As John Lennon proved with “In My Life”, and, of course, “Imagine”, music is a great leveler and one of the greatest healers we have.
The music of the Beatles- as a band and as solo artists- Brian Wilson- especially with his epic Pet Sounds project, and Dylan before he started to become a parody of himself, have all played a role in many lives to give hope where there once might have been hopelessness along that long and winding road that didn’t lead “me to your door”.
The songs of everyone from Les Paul and Mary Ford, Hoagy Carmichael and everyone on Tin Pan Alley to the Brill Building, Phil Spector’s Wall Of Sound, the Doors, “Carolina On My Mind” by James Taylor, Carole King’s “You’ve Got A Friend”, Jeff Buckley’s gorgeous song hymn, “Hallelujah”, Sam Cooke’s “A Change Is Gonna Come” to today’s “Happy” by Pharrell Williams, have all played their individual roles in lifting our spirits and painting pictures in our minds.
Where Malaysian Indie artist and Muslim singer-songwriter Yuna Zarai fits into all the above has been one of the most interesting personal journeys of discovery in recent times.
It was while gazing into my television set and a thousand miles from nowhere did this hypnotic voice appear as the soundtrack to a new television commercial for Malaysia Airlines.
At that time, I had no idea who was singing. I thought it might have been Sarah Blasko from Australia or Nina Perrson from the Cardigans.
While out that night, and even though with friends, the song kept playing in my head along with what happened recently to flight MH370- the tragedy of it all- and then wondering as to what really happened and where the blame should be squarely though none of this will bring any of the passengers back.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hqkq1F10i4U
As for this Malaysia Airline commercial and the voice behind it, somewhere, somehow, the dots were starting to connect though the picture was still fuzzy.
While at a hotel lounge listening to one of those tediously boring singers hoteliers book believing that we’re still in the Eighties, I decided to tweet @MAS and ask who was singing the soundtrack to what is a stunning study in cinematography.
I wasn’t expecting an answer and so when one did come, it meant more to me.
This to me was social media at its best along with brilliantly effective interactive corporations that won me over and also made me come home and research @yunamusic.
I’m glad I did as here is an artist with a list of credits that are eclectic, impressive and with music that has no barriers.
Yuna Zarai has a voice that, like China’s Faye Wong and the remarkable Sa Ding-ding, speaks a universal language.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuQwvHmZKho
Think about what this 28-year-old artist, social commentator and singer-songwriter has already achieved: Her debut track on iTunes in 2012- “Live Your Life”- was produced by Pharrell Williams which she performed on “Conan” and “Late Night With Carson Daley.”
She contributed her version of “Here Comes The Sun” to the soundtrack of “Savages”, played Lollapalooza, collaborated with Adam Young of Owl City on “Shine Your Way” for the animated Dreamworks production called “The Croods” and is signed to the Verve Music Group.
Where to now for Yuna Zarai? That road less- traveled is in front of her, and, selfishly, I’d love to see her record with Faye Wong, Sa Ding-ding and the great Ragu Dixit Project from India- one of the best ‘live’ acts I have ever seen.
As this would be labeled and mislabeled “World Music” and lie on the desk of David Foster at Verve Music gathering dust while he tries to find another of those awful kiddie singers like Charise whose novelty wears off when they turn 18- I loathe the musical tastes and musical pimping of David Foster- one hopes Yuma Zarai can become “indie” again and collaborate with musicians like Damon Albarn, better yet, Mr Bowie, or even the left field musical right paths of Bjork.
(To find out more about Yuna Zarai visit http://www.yunamusic.com)
As for her role with Malaysia Airlines, an airline with a huge task in front of it to rebuild the brand, rebuild passenger confidence, rebuild the spirit of those doing the rebuilding, well, it’s a small start, but one has to start somewhere.
Through this one television commercial, through the voice of this previously unknown Malaysian artist to me, through the immediacy of twitter and the airline’s own effectiveness in social media, I saw a “new” Malaysia Airlines- and found a new musician from its home country.
The negativity was left behind for at least a minute.
And though what happened to MH370 must never be forgotten, the music of Yuna Zarai can help those who lost loved ones on that flight heal whereas for the rest of us, it’s proven, once again, that the magic of music can help bring a fractured world together…even if it’s for a little while.
Hans Ebert
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