WOMAD Singapore '99:
And the beat goes on ...

Day 1: Thursday, September 9, 1999

Due to the delay, most people were stuck at the Fort Green Stage watching Farafina, while homegrown singer-songwriter Ramli Sarip reasserted his veteran rocker status over at the Top Stage. It was a pity that only a small number of people caught the gig as his was probably the most engaging performance that evening.

Backed by a very competent band (featuring the very talented percussionist Steve Thornton), Ramli belted out lengthy atmospheric songs boasting of interesting arrangements and instrumentation. Of course, his intense singing style (sometimes resembling the singing of Azan) helped to bring across the spiritual theme of some of his songs. Ramli's compositions also show how well Malay words and tunes can be transformed into the best of world music.

The crowd on the Thursday night was a little thin (the field in front of the Fort Green Stage can easily take in twice or three times the crowd), probably because the gainfully-employed were still in their "work" mode. Hopefully, the weekend would see a bigger turnout and better weather, but the laid-back atmosphere on the opening night served as a good warm-up exercise for those who attended or performed.