Two of 100 Greatest Guitar Songs

Music magazine Rolling Stone Indonesia discovered 100 Greatest Guitar Songs of All Time (23 rd edition, July 2008). Two of them are among this blog collections. Song (We’re Gonna) Rock Around the Clock, taken from album entitled Bill Haley and His Comets (1954), is in the 30 th rank. This song cited as the first rock and roll song which achieved Number One in the chart. Danny Cedron who played guitar in rock n roll style become role model for the next generation of rock n roll guitarists.

Other song is Beat It from album Thriller by Michael Jackson (1982). This song which is ranked in the 81 st position cited as a soul hit with heavy riff and melody. Paul Jackson jr. and Lukather played hard riff, an Eddie Van Halen played a fast tempo melody. At least, if there is a researcher for music history wish to find those two albums, this blog can show the historical albums. *

The Tragedy of Titik Hamzah

For some Indonesians, Titik Hamzah may be a living legend. His rock group band Dara Puspita was popular in 60-ies and made tours to Europe. As composer and singer, Titik Hamzah still publish music album until 80-ies.  According to music jopurnalist Bens Leo, Titik Hamzah ever composed a song entitled Jelita which became among Ten Best in Festival Lagu Pop Nasional 1979. And Siksa won Grand Prix prize in Festival Lagu Pop Nasional 1981.

In 1981, Titik Hamzah released an album entitled Tragedi (Tragedy) which published by Jackson record. This album consists of 10 songs which are composed mostly by Titik Hamzah. Other composers are Ian Antono (Balada Sejuta Wajah, and Cukong Tua) and Rachman A (Surabaja). Five songs are supposed to be hits, such as Tragedi, Siksa, Surabaya, Cukong Tua, and Kembara di Tepi Senja.

In 1984, Titik Hamzah produced an album entitled Cinta dan Kedamaian (Love and Peace). All songs composed by Titik Hamzah, and interpretated by singers Harvey Maleholo and Tina. Some musicians  engaged as arrangers are Addie MS, Widya, and Ian Antono. Super rock group God Bless is engaged too. This album consists of 10 songs, which three of them were part of Tragedi album, such as Kembara di Tepi Senja, Cerah, Harap.

Album Cinta dan Kedamaian is such sweet pop, which is some thing different from Tragedi which sounded rock pop. May be, it is because the interpretators, and may be because the two have different concept. Tragedi is more likable to be collectors item, since it is close to Titik Hamzah signature. Bens Leo who wrote such note in the cover album said that this album is Titik Hamzah interpretation on his own works. *

Biru Langit is Not Blue Sky

This title post is just a joke. Biru Langit — The Blueness of Sky, it’s just to translate it for non-Indonesians — is a group band (or duo) which featured pop music. The band consists of Nuris Iskandar (project manager, arranger, composer, singer) and Irma Kirana (vocalist). Other musician is Wachid Adjie, a flute player. 

This band is something rare in 80-ies, since in this decade most songs were popularized by singers, such as Mukhlas Adi Putra, Tommy J. Pissa, Nia Daniati – from poor pop music. And Deddy Dhukun, Malyda, Atik Cb and so on to name singers from progressive pop.

I did not buy this album entitled LUKA (publisher: RCA Indonesia) when it was released on 1985, because in that time I just like to the progressive pop music such as 2D, Fariz RM, and Dian Pramana Poetra. Is Biru Langit music is not progressive pop? I think so. But it still has elegant melodies and standard arrangement. Although only two songs sounded cacthy, it is still better to collect Biru Langit album than an other poor pop album.  

So when my friend Yusi Avianto Pareanom, owner of Banana publisher, who sent comment in this blog, asked about album of Biru Langit, I try to find it in market. Fortunately, I found Biru Langit album entitled LUKA. Thak you Mas Yusi, you remind me this album. *

Bill Saragih: Song From My Father

Bill Saragih (1933-2008) who passed away on 29 January 2008 is one of jazz maestros from Indonesia.  His education background — as student of Berkeley College of Music — gave him a basic legitimacy for his career.  More than that is his talent as entertainer and his unique voice — his soprano timbre voice – which made him very special. I saw his performance for the first time in 1998 for Tempo magazine first launching after banned by Indonesian government since 1994. 

Fortunately we dont have data for his compositions and his album. When my friend Idrus F. Shahab from Tempo magazine asked about Bill Saragih album among my collections, I can not say any words because I dont have it. But last month, fortunately I find Bill Saragih album cassete entitled Sings ‘N Plays which consists of 12 songs. Five of them are composed by Bill Saragih, for instance Anna My Love, Tiana, Billy’s Groove, Tony’s Dream, and Song from My Father.  This last song Song from My Father is slow jazz with ethnic lyric and accentuation. Truly superb melody. *