Who is the ultimate triple threat of Singer (6)

And then  guitar tabs fast car  sang the anthem like this: (MP3 link). No Spanish. Not even a particularly Latin rhythm. Just a stylized rendition with a R&B. Gospel vocal influences. Not all that different from what Ray Charles did when he sang "America the Beautiful" years later, and everyone loved that, including conservatives. Veterans, reportedly, threw their shoes at the television as he sang. Others questioned his right to stay in the United States, suggesting he should be deported (to where, exactly, had never been mentioned as those from Puerto Rico are, of course, American citizens)! I was nine years old. I remember all this. People really were pissed off. Gainsbourg’s acapella version of "La Marseillaise" reverberates across a stunned silence at the now (in)famous Strasbourg "concert." It wasn’t much of a concert because as Gainsbourg finished his "Marseillaise," threats of violence charged the air anew. Some 100 supporters gathered around to protect Gainsbourg from the over 400 incensed paratroopers.

What were they so incensed about? What they were incensed about was that Gainsbourg was singing the French anthem to a reggae beat. Generals, priests, journalists, and politicians denounced Gainsbourg in the media. Aspects of his career -- even his Jewishness -- were reexamined. Reactionaries ultimately concluded that he’d defaced "La Marseillaise" expressly because he was Jewish! I was in college at the time, at Columbia. In September, the crusty Paratroopers announced their intent to disrupt any Gainsbourg performance with violence. In Marseilles they threatened Gainsbourg's band, forcing him to cancel remaining concert dates. Gainsbourg went on as scheduled -- alone. Pale and shaking, he faced the crowd: "right wing goons have tried to force a cancellation." He thanked fans for their support, then tried appeasing the paratroopers with a conciliatory gesture of embrace. Some hell broke loose, chairs flew, skirmishes between pro- and anti-Gainsbourg factions were reported near the exits. And by the time people looked back up, Serge had disappeared into a halo of blinding stagelight. His record sales skyrocketed, however. But there'd been death threats -- all because he'd changed the march tempo of the song to a reggae beat. People really care about these things.

Sabah Chief Minister Musa Aman is the man to defeat for his allies. Foes but his position is unshakeable. The spat between Sabah Barisan Nasional (BN). Its small partner Liberal Demoractic Party (LDP) is not likely to end any time soon. In fact, the row is getting worse. Lately, the LDP, once helmed by Chong Kah Kiat, a former Sabah chief minister, is becoming bolder and more strindent in its criticism of the BN, especially Chief Minister Musa Aman. Everything that Musa does is open to LDP attacks. In the process, the party is being increasingly isolated from the Sabah BN, which is rapidly turning into an Umno-PBS dominated arrangement. Musa’s strongest critic is LDP deputy president, Chin Su Phin. By now Chin is no longer a welcome figure in BN circles, especially at Musa’s and Umno functions. Observers said that Chin has openly been rebuked by Umno leaders at such events.

While LDP president VK Liew, a federal deputy minister, may not agree that his party’s relationship with BN is strained, it is understood he is trying to play it down for his own political survival. Political analysts said the man behind the attacks on LDP is Chong Kah Kiat. His tiff with Musa became public while he was a minister in Musa’s cabinet. He went ballistic when his project, the “Mazu”, the statue of a sea goddess in Kudat, was halted by Musa for its proximity to a mosque there. That was in 2006. Chong had since left politics. He resigned in April 2007 in protest against Musa’s action. Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP). SAPP left BN soon after the 2008 general election in protest against Musa’s hand in BN’s decision not to field SAPP president Yong Teck Lee in that polls. So, LDP and SAPP now have a common “enemy” in Musa.

Chin and other LDP leaders openly criticised Musa for preferring PBS to LDP, which traditionally represented the Chinese. They were also hoping that with SAPP out of the picture, LDP would stand to benefit. Recently, Musa got the LDP all riled out when he picked a new second deputy chief minister to replace Peter Pang (who left LDP for Gerakan). Musa went for PBS deputy president, Dr Yee Moh Chai, over LDP to represent the Chinese community in his Cabinet. They also accused Musa of not appreciating the party’s contribution during elections including the recent one in Batu Sapi which was successfully retained by a PBS candidate. However, Musa yesterday brushed aside LDP criticisms, saying: “I would not be dragged into petty squabbling. Some weeks ago, Musa said he had no problem with LDP (the party). Many local analysts interpreted the remark to mean that Musa was telling that certain leaders in LDP are the problem, and not the party. Now observers are wondering how far LDP leaders would go to redeem themselves in the court of the powerful Musa.