Ten Best Islamic Religious Albums

Ramadan is a month of fasting. This ritual is for moslems. Usually, moslem artists released Islamic religious album in this month. We try to inform you 10 Best Islamic Religious Albums (all time), as we have in our library.

1.Irama Kasidah, by artists Iin and Bimbo, Remaco, 1970-ies. Hits: Tuhan, and Rindu Kami Padamu, Ya Rasul.

2. Pop Religius, Damai BersamaMu, by various artists (Musica, 2008). Hits: almost all songs are hits such as Damai BersamaMu, Ketika Tangan dan Kaki Berkata, Thala’al badru ‘Alaina, Shalawar Badar – all intrepretated by Chrisye.

3. Istighfar, by artist Opick (Nada Hijrah, 2005). Hits: Bila waktu Telah Berakhir, and Tombo Ati.

4. Love for The Messenger, by artist Haddad Alwi and Sulis, arrangement orchestra by Dwiki Dharmawan (M Record, 2005). Hits: Madinatul ‘Ilmi and I’tiraf.

5. Tembang Lebaran, by various artists such as Sinergi, and Rida-Sita (Sony music, 1999). Hits: Pagi Ramadan, and Segala Puji BagiMu.

6. Azza Wa Jalla, by artst Dian Pramana Poetra (RPM record, 2006).

7. Dengan Menyebut Nama Allah, by various artists such as Novia Kolopaking, music by Dwiki Dharmawan (Musica, 1990). Hits: Dengan Menyebut Nama Allah.

8. Kado Muhammad, by artist Emha Ainun Nadjib and Gamelan Kiai Kanjeng, (Kalijogo record, 1988). Hits: Tombo Ati.

9. Cinta Ilahi, by artist Snada, (Studio Kita record, 1980-ies). Hits: Pagi Ramadhan.

10. Festival Nasyid Indonesia, (Forte Entertainment, 2004). Hits: Cinta Saja (Zuhruf) *

Ten Songs for Indonesia’s Anniversary

August is a month of Indonesia anniversary. What music should be presented for public thru mass media? We have list of ten Indonesian songs composed by prominent musicians which we suggest to be performed and replayed for public.

1. Kebyar-kebyar, song composed by Gombloh, from album entitled Kebyar-kebyar, artist Lemon Tress Anno ’69 (Golden Hand, 1979). This very popular song sounded heroic and enthusiastic, with it’s poetic lyric: merah darahku, putih tulangku, bersatu dalam jiwa (my red blood, my white bone, united in my soul).

2. Bendera-bendera, song composed by Gombloh, from album entitled Kebyar-kebyar, artist Lemon Tress Anno ’69 (Golden Hand, 1979). This song was not popular but actually melodious and catchy, and public should be memorized to this beautiful song. Part of it’s lyric talk about heroic moment in Surabaya city on November, 19, 1945.

3. Jangan menangis, Indonesia, song composed by Harry Roesli, from album entitled LTO Volume 2, artist Harry Roesli, (Musica, 1981). This song was actually rebel music for New Order politics, but with positive approach. Beside all it’s sadness, Harry Roesli tell to Indonesians that he will stand forever for keeping great Indonesia.

4. B.K., song composed by Gombloh, from album entitled Pesan Buat Negeriku (A Message for My Country), artist Lemon Trees Anno 1969 (Golden Hand, 1989). This song was melodious, cacthy, and thematic for memorizing Bung Karno, a former Indonesia President and founding father.

5. Nyanyian Tanah Merdeka, song composed by Leo Imam Soekarno from album entitled Nyanyian Tanah Merdeka, artist Konser Rakyat Leo Kristi (Irama Tara, no date of releasing). This song was heroic, catchy, enthusiastic, with it’s suggestic lyric for Indonesia freedom and liberty.

6. Bung Karno, song composed by Bram Makahekum, from album entitled Kelompok Kampungan Mencari Tuhan, artist Kelompok Kampungan, (Akurama, 1979), or it’s re-arrangement version Bung Karno Miliki Rakyat Indonesia, artist Bram Kampungan (Musica, 1999). This song was heroic, enthusiastic, melodious, memorizing founding father Bung Karno and it’s message with quotation from his speech about Utara Kuru, alias Indonesia).

