Ahmad Faizal bin Mohammad Tahir (born 26 October 1978) is a Malaysian singer-songwriter who shot to fame after becoming the first runner-up of the first season of One in a Million in 2006.[1] He has won multiple Anugerah Industri Muzik awards (Malaysian equivalent to Grammy Awards), Anugerah Juara Lagu and Anugerah Planet Muzik awards.[1] He runs a production studio named Faithful Music, home to young and rising artists such as Hanie Soraya, Aziz Harun, Harris Baba, Nastia Band, Aizat Amdan, Caliph Buskers and Hannah Delisha. He also runs a charity movement named IAMFAITHMEN whose objective is to support and spread positivity by giving back to the unfortunate.[citation needed]

Faizal Tahir
فيصل طاهر
Faizal at the 23rd Anugerah Juara Lagu at Stadium Putra Bukit Jalil on 18 January 2009
Faizal at the 23rd Anugerah Juara Lagu at Stadium Putra Bukit Jalil on 18 January 2009
Background information
Birth nameAhmad Faizal bin Mohammad Tahir
Born (1978-10-26) 26 October 1978 (age 46)
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
GenresRock, Ballad, Pop
Occupation(s)Singer-songwriter, composer, record producer, actor
Years active2004–present
LabelsMonkey Bone Records (2006–2013), Faithful Music (2014–present)

Personal life

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Faizal Tahir is the second child of seven. One of his brothers, Anas Tahir, is a member of nasyid group, Firdaus, after leaving another nasyid group, Far East.

He studied at UiTM Shah Alam, from 2000 to 2003, and graduated with a diploma in Communication & Media Studies.

He is a former member of nasyid group, Mirwana. He is a singer and a composer. He built a mini studio named Home Suite Studio, located at Ukay Perdana, Ampang.

One in a Million

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Throughout the competition, Faizal sang:

  • Chariot – Gavin DeGraw (Top 20)
  • I Don't Wanna Be – Gavin DeGraw (Top 12)
  • With A Little Help From My Friends – Joe Cocker (Top 10)
  • Are You Gonna Be My Girl – Jet (Top 9)
  • L.O.V.E.- Ashlee Simpson (Top 8)
  • Warisan Wanita Terakhir – Teacher's Pet (Top 7)
  • Elevation – U2 (Top 6)
  • Superstition – Stevie Wonder (Top 6)
  • Kenangan Terindah – Samsons (Top 3)
  • Mahakarya Cinta – Original composition (Grand Finale)
  • Medley of We Will Rock You, L.O.V.E. and I Don't Wanna Be – Queen, Ashlee Simpson and Gavin DeGraw (Grand Finale)

At the beginning of the grand finale show, Marion Caunter and Awal Ashaari informed Faizal that he was eliminated, but he was given another chance to perform for the grand prize. His first original single, Mahakarya Cinta, a song composed by Audi Mok, made its debut in the Grand Finale of One in a Million. He finished as runner-up to Suki Low. Faizal released a single, Kasih Tercipta, as part of the soundtrack for the local film Waris Jari Hantu. He was also named as the sole Malaysian spokesperson for DC Superheroes clothing, as he was famously noted for wearing T-shirts with the Superman logo throughout One in a Million. He also recorded "Gemuruh", the theme song for My Starz LG.

Controversy

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On 13 January 2008 Faizal created a controversy by removing his shirt to bare his chest and also his belt "live" on television during 8TV's fourth anniversary concert. 8TV's management took action by giving him strict warnings and requiring him to be involved in charity work for six months. In addition, two days after the incident 8TV held a press conference where Faizal apologized to all who were offended by the stunt.[2] As a result, on 19 January, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) stated that it would ban him from appearing on television for three months, and also bar 8TV from airing live or tape-delayed entertainment programmes throughout the same period, effective 15 January.[3] Days after the end of the ban, the Mufti of Perlis, Dato' Dr. Asri Zainul Abidin, issued a grievance[clarification needed] to TV3 against having Faizal perform at the Konsert Jom Heboh, which was held in the first weekend of May.[4]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
2010 Lu Pikirlah Sendiri de Movie Himself Cameo appearance
2024 Pendekar Awang Utusan To' Ku Paloh Special appearance

Television

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Year Program Role Notes
2018 I Can See Your Voice Malaysia Himself Guest artist, season 1

