Which Indonesian celebrities should I feature on AsiaFinest? Options

[Ben]

Which popular Indonesian celebrities should I feature on AsiaFinest and why? Voice your opinion here and you might see them featured on our site. Here's your chance to help support your favorite star!

[furansizuka]

Ben, obviously there are 2 strong candidates here: Anggun and Agnes Monica.

Anggun is already renown as international and world-class singer. She’s mature and brilliant, unique voice and exotic style. There’s none Asian artist who could make a par with her achievements yet so far.
Agnes Monica is renown as teenage drama queen that also soars in music industry. She’s very clever and mature on her young age (not yet 20 years old). She’s well known too in Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei and as you can see she has some followers from Netherlands and other countries too. If Korea has BoA, Indonesia has Agnes.

Pick one of them and you will get the feature easily from the members. If you pick Anggun, Heartshapedbox will provide you perfect information because she’s Anggun #1 fan in Indonesia and Anggun knows her. If you pick Agnes, Ansudjono will supply you lots of info too since she’s one of Agnes management team. I suggest you pick both becoz they have different style and segment

[ansudjono]

Ben, obviously there are 2 strong candidates here: Anggun and Agnes Monica.

Anggun is already renown as international and world-class singer. She’s mature and brilliant, unique voice and exotic style. There’s none Asian artist who could make a par with her achievements yet so far.
Agnes Monica is renown as teenage drama queen that also soars in music industry. She’s very clever and mature on her young age (not yet 20 years old). She’s well known too in Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei and as you can see she has some followers from Netherlands and other countries too. If Korea has BoA, Indonesia has Agnes.

Pick one of them and you will get the feature easily from the members. If you pick Anggun, Heartshapedbox will provide you perfect information because she’s Anggun #1 fan in Indonesia and Anggun knows her. If you pick Agnes, Ansudjono will supply you lots of info too since she’s one of Agnes management team. I suggest you pick both becoz they have different style and segment

hey...furan..im not one of Agnes management team...im just her fans and the webmaster from an unofficial site...

[furansizuka]

Hey guys!! Heartshapedbox has started this idea. Let’s heat up the contest by giving features for each of your favorites!!! Give your contributions pls!

PART I

The beginning

From MTV ASIA.COM 2004 AGNES MONICA - Child Actress Turned to Teen Singer.
She's been in the entertainment business ever since she learnt how to talk, hosting several kids TV shows including Video Anak and Tralala-Trilili, which won her the prestigious 1999 Panasonic Award for Best TV Host. Determined to do more, she branched into the world of acting in movies and television series by taking on the role of Lulu, Lupus's little sister in the movie Lupus Milenia, before finally reaching the peak of her career with the hit TV series, Pernikahan Dini (Adolescent Marriage). Pernikahan Dini gained big success nation wide and also in Malaysia & Singapore. Her role was quite controversial for she played as a pregnant high school girl while she was only 13 years old.

This serial was instrumental in getting her one foot in the door of making music when she sang the theme song "Pernikahan Dini" by renowned songwriter Melly Goeslow. It was a funkier, R&B of an existing pop song, the audience loved it and it showcased her strong vocals. All of 18, this Business Law undergraduate has gone on to win awards including a Planet Music Award in Singapore, before releasing her album And The Story Goes which spawned the two hit singles "Cinta Mati" and "Bilang Saja."

The album took seven months to make, while the video involved help from a choreographer, a physical trainer and a nutrition specialist to help Monica prepare for her performance. And it’s sold 35,000 copies in 3 days. The album made her to become the nominee of MTV Asia Awards 2004.

From www.infoselebriti.com
Agnes Monica was born in Jakarta, July 1st, 1986 from former athlete parents. Since she was in elementary school, she always gets top 5 in class and top one student. She began her career as a child singer on age 4 and has successfully downed 4 children albums. She had tight schedule from piano lesson, English course and doing her hobbies in Ice skating and badminton playing. Apart from the routines, she had the shows 3 - 5 times a month including in Los Angeles for 10 days on her school day.

