Indonesia's most favorite Bimbo<\/p>\n
By Rita A. Widiadana<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): For many people, Ramadhan is the time to listen
\nto Bimbo.<\/p>\n
You can't get away from them. Their music fills the malls and
\nhalls of hotels, and, of course, every Moslem household.<\/p>\n
Bandung's Bimbo Group teams the talented brothers Muhammad
\nSamsudin Hardjakusuma (Sam Bimbo), Darmawan Hardjakusuma (Acil)
\nand Jaka Hardjakusuma, and their youngest sister Iin Parlina.<\/p>\n
After getting going in l967, Bimbo now has 117 pop and qasidah
\nreligious albums to its credit.<\/p>\n
"The name Bimbo was given to us by Hamid Gruno when we first
\nappeared on state-owned TVRI. Only years later did we learn its
\ntrue meaning. Bimbo means 'poor' in Japanese, while in Mexican it
\nmeans 'bread for breakfast'," Jaka disclosed.<\/p>\n
He didn't seem to know that in English a bimbo is an
\nattractive but empty-headed person, or a tramp.<\/p>\n
Bimbo, which was shortened from Trio Bimbo when the brothers'
\nsister joined, offered Indonesians an unique alternative to the
\n1960s rock'n'roll of the Beatles, Elvis Presley and the Rolling
\nStones. Trio Bimbo chose to explore folk music, accompanying
\ntheir lyrics with acoustic instruments.<\/p>\n
Born to noted journalist Raden Dayat Hardjakusuma, the musical
\nsiblings all graduated from prominent Bandung universities.<\/p>\n
Their bold and beautiful songs grabbed the hearts of the
\nmiddle and upper classes in the 1960s.<\/p>\n
"Many people called our music intellectual. I don't know why,"
\nsaid Jaka.<\/p>\n
Trio Bimbo produced the early hits Flamboyan, Melati dari
\nJayagiri and Telah Berdaun Rimba Jati. Many critics considered
\nthe songs to be high quality.<\/p>\n
In the middle of l970s, Iin, who sings like top Brazilian
\nsinger Astrud Gilberto, joined the group. They produced more hits
\nincluding the song Serani di Noda, about a nun who betrays her
\nvows.<\/p>\n
Critical<\/p>\n
In l977, Bimbo released an album critical of Indonesian
\nsociety. Tante Sun, a hit song from the album, is about the life
\nof the rich Indonesian women who spend their money on nothing.
\nAbang Becak, tells a sad story about a pedicab driver.<\/p>\n
Bimbo tried to convey its message with funny lyrics, but was
\ncriticized for lowering the quality of its music.<\/p>\n
The group also wrote songs with international themes including
\nSurat buat Tuan Brezhnev dan Tuan Reagan (A letter for Mr.
\nBrezhnev and Mr. Reagan).<\/p>\n
Bimbo also performed many songs written by Titik Puspa, Iwan
\nAbdul Rahman, and the late A. Riyanto.<\/p>\n
In l976, Bimbo produced a qasidah album of religious songs.
\nProminent poet and ulema Taufiq Ismail wrote the lyrics.<\/p>\n
"A man who can create poetic lyrics must have a deep
\nunderstanding of Islam. Taufiq Ismail was the right man," he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Bimbo also asked ulema K.H. Zainuddin M.Z to help write
\nreligious lyrics.<\/p>\n
The results were amazing. The simple and short lyrics touched
\nMoslems.<\/p>\n
Many Moslems sob when hearing Rindu Rasul (Miss the Prophet),
\nwhich was jointly composed by Sam and Taufiq Ismail in the early
\nl970s.<\/p>\n
Musicians often write about things they don't know about. This
\nresults in meaningless songs, he said.<\/p>\n
"We must learn how to measure our knowledge and potency," he
\nadded.<\/p>\n
Sam admitted the group has been influenced by western music.
\nIts early attempts echo Spanish music.<\/p>\n
"I love the music of Queen, the Beatles, Pavarotti as well as
\ntraditional Sundanese music like Cianjuran. There is no denying
\nthat we might absorb various elements from traditional and modern
\nmusic," Sam once said.<\/p>\n
He claimed good music is universal. It should encompass all
\nnations, people and religions.<\/p>\n
"For me, music is a priceless gift from God and I will play it
\nfor every one," he said.<\/p>\n
A song entitled Tuhan (God) is one of Bimbo's best. Written by
\nSam in l973, the song can be heard everywhere. The song is sung
\nby both Moslem and Christian choirs.<\/p>\n
"A group of Buddhists once asked me to play the song at one of
\ntheir gatherings," Sam said.<\/p>\n
Bimbo's audience encompasses young and old from different
\nwalks of life.<\/p>\n
Keeping ahead of the competition isn't a problem. "We don't
\nsee younger musicians as competition, they have their own fans,"
\nSam explained. Having a 30-year head start must help.<\/p>\n
This Ramadhan, Indosiar Visual Mandiri asked the group to host
\na daily special called Irama Ramadhan (The sound of Ramadhan).<\/p>\n
Bimbo also perform throughout Indonesia and in neighboring
\ncountries like Malaysia.<\/p>\n
"We will play music for the rest of our lives. 'Old soldiers
\nnever die'," Sam warned.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/indonesias-most-favorite-bimbo-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}