Discography

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Studio albums

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Album Information Track list
Aku.Muzik.Kamu
  • Release Date: 22 November 2007
  • Format: CD
  • Label: Monkey Bone Records
Track list
  1. Invitation
  2. Batu & Golek
  3. Kerna Kamu
  4. Aku Punya Kamu
  5. Sempurna
  6. Cuba
  7. Sampai Syurga
  8. La Da Di Dum
  9. Mungkin Ku Tak Bisa
  10. Mestikah Ada Yang Lain
  11. Mahakarya Cinta (Orchestra Version)
  12. Sampai Syurga (Acoustic Version)
  13. Gemuruh
  14. Mahakarya Cinta
Adrenalin
  • Release Date: 31 Januari 2010
  • Format: CD, Digital Download
  • Label: Monkey Bone Records
Track list
  1. Adrenalin
  2. Superhero
  3. Selamat Malam
  4. Karma
  5. Hanyut
  6. Bencinta
  7. Hanyut (Acoustic Version)
  8. Semesta
Faizal Tahir
  • Release Date: 31 March 2013
  • Format: CD, Digital Download
  • Label: Monkey Bone Records
Track list
  1. Vortex
  2. Bintang
  3. Biar
  4. Selalu
  5. Halusinasi
  6. 7
  7. Permaisuri
  8. Buta
  9. Mati
  10. Anti Graviti
Anatomi
  • Release Date: 4 November 2016
  • Format: CD, Digital Download
  • Label: Warner Music Malaysia
Track list
  1. Assalamualaikum
  2. Suriram
  3. Sejati
  4. Menang
  5. Bukan Yang Pertama
  6. Sayang
  7. Setia
  8. Dirgahayu
  9. Negaraku
  10. Assalamualaikum (ABPBH 2014)
  11. Assalamualaikum AJL 30
  12. Assalamualaikum (Acoustic)
Rojak
  • Release Date: 2 August 2019
  • Format: CD, Digital Download
  • Label: Faithful Music, Warner Music Malaysia
Track list
  1. Ragaman
  2. Ratu
  3. Starfeather
  4. Kamu
  5. Bisa Aja
  6. Malaysia
  7. This is Anfield
  8. Until We Meet Again
  9. Fire & Water
  10. Starfeather (Live from Aceh)
  11. Ratu (Piano Demo)
  12. Bisa Aja (Live from Tokyo)
  13. Anney, Rojak Satu!

Singles

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As lead singer

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Year Title Album
2007 "Batu & Golek" Aku.Muzik.Kamu
"Mahakarya Cinta"
"Gemuruh"
2008 "Cuba"
"Sampai Syurga"
2009 "Bencinta" Adrenalin
"Selamat Malam"
2010 "Adrenalin"
"Hanyut"
2011 "Karma"
2012 "Antigraviti" Faizal Tahir
"Buta"
2013 "Biar"
"Vortex"
2014 "Faith" (feat. Jaclyn Victor) Non-album singles
"Assalamualaikum" Anatomi
2015 "Sayang"
2016 "Sejati"
"Dirgahayu" (with Siti Nurhaliza)
"Negaraku" (with Joe Flizzow, Altimet and SonaOne)
2017 "Bukan Yang Pertama"
"Menang"
2018 "Malaysia" Rojak
"Starfeather"
"Ragaman"
2019 "Bisa Aja"
"Bikers Kental" (with Akim Ahmad) Non-album singles
"Ratu" Rojak
"Fire & Water"
2020 "X Missing U" (with Dayang Nurfaizah, Yonnyboii and Tuju) Non-album singles
"Make It Through" (with Zee Avi)
"Sumandak"
"Kamu"
"Sad To Cry"
"Nobody"
"Empat Dara 2020" (with Elly Mazlein and Zizi Kirana)
2021 "Luka Hati" (with Alan D)
"Aku Tanpa CintaMu 2021" (with Mirwana) Qibla
"Syahadah"
"Menang Bersama" ORTM Raikan Merdeka
2022 "Alah Bisa" (with Amira Othman) Non-album singles
"Pandang Pandang, Jeling Jeling" (with Amira Othman)
"Santai"
2023 "Jodoh Ajal Rezeki" (with Neelofa and Haris Ismail)

Guest singles

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Year Title Artist
2015 "Inspirasi" Hafiz Suip
"Setia" Elizabeth Tan
2018 "Buta" Caliph Buskers
2020 "Payung Terjun" FML
2024 "Campak Bintang" Dato' M. Nasir


Awards and nominations

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Anugerah Industri Muzik Malaysia (AIM)

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Year Category Nominated Work Album / Material Result
2008

(AIM15)

Best New Artist Faizal Tahir Won
Best Vocal Performance in an Album (Male) Aku.Muzik.Kamu Won
Best Engineered Album Nominated
Best Rock Album Won
Best Musical Arrangement in a Song (Non-Malay) La Da Di Dum Nominated
Best Song Mahakarya Cinta Nominated
Best Album Won
2009

(AIM16)

Best Music Video Sampai Syurga Aku.Muzik.Kamu Nominated
2010

(AIM17)

Best Vocal Performance in a Song (Male) Bencinta Adrenalin Nominated
Best Rock Song Nominated
Best Rock Album Won
Best Album Won
2011