Graduating from elementary, Agnes entered junior high school with fully scholarship. She hosted several kid shows on TV 5 days a week. Thanks to the show she got Panasonic Award for Best Child TV Host 1999. Agnes also spotted top #1 according to the polling for best teen actress in Indonesia at the time. She also stared in heaps of advertisements. When she was 13 years old she starred her first teen series TV drama and film television.

She accomplished junior high school in 2 years and continued studying at senior high school with full scholarship as well. The next TV drama "Pernikahan Dini" brought her into eminence when it hit succeed not only in Indonesia but also in Singapore and Malaysia. The soundtrack of the series gave the path to branch her talent in music industry.

PS: She refused the senior high school scholarship because she thought it would be better if given to other student who couldn’t afford school.

PART II

And The Story Goes..

‘And The Story Goes’ as the milestone for Agnes first teen album hit big succeed from the first time it’s released when she was 17. Thanks to the album she bagged prestigious Grammy-like Indonesian Music Awards in several categories and nominated in Planet Music Awards Singapore for the second time. For the first time as nominee in MTV Asia Awards and was the youngest nominee of all. The album got triple platinum so far.

Along with the successful album she kept staring some TV series and awarded and nominated many times for Best and Most Favorite TV Actress. Bringing the title as teenage drama queen Agnes made a step closer to her dream as becoming known internationally. In 2005 she was invited to play in Chinese TV drama ‘Romance in The White House’. She took 6 months Mandarin lesson and postponed 1 semester of university for shooting the series in Shanghai. Determine to do more; she accepted the offer from Taiwan, playing TV drama with Jerry Yan in ‘The Hospital’ or Bai Se Ju Ta in late 2005, directed by phenomenon series Meteor Garden’s Cai Yue Xun.

The Hospital

Take a look on this clip, Monica is here:
www.winnergp.com/wmv/bw05.wmv

Romance in The White House
CLICK HERE FOR THE LINK



To be continued.....


PART III

Whaddap A’?

Her second teen album released in December 2005. In the album she worked together with former Boyz II Men Keith Martin. It didn’t take a time to be #1 in many Indonesian music charts. Single ‘Tak Ada Logika’ was leading on #1 chart Brunei radio stations as well.
Touted as sexiest former artist through polling and the second sexiest woman in Indonesia 2005 according to Durex International, Agnes disagrees free sex and drugs. She donates her income for charity including scholarship for tsunami victim kids.
And now she’s preparing her first big solo concert on her birthday next July with an American musician whose name is still kept a secret.

[ansudjono]

Hey guys!! Heartshapedbox has started this idea. Let’s heat up the contest by giving features for each of your favorites!!! Give your contributions pls!

PART I

The beginning

From MTV ASIA.COM 2004 AGNES MONICA - Child Actress Turned to Teen Singer.
She's been in the entertainment business ever since she learnt how to talk, hosting several kids TV shows including Video Anak and Tralala-Trilili, which won her the prestigious 1999 Panasonic Award for Best TV Host. Determined to do more, she branched into the world of acting in movies and television series by taking on the role of Lulu, Lupus's little sister in the movie Lupus Milenia, before finally reaching the peak of her career with the hit TV series, Pernikahan Dini (Adolescent Marriage). Pernikahan Dini gained big success nation wide and also in Malaysia & Singapore. Her role was quite controversial for she played as a pregnant high school girl while she was only 13 years old.

This serial was instrumental in getting her one foot in the door of making music when she sang the theme song "Pernikahan Dini" by renowned songwriter Melly Goeslow. It was a funkier, R&B of an existing pop song, the audience loved it and it showcased her strong vocals. All of 18, this Business Law undergraduate has gone on to win awards including a Planet Music Award in Singapore, before releasing her album And The Story Goes which spawned the two hit singles "Cinta Mati" and "Bilang Saja."

The album took seven months to make, while the video involved help from a choreographer, a physical trainer and a nutrition specialist to help Monica prepare for her performance. And it’s sold 35,000 copies in 3 days. The album made her to become the nominee of MTV Asia Awards 2004.

