World Culture Music - Dangdut (Music of Indonesia) - Research Paper Example

? One aspect of every country’s culture is its music. Whether It is one part of every culture that can be passed on from generations to generations. Music is also a way of knowing what had transpired in the past as some songs employ words, melodies and instruments particular to a period in history. Some forms of music are common and recognized everywhere in the world. Examples are music from The Beatles, Michael Jackson, Luciano Pavarotti and, more currently, PSY, Justin Beiber or Beyonce. On the other hand, there are some types of music which are associated with a certain country. Dangdut, for instance, is specifically Indonesian. The term dangdut, pronounced as ‘dang – doot’, comes from how the Javanese people in Indonesia called the sound coming from the tabla drum. The drums come in pairs, one big and one small, and varying pitch. The smaller drum can be set to a specific tone range while the big one has a bass tone. (Courtney) Dangdut is only one of the many genres one can find in Indonesian music. In colonial times, people in the country employed Indonesian, Arabian and Dutch musical instruments to create a unique blend of beat. During those times, Indonesian music, especially the instruments used, was influenced by its visitors from other countries. Eventually, the native sounds combined with Malay modern music and Malay orchestras started to be popular. Melayu music or the music from Malay orchestras was a mixture of Indonesian, Middle Eastern, Indian and Western music. (1 Gorlinski) Melayu music employed a variety of instruments dependent on the group playing. The most commonly used were the flutes, tambourine-style frame drums (tabla), violins and assorted plucked lutes. Later on, artists incorporated music from Indian films, Bollywood specifically, adding a touch of modernism to the beat. Instruments such as electric guitars, electric organs, trumpets, saxophones, oboes and percussions were added. The combined sounds of the various musical influences created a beat that became recognized as Indonesian. Melayu music was for the lower class, played while slaves entertained their masters. (Arsip) It had coarse lyrics and sexually suggestive dancing. It was eventually adapted to appeal to the middle and upper class by Rhoma Irama. He made the lyrics “safe” for the society. (Walsh) In the late 1960’s the band OM Soneta and its singer Rhoma Irama started playing around with melayu music. Irama wanted a new and distinct sound. He added a touch of Western rock music to the existing euphony of melayu music and called it dangdut to break away from the traditional melayu sound. (Gorlonski) Singing with Elvy Sukaesih in his band, Irama made dangdut very popular because of its throbbing beat and lyrics. His song Terajana is one of the most-renowned dangdut song that introduced the name ‘dangdut’ in Indonesia’s music scene. A. Rafiq, another dangdut artist, made the people love the new genre in the 1970’s. A. Rafiq was Indonesia’s own Elvis Presley, complete with the hip-gyrating movements. These three artists started the dangdut pop culture. In converting the traditional dangdut sound into a more contemporary music, Irama added electric guitars, synthesizers, drums, a flute or a mandolin. The Indian tabla was a main stay instrument, providing any song with that distinct Indonesian sound. Although dangdut was a welcome addition to the diverse music of Indonesia, it has presented a moral issue for the predominantly Muslim society because of its suggestive lyrics and dance moves. Already, several songs have been banned from being played because of its vulgar lyrics. (Vaswani) One singer in particular has been the object of the criticism from conservative dangdut artists and supporters. The musician, the group says, has taken dangdut to a level that is erotic and corruptive the youth. (Vaswani) Her song Jupe Paling Suka 69 translated in English reads Jupe Likes 69 Best. The song contains “lustful sighs and…lyrics which portray intimate relations and the singer’s preferred mode of sexual intercourse.” (Fitri) Julia Perez, the performer in question, insists that her music is only vulgar because the people who say it is think so. Since the majority of the Indonesians seem to like it according to the ratings then her detractors are wrong. Perez, a well-known dangdut performer is also recognized Indonesia’s “sex bomb”. She was featured on popular men’s magazines FHM and Maxim was voted one of the 100 Sexiest Women in the World. She had also been reported to pole dance at a traffic intersection to fulfill a promise to her Twitter fans. (The Jakarta Post) She shares that her critics are not really after her music but the sexy image she projects because it is not typical in a Muslim country. The Indonesia Broadcasting Commission or KPID received complaints about some dangdut songs and subsequently made a review of 300 most popular songs. It banned 10 songs which allegedly had sexual lyrics. Among these were Mobil Bergoyang (Rocking Car) which encouraged adultery and sex positions in detail; those that referred to genitalia such as Wanita Lubang Buaya (A Woman’s Crocodile Hole) and Ada Yang Panjang (Here’s Something Long), and Mucikari Cinta (Pimping