Singer Katon takes center stage -- as poet<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The lyrics of Katon Bagaskara's songs are
\npoetic, but can his lyrics really be called poems?<\/p>\n
Katon had prepared himself for the question at the launch of
\nhis new book Bulan Dibuai Awan. Puisi-puisi pilihan Katon
\nBagaskara on Thursday at Bentara Budaya Jakarta.<\/p>\n
\"Poems are any expression of feelings through words. Thus, I
\ncan call my lyrics poems,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"I don't claim to be as great as Chairil Anwar, Subagio
\nSastrowardoyo or Sapardi Djoko Damono, nor do I want to compete
\nwith the poets. I am in the first place a pop musician who has
\nloved reading poems since childhood and loves making poetic
\nlyrics for my songs,\" he claimed.<\/p>\n
The book, published by PT Gramedia Pustaka Utama, contains 22
\npoems, including 21 lyrics of his hits like Yogyakarta and Negeri
\ndi Awan. The poems are mainly about love.<\/p>\n
The hard-cover, full-color book looks like a piece of art
\nitself. Each poem is written in different letters on different
\npage design. Each page is filled with sketches and illustrations,
\nmade by graphic artist Dimas Djayadiningrat. Katon's photograph
\nwas taken by photographer Firdaus Fadlul. No wonder the price is
\nhigh, Rp 23,000 (US$10) a copy.<\/p>\n
Gramedia has printed 7,000 copies. Seeing he has a large
\nnumber of fans, Katon is optimistic that his book will sell well.
\nHis last album alone Negeri di Awan sold 450,000 copies.<\/p>\n
If Katon's poetry book sells well, it will be a good lesson
\nfor all the poets in this country, who have never succeeded in
\nselling their books. Sing the poems first in pop songs, then
\ncompile the lyrics. (jsk)<\/p>",
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