From www.infoselebriti.com
Agnes Monica was born in Jakarta, July 1st, 1986 from former athlete parents. Since she was in elementary school, she always gets top 5 in class and top one student. She began her career as a child singer on age 4 and has successfully downed 4 children albums. She had tight schedule from piano lesson, English course and doing her hobbies in Ice skating and badminton playing. Apart from the routines, she had the shows 3 - 5 times a month including in Los Angeles for 10 days on her school day.

Graduating from elementary, Agnes entered junior high school with fully scholarship. She hosted several kid shows on TV 5 days a week. Thanks to the show she got Panasonic Award for Best Child TV Host 1999. Agnes also spotted top #1 according to the polling for best teen actress in Indonesia at the time. She also stared in heaps of advertisements. When she was 13 years old she starred her first teen series TV drama and film television.

She accomplished junior high school in 2 years and continued studying at senior high school with full scholarship as well. The next TV drama "Pernikahan Dini" brought her into eminence when it hit succeed not only in Indonesia but also in Singapore and Malaysia. The soundtrack of the series gave the path to branch her talent in music industry.

PS: She refused the senior high school scholarship because she thought it would be better if given to other student who couldn’t afford school.

PART II

And The Story Goes..

‘And The Story Goes’ as the milestone for Agnes first teen album hit big succeed from the first time it’s released when she was 17. Thanks to the album she bagged prestigious Grammy-like Indonesian Music Awards in several categories and nominated in Planet Music Awards Singapore for the second time. For the first time as nominee in MTV Asia Awards and was the youngest nominee of all. The album got triple platinum so far.

Along with the successful album she kept staring some TV series and awarded and nominated many times for Best and Most Favorite TV Actress. Bringing the title as teenage drama queen Agnes made a step closer to her dream as becoming known internationally. In 2005 she was invited to play in Chinese TV drama ‘Romance in The White House’. She took 6 months Mandarin lesson and postponed 1 semester of university for shooting the series in Shanghai. Determine to do more; she accepted the offer from Taiwan, playing TV drama with Jerry Yan in ‘The Hospital’ or Bai Se Ju Ta in late 2005, directed by phenomenon series Meteor Garden’s Cai Yue Xun.

The Hospital

Take a look on this clip, Monica is here:
www.winnergp.com/wmv/bw05.wmv

Romance in The White House
CLICK HERE FOR THE LINK



To be continued.....
PART III

Whaddap A’?

Her second teen album released in December 2005. In the album she worked together with former Boyz II Men Keith Martin. It didn’t take a time to be #1 in many Indonesian music charts. Single ‘Tak Ada Logika’ was leading on #1 chart Brunei radio stations as well.
Touted as sexiest former artist through polling and the second sexiest woman in Indonesia 2005 according to Durex International, Agnes disagrees free sex and drugs. She donates her income for charity including scholarship for tsunami victim kids.
And now she’s preparing her first big solo concert on her birthday next July with an American musician whose name is still kept a secret.

wow2...where du get it....ok ill continue it then
for me a best singer means not only singing. For me someone is sucessfull to be a singer or actress when people noticed her, controversy..and follow her style. Agnes Monica is definetly one of it. people love and hate her in the same times. Some peoples may say that she is arogant because the way she talk, but the people who love her will say she is a teenage who knows what she wants. Like this sentence she ever said " Kalo gue bisa sampai jadi seperti ini tanpa perlu narkoba masak loe ga bisa " some people will find it arogan, but its is a fact that no one can deny and some people will feel that the sentence is giving them sourage to do the same..Not forget her style..altough not all people can accept the style she has, she never change it just for fullfilling what people wants.. and that's Agnes.

One of Indonesian singer " Helena " once mentioned that a singer is sucessfull when a " pengamen " can sing their song. Well, at least the pengamen knows Bilang Saja. And in Surabaya, mainly in the pasar Atom n Matahari department Store you can hear Agnes song " tak Ada Logika ". of course she still have negative attitude. But, hye eveyone has it. Nobody is perfect.

