HOWZAT? “Murali” on top of the world

Former Australian superstar and Disco king Alston Koch has re-emerged from musical obscurity to launch himself back in the music charts with a splendid tribute to Sri Lanka spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan who recently became the highest wicket taker in world cricket.

Sri Lankan born Koch, who dominated the world music charts with his rendition of Disco Lady together with his band Dark Tan in the late seventies, has since toned down his high profile involvement with the Australian music industry but found motivation from Murali’s achievement as something too irresistible to ignore.

The unashamed one-eyed Murali fan who finds himself the only accredited and fully endorsed musician by the champion bowler, has used his famous singer-songwriter status to skyrocket his catchy song simply titled “Murali” to the top of the charts in South Asia. The song is also currently gaining tremendous popularity in Australia, Europe and the Middle East with renditions of it being widely promoted through the US and Canada as well.

Muttiah Muralitharan is currently careering away from his only possible rival India’s Anil Kumble who is 128 wickets behind him in the current series against Australia. He has been ranked the number one bowler in the world for an unprecedented period of time and currently appears to be well on the way towards his target of 1000 wickets before contemplating retirement. Sri Lanka’s magician has already achieved that incredible milestone in the Test and one-day circuit putting him in a class of his own much like the legendary Sir Don Bradman, whose feats remain unlikely to be challenged through the history of the game.

One of the greatest accolades Murali received in his career came from Sir Don Bradman, who once described him as the “David Copperfield of cricket” and it certainly does not get better than that. Sir Don was an open admirer of Sri Lanka’s spin sensation.
Alston Koch’s reign with Disco Lady put the only Sri Lanka born singer-songwriter on top of the charts in three continents for nearly eight weeks and made him a household name in Australia. His achievements included successful Platinum and Gold awards for his performances through Australia, Asia and Europe. His success led to him landing a huge contract to write and perform for the “Kookaburras” in Australia’s defence of the Americas Cup yacht race.

Music critics have already acclaimed the Murali song as a classic and the BBC (Asia) and Cricinfo are sparing no pains to promote the popular single on a massive global scale. It has been aired on three continents and received a special mention on BBC’s “Test Match Special”.

The song was recorded in Melbourne and produced by one of Australia’s leading music producers Jarrod Gilson, who has given the rendition a huge boost by rating it as one of the best tributes he has been involved with. It also prompted Gilson to remark that he now fully comprehends why triple Grammy Award winner Alicia Keys recently introduced Alston Koch as a legend and a superstar of the world music industry at the recent MTV awards ceremony.

“To write a song about a living legend was no easy task with months spent in the planning stages by the production team and the Muralitharan Management Team” Koch said. It was finally recorded in one of the best recording studios in the world in Melbourne, Australia with award-winning conductor, arranger and producer Jarrad Gilson. A music video has also just been completed and includes footage from some of Muralitharan’s greatest triumphs in the on field action, while the song was being recorded at Oatlands Studios in Melbourne

Part of the proceeds from the sale of the CD and DVD will be donated to the 'Foundation of Goodness', a Sri Lankan Charity run by Kushil Gunesekera, Muralitharan’s manager and a few other Sri Lankan cricketers including Murali’s trusty ally in the field of action, Chaminda Vaas.

The song has three versions and one version is an authentic Australasian Dance Mix featuring some of the best Aboriginal didgeridoo players and musical instruments and ancient tribal chants from India to Afghanistan, Sri Lanka to Australia and cricket crowds from all over the world.