Guess What? Fariz RM

Pop-jazz singer Fariz RM released a new album Dua Dekade (Two Decades) last Tuesday.

To mark the launch of his new compilation album, Fariz performed with Syaharani at the Chicago For Ribs restaurant, in South Jakarta.

The Jakarta-born musician acknowledged fellow musicians and friends who generously provided input that ensured the success of his previous albums, particularly Barcelona, which involved guitarist Eet Sjahranie.

"Someday, I will also give input to my friends" said the father of twins Venska and Venski.

He proudly mentioned his friends, Executive producer Seno M Hardjo, young music arranger Yudis Dwikorana and Syaharani, who helped prepare Dua Dekade.

Fariz began his career in 1977 when he joined a contest for young singers. He has become a music illustrator, composer, arranger and audio visual broadcast production specialist. His song Sakura became the theme for Sakura Dalam Pelukan (Sakura in Embrace), starring Eva Arnaz and Liem Swie King.

Fariz invited singers Norma Yunita, Neno Warisman and actress Marissa Haque on stage to sing some his old hits, including Renungan, Nada Kasih (Contemplation, Love Song).

He also mentioned being summoned to the city police headquarters recently after being implicated in the May bomb explosion in Jakarta, which authorities blamed on Aceh rebels.

"I received strong support from reporters (during the investigation). They are my good friends too," he said. (Sri Ramadani)

;REUTERS; ANPAi..u.. Guesswhat-Gisele

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Supermodel Gisele Bundchen returned to her native Brazil on Tuesday, but made the briefest of appearances in her country's main fashion event and revealed relatively little of her golden skin as she modeled bikinis for next summer.

"I don't really feel like showing all of my body to the whole world," Gisele, as she is known in the fashion world, told a pack of hungry reporters after a one-year absence from the Brazilian catwalks.

Gisele made the lightning quick, 24-hour visit to model Tuesday night for leading Brazilian swimwear label Cia. Maritima, which plans to open stores in the U.S. this year.

Cia. Maritima spent US$150,000 to produce the half-hour show and local media reported that Gisele received around half of that.

"With all the press that was here to see her, you can bet they got a good return for $80,000," said Regina Guerreiro, a local fashion critic.

The 21-year-old modeled three different ensembles, none of them the tiny, string bikinis for which Brazil is known. She wore a bikini with a mini wrap skirt, a short tube dress and a generous bikini by Brazilian standards with a sarong that she took off for a few brief seconds.

While she revealed little flesh, she also gave no fodder for gossip, refusing to discuss her romance with Hollywood star Leonardo Di Caprio and whether she was quitting smoking.

Before becoming one of the most sought after models in New York and Paris, with her curvaceous body and golden mane, Gisele was a fixture at the biannual Brazil fashion shows in Sao Paulo after she was discovered at a shopping mall.(Reuters)

;REUTERS; ANPAi..u.. Guesswhat-McCartney

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More than 30 years after the Beatles split up, Paul McCartney is still holding his own as one of the top-selling artists in the United States.

McCartney's latest album, Wingspan: Hits and History, has earned the British rock icon his 21st gold disc in the United States.

McCartney shares the record for the recording artist with the highest number of gold discs with fellow British rocker Eric Clapton, McCartney's publicist Geoff Baker told Reuters.

"According to Billboard magazine Paul and Eric Clapton are tying with 21 gold albums each," Baker said.

The discs were awarded by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

Clapton earned his 21st gold disc for the album Reptile. A gold disc represents sales of 500,000 copies and McCartney's album has since gone double platinum with sales of two million, Baker said.

"He'll be dead chuffed (delighted)," Baker said. "And I'll tell you what, he'll get his 22nd (gold disc) when his new album comes out."

The next album, as yet untitled, will be McCartney's first featuring new songs since Flaming Pie in 1997, Baker said. (Reuters)