Ruth Sahanaya is one of Agnes fans. here is her says which is published in www.detik.com
Ruth Sahanaya Siap Digeser Agnes Monica
Eny Kartikawati - detikHot


Ruth Sahanaya-Agnes Monica (fta/ine, hot)
Jakarta, Munculnya penyanyi-penyanyi muda berbakat sangat dicermati oleh Ruth Sahanaya. Salah satu yang disebutnya bagus dan kemungkinan besar menggeser posisinya sebagai salah satu diva Indonesia adalah Agnes Monica.

Uthe begitu pelantun 'Kaulah Segalanya' itu biasa disapa melihat Agnes sebagai salah satu penyanyi muda yang sangat berpotensi. Dari segi kualitas vokal dan penampilan panggung, Agnes layak disebut sebagai diva muda.

Selain Agnes, istri dari Jeffry Waworuntu itu juga menyebut dua nama lainnya. Di mata Uthe, Rossa dan Dewi Sandra juga berpeluang menjadi diva seperti dua rekannya Titi DJ dan Krisdayanti di masa mendatang.

"Penyanyi muda memang banyak bermunculan. Tapi saya lihat yang kuat bertahan belum terlalu banyak. Yang saya lihat bagus itu Rossa, Agnes Monica dan Dewi Sandra," tutur Uthe yang akan menggelar konser Tiga Diva bareng Titi DJ dan KD, Januari 2006, pada detikhot di kawasan Kafe Taman Semanggi, Rabu (14/12/2005).

Bicara soal konser 'Tiga Diva', menurut penyanyi yang sudah melanglang buana ke mancanegara itu, konser tersebut merupakan salah satu bentuk pembuktian eksistensi para diva Indonesia. Konser dan album bagi Uthe adalah sebuah tanggungjawab untuk para penyanyi.

"Konsernya 26 Januari. Mengingat agak sulit menyatukan jadwal, kita baru efektif latihan awal Januari," tuturnya ketika ditanya soal persiapan menjelang konser 'Tiga Diva'.

Uthe menuturkan dalam konser yang diiringi Erwin Gutawa Orchestra itu, ketiga diva tidak akan menyanyi sendiri-sendiri. "Kalau nggak duet ya kita tampil bertiga," jelas penyanyi yang akan mengisi malam tahun baru di salah satu hotel di kawasan Anyer.(eny)


This post has been edited by ansudjono: Apr 27 2006, 01:10 PM

[furansizuka]

yay! It's getting hot in here ANGGUN or AGNES MONICA, not Dian Sastro....huehehee..

Anggun & Agnes

[heartshapedbox]

yay! It's getting hot in here ANGGUN or AGNES MONICA, not Dian Sastro....huehehee..

Anggun & Agnes

lho kok mereka jadi mirip ya disini...?

Hey guys!! Heartshapedbox has started this idea. Let’s heat up the contest by giving features for each of your favorites!!! Give your contributions pls!

Nah gitu donk.....
Let's give Ben a good reason to feature your fave Indonesian celeb....not only give the pic

[furansizuka]

PART IV

AGNES IN DEPTH…

Agnes Monica: 'I'm just a perfectionist'
Tari Danawidjaja, Contributor, Jakarta

Starting her career in entertainment at three, Agnes Monica has been through a long journey in the industry. She began her career as a child singer, then TV presenter, an actress and finally a girl not-yet-a-woman singer.

The 19-year-old performer is always in the public eye. People love gossiping about her dress sense from head to toe. The media loves to brag about her. And still, we're looking for some more.

She's young, smart and talented, yet her performances always draw public attention. Some perceive her as an arrogant and highly demanding artist. Funnily enough, she has never taken those comments to heart.

Born in Jakarta on July 1, 1986, Agnes' ambitious spirit, determination and quest for perfection have made her such a professional artist. She starred in several Indonesian soaps like Pernikahan Dini (Premature Marriage), Ciuman Pertama (First Kiss) and Cewekku Jutek (My Unfriendly Girl). In 2001, she won favorite drama actress at Panasonic Awards 2001. Her star continues to rise in her singing career.

