Music and mass communication: a study of M. Nasir and modern Malay music / Amir Husairi Sharif

This study focuses on the evolution of modern Malay music in Malaysia with reference to the person of M. Nasir. Such a study is relatively new in the Malaysian context. This study sees that the time has come to seriously investigate the various dimensions and implications of this aspect of popular culture through a socio-historical and a biographical approach. Hence, the study was divided into two parts: the first part surveys the development and evolution of music from a socio-historical perspective; while the second part examines the roles of M. Nasir in influencing the path of Malay popular music. It also made reference to ideas that have influenced M. Nasir and which in turn was seen to be reflected in his music. This study can be seen as an attempt to sketch a biography of the person as composer, singer and artist. From such an investigation, we can conclude that there is much more than what seems to be merely entertainment. Modern Malay popular music, like the Rock genres of the 1960s and '70s, reflect the mood of political and social life of the times. To some extent, it embodies a certain outlook in social criticism, a search for meaning, and a form of political protest.

Pengajian ini rnenjurus kepada evolusi muzik Melayu moden di Malaysia dengan M. Nasir sebagai rujukan. Pengajian ini boleh dianggap baru di Malaysia. Disini dapat dilihat bahawa masanya telah tiba untuk pengkajian yang mendalam terhadap kepelbagaian dimensi dan implikasi mengenai budaya popular melalui sosio-sejarah dan pendekatan biographi. Pengajian ini telah dibahagikan kepada dua bahagian: bahagian pertama mengkaji perkembangan muzik dari perspektif sosio-sejarah; sementara bahagian kedua melihat kepada peranan M. Nasir didalam perjalanan muzik popular Melayu. Iajuga merujuk kepada idea-idea yang mempengaruhi M. Nasir yang kemudiannya di tafsirkan melalui muzik beliau. Pengajian ini boleh dilihat sebagai percubaan untuk menghasilkan biographi individu yang digelar pencipta, penyanyi dan art is. Daripada kajianyang dijalankan, dapat disimpulkan bahawa muzik itu bukanlah hanya bersifat hiburan. Muzik Melayu moden, seperti genre Rock di sekitar tahun 1960-an dan 70-an, mencerminkan keadaan politik dan sosial semasa. Iajuga turut dikaitkan sebagaipengkritik sosial dan protes terhadap ketidakadilan politik.