The Strollers Concert That Found The Power To Unite

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There was no chance that last Sunday’s reunion concert of the 1960s local band, the Strollers, would be anything other than a special occasion for musical and non-musical reasons alike.
And so it proved. There isn’t anything we can’t do, if we do it together.
Amid uncertainty on the political and social fronts in the country, some 500 concertgoers turned back the hands of time, drawn by a retro aesthetic and a comforting sense of nostalgia.
For many, the free concert was a freewheeling experience that supercharged their craving for the 60s and 70s, seeing more value in having led a more shared life in the past than in present times.
Some came to hark back to good times that their parents or grandparents, of the love generation, constantly reminisced about, often making the Strollers a marker of how local pop music evolved in the 60s.
Encouraged by the interracial interaction on Sunday, they wondered where all that peace, love and understanding went in recent years.
The showcase would have drawn a full house anyway, but the unity and bonding of a multiracial crowd amplified the evening.
For several hours, the FMT-initiated ‘Just As We Were’ party was the best of Malaysians, and the camaraderie made the heart sing.
At a time when the country is facing a declining loss of affection for one another, it generated warmth, care and social connectedness.
It was a remarkable window onto a bygone age when Malaysians embraced an all-inclusive lifestyle, and when simple things in life mattered to them.
The timing was perfect, a people’s moment that warrants marking in collective cultural memory.
The event was pulled together by a group of music lovers who wanted to honour three original members of the Strollers band, Michael Magness, Hussein Idris and Billy Chang, reuniting after 50 years.
It was not a ticketed gig, and the money that came out of their own pockets went straight to the old Strollers, and to the three new members of the longest-running band in Malaysia.
The free entry to the concert was their way of giving a treat to the fans who had supported the Strollers since its formation in 1965.
The success of the moment of togetherness must, in a big way, be attributed to the support of lawyer-businessman Dato Seri R Rajendran, Group CEO of AirAsia Aviation Group Bo Lingam and the chairman of the national artistes welfare foundation (YKAT) Datuk DJ Dave.
They are like-minded individuals who continue to touch the lives of musicians with a heart of gold, inspiring Malaysians, as Dave put it, “Together, we can lift and strengthen one another.”
The event, its significance, and the many glorious moments it has brought to the fore leaves much for the stakeholders to consider.
Efforts should be stepped up to help musicians to enjoy a decent standard of living, and veteran musicians should never be forgotten.
No matter how you feel about these artistes, there’s no doubt that they have made an impact on culture and changed music that embeds itself deeply in memories.
After a week, people are still hung over from the Strollers reunion at Hangover PJ, suffering a severe shortage of superlatives for what they had witnessed.
When asked about the motivation that led to her retro immersion, 30-something Carol Lee’s answer was straight out of her personal nostalgia playbook.
She said her late father often sang songs and played records by the Strollers at home, and spoke about bands contemporaneous with his youth.
“People are so happy, and I’m happy trying to recreate what my father experienced when he went for concerts,” said Lee, who was clad elegantly, “just as my father dressed for shows”.
The majority of the audience were people north of 50 who grew up with the music of the Strollers and have memories attached to some of the songs.
They came to evoke the good times, breaking stereotypes, and showing that you are never too old to join in revelry.
“It was as if the 60s and 70s came back to life, a homecoming rendezvous for many my age who seemed to enjoy the cuddles and kisses,” said lawyer T Vijayandran, 68.
The music community is never going to forget the electrifying evening of ‘Just As We Were’, and already there are talks about spin-offs.
Yesterday once more was glorious, and victorious for Malaysia. - FMT
The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT.

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