Machicha Mochtar: From Pop to Dangdut

Jumping from pop music to dangdut is not only singer Machicha Mochtar’s choice. There are several Indonesian singers who sing pop as well as dangdut, even diversived from ethnic keroncong to dangdut. To mention examples:

1. Hetty Koes Endang on album entitled “Astaga” (lagu-lagu melayu dangdut volume 2) produced by Musica, 1974.

2. Album entitled “Pop Melayu Pilihan” by various artists such as Grace Simon, Eddy Silitonga, and A Riyanto, produced by Remaco, no date.

3. Even ethnic keroncong singer Waljinah sang dangdut in album Merem Melek by Waljinah and Mamik Slamet (pop Jawa jaipong dan dangdut bahasa Jawa), produced by Dian record, no date.

So when Makassar singer Machicha Mochtar who released a pop album entitled Oke Punya Nich (MSC record, Bali Connection, December 1993), then release dangdut album ILALANG (?) and became hit, it is not something bizarre. This dangdut album by Machicha should be recognized better than Oke Punya Nich, especially it’s melodies. But actually album Oke Punya Nich is still better then ILALANG in arrangement. There is some thing new and fresh in it’s arrangement actually, because it was blended various genres techno, rap, rock, melayu, and pop.

This such experimental approach is because there are several creative artists behind this album, such as  Yongky Suwarno (musician from progressive pop genre), Ayu Weda (rock singer from Denpasar who then devoted herself for sufism), and even kiai Hamim Jazuli (a.k.a. Gus Mik, a spiritualist like Hazrat Inayat Khan). But unfortunately, this album is not succes commercially. *

Gombloh is Also Human

For (singer and composer) Gombloh’ admirers, they may be up set if they listen to these two albums. First, album entitled Jangan Bodoh Sayang by singer Tyas Drastitiana (Slide record, no date). In this album there are three songs composed by Gombloh: Jawaban Kugadaikan Cintaku; 1/2 Gila; Memori Sedih. The first two songs are still closed to Gombloh style as presented in Lemon Trees albums. But song Memori Sedih is very different from that Gombloh’s style. It is soft pop, if not to say poor pop.

Second album is Untukmu Kekasih by singer Vicky Vendy (Nirwana record, 1982). In this album, there are two songs composed by Gombloh: Untukmu Kekasih, and Yang Lalu Biarlah Berlalu. The first song is a soft pop with litle bit catchy melodies, but the second is such poor pop. Are these songs really composed by the Giant Gombloh? May be yes, may be not. May be yes, because Gombloh as composer actually can compose any kind of songs, including these such items. It is very easy. But why? The answer is simple: money. May be Gombloh composed those such poor songs to earn additional fee for his daily needs. Is Gombloh also human (Bukankah Gombloh juga Manusia) — quoting title song of Seurius band. *