Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-g7gxr Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-10T06:16:54.750Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

“Religion Never Had it so good“: Contemporary Nasyid and the Growth of Islamic Popular Music in Malaysia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 March 2019

Margaret Sarkissian
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Extract

The Taliban in Afghanistan and the hardline clergy in Iran might regard them as blasphemous, but in Malaysia Islamic pop groups are a hit, even with fundamentalist politicians. Nasyid groups, as they are known, are winning awards for using their talents to bring people closer to Islam. (MGW 13 June 1999)

Type
Articles
Information
Yearbook for Traditional Music , Volume 37 , 2005 , pp. 124 - 152
Copyright
Copyright © 2005 By The International Council for Traditional Music

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Footnotes

1

This paper results from a Smith College Kahn Institute seminar on “Religious Tolerance and Intolerance” (2001-02). I would like to thank seminar leader Dennis Hudson and the other seminar members, especially Mary Ellen Birkett. Thanks are also owed to Shayn Smulyan, who helped analyse some of the music; Anna Sloan, who shared her knowledge of Islamic art and showed me how to look up Surahs in the Qur'an; Frank Citino and Kelly Salloum for their help with the digital photographs; the Kahn Institute and Smith College for funding research in Malaysia for this project; the anonymous reviewers for their valuable suggestions; and finally, my husband, Jerry Dennerline, who has patiently listened to more nasyid music than he ever knew existed. “Religion never had it so good” is a comment about nasyid from an otherwise unrelated story by Errol de Cruz in the New Straits Times, 28 September 2001.

References

References Cited

Books and articlesGoogle Scholar
Baily, John 2001 “Can You Stop the Birds Singing?“: The Censorship of Music in Afghanistan. Copenhagen: Freemuse.Google Scholar
Barendregt, Bart and Zanten, Wim van 2002 Popular music in Indonesia since 1998, in particular fusion, indie, and Islamic music on video compact discs and the Internet. Yearbook for Traditional Music 34: 67–113.Google Scholar
Condry, Ian 2001 A history of Japanese hip-hop: street dance, club scene, pop market. In Global Noise: Rap and Hip-Hop outside the USA, ed. T. Mitchell, 222–47. Middletown, CT: Wesleyan University Press.Google Scholar
Kahn, Joel S. 1992 Class, ethnicity and diversity: some remarks on Malay culture in Malaysia. In Fragmented Vision: Culture and Politics in Contemporary Malaysia, eds. J.S. Kahn and F. Loh, 158–78. Sydney: Allen and Unwin.Google Scholar
Kessler, Clive S. 1992 Archaism and modernity: contemporary Malay political culture. In Fragmented Vision: Culture and Politics in Contemporary Malaysia, eds. J.S. Kahn and F. Loh, 133–57. Sydney: Allen and Unwin.Google Scholar
Matusky, Patricia and Beng, Tan Sooi 2004 The Music of Malaysia: The Classical, Folk and Syncretic Traditions. Aldershot, Hampshire and Burlington, VT: Ashgate.Google Scholar

Newspapers and news magazines

Bernama [Malaysian National News Agency]Google Scholar
3 Nov. 2004 “Raihan for Aidilfitri Date in Three British Cities” by Zain, Ahmad Zukiman.Google Scholar
British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)Google Scholar
18 May 1999 “World: Asia-Pacific. Islamic pop storms Malaysia” by FrancesGoogle Scholar
Harrison.Google Scholar
Malay Mail (MM)Google Scholar
3 Feb. 2004 “Infectious nasyid” by Shariman, Meor.Google Scholar
6 Apr. 2004 “Ideal brand of nasyid” by Ahmad, Azman.Google Scholar
25 May 2000 “Nasyid Globetrotters” by Ahmad, Azman.Google Scholar
Manchester Guardian Weekly (MGW)Google Scholar
13 June 1999 “Women’s band sing pop for Allah” by Frances Harrison. New Straits Times (NST)Google Scholar
23 Aug. 1996 “Nasyid competition for students”.Google Scholar
17 Mar. 1997 “Impressive debut from Raihan” by Taib, Shuib.Google Scholar
14 July 1997 “Hawa shows what schoolgirls can do” by Waheed, Sajahan.Google Scholar
19 July 1997 “A slice of the nasyid pie” by Kadir, Zainal Alam.Google Scholar
14 Aug. 1997 “Al-Massar’s out to spread good” by Baharom, Azra Haida.Google Scholar
1 Oct. 1997 “Nasyid group creates ripples” by Waheed, Sajahan.Google Scholar
12 Dec. 1997 “Solehah cuts debut nasyid record” by Waheed, Sajahan.Google Scholar
29 Dec. 1997 “Nasyid groups the rage in ‘97” by Kadir, Zainal Alam.Google Scholar
14 Apr. 1998 “Heavy metal muted by nasyid” by Sapawi, Tuminah.Google Scholar
30 July 1998 “Another nasyid group enters the fray” by Taib, Shuib.Google Scholar
7 Oct. 1998 “Rabbani still making waves” by Taib, Shuib.Google Scholar
6 July 1999 “Nasyid singers do their bit to help Kosovars” by Suffian, Ahmad.Google Scholar
13 Apr. 2000 “Schools’ nasyid competition” by Lin, L.H.Google Scholar
28 Sept. 2001 “Local website to download music” by Cruz, Errol de.Google Scholar
5 Oct. 2001 “A godly passion” by Kadir, Zainal Alam.Google Scholar
16 Nov. 2001 “Rabbani’s new facets” by Kadir, Zainal Alam.Google Scholar
8 July 2002 “Nasyid soars with orchestras” review by Kadir, Zainal Alam.Google Scholar
12 Aug. 2002 “Record companies ring the changes” by Kadir, Zainal Alam.Google Scholar
27 Jan. 2003 “Raihan reaches out” by Arfah, Sharifah.Google Scholar
18 Feb. 2003 “Peace Malaysia expects 200,000 at Sunday’s rally.”Google Scholar
12 May 2003 “Rem wows the Indonesians” entertainment review compiled by Farinordin, Faridul Anwar.Google Scholar
26 June 2003 “Internet subscribers mostly youth” by de Silva, Rina.Google Scholar
Apr. 2004 “The Nasyid Evolution” by Lee, Joe.Google Scholar
25 Apr. 2004 “Trendy preacher who holds sway over his listeners” by Chew, Amy.Google Scholar
1 Aug. 2004 “Not just for nasyid fans” by Razak, Arni Shahida.Google Scholar
9 Oct. 2004 “Pas takes ride on pop culture” by Ahmad, Abdul Razak.Google Scholar
8 Nov. 2004 “‘Clicking’ with celebrities” by Othman, Kamal A.Google Scholar
Straits Times (ST)Google Scholar
3 Sept. 2000 “Artistes answer the call of religion” by Ahmad, Reme.Google Scholar