(AIM18)

Best Music Video Karma Adrenalin Nominated
2012

(AIM19)

Best Vocal Performance in a Song (Male) Buta Faizal Tahir Nominated
Best Rock Song Nominated
2013

(AIM20)

Best Vocal Performance in a Song (Male) Biar Nominated
Best Rock Song Vortex Nominated
Best Album Cover Nominated
2014–2016

(AIM22)

Best Vocal Performance in a Song (Duo/Collaboration) Setia (featured by Elizabeth Tan) Anatomi Nominated
Best Selling Ringtone Won
Best Vocal Performance in a Song (Male) Sejati Nominated
Best Song Won
Best Pop Song Won
Assalamualaikum Nominated
Best Musical Arrangement in a Song Nominated

Anugerah Juara Lagu (AJL)

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Year Song Album Composer Lyricist Category Result
2007 (AJL 22) Kasih Tercipta OST – Waris Jari Hantu Ajai Shuhaimi Baba Ballad Nominated
Mahakarya Cinta Aku.Muzik.Kamu Audi Mok Mohd Shariza Shamsiri Nominated
2008 (AJL 23) Cuba Audi Mok Faizal Tahir Ballad Nominated
Sampai Syurga Audi Mok Faizal Tahir Won
Audi Mok Faizal Tahir Best Vocal Won
Audi Mok Faizal Tahir Best Performance Won
2009 (AJL 24) Bencinta Adrenalin Audi Mok Faizal Tahir Open Won
  • 3rd Place
2010 (AJL 25) Selamat Malam Audi Mok Faizal Tahir Open Nominated
Hanyut Audi Mok Faizal Tahir Nominated
Audi Mok Faizal Tahir Best Performance Won
2011 (AJL 26) Karma Audi Mok Faizal Tahir Open Won
  • 3rd place
2015 (AJL 30) Assalamualaikum Audi Mok, Ezra Kong, Mike Chan, Omar K, Faizal Tahir Audi Mok, Ezra Kong, Mike Chan, Omar K, Faizal Tahir Open Won
  • 2nd place

Anugerah Planet Muzik

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Year Category Nominated work Album Result Lost To
2008 Best New Male Artist Aku.Muzik.Kamu Won
Most Popular Male Artist Won
2009 Malaysia's Most Popular Artist Nominated Siti Nurhaliza
Regional Most Popular Artist Nominated Siti Nurhaliza
2011 Best Male Artist Adrenalin Won
Malaysia's Best Song Hanyut Adrenalin Nominated Hafiz Suip – Awan Nano
Regional Most Popular Artist Nominated Siti Nurhaliza
2015 Best Male Artist Nominated Judika
Malaysia's Best Song Assalamualaikum Won
Best Song Assalamualaikum Won
2016 Best Collaboration (Song) Beautiful (with Aziz Harun) Won
Katakan (with Harris Baba) Nominated
Best Male Artist Sayang Nominated
Best Song (Malaysia) Nominated
Setia (with Elizabeth Tan) Nominated
Best Duo / Group Nominated
APM Most Popular Song Nominated
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Year Category Result
2008 Popular TV Host (Male) Nominated
2009 Popular Singer (Male) Nominated
2010 Popular Singer (Male) Won
2011 Popular Singer (Male) Nominated
2012 Popular Singer (Male) Nominated

SHOUT! Awards

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Year Category Result Lost to
2009 Hot Guy Award Won
Stylo Award Nominated Dynas Mokhtar
2010 Rockstar Award Nominated Bunkface
Power Vocal Award Won
Hot Guy Award Nominated Henry Golding

MTV Europe Music Awards

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Year Nominee/work Award Result Ref.
2015 Faizal Tahir Best Southeast Asian Act Nominated [5]
2017 Nominated [6]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Ed Sheeran KL concert: Faizal Tahir to perform as opening act". The Rakyat Post. 6 March 2015.
  2. ^ "Permohonan Maaf Terbuka Daripada Faizal Tahir" (in Malay). gua.com.my. 6 January 2008. Archived from the original on 31 March 2008.
  3. ^ "Siaran langsung 8TV, Faizal digantung 3 bulan". Utusan Malaysia (in Malay). 19 January 2008.
  4. ^ "Mufti Perlis hantar surat bantahan 'Jom Heboh'". mSTAR Online. 30 April 2008. Archived from the original on 1 May 2008. Retrieved 11 May 2008.
  5. ^ "Vote for Faizal Tahir for Best Southeast Asia Act at the MTV Europe Music Awards!". Retrieved 28 October 2017.
  6. ^ "Breaking: The 2017 MTV EMA Nominations Are Here!". MTV EMA. 10 October 2017. Archived from the original on 6 October 2017. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
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