Korean R&B singer Se7en strode into the room, wearing a snazzy white-and-gold outfit reminiscent of The King during his twilight years in Las Vegas. He practically lit up the whole room. There was so much gold in Se7en’s getup that Nazis and hyperactive archeologists would probably pursue him if he ambled to the set of an Indiana Jones movie. Gold pants, gold sword-shaped necktie, frayed gold pants, practically gold everything. Another thing: the guy has struck gold this year by winning the MTV Favorite Artist Korea award.
Same with MTV.
MTV Philippines invited Philippine STAR to cover this year’s event, which was more fast-paced, and which boasted brilliant animated segments, anime warrior trophies, plus great performances from Korn, our very own Rivermaya, and Hoobastank, among others. Host Kelly Rowland, formerly of Destiny’s Child, premiered her new single Gotsta Go, while co-host Wang Leehom sang a Chinese Opera-inspired number titled Heroes on Earth, and displayed his speed rap prowess.
Blue refugees Simon Webbe and Lee Ryan performed separately. Webbe jammed on No Worries with Thai hip-hop group Thaitanium (whoever thought up the name is brilliant), while Ryan did a duet with Thai pop star Tata Young on Endless Love, an endless song. According to Hedwig (lead singer of the Angry Inch), that song has been known to outlast the relationship itself. Hoobastank did a number complete with exploding baby rockets.
The guys from Korn opened up the show with an incendiary performance of Twisted Transistor in front of the 4,600-capacity crowd. From where I was sitting, I could’ve sworn Korn was playing as a trio. A year ago, guitarist Brian "Head" Welch left the band when he found Jesus and went on a crusade (a "false" one, mocked Korn singer Jonathan Davis) to convert cannibals, non-believers and even, hilariously, 50 Cent. Davis and the rest of the Californian nü-metalists – reduced to a quartet – decided to carry on. Rightly so.
And there they were in front of screaming Thai fans: Davis hogging his H.R. Giger-designed microphone (shaped like a Nubian queen), Fieldy playing a low-strung bass, drummer David Silveria pummeling away, and guitarist James "Munky" Shaffer somewhere onstage. (Head is somewhere else, probably with his Skateboarders for Jesus posse.)
Very intense onstage (like freaky musicians on leashes), the guys from Korn were very friendly and unassuming in the pressroom. I asked Davis if they were able to meet H.R. Giger when the Swiss surrealist designed Davis’ microphone stand in 2000.
"Yes, we went to Giger’s house (in Switzerland) and he gave Munky mushrooms (laughs)," Davis recalled. Shaffer teasingly tried to stop the singer from spilling out the lurid details by motioning the "cut" signal.
Davis went on to detail how they went to Giger’s museum and saw his erotic, biomechanical artworks. (The guy designed the gangly horrors in Alien as well as an album cover for horrific prog-rock band Emerson, Lake & Palmer.)
Another journalist asked: What Bangkok bar did the guys party in? Silveria posed a rhetorical question, "Name me one place in Bangkok where it’s not hot? It’s too damn hot to party here (laughs)."
Apparently, the guys did go out and found themselves in a bar and saw somebody in an Elvis costume. Hmmm… Must be Se7en.
Se7en strode into the pressroom in all his golden glory. He talked about his interest in rap music, his supposed rivalry with another Korean artist Rain ("It is hard to compare us…"), his more confident third album, his dream to work with Alicia Keys, as well as the designers who should be blamed for his eye-gorging outfit. Joke, joke.
Canadian singer-songwriter Daniel Powter performed Had A Bad Day, which spent five weeks at No. 1 in the US charts. Yes, it is the syrupy song played to bid adieu to voted-off American Idol contestants. I never did like the song. But props should go to Powter for being a sensible interviewee and a levelheaded person.
"I was 32 when I first got my record deal, and it took me such a long time (to get to this level)," Powter shared. The Neil Young fan added that being at the top of the charts is such a great high, but… "Performing is always the best thing about being a musician," he said. "You spend most of your time in airplanes and hotels that after a while the stage becomes your living room. Music is all about performing and seeing the light in people’s eyes."
A pair of Canadian twins known as Same Same (stupid, stupid name) was a hit at the pressroom because of their self-deprecating humor.
Since all the two did was to present the Favorite Artist Hong Kong award, one of them quipped, "The presentation went very well (smiles)."
The Teriyaki Boyz, who performed for the first time outside Japan, also visited the pressroom. They wore "BAPE" camouflage shirts in pink, red, violet and green – except for the guy they called "The General."
"Why doesn’t The General have his own shirt?" asked one reporter.
"Because he’s The General," answered a Teriyaki Boy in green.
Apparently, these guys (influenced by Run DMC, De La Soul, and Public Enemy) are big in Japan. Their album (which contains a track called Heartbreaker produced by Daft Punk) is called "Beef or Chicken?" Put your own terikyaki joke here.
Simon Webbe, who won the Breakthrough Artist award, also talked to reporters. "It’s an MTV Award," he gushed. "Everyone who dreams to be a singer also dreams of winning this award. I am glad to be part of it. I dedicate this award to my little daughter."
Webbe was impressed so much by Thaitanium that he plans to collaborate with them again in the future. "I respect what the guys are doing."