7. Melati Suci, song composed by Guruh Soekarnoputra, arranged by Chandra Darusman, interpretated by Tika Bisono, from album entitled Untukmu Indonesiaku, Pergelaran Karya Cipta Guruh Seokarnoputra II, artist Swara Mahardhika (Musica, 1974). This song was melodious, slow tempo, sad, and memorizing toward Ibu Fatmawati, the first first lady of Indonesia, wife of first Indonesian President Soekarno).

8. Kharisma Indonesia, song composed by Budiman and IG Ngurah Gede, arranged by Adie MS, interpretated by Louise Hutauruk, from album entitled Dasa tembang Tercantik ’79, Lomba Cipta Lagu Remaja Prambors Rasisonia (Prambors, 1979). This song was energic, praising Indonesia’s beauty, catchy, bringing new sound of Indonesian pop-progressive music.

9. Wawasan Nusantara, song composed by AA Adhigotama, arranged by Adie MS, from album entitled Dasa Tembang Tercantik ’80, Lomba Cipta Lagu Prambors Rasisonia, (Prambors, 1980). This song was melodious, more like ballad, with simple arrangement based on “juicy unpluged guitar”. The Indonesian listener can imagine this song if they are aware a song Sempurna by Andra and The Backbone band.

10. Merah Putih (Red and White), song composed by Gombloh, interpretated by various artists of Musica recording Jakarta, from album Terima Kasih Indonesia, 50 Tahun Indonesia Merdeka (Musica, 1996). This song was purely pop and interpretated by dozen artists as the way song “We Are the World” interpretated. The lyric talking about praising toward Indonesia. Actualy, if the song interpretated by Lemon Trees, may be the impression will be strong, like any other Gombloh-progressive-rock version. *

A Witness of Rendra

Some poetries of Indonesian prominent poet Rendra were also interpretated thru musical expression. At least there are 3 albums to be mentioned: Kelompok Kampungan “Mencari Tuhan” (Akurama record, 1979), Bung Karno Milik Rakyat Indonesia, Bram Kampungan (Musica, 1999), and Kantata Takwa (Royal Prima Musikindo, Airo, 1992).

The first two albums of Kelompok Kampungan are same matter, but with different arrangement. The first was the original one, and the second was the re-arrangement version. Unfortunately that the second version was bad in recording, and not completely presenting all songs. Song entitled Kesaksian was excluded from the second version, may be because the tape is not enough to record all songs.

Talking about this song Kesaksian (A Witness) is important. This poet and this lyric is very poetic, powerful, and has strong message.

Orang-orang harus dibangunkan

Kesaksian harus diberikan

Agar kehidupan tetap terjaga

(People should be awaken

A witness should be given

In order the live to be watched over.)

This song was interpretated by both Kelompok Kampungan and Kantata Takwa. The differerence is Kampungan’s interpretation closed to Rendra’s character or rebel spirit, meanwhile Kantata’s interpretation is closed to musician Yockie’s character or soft, melodious and touching. *

Rendra’s Poetry Reading

Willibrordus Surendra Broto Rendra, a.k.a. Rendra (1935-2009) who passed away on August, 5, was a poet, playwright (dramatist), actor, director, cultural critic, and social activist. May God bless him. For Indonesians, Rendra was a such charismatic artist, most likely Tawfiq al-Hakim for Egygtians. The way Rendra reads poetry in front of audience is amazing and influencing. Rendra was truly a maestro in poetry and drama.

His books are about 10 books, such as Potret Pembangunan dalam Puisi (1980), and Blues untuk Bonnie (1970). His drama performances such as Bipbop and Kasidah Barzanji. Rendra also played on movie such as Titian Serambi Dibelah Tujuh. His drama performance may be recorded but not sale commercially. Thank God that his poetry readings were recorded, although not many as Emha Ainun Nadjib’s poetry reading records.

This cassette “Kumpulan Puisi dan Sajak Bersama Rendra” was released by Blackboard record Jakarta on August, 1998. This album is such poetry reading (solo and duet with guest star Lies Hady Shandy), and ambience music by Shandy ASW for it’s background. The poetries are Sajak Joki Tobing untuk Widuri, Paman Doblang, Sajak Rajawali, and so on. My review: this album is okey and collectable. But the concept of album is bad, because the music is not designed for the poetry. *