Select discography

(* denotes female groups) BrothersGoogle Scholar
1998 Satu Perjuangan. Ambang Klasik AKD 98-046-26.Google Scholar
2000 Untukmu Teman. Ambang Klasik AKD-2K 116-26.Google Scholar
2005 Brothers ReUnited. Warner Music (Malaysia) 5050467-8784-2-6Google Scholar
DeHeartyGoogle Scholar
2004 Di Hati. NAR Records 60055-2. HijjazGoogle Scholar
1998 KeizinanMu. Telaga Biru/BMG Music 74321-57638-2.Google Scholar
1998 Pelita Hidup. Telaga Biru TBCD 0002.Google Scholar
2000 Lukisan Alam. Telaga Biru TBCD 0009.Google Scholar
2002 Jalan Bahagia. Telaga Biru TBCD 0117. 2004 Pelita Hidup 111. Telaga Biru TBCD 0196. Huda*Google Scholar
1998 Wanita. Warner Music (Malaysia) 3984-26141-2. In-TeamGoogle Scholar
2000 Kasih Kekasih. Hijjaz Music Entertainment/NAR Records 60006-2.Google Scholar
2001 Impian Kasih. Hijjaz Music Entertainment/NAR Records 60018-2.Google Scholar
2003 Damba Kasih. Hijjaz Records/NAR Records 60037-2. MestikaGoogle Scholar
2004 Sendu Sendawa. Hijjaz Records/EMI 57124126. MirwanaGoogle Scholar
2004 Mirwana. Supra Seven/Universal Music 982194-9. NowseeheartGoogle Scholar
2002 Berjalan, Melihat & Mentafsir. Warner Music (Malaysia) 092744745-2.Google Scholar
RabbaniGoogle Scholar
1998 Arah…Dari Mana…Kemana. EMI 7243-4-94453-21.Google Scholar
2000 Iqrar 1421. EMI 7243-5283402-0.Google Scholar
2001 Intifada. EMI 07243-5313722-9.Google Scholar
2001 Aman (Peace). EMI 7243-537361-25.Google Scholar
2002 Qibblat. Intifada/KRU Music Group/Warner Music (Malaysia) KDM 1012-2.Google Scholar
2003 Epik. Intifada/KRU Music Group/Warner Music (Malaysia) KDM 1024.Google Scholar
2004 Yalla Beena. Intifada/KRU Music Group/Warner Music (Malaysia) KDM 1026-2.Google Scholar
RaihanGoogle Scholar
1997 Puji-Pujian. Warner Music (Malaysia) 3984-23317-2.Google Scholar
1998 Syukur. Warner Music (Malaysia) 3984-21681-2.Google Scholar
1999 Senyum. Warner Music (Malaysia) 3984-27877-2.Google Scholar
2000 Koleksi Nasyid Terbaik Raihan. Warner Music (Malaysia) 857382632-2.Google Scholar
2001 Demi Masa. Warner Music (Malaysia) 0927-41316-2.Google Scholar
2002 Gema Alam. Warner Music (Malaysia) 5050466-2849-2-1.Google Scholar
2003 Allahu. Warner Music (Malaysia) 5050467-2121-2-1. SaffOneGoogle Scholar
2003 Emas Awanan. Telaga Biru TBCD 0195. SaujanaGoogle Scholar
2000 Kembara Cinta. Telaga Biru/BMG Music 74321 -77025-2.Google Scholar
2002 Rahsia. Telaga Biru/BMG Music TBCD 0051.Google Scholar
2003 5 Bintang. Telaga Biru TBCD 0169. Soleha*Google Scholar
1998 Nikmat Allah. Philips/PolyGram Records 53847-2.Google Scholar
2001 Koleksi Terbaik. Musical Sound Organisation MSVCD 21118. Too PhatGoogle Scholar
2003 360°. Positive Tone/EMI 07243 582723-21. UNICGoogle Scholar
2002 you and i see. Hijjaz Records/NAR Records 60025-2.Google Scholar
2003 see you di ipt. Hijjaz Records/EMI 07243-592397-2-9. Wirdani*Google Scholar
2004 Imam. Musical Sound Organisation MSCD 21161.Google Scholar