The Veronicas, a pair of Australian twins, came across like a gothic version of the Olsen twins. One of them (either Lisa or Jess Origliasso) talked about her Hans Christian Andersen tattoo on her back. I felt a yawn creeping out from the back of my neck. It was hard to feign interest in a duo that has a song titled 4 Ever.
And then Tata Young strolled in. I swear this Thai diva looks different every year, metamorphosing from Mandy Moore to Jennifer Lopez. She enthused, "I feel like a million bucks (for winning the Favorite Artist Thailand award)." You bet.
Kelly Rowland came across as a classy woman. She looked at the three empty chairs at the pressroom and remarked that she misses the girls (Beyoncé and… and… and… the other one) all the more. A male reporter promptly gave her a Doraemon stuffed toy. Hearts melted like butter inside the room. Why that guy has a Doraemon in his bag I’ll never know.
Destiny’s Child was given the MTV Special Achievement in Music award. The women were honored for their "contribution to the music world and their immeasurable impact on pop culture."
"You’ll never know, we might get back," Kelly hinted. She praised her co-host Wang Leehom ("He’s an amazing performer…"), her hosting chores ("I had a great time…"), her immediate plans ("I am going shopping tomorrow and visit the temples…"), and her advice to aspiring musicians ("There will be a lot of obstacles along the way, but if music is what you really want to do, then go for it…").
Dear readers, you might remember Vanness Wu from F4. (Admit it, you went crazy over Meteor Garden.) Well, the Taiwanese star has joined forces with Korean singer-dancer Kangta. The two performed a song called 2nd Scandal from their upcoming album. They even bought matching outfits (one black, one white).
REPORTER NO. 1: Who do you think is the better dancer between the two of you?
KANGTA: (As translated by a translator) We both have different styles.
REPORTER NO. 2: How do you feel about being asked to perform at the show’s finale?
VANNESS: The experience hasn’t sunk in yet.
KANGTA: (This is a great way) to debut our collaboration.
REPORTER NO. 3: Vanness, you had a Korean girlfriend. And now you have a Korean partner. What gives?
VANNESS: It’s just a coincidence, I suppose.
KANGTA: (Jokingly) I am your boyfriend.
VANNESS: No, no, no Brokeback moment in here (laughs).
KANGTA: (Jokingly, again) Please love me.
REPORTER NO. 4: Why did you two wear black and white outfits?
VANNESS: Uh, we like Oreo cookies (laughs)?
REPORTER NO. 5: Vanness, what do you think of Wang Leehom?
VANNESS: He’s a great performer. He’s my boy.
KANGTA: (Looks hurt) He’s your boy? Please love me.
Of course, the highpoint of the evening was the performance of Rivermaya. You may have read about it through Associated Press reports: Rivermaya became the first Filipino band to play an original song in the MTV Asia Awards. (Regine Velasquez did a duet of Cry with American pop star Mandy Moore in Singapore.)
Rivermaya – composed of singer Rico Blanco, drummer Mark Escueta, guitarist Mike Elgar, and bassist Japs Sergio – performed the brilliantly-penned track You’ll Be Safe Here with the string section of the Royal Thai Army Orchestra. (Props should go to manager Lizza Nakpil for contacting the Thai musicians through her Asian network)
"It was a magical moment," Nakpil enthused. "MTV had a kick-ass crew that made it possible for the boys to give a great performance. The visuals were designed by the same team that works with U2!"
The band played really well. Mike Elgar humbly admitted that he flubbed some guitar lines. Of course, we non-musicians at the pressroom couldn’t really tell. For us Filipinos at Siam Paragon, watching a Pinoy band perform was a source of pride.
At Siam Paragon before the event, the hardworking Lizette Claudio of MTV Philippines talked about how Rivermaya has made it big in Singapore. The band recently played at the Singapore Mosaic Music Festival at The Esplanade (other performers included Jason Mraz and one of my musical heroes, Pat Metheny). Lizette said there was even a Singaporean fan who followed the guys all the way to Bangkok just to watch them. (They were playing a Bangkok club called Cosmic Café.) She added, "And when they walked the red carpet, there were Thai fans screaming." Hopefully not for Crazy Frog which was right behind Rivermaya.
At the pressroom, the band was asked, "What is it about the music of Rivermaya that is appealing not just to Filipinos but to people in Singapore and Thailand?"
Rico Blanco had a simple answer: "When I write songs, I draw from real inspiration and experiences. If the source is something real, then it’s easy for other people to relate."
What is their advice to aspiring musicians in the Philippines?
Mark Escueta said, "Enjoy what you’re doing, love the music, and everything else is a bonus. Just like what Rico said earlier, the fans help the bands and the bands help each other. (Our success) is really a group effort."
As regards the Asian rock scene, Rico shared his conversation with other musicians from Singapore and Thailand. "We have the talent, we have songs… We were toying with an idea of doing something like an Asian invasion. Maybe musicians from across Asia can work together." And maybe even penetrate the world market.
Mark added, "One thing about Asian music, is that you always hear the culture in the music. And music has become a tool for younger generations to learn about their country and their heritage."
Words that shine brighter than Se7en’s gold getup.