arumugam revelaed that they first song was recorded in Singapore and their last concert here was thirty seven years ago. His Datukship would take another level as his son is about to present him with a grandchild.
Probably the longest surviving pop band today, over 40 all-time hits are a regular on radio waves and they count four generations as fans. Formed in Penang back in 1968, the name “ALLEYCATS” was chosen by their then manager Ronnie Chiang Kai Chok, who was putting the band together. Alleycats' music is said to be influenced by Air Supply, Phil Collins, Bee Gees, Billy Joel, David Gates & Bread, Santana and Paul McCartney.
Loganathan Arumugam, vocalist of the Alleycats, died on June 4, 2007 following an 8 month battle with lung cancer. His death was deeply mourned by Alleycats fans as seen in the press and media. It was a great loss to the band and yesterday's concert proved so. No one could pair up with David, except his own brother Loga.
With Singapore-born M.Nasir behind the many evergreen songs of Alleycats, such as Hingga Akhir Nanti, Andainya Aku Pergi Dulu, Sekuntum Mawar Merah Sebuah Puisi, Setahun Sudah Berlalu and Nota Terakhir, it is no surprise that the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s were dominated by Alleycats.
Datuk David is now 62 years old. He still can deliver his uniquely high-pitched note. The cat wasn't purring yesterday but was still running on a a hot tin roof. Though he still had to take several pauses in between songs for a breather, I truly enjoyed the night. And the concert would not end on a high note without Datuk David's signature ending: “Terrrrima kasihhhh!”
My serenading night was marred by some poor etiquette of some concert goers who mistook the hall as a football field. They were shouting at Loga's replacement and wasn't very polite with their comments. To them, I felt like screaming "Balik Kampungggggg!"
