Triwik Kurniasari , THE JAKARTA POST , JAKARTA | Sun, 07/12/2009 11:09 AM | Headlines
Michael Jackson has a special place in the heart of many Indonesian musicians, including prominent singer Glenn Fredly, who hailed the American entertainer as an inspiration. As a tribute to the King of Pop, Glenn put on a gig Friday night.
More than a hundred of music lovers were overcome with nostalgia when Glenn and fellow singers performed at a show called "Tribute to Michael Jackson with My Everything ... Glenn Fredly" at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Jakarta.
Michael Jackson was pronounced dead on June 25 shortly after being rushed to hospital in Los Angeles. Authorities are investigating the cause of his death.
Clad in a red shirt, black pants, a black tie, a black fedora hat and a pair of sneakers, Glenn opened the show with his hit single "You are My Everything". With his excellent and powerful voice, Glenn then delivered 12 popular songs from his idol Michael Jackson also known as Jacko.
Audiences left their seats, rushed to the stage and danced around when Glenn sang "Billie Jean", which became a hit in 1983. The atmosphere warmed a notch higher when Glenn and his band played a medley of Jacko's songs, like "The Way You Make Me Feel", "Black or White", "Remember the Time" and "Thriller".
Glenn looked energetic and lively while singing Jacko's masterpieces in his style. He inserted jazz, reggae and Rock N Blues touches into the songs. The 33-year-old singer wholeheartedly sung "Gone Too Soon" and "Heal the World".
During the show, pictures of Jacko, from his childhood to his adult years were displayed on giant screens behind the stage.
"Michael Jackson has influenced me a lot through his music, style, dancing and everything. This is a tribute from me and my fellow musicians to honor him, to celebrate his music," said Glenn before the show.
The gig also featured performances from some local musicians. In a ballad, "I Just Can't Stop Loving You", Glenn performed a duet with jazz singer Dira Sugandi, who performed with American singer Jason Mraz during the 2009 Java Jazz Festival.
Bassist Barry Likumahua and newcomer RnB singer - under Glenn's management - Matthew Sayersz also showed off their talents in "Rock with You" and "Don't Stop Till You Get Enough".
Glenn said his parents "introduced" him to Jacko when he was in fourth grade of elementary school.
"My parents told me once he was the perfect reference to learn how to sing. I kept playing his tapes again and again on my Walkman. I also tried to do the moonwalk," he said.
Barry, member of the Barry Likumahua Project music group, said he was inspired by Jacko.
"As a bassist, I learn a lot from him. In most of his songs, his line bass never sounds very significant yet never feels out-of-date," said Barry.
Members of the audience thoroughly enjoyed the tribute gig.
"Although Glenn used different musical arrangements, Jacko's songs still sounded great. The show was like a *remedy', consoling my longing for Jacko," said Ken Petung, 30.
Glenn will hold a similar event in other major cities, such as in Bandung in West Java (on July 17), Semarang in Central Java (July 24), Palembang in South Jakarta and Bali.
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