Opposition hijacked my song, says ‘Ni Kali Lah’ singer

THIS TIME LAH...Clarence and wife, Madlinah 

Boyd PV

ALL he wanted to do was to express in song the anxiety of meeting a girl he befriended in Facebook for the first time – and who eventually became his wife.

But what he did not bargain for was for the song’s title to be hijacked by the opposition and the public, thus, being denied the opportunity to listen and appreciate the number for what it is really about – love.

“Now there is no opportunity for me to even sing my song ‘Ni Kali Lah’ (This time lah) in any ceremony attended by important people in the government.

“It’s also not played over any government-owned radio station,” said Clarence Anthonius, 28, a teacher with SK Kiawayan in Tambunan. The song was one of eight in the album called “Clarence Anthonius I” recorded by LRX Production. There is also a Karaoke DVD version.

Because the opposition, namely Sarawak-based Star (State Reform Party led by Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan in Sabah) had adopted it as its battle cry to capture power from the Barisan Nasional, the song shot into bigger prominence than normal Kadazandusun love ballads would.

In fact, Star has even emblazoned it in the billboard at the party’s head office along Jalan Lintas.

Nevertheless, Clarence strongly insists that it is not meant to be a political song or to promote any political party’s cause.

“I never thought the song will invite political polemics nor had any intention of creating controversy just to gain popularity,” he said, adding one only needs to study the lyrics as proof.

“Filled with extreme nervousness, the male character in this song decided that now is the time to meet his dream girl saying ‘Ni Kali Lah’, which is a popular expression used by Sabahans anyway.

“So it is all about how I plucked up enough courage to date Madlinah Mairin, who is now my wife. Any assumption connecting the song to any political party is not relevant as far as I am concerned,” he said.

“In fact, I still don’t understand how the words ‘Ni Kali Lah’ could be seen as having political connotations, especially when the expression has been around for a long time.”

Clarence said having decided to celebrate the memorable moment in song for eternity, he approached a noted recording studio owner named Lexband, who helped to coin the lyrics and give it the right melody.

Lexband, whose real name is Alexander Anthony, is no lightweight in the Sabah indigenous music scene. He is a singer-songwriter and owns LRX Productions which is behind such hits as “main Tapuk Tapuk”, “Bustop” “Saya Urang Sabah”, “I Love You Banana” “Cinta Gustan” and “Main Bubut Bubut”.

In fact, the 31-year-old’s renditions of songs in the Sabah style have now caught on even among peninsula listeners due to being aired in radio stations like Radio Bayu.

Meanwhile, Clarence’s album containing “Ni Kali Lah” has sold over 200 units since it was released early September, although it’s official launching would only be on at Central Plaza in Kepayan Ridge, here, next month.

“The encouraging response from my fans has motivated me to work harder to promote this album,” he said.

He thanked fans for their support which placed “Ni Kali Lah” in third spot in the Rojak KKFM Chart last week, just behind “Jangan Ambil” by Dayang Noraini and “Syok bah sini Sabah” by Marihin @ Dorry.

Its video clip in the Sabahan Bahasa Malaysia accent has gained 23,846 YouTube viewers so far.

Clarence is waiting for the right time to promote the album, probably during the school holidays. But judging from its popularity as a political slogan, Clarence, who hails from Kg Langkawit in Papar, may already have the work cut out for him by the politicians.

At the moment he connects with fans through social sites and intends to come up with a second album.