Love) which talks about a husband getting money off of his wife as a prostitute. Badrun A.M. of the KPID explains that these songs impact the young listeners negatively since they copy their favorite artists. (Fitri) This limitation has prompted a debate regarding the kind of music dangdut has become over the past years. Yahya Iwan Wel, who produces the popular morning show Dahysat, explains that dangdut has become modern to fit the times. (Vaswani) Badrun maintains they do not want to put a stop to the artists’ craft but are just looking out for the younger listeners. Amidan Shaberah, chairman of the Indonesian Council of Ulamas, the highest authority on Islamic issues, says they find fault in the eroticism of the dance moves, not the music itself. (Vaswani) Inul Daratista is another dangdut performer who has gained negative criticism for her dances. She is known in Indonesia for her Ngebor or Goyan Inul which literally means ‘drilling.’ In 2003, she appeared in concert on television and viewers were able to see her gyrating movements. The Indonesian Muslim Council (MUI) and other conservative organizations wanted to stop her concerts but Inul was unstoppable, with about 3 million pirated copies of her concerts sold in the country. (Walsh) Even Rhoma Irama complained about Inul’s performances saying dangdut was being corrupted. In 2008, Kuala Lumpur City Hall did not allow her to perform at their National Stadium due to national security and the sexiness of her shows. According to Federal Territory PAS Youth chief Kamaruzaman Mohamad, Inul’s negative image in Indonesia and her performance is not appropriate for Malaysia, an Islamic country. (DBKL) Inul is not fazed. She replies that “Indonesia is not a Muslim country, it’s a democratic country” and she is just an easy target because it is too dangerous to direct the attacks on the corrupt officials, the real threat to morality. (Walsh) In May 2012, protest arose when Indonesia a planned concert by Lady Gaga was cancelled because of strong opposition from the conservative Muslim groups. Those who felt bad about the show being cancelled attacked dangdut performances because the erotic dance moves female dangdut performers make supposedly made Lady Gaga’s dancing and stage antics appear tamer than dangdut singers’. (Taufiqurrahmann) The middle class had another reason to look down and criticize dangdut female dancers. Nevertheless, it appears that the majority of the Indonesian society love dangdut, racy lyrics and all. Its appeal to the masses is undeniable. Even in the rain, streets are packed when a dangdut singer performs on-stage. (Vaswani) When Ellya Khadam, an orkes melayu singer, made the transition to modern dangdut in 1970, she became the number one artist in the country after 2 years. Inul Daratista has become a very familiar name associated with modern dangdut in Indonesia and other countries. Rhoma Irama and Elvy Sukaesih have been dubbed the King and Queen of dangdut. Irama even wants to bring dangdut to an international level, competing with K-pop and PSY. (Dangdut) Dangdut music is one that the masses can easily relate to. The songs talk of love, life, broken hearts, etc. – events in a woman’s life put in paper. Book author Jeremy Wallach explains that for women “listening to and performing dangdut songs may in fact provide one way for Indonesian women to ‘relieve stress” in their own lives.” (Taufiqurrahmann) As one mother shares, her family loves dangdut music. It is no issue for her to pay for a dangdut singer to perform at her child’s wedding because it makes everyone happy. (Vaswani) Naughty lyrics and sexy dance moves notwithstanding, dangdut music is in the hearts of Indonesia’s people. The popularity and the income dangdut performers earn show the appreciation for dangdut music is not confined within social classes. Like any other musician will share, music is created to express what the performers feel and reach out to those who feel the same way. Performances are made to entertain. Even with dangdut music, the main purpose is to make the audience happy. Based on the reception of Indonesian audiences, dangdut music is achieving its goal of bringing enjoyment to its listeners. Works Cited: 1 Gorlinski, Virginia. “dangdut”. Encyclopedia Britannica. n.d. Web. 2 Gorlinski, Virginia. “Rhoma Irama”. Encyclopedia Britannica. n.d. Web. Arsip SMS. “History, Development, and Feature Music Dangdut.” Indonesian Entertainment World. Blogspot. 6 March 2011. Web. Courtney, David. “Tabla”. Chandrakantha.com. 5 February 2012. Web. “Dangdut Just as Good as Gangnam: Rhoma Irama.” Jakarta Globe. 27 November 2012. Web. “DBKL rejects application for Inul to perform over security fears.” The star online. Star Publications (M) Bhd. 27 Nov. 2008. Web. Fitri. “10 ‘Pornographic’ Dangdut Songs Banned From NTB’s Radio Waves.” Jakarta Globe. 23 Feb. 2012. Web. Taufiqurrahman, M. “Dangdut the collateral damage in the Gaga saga.” The Jakarta Post. PT. Bina Media Tenggara. 8 June 2012. Web. The Jakarta Post. “Julia Perez pole dances at Kuningan intersection.” PT. Bina Media Tenggara. 8 August 2012. Web. Vaswani, Karishma. “Raunchy dangdut music stirs debate in Indonesia.” BBC News. 27 March 2012. Web. Walsh, Bryan. “Inul’s Rules.” TIME Magazine. 17 March 2003. Web. Read More