Karaoke, Revolution, Black Magic
21 February 2011
At first glance I'll admit that the words 'karaoke', 'revolution', and 'black magic' don't really seem to have anything in common. But in Indonesia, anything is possible. Here's the story of my weekend.
Karaoke, like in many other Asian countries, is huge in Indonesia. Unlike in some other Asian countries and certainly unlike in the US, people here sing karaoke sober. Yep, stone cold. But we Americans always find ways around this and so a few Bintang beers augmented the already delightful rendered versions of songs by such classic artists like Billy Idol, the Backstreet Boys, and of course, Queen. Because really, what is a trip to a karaoke house without an entirely raucous belting of 'Bohemian Rhapsody'? Walk next door to find that the local Circle K now imports M&Ms (first time in Indonesia)... all is a success.
Fast forward to Saturday night: The crew has decided to go see a concertt being held at UGM. Iwan Fals, virtually unknown in the States, is an Indonesian legend who wrote incredibly potent protest songs during the regime of President Suharto in Indonesia. He was so critical of the government that some of his songs were banned and concerts frequently canceled during Suharto's presidency. For young Indonesians, he has become a symbol of revolutionary fervor and demand for government transparency.
The anticipation was high, but in classic Indonesian style Iwan Fals himself did not actually come on stage until two hours after the concert began. First, an opening performance to the opening performance, some MC banter (MCs being an integral part of every event here), a speech by the Sultan (see pic) and finally the real opening performance: the Indonesian wind orchestra and the UGM students choir, featuring some of my students! The choir/orchestra set included some psuedo-film soundtrack music, some humorous Javanese numbers that I did not understand at all, and finally juuuust to keep the audience on their toes... Bohemian Rhapsody.
It's at moments like these, when I wish so desperately that I could insert my family and friends from the US into my life for just a minute. Because no matter how hard I try to describe the scene, the total effect is lost: 30-something students singing in the choir with a mic'd wind band and a very young, very skinny, VERY rocking out nasal alto boy singing the solo. Green laser show overtop all. Freddie Mecury done be proud.
The feature performance was well worth the wait, especially when Mr. Fals decided to take a break from the protest music to give a little love ballad. At this moment the laser show turned into two flying hearts that would fly towards each other and pucker into a kiss in the middle of the screen. Incredible. Only at one moment was I unsure that this was the best concert I've been to in Indonesia, and that was the moment that fervent Iwan Fals fans started yelling "Bring down the President!" from the rafters. Were we to have a revolution in the UGM concert hall? Ah someone's bark is worse than their bite... no revolution for now. Put your shirts back on, boys.
The night progressed into a multi-language game of Taboo, and finally wound down with some 24-hour Padang (west Sumatran) style food at a little diner up the road. To the background of the most melodramatic TV show I've ever seen (perhaps with the exception of Passions), the conversation turned to black magic. This is just the sort of thing that happens here. The best late-night chatter involves animals born to humans, being possessed and of course, walking corpses.
It seems that everyone has a story about dark powers, and our friend Ganda is from Tanah Toraja, one of the most saturated-with-spirits locales in all of Indonesia. In Toraja, there are elaborate funeral customs that require so much money that bodies are left unburied for weeks, months, and even years until the resources can be collected for the funeral. And that's only the beginning... I better stop before I give myself nightmares.
All in all, a pretty good weekend filled with unexpected twists and as usual, plenty of absurdity... It almost makes Oberlin seems boring.
*photo credits Geger!
Karaoke, like in many other Asian countries, is huge in Indonesia. Unlike in some other Asian countries and certainly unlike in the US, people here sing karaoke sober. Yep, stone cold. But we Americans always find ways around this and so a few Bintang beers augmented the already delightful rendered versions of songs by such classic artists like Billy Idol, the Backstreet Boys, and of course, Queen. Because really, what is a trip to a karaoke house without an entirely raucous belting of 'Bohemian Rhapsody'? Walk next door to find that the local Circle K now imports M&Ms (first time in Indonesia)... all is a success.
Fast forward to Saturday night: The crew has decided to go see a concertt being held at UGM. Iwan Fals, virtually unknown in the States, is an Indonesian legend who wrote incredibly potent protest songs during the regime of President Suharto in Indonesia. He was so critical of the government that some of his songs were banned and concerts frequently canceled during Suharto's presidency. For young Indonesians, he has become a symbol of revolutionary fervor and demand for government transparency.
 |
| Sri Sultan Hamengkubowono X in a flashy purple number |
The anticipation was high, but in classic Indonesian style Iwan Fals himself did not actually come on stage until two hours after the concert began. First, an opening performance to the opening performance, some MC banter (MCs being an integral part of every event here), a speech by the Sultan (see pic) and finally the real opening performance: the Indonesian wind orchestra and the UGM students choir, featuring some of my students! The choir/orchestra set included some psuedo-film soundtrack music, some humorous Javanese numbers that I did not understand at all, and finally juuuust to keep the audience on their toes... Bohemian Rhapsody.
It's at moments like these, when I wish so desperately that I could insert my family and friends from the US into my life for just a minute. Because no matter how hard I try to describe the scene, the total effect is lost: 30-something students singing in the choir with a mic'd wind band and a very young, very skinny, VERY rocking out nasal alto boy singing the solo. Green laser show overtop all. Freddie Mecury done be proud.
The feature performance was well worth the wait, especially when Mr. Fals decided to take a break from the protest music to give a little love ballad. At this moment the laser show turned into two flying hearts that would fly towards each other and pucker into a kiss in the middle of the screen. Incredible. Only at one moment was I unsure that this was the best concert I've been to in Indonesia, and that was the moment that fervent Iwan Fals fans started yelling "Bring down the President!" from the rafters. Were we to have a revolution in the UGM concert hall? Ah someone's bark is worse than their bite... no revolution for now. Put your shirts back on, boys.
 |
| The sexy Iwan Fals and the not as sexy flying heart laser show |
The night progressed into a multi-language game of Taboo, and finally wound down with some 24-hour Padang (west Sumatran) style food at a little diner up the road. To the background of the most melodramatic TV show I've ever seen (perhaps with the exception of Passions), the conversation turned to black magic. This is just the sort of thing that happens here. The best late-night chatter involves animals born to humans, being possessed and of course, walking corpses.
It seems that everyone has a story about dark powers, and our friend Ganda is from Tanah Toraja, one of the most saturated-with-spirits locales in all of Indonesia. In Toraja, there are elaborate funeral customs that require so much money that bodies are left unburied for weeks, months, and even years until the resources can be collected for the funeral. And that's only the beginning... I better stop before I give myself nightmares.
All in all, a pretty good weekend filled with unexpected twists and as usual, plenty of absurdity... It almost makes Oberlin seems boring.
*photo credits Geger!
4 comments:
Omg! I WAS coming to visit sometime this Spring!
swinging ship was nightmare, more creepy than the most creepy ghost story..
ggr
If only we had stayed in Yogya for a few more days! Alas, I may have missed out on some Indonesian karaoke, but you will NOT be able to escape the power of Savage Garden and Natalie Imbruglia when you get to Taigu!
thank you
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