Old songs in danger - Ronnie

Chamikara WEERASINGHE

RONNIE Leitch is an artist with his own style and act. And he has got more. He has got his own thinking.

He is a rare singer who knows what he is doing and he is bold enough to do what he likes doing.

Ronnie may be described as Mr.Brilliant in the local music scene whose very appearance will make a difference on any stage anywhere in the country.

He once took the melody of Smokie’s Living Next Door to Alice, and made that single a local track of his own, also called “Alice”.

The hilariously rollicking “Kavuda Bole Alice” became a hit in no time with the video which Ronnie performed the role of an affected village lover baffled by his village girlfriend’s urbanized outlook as with her return from a job in the UAE.

Ronnie’s acting as well as its lyrics by Hemasiri Halpita was partly responsible for the song’s success.

In Tune interviewed the robust character Ronnie with a view to know his inside. He was at Water’s Edge, Battaramulla.

How do you do your singing the way you do it?

I simply do not imitate. For the most part of it I want to be myself in whatever I do , be it singing, dancing or acting. Whatever I do I do it in my style.

Is it because you do not find within yourself to imitate others?

If I want to imitate another artist , I will do it exactly like the other. If I want to sing an Eddy Jayamanna’s song I will do it exactly like him.

How did you develop your style of singing and acting?

It is a God’s gift. Everybody has been given a gift by God.

What is wrong with other people’s gift, why do some artists show an inclination to copy others?

They have the gift , but they misuse it. That’s the difference.

Is copying and imitating others such a bad thing?

That depends on how you use your gift if you have that. Even senior artists in the calibre of H.R.Jothipala, Milton Perera and Rukmani Devi had sung Hindi melodies with Sinhala lyrics.

They merely sang with the gift they had. Even added colour to the original song. They did not harm the original. One cannot say they imitated the original artist or his or her style. They sang in their own style.

There are some Hindi melodies , which were made Sinhala songs and sung by Rukmani Devi, which sounds better than the original.

Is it happening today?

I do not think so. Instead a lot of old tracks are being jeopardized by some new wave artists.

Why do you say that ?

This is what I have seen. I have regrets over the situation.

When you compare the quality of music today with music with yesteryears in the 60s, 70s and 80s, can you see any development?

No, I see a downtrend instead in terms of musical value. You will hardly get any musical piece which has good melody.

Don’t some people and critics regard you as a comedian and not give you any importance for what you do?

Yeah, some people do. but there are some who do not. I must say that they are very few. In a way it is the Sri Lankan way to give value to rubbish and underestimate talent.

This happened to late Freddy Silva who has done much to Sinhala comedy song. It is sad that our people give much less attention to talent and gets caught up in glamour with a little sense.

How do you explain that?

Suppose that a rich artist gets on a bus. The people will say, “ ah, I saw that fellow on the bus yesterday. A broken fellow. He is a waste.” This is the way.

They do not talk about the artist for his talent’ nor do they realise that this artist is travelling on the bus because he likes travelling in a bus once in a way.

Do you like to say something about your family?

Yes, my wife is keeping well. So is my daughter Keshiya. My son is playing for the under 13 cricket team of S. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia. He is a sports lover and my daughter goes to Bishop’s College.

Royal boys on stage

“Royalists on Stage” - a musical extravaganza will see the coming together of Old Royalists to perform on one

 stage for a Right Royal performance of song and dance on April 7th 2007 at BMICH

 (Main Hall).

The concert will feature old boys of the College.

The lineup includes award winning musicians from the local music scene with a few making a come back after a long lapse for this concert.

Among the Old Royalists performing will be Chandimal Fernando, Diliup Gabadamudalige, Rukshan Perera (ex Super Golden Chimes), Suresh Maliyadde, Sangeeth Wickremasinghe, Santhush with Bathiya, Athula Adikari with Samitha Mudunkotuwa, Channa Perera, Hema Nalin Karunaratne, Kelum Wijesuriya, Gajan, Dushanth Weeraman, Birendra Gabadamudalige, Jehan Rajapakse, Stephan, Shamal to name a few.

Royal College Union (RCU), will see the proceeds of this concert will be used for the refurbishment of the College Main Hall and other RCU approved projects.

Project Chairman, Amal Gajamange said that the ‘83 Group of Royalists was looking to do something out of the ordinary, and hence “Royalists of Stage” was conceptualized.

This project gives the opportunity to expose the rich and nurtured talent of

 musicians and all those in the entertainment field who are the products of the Royal College we look forward to see the participation of all Old Royalists who are practically involved in the music and entertainment industry to be featured at the concert.

Old Royalists involved in the music and entertainment industry are invited to be a part of this event. (contact Amal on 0773052572)