When VJs Ruled The TV World

The announcement (somewhat) shocked the world recently. After 44 years, Music Television (MTV)’s dedicated music channels are shutting down, and the internet has gone into full nostalgia-meltdown mode.

And rightly so. There was a time when VJs ruled the television world. You could see why: impossibly good-looking people introducing the hottest music videos on the planet, making it seem like the coolest job ever invented by humankind.

The media couldn’t get enough of them either.

In this part of the world, VJs were celebrities in their own right, with devoted fans who followed their every move, outfit and on-screen quirk. They weren’t just presenters — they were pop culture fixtures.

I was knee-deep in the lifestyle media scene in the 2000s, so I had my fair share of VJ moments and encounters. One-on-one interviews with the Asian MTV brigade came with the territory: Thai heartthrob Utt, the zany Aditya, Singapore’s Belinda, and the one that guys collectively went gaga over — Donita Rose.

With VJ Utt in 2003


And then, of course, there was the other cool kid on the block: Channel [V]. Thanks to a solid working relationship with STAR TV, I had pretty good access to their VJs as well.

When I was the launch editor of NewMan magazine, we went big for our premier issue. Four Channel [V] VJs graced our cover — Paula Malai Ali, Cindy Burbridge, Amanda, and Sarah Tan. We even landed an exclusive with the undisputed queen of the lot: Asha Gill.

Looking back now, it’s almost surreal. Back then, VJs felt permanent — larger than life, untouchable, and very much the face of youth culture. Never in my wildest imagination did I think there’d come a day when VJs would become… obsolete.

Yet here we are. And suddenly, that era feels like a perfectly edited music video from another time.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Japanese WW2 Soldier Who Found Islam In Malaya

Image
I’ve just watched In Search of the Unreturned Japanese Soldiers  in Malaysia ( 1971 ), and it’s one of those documentaries that stays with you long after it ends. Famed director  Shôhei Imamura sets out to find Japanese soldiers who never went home after World War II, choosing instead to remain in Malaya . The search feels awkward and unfinished, which somehow makes it more honest. History, after all, rarely wraps things up neatly. The most memorable figure is “ A-lee ”, a former Japanese soldier who stayed on and later embraced Islam . Listening to him speak about the religion — quietly, sincerely, without drama — is unexpectedly moving. Who would have thought that after war, defeat and displacement, a Japanese soldier would find peace in Islam? There are no easy conclusions here, no grand moral lesson. Just the reminder that when wars end on paper, lives continue in all sorts of unpredictable ways. Some people return home. Others don’t. And sometimes, in the aftermath, they...
Read more

Ross Ariffin Meninggal Dunia

Image
 Innalillahiwainnailaihirojiun. Ross Ariffin was the one who gave me my first real break in songwriting -- he opened the door for my lyrics to be sung by local artistes. I got to know him through his ex-wife, who happened to be my editor when I first started freelancing. Our first project together was an album he produced for a newcomer, Ira Khairani. I wrote lyrics for three of her songs -- not bad for a rookie at the time. I also had the opportunity to write lyrics for one of his compositions for Fauziah Latiff. Ross later introduced me to Edwin of SRC, who signed me on, and that eventually led to me writing for Siti, Liza Hanim, Aqasha, and others. Ross was a brilliant producer and a classically-trained musician. I first noticed him when he won a regional songwriting competition, and later he cemented his name in the industry by winning Anugerah Juara Lagu with 'Kau Dan Aku'. Semoga ditempatkan di kalangan orang yang beriman.
Read more

Ol’ Skool Makan #3: Haji Shariff Cendol -- A Sweet Legacy Of Seremban

Image
I won’t miss this one -- not a chance. Every time I’m in Seremban , Haji Shariff Cendol is a must-stop. It’s conveniently near Jalan Nunis , so much so that I’d always snap a photo of my bowl of cendol and send it to my friend Graig Nunis -- just for the fun of it. Along with that, I’d order the rojak , because really, what’s a perfect bowl of cendol without its savoury, nutty partner in crime? The history here goes way back. The late Haji Shariff Haji Dolman started selling cendol around 1930 , pushing his cart around the streets of Seremban before finally setting up shop in town. His recipe was simple but unforgettable -- smooth shaved ice, thick creamy coconut milk, rich gula Melaka , and those trademark bright-green cendol strands made fresh daily. The business has since passed through generations, but that old-school taste still hits the spot every single time. The outlet itself remains charmingly no-frills. You queue, you order, you get your bowl, and for a few blissful minut...
Read more