'Dangdut' music gala awards night glitters

'Dangdut' music gala awards night glitters

By Achmad Nurhoeri

JAKARTA (JP): "Dangdut is not a poor business," quipped
dangdut sage Jaja Miharja. If you were at the Senayan Sports
Center last Thursday night, you knew it was no lie. That night,
the dangdut music world proudly presented its flying colors, a
sight to amaze anyone.

Is the above picture too dim? Can't blame you if you currently
have the common stereotype vista about dangdut music. This hybrid
Indian-Arab-Malay music is constantly associated with the
grassroots, low taste, and wishy-washy lyrics. But try to erase
that image. Close your eyes and paint a picture in your mind.

Just imagine artists swaying their hips surrounded by BMWs,
Volvo limos, Porsche sports and even chrome-covered Harley
Davidson bikes. Red carpet awaiting the strides of the megadivas
wrapped in outfits with price tags exceeding a colonel's monthly
salary. Hordes of fans shouting their names in hysteria. Bouncers
ready to restrain the crowd, forming an artery connecting the
stars to their palace of stardom. Inside, a big stage spoofed up
with more than 200 radiant lights is ready to be their ring of
honor.

Ring a bell?

If you come up with an image of a Grammy Award or Billboard
Music gala, it would be no surprise. But to burst your bubble of
imagination, the answer is not so far away. The preceding picture
was what happened at dangdut music's most extravagant night,
Malam Anugerah Musik Dangdut (Dangdut Music Award Night),
dangdut's equivalent to the Grammy Awards.

The ceremony was the first of its kind. Usually dangdut music
is just one of several other genres to be awarded at such an
event. This year, Televisi Pendidikan Indonesia (TPI), a private
TV station owned by the nation's first daughter Siti Hardiyanti
Rukmana, pioneered a night especially to glorify dangdut music.
And they have every right to do so.

Even though TPI claims to be an education station, it relies
heavily on dangdut. Every day TPI broadcasts videoclips, quizzes
and even a sitcom based on dangdut.

For the record, besides TPI, a lot of other media exploit the
aura of this music. In East Java, 80 percent of private radio
stations play dangdut music. In Jakarta, Radio CBB which calls
itself "dangdut radio" can earn more than Rp 2 billion
(US$833,000) annually. Even media moguls can not resist the Midas
touch dangdut brings and in 1995 a tabloid covering the world of
dangdut hit the streets. It bore the name.... none other than
Dangdut.

Dangdut also shows staggering numbers in the royalty business.
According to the Indonesian Creativity Foundation (YKCI), from
the Rp 2.4 billion ($1 million) it collected, dangdut singers
featured most prominently in the list of receivers.

Just glaring at the facts, dangdut musicians were definitely
entitled to show off their fortune that night.

The winners

Senior and junior dangdut musicians competed with each other
in this premier award event. And both sides eventually got a fair
share of the pie.

The best male and female performer this year were Meggy Z and
Iis Dahlia respectively. The match was heaven to earth. One is a
old crack while the other is a shooting star.

Meggy Z -- the Z stands for Zakaria -- has been in the
business since 1970. He has experienced every inch of dangdut's
turbulent ride to fame. He knows that the music is usually
sneered at and labeled hillbilly. But he kept on struggling to
break the image. In 1987, he got his big break after his song
Sakit Hati (Heartache) reached the hearts of his fans. But the
business was not as lucrative nor as stable as it is today.
Sometimes there was no contract at all. But after 27 years of
wandering the dangdut cosmos, the 51-year-old bard's perseverance
finally paid off.

"I was surprised to receive the award. I was even chatting
outside the hall when they announced it. I just can't believe
it... an old guy like me can still get it," said Meggy Z who was
awarded for his song Senyum Membawa Luka (A Smile Brings Pain).

Iis Dahlia is a different character. Born Iis Laeliyah, the
gorgeous 25-year-old dame started her career by accident. In
1988, she was just a pretty public stage singer at Monas park
singing pop songs and Mandarin tunes. She was going nowhere until
Akurama records spotted the tantalizing diva and persuaded her to
change direction. She made the change to dangdut the following
year and it was definitely not the wrong one. In 1990, her second
album Tamu Tak Diundang (Uninvited Guest) received the HDX Award
after it sold more than one million copies.

"Every time I go on stage now, there will be pressure. I have
to perform as good as I can to prove I'm worthy of this," said
Iis whose song Kecewa (Disappointed) also snatched Best Lyrics
Award.

But the darling of the night was none of the above. Nobody
could make the fans cheer more when it was announced that Evie
Tamala had grabbed three awards. She won the two viewer's choice
awards. She was crowned the fans favorite singer, and she was
awarded best composer for her song Selamat Malam (Good Night).
She was also presented with the Best Dangdut Song award.

The pyramid-like glass award was also given in other
categories. Best Dangdut Song Arrangement went to Merpati Putih
(arranger Ukat S/ singer Ikke Nurjanah). Best Duo/Group -- Manis
Manja Trio for their song titled Biduan (Diva). Best Newcomer --
Lesta Mega for her song, Saruwaktu. Best Videoclip -- Dahsyat
(Akurama Entertainment/ singer Adiem Ngesti).

The night also honored people who had lifted the esteem of
dangdut to higher ground. Secretary of State Moerdiono, a die-
hard dangdut fan, was crowned Dangdut Figure 1997. The minister
also showed that he is not a shy guy. He swayed his body with
Evie Tamala on stage and made the audience cheer in excitement.

"I don't care if people say dangdut is crappy. For me, the
important