IN ALL HIS GLORY

REINVENTION HAS MARKED THE AMY EXPERIENCE, FROM MERCURIAL 'OUTSIDER' TO ROCK ARISTOCRACY

- EDDIN KHOO

"There was music in the cafes at night, and revolution in the air,"

Not since there was music oozing from the studios in Jalan Ampas, Singapore by the likes of P. Ramlee, Saloma, and countless others had music held such sway over everything we lived and breathed, from fashion and dress sense to personal sensibility and attitude.

In the 1980's that "revolution," was a quiet effort at subverting the prevailing ethos of the time- 'sameness' in the name of 'national unity.'

Musical identity in Malaysia- Kuala Lumpur in particular- had arrived at that moment of cultural duality: an inspired tension played out in the form of the wholesome Sudirman, wrapped dramatically in a Malaysian flag, against the bold stance of the long-haired, skinny-jeaned quintet (later to expand) of Search with its part reptilian part feline lead singer, Amy.

"Kuala Lumpur," Datuk Amy (Suhaimi Abdul Rahman) recalls of that formative 'scene," "used to belong to the Blues and Reggae. Growing up in Johor Bharu, I would read the Sunday newspapers, which featured articles on Rahim Hamzah and DR Sam (Rasputin), concerts at Lake Titiwangsa, and bands touring from Singapore. That was the kind of feel in Kuala Lumpur then."

"I had always liked to sing," Amy remembers, "but I never took it all that seriously. I would sing with friends and they would respond, 'eh, suara kau sedap lah 'beb (you've got a sweet voice, babe) but that was about it. I had no real 'ambition' for it. I had not even ever taken part in a talent time competition."