Bing’s Trick for Children Songs

Kaset Koes Plus Pop Anak Vol. 1, Bing Slamet dkk

When this First Koes Plus Album – Children Pop is played, my four years old son commenting that he like that song. But why the singer is orang tua, Indonesian word for adult singer? Koes Plus is Indonesian pop band who released albums in various genres including children song. His first children song album was published by Purnama record (estimated produced in 70-ies). It consists of 12 songs, most of them catchy, and song Pok Ami Ami is memorable. In the era of Koes Plus, some pop bands published children song albums. Indeed they published albums in various genres. Even Favourite’s Group under direction A Rijanto published album Dakocan, which was supposed his best album. The different between Koes Plus and Favourite’s Group in creating children album is, Koes Plus interpretated the songs with their adult voice, meanwhile Favourite’s engaged children singers to interpretate the songs.

May be children song should be interpretated by children singers. But there was such a way to create a hybrid children song. Look at what musician Bing Slamet done in this album “Bing Slamet dkk”. This album is B part of album “Nola Tilaar, Eva Nurdin, Sylvia Kusumaningrum, Band Zainal Combo” (Canary record, estimated produced in 60-ies). In this album, Bing Slamet sang a duo with him self but with distorted voice thru a machine. The result is a memorable album. An other hybrid is a song Jangan Takut Gelap by child singer Tasya and pop singer Duta of Sheila on Seven band (the Very Best of Tasya, produced by Sony BMG, 2005). The result is a succes album.

One of children song albums which was appreciated by Rolling Stone Indonesia magazine (December, 2007) as one of 150 best Indonesian albums is Balonku. This album was produced by musician Adikarso and Andi Mamon, and played by a Gema Irama band under direction Jack Lesmana. Unfortunately I don’t find yet this album. Do you? *

The English Version of Koes Plus

LP Koes Plus The Sixth Album

Koes Plus is actually the Indonesian pop band who has skill to composed songs in English language — with western musical taste. Look at this Koes Plus The Sixth Album, there are five songs in English language and bring western pop musical taste. Some Indonesians should remember a song entitled Why Do You Love Me, which after re-arranged by musician Erwin Gutawa in album A Tribute to Koes Plus, become a “new song”: melodious, great sound, orchestrated, and so on. *

Track list

Album: Koes Plus Volume 6

Artist: Koes Plus

Publisher: Mesra record, Dimita, no date release

Side I:

1. Kerinduan (Tonny K) – Yon K

2. Ibu dan Lagunya (Tonny K) — Tonny K/Yon K/Yok K

3. Tears Are Falling (Yok K) — Yon K/Yok K

4. Oh Kasihku (K.S.) — Yon K

5. Waktu Cepat Berlalu (Tonny K) — Tonny K

6. Friendly Love (Tonny K) — Tonny K/Yon K

Side II:

1. Hidup tanpa cinta (Murry) — Tonny K/Yon K

2. Tiada Jalan Lagi (Yon K) — Yon K

3. We Say Hallo (Tonny K) — Tonny K/Yon K/Yok K

4. Bukan Rahasia (Murry/Tonny K) — Yon K

5. Unhappy Shade (Murry/Tonny K) — Tonny K/Yon K./Yok K

6. How Much I Love You (Yok K) — Yok K/Tonny K/Yon K

*

Koes Plus: The Second Album

Again, this is a personal commentary. Murry is a drummer of this pop band Koes Plus. Since he is the one and only non-Koes-brother, Murry is supposed has his personal character in music and composing. But in this Koes Plus early album, we can see that Mury composed three songs. Those songs — and may be all his songs in his lifetime career – had Koes Plus’ character: simplicity, catchy melody, “pop corn” musical taste. May be Koes Plus “home” influenced him deeply — musically. *

Track list

Album : Koes Plus Volume II

Artist Koes Plus Publisher: Dimita, no date release

Side I:

1. Lagu dalam Impian (Tony K) – Tonny K/Jon K

2.Kisah Sedih di hari Minggu (Tonny K) – Jon K

3. Kau Tinggalkan Aku (Jon K) – Tonny K/Jon K

4. Pentjuri Hati (Tonny K/Jon K/Murry) – Jok K

5. Hidup jang Sepi (Jon K) – Jon K

6. Djangan Selalu Marah (Tonny K) – Tonny

Side II:

1.Rahasia Hatiku (Tonny K) – Tonny K/Jon K

2.Andaikan Kau Datang (Tonny K) — Jon K

3. Bilakah Kau Pulang (Jon K) — Jon K

4. Hanja Pusaramu (Tonny K/Murry) — Jok K

5. Mengapa Kau Sedih (Jok K) — Tonny K

6. Djandjimu (Murry) — Jon K

*

Koes Plus The Third Album

LP Koes Plus The Third Album

To review and talk Koes Plus was over exposed. So let me talk such personal commentary only. I became familiar with Koes Plus firstly from his 8-th album or some, especially his song Kolam Susu (The Pool of Milk). And the first Koes Plus album I bought, was that album. In that time I never have his first until 7-th album. Luckily that last year I bought his second, third, sixth, nineth and tenth Koes Plus albums – all in LP formats.

In my first impression, Koes Plus is only such pop band with their simplicity in chord and harmony. The Indonesians called it “musik tiga jurus”. But after listening to album entitled Koes Plus Volume III (Dimita, April 1970), especially Kasih Sajang song, I realized that Koes Plus have their enough musical skill to compose such progressive pop. Song Kasih Sajang (Love and Empathy) was a composition based on accoustic guitar “juice” and little bit a beat progression. *

Track list

Album: Koes Plus Volume III

Artist: Koes Plus

Publisher: Mesra record, Dimita Moulding, Jakarta, no date release

Side 1:

1. Hujan Angin

2. Kasih Sajang

3. Sweet Memories

4. Selamat Tinggal

5. Selalu Gembira

6. Hari Jang Sutji

Side 2:

1. Lamunan

2. Bunga dan Remadja

3. Isi Hatiku

4. Kasih jang Sutji

5. Malam jang Sepi

6. Doa Sutjiku.

A Rare Jacky

Jacky in album Gairah Baru (Purnama record)

This album entitled Gairah Baru by singer and musician Jacky (published by Purnama record, no date release) is new at least for me. May be Indonesian 80-ies generation were not aware enough toward this  singer in 1980-ies. Jacky for some music lovers may be no body. But if they listen to this album, their perception will be changed. This album is such progressive pop album which was well crafted and arranged. Some of songs have cacty melodies and sound melodious. The album was engaged by famous names such as Fariz Rustam Munaf, Uce F. Tekol, Karim, Pretty sisters and so on. *

Children Song Dakocan

LP album Dakocan by Favourite group

This album entitled Dakocan by Favourite band is memorable and likely to be collected. It’s melody, sound, arrangement and so on are bringing us to our past live. Dakocan is supposed to be the best album of Favourite group. But because it is children songs, so Dakocan was forgotten by some Favourite’s lovers.

Favorite group is a pop band from Jakarta under direction A. Riyanto, a prolific composer, and musician. Since 1970, this band released several albums in various genres: pop, kerontjong, traditional pop Javanesse, children song and so on. This band was a pop band in the time of Koes Plus. *

*