In 2003, Agnes released her debut album titled “...and the story goes”. She left the cute, kiddie look and created a new image. Her transformation has drawn public attention.

Once again, Agnes' star rose as the album brought her several awards, AMI Awards 2004 for the best female solo pop artist, AMI Awards 2004 for the best duo/group pop artist (with Ahmad Dhani from Dewa band) and AMI Awards 2004 for The best dance pop artist.

In December 2005 she released her second album titled “Whaddup A?” with single “Bukan Milikmu” (Not Yours).

The Japanese haircut and pink-brown highlights is surprising. She says it is just her way of expressing herself, of being honest about everything.

Apart from her busy schedule, Agnes is still studying at the University of Pelita Harapan (UPH,) majoring in Law.

"I love studying. It's just something weird about me. If my career weren't this big, I'd probably study all the time."

Supported by her management, Agnes is ready to hit the new winding road in 2006 especially going international. Agnes shared her thoughts with The Jakarta Post at a sports studio in Senayan, Jakarta Selatan.

What makes you appear so confident?

Confidence is something that can be built with well managed preparation. I put in a lot of preparation for each show. I'm always working things out.

The more prepared you are, your confidence will automatically grow stronger. And I've experienced different kinds of audience and environments, so I have the ability to control problems, you know like techniques or crowds.

Indonesian artists/musicians are not known for their professionalism. But you seem to be so professional. What motivates you?

I think Indonesian artists/musicians are quite strong about being professional, however there are still many who don't have a professional attitude toward their work.

I deal with a lot of problems in being professional, like being labeled as an arrogant or very demanding artist. The fact is it's not about that; it's about negotiating with people.

For example, I ask for a flat stage or one, which is not bumpy because I have dancers. It's not about what I asked for, it's about security.

I can't perform without thinking of my dancers' security. It all makes sense. I can't think of my own problems, I have to think about my dancers too.

Another thing is that I ask for one hour of preparation before each show. I request this because I have reasons. It takes a while for my dancers to do some blocking, especially on a big stage.

Now everyone is used to it. You know, it's so hard to be that way. So, my management and I have to work things out before signing a contract.

I'd prefer to discuss the arrangements before signing the contract so that people won't complain about it later.

What is your biggest problem as a singer, teenager, actress and college student?

I'm a perfectionist. I have to do my best in everything I do. And hopefully, the result is the best too, as a singer, teenager, actress and college student.

The most difficult thing is to determine my first priority. I want everything to be at the first level; meanwhile, I know that my body can't cope with that.

In college I earned a high GPA, in singing I have high expectations. So, at one stage I really lacked sleep, because after shooting I went back home and did all my assignments or read some books.

And I have to get up so early to go to college. My mom said, I couldn’t go on like that because I have to decide on my priorities. So now to be honest my career is my priority.

Are you going to go international?

My biggest passion about my singing career is that I want to be at a point where my idealism and the market can walk the same path.

I can find it in America or Hollywood, but I can't do it here, as in the market here they don't listen to different references.

I think they listen to R&B, I don't think they even know there's this thing called R&B. So, it's something that makes things harder. I have to go international.

I think our creativity is repressed here because we have fewer references compared to others.

Overseas, people can mix different types of music, and they have their own market. So, that's the hardest thing in the singing business or career in Indonesia.

You have good English so you have the potential to go international. Many Indonesian artists are not fluent in English. What do you think about this?

Well, it's not fair because English is not the medium of instruction in our schools. And sometimes, if you speak English too much, people say you're not a nationalist.

The fact is if you have good English, you can promote your country overseas, because, our language is not used as an international language.

What did you like most about recording your latest album?

I was more involved in this album, following my desires almost 100 percent. Like “Bukan Milikmu”. I chose that song, although it's pop, it's not cheesy pop.

I discussed it a lot with my brother and the musicians. I wrote the lyrics in the album and also the spoken parts, because the spoken lyrics give a different ambience.

