Winds of Pop by Kinta Valley Wind Orchestra (KVWO)

Ipoh was brought alive by the Winds of Pop on Sunday afternoon, thanks to a spectacular 1.5-hour show presented by the illustrious Kinta Valley Wind Orchestra (KVWO). This celebration of pop music gathered an extravaganza of some of the best pop music of our generation, from timeless classics to the latest K-pop hits.

The concert started strongly with the “Symphonic Beyond,” a music montage of several Beyond’s greatest hits. The set included 海闊天空, 光輝歲月, 真的愛妳, and 喜歡你 – it was a smooth blend arranged by Ong Jiin Joo. Beyond, is regarded as the most successful and influential CantoPop band from Hong Kong. The band impressing the minds of overseas Chinese communities from all corners of the world, beyond Hong Kong, Mainland China, and Southeast Asia.

This was followed by “The Symphonic Beatles,” arranged by John Cacavas. The Beatles certainly need no introduction. An English rock band formed in 1960, there is no denying that the Beatles are the most influential band of all time. Among the hits played were A Hard Day’s Night, Yesterday, I Want to Hold Your Hand, Michelle, and Hey Jude.

From England to the United States, next came “A Portrait of Santana.” Carlos Santana was the founder of Santana, a rock band formed in the late 1960s. The medley, arranged by Giancarlo Gazzani, featured Flor d’Luna, Oye Como Va, Europa, and Smooth.

Next to be presented was “ABBA Gold,” a selection of ABBA’s iconic tracks. ABBA, a Swedish pop supergroup that touched the hearts and minds of music lovers globally, brought us hits like Dancing Queen, Mamma Mia, Fernando, and The Winner Takes It All. This medley was an arrangement by Ron Sebregts.

Breaking from the norm of music from wind orchestras, next came Malaysia’s very own version of Michael Jackson, Melvin Yong. With dance moves reminiscent of the King of Pop himself, many of MJ’s timeless hits were enlivened by the orchestra, beginning with Billie Jean.

From dance, the band reverted to music, this time with “Coldplay Symphony.” A British rock band formed in 1997, some of the greatest hits selected for this medley were A Sky Full of Stars, Clocks, The Scientist, and Viva La Vida.

After a 15-minute intermission, the orchestra returned stronger and louder. It was an energetic collaboration with the local bhangra band, Dhol Federation. They played the song, ‘Say Shava Shava’ from the Bollywood movie ‘Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham,’ in a call to dance and revel in the moment.

From the upbeat number, the audience was then captivated by a Cantopop medley from the 80s, the golden era of Cantopop. Among the tracks included were 偏偏喜歡你, Monica, 夕陽之歌, and 好歌獻給你.

How can a pop concert be complete without showcasing Jay Chou, the multi-talented Taiwanese musician, singer-songwriter, music producer, actor, director, and multi-instrumentalist? He is revered as one of the most influential and successful artistes in the Chinese music industry. The arrangement was by Yeo Chow Shern.

Wrapping up the concert was Puteh Ramlee, where the audience was able to explore how legendary Malaysian artiste P. Ramlee incorporated elements of traditional Malay music, such as gamelan, into his songs, and analyse the impact of this fusion on Malaysian music culture. Among the hits included in this medley were Bujang Lapok, Getaran Jiwa, and Bunyi Guitar.

But wait… that wasn’t the end of the show, as the orchestra acceded to the call for an encore, not once but twice, with a K-Pop medley and a Mandarin song, 祝福 (Blessing) by Jacky Cheung.

Video: Winds of Pop by Kinta Valley Wind Orchestra (KVWO)

The concert was conducted by the talented Low Chee Meng along with up-and-coming Natalie Liew Tze Ching.

Event: Winds of Pop (WOP) Presented by the Kinta Valley Wind Orchestra
Venue: RTM Auditorium, Ipoh
Date: 7th July, 2024
Time: 3pm