No other musician defined Malaysiana quite like the late Sudirman—and it’s not just because he was appointed as the ‘Singing Ambassador’ by Tourism Malaysia. His penetrative tenor is immediately recognisable, crossing all ethnic and linguistic lines. Songs like “Chow Kit Road Chow Kit Road” and “Balik Kampung” are peak pop simplicity in their messaging and easy rhythmic structure. Coincidentally, nowhere was this Malaysian ideal more evident than the diverse crowd at his legendary Jalan Chow Kit concert in 1986—Sudir and patriotism are innately interlinked.