I did the vocal arrangement and the backing vocal arrangement too. I realize that I can give a different ambience with the vocal arrangement.

Have you ever thought of composing different kinds of pop music?

In my latest album I couldn't experiment too much because I had to see the market, but if you're listening to “Bukan Milikmu” and “Tak Ada Logika” (No Logic), I'm trying to do the best I can to suit the pop R&B market.

I have different ornaments, but there's a lot of difference between Indonesia and overseas.

Your voice shows such serious progression. Your comment?

Actually, it depends on the type of music. My first album is kind of cheesy pop. Anyone can sing it even if they don't know how to sing, it's totally composed for the market while this one demanded more technique.

Tell us, what's with your fashion statement?

Stop the fashion system! It's one thing that is hard to accept in Indonesia. Because, people here think that the right fashion statement is jeans and T-shirt, the rest is just weird. Who make these rules?

So, this is something that I want to change, so that people can be more creative in expressing their style. I don't think everyone can be identical.

I'm not trying to prove anything by changing my costume and hairstyle. I'm just being honest with myself. For references, I look at Japanese magazines, you know J-style.

What is your biggest fear?

To be honest, I'm afraid of failure, because I'm a perfectionist. On the positive side it is good. But looking at the negative side, the burden actually comes from myself, not from others. And I think how we handle it is important, that's the only way to face it.

Once, my GPA was not even 3.5, and I got really disappointed. All my friends said it was OK since my schedule was very tight.

But I was sad, because I want to get cum laude.


You always look totally involved in whatever you do. Who has influenced your life the most?

My parents, especially my mom.

I'm not saying my dad is not involved, but my mom has always been around since I joined the entertainment business. She makes me strong. What makes me so happy about her is, she never blocked me from seeing the real world.

But she keeps watching me from a distance. So, when I encounter a problem, I handle it with my own principles.

So you're very close to your mom?

I'm very close to my mom. She is my best friend and the best critic ever. We have a very open relationship.

She never complained about my style, instead she would say, "Nes, I don't want that dress".

Apart from that, she's not authoritarian, she would show me the negative and positive side.

If you were given the opportunity to promote Indonesia, what would you promote?

Many people question why Agnes does not show an Indonesian style. I get confused by that. I'm singing R&B, do I have to wear kebaya?

Once, I tried to promote Indonesian traditional dancing. I got a big salute from one side and complaints from others. I get really tired of that. I just don't understand it.

I think, if I want to promote Indonesia I want everyone to give their support. If you look at India, many musicians use Indian elements, even Destiny's Child.

India is becoming very well known around the world.

What's your opinion about our entertainment industry? What are the biggest challenges you have faced?

The Indonesian market is hard to predict. It always has a different trend. Actually, it is a big challenge. It's hard to predict the current market.

But I want to change our music references. We should not just listen to pop or dangdut but also listen to jazz, blues, pop-rock; any kind of music that will break the barriers, and finally create its own market.

Do you still hang out with friends?

I still hang out a lot but not as much as other teenagers. I think it's the risk that I take. I don't mind. Looking at what I have now, I don't think there are many people in my position, so it's balanced.

I'm not the basa-basi (chit chat) type. My best friends are those with quality talk. So, I'm close to those who are older than me, and those who don't gossip a lot.

I don't like non-quality chit chat, at least the conversation I have should bring something meaningful. I don't like talking about others, because I think if you're pointing your finger at others, you'd better look at yourself first.

And what do you do in your leisure time?

Just hang out or go to the movies with my friends.

Is there anything you'd like to say to support people your age?

The most important thing is you are able to achieve something without using drugs. There are many people who use drugs and die. How come people don't see that?

To be honest, I am so against smoking and drugs. And the other thing is you have to be open-minded, you have to have a lot of knowledge.

So it's a guarded freedom, it's not just being as free as you want to be. You also must have principles, for example no drugs or casual sex. These are nonnegotiable principles. And also, you have to go to school and read a lot of books.

From: http://www.thejakartapost.com/detailfeatur...0115.C01&irec=0