Franky Sahilatua Passed Away

Today, Wednesday, 20th April 2011, Indonesia has lost an artist magnitude, Franky Sahilatua. He died of spinal cancer suffered for a long time. Together with Jane, the couple sang, Frankky left a lot of songs memories for the younger generation of Indonesia.

Buka Hatimu, Armada

Just six months ago I heard the name “Armada” (Fleet) made ​​the name of a band. What’s in a name, the old saying goes. But really I was fascinated when I heard one of the songs are sung, “Buka Hatimu” (Open Your Heart). Not the tone that is too simple, but the lilting lyrics that I like. At that time, my sister-in-law of Cirebon play that song on the tape of his car. I also had to repeat play.

Kasih Tiada Berpadu

Sometimes I can not hide a sense that has engulfed both of my heart and mind. The song is a medium that could remind my memories of the past into the present. Kiki Maria song titled “Kasih Tiada Berpadu” (love is no chime) is truly an old song, the song at the time I step on the second grade of senior high school. The song that I have a cassette that kept me take it until I went to college, worked in Jakarta, and even now stuff is still well preserved.

But the song “Kasih Tiada Berpadu” is probably fits with my mood today. I completely fail to remember the event long as I remember what the link with the past on this song. But experience and heart vain that I had has forced me to write and share this beautiful song to anyone who would listen.

La Samba Primadona

Back to the years 1986-1987, wow so long ago, right! Again and again I was struck by a song with a tone that strikes my soul. Sung by Krakatau, the music band with members of the younger musicians like Indra Lesmana, Dwiki Dharmawan, Gilang Ramadhan, Donny Soehendra, Pra Budidharma, and vocalist Trie Utami. At the time, their presence was so groundbreaking musical homeland, Indonesia. That time I was in college in Bandung speechless with their music and have almost the entire album Krakatau!

There have been many hits which created like “imaji” (imagery), “Kau Datang” (You Come), “Gemilang”, and other songs. But I will never forget this one song from Krakatau, “La Samba Primadona”. It’s nothing, this song has lyrics that rapid chatter when sung by Trie Utami, as if like the music “rap” of today. But of course in the Indonesian language. I do not understand anymore how many albums they produce and on any album of songs that I mentioned earlier is located.

Jangan Ada Angkara, Nicky Astria

I am late to know the song “Jangan Ada Angkara” (Never There Greedy) “sung by Nicky Astria. Since I studied in senior high school, I used to hear the song “Jarum Neraka” (Needles Hell). I do not really like the song, but through songs that I know Nicky Astria, at least I heard briefly from the radio or television.

The rest, I know Nick because the problem of the household are loaded heavily in the media gossip a few years ago. I like Nicky because frankly, he got a good body, though not too pretty great for Sundanese women. But, whatever the physical things, I do not like to talk about it.

Percayalah Kasih

At first I was not so aware of the presence of the song Percayalah Kasih which means “Believe in Love” sung by Iwan Fals, Jockie Surjoprajogo, and Vina Panduwinata. The combination of the three vocalists sound famous in his time, really very “disturbing” my narrow space rented room in an alley in Haur Mekar, Bandung, 1987. At that time I was in college in the mid-year.

Of course, that sound steal my hearing is a high-pitched voice by Fals, like ripping the narrow space. The contents of the lyrics himself tells about the love that ran aground, a theme which has become even obsolete but still sung by singers like Iwan and his friends were.

Minang Folk Song

TWO weeks ago I spent all days long in music store Disc Tara at Plaza Bintaro. I sweft the discs and cassettes shelves and I considered there were no a “good music” I should buy. When I saw a shelf consist with folk song of Indonesia, my eyes was stubbed by one disc, a yellow one. I picked it up and I read the album “Minang”. There are several songs, maybe 16 folk song of Minang, who sung by four singers, especially Elly kasim, a legendary female Minang singers.

ABBA

ASK some Indonesian guys ‘what do you know about Sweden’, they might answer Volvo and ABBA! First, of course a luxury car, an official car for Indonesian VVIP in Soeharto era. Second, related to music. Certainly.  ABBA is music band from Sweden. Why should I recall this name, ABBA? Why do I remember this name? Here’s the story… 

Rod Stewart

DUSSELDORF, Germany, December 7th 2007, in Pizza Hut Restaurant in railway station, I heard Rod Stewart husky voice, shout “Matilda” softly. I accompanied with Budi Putra, an Indonesian blogger who invited by Nokia to attend the annual meeting in Amsterdam, Holland. But, I didn’t find Stewart song name “Matilda”. He just shout that name ini his song. Frankly, I dind’t know the title, but I know best that song.

Dan Fogelberg

DAN Fogelberg. I have never known his name until I moved to Makassar, South Celebes in 2001 to 2004 due to my job. As a journalist, I never could refuse my placement all over Indonesia. In this nice town, Makassar, far away from home, I listened again Dan Fogelberg voice, Longer. Undoubtly, Longer was his immortal song. I have ever listened this song when I was in senior high school at my village, but in Makassar I just known the name: Dan Fogelberg. I picked my guitar and then tried to search the Longer notes.

John Lennon (1)

IN the year 1970, I was still in kindergarten “TK BKOW” in my village, Tasikmalaya, West Java, when I listened from the local radio Buana Jaya a song like this: Mother you had me, but I never had you. I wanted you, but you didn’t want me. Sure, I didn’t know the meaning, the singer, or even at what kind of language that song singing. I didn’t try ask my mom or my dad about this song on the radio. May be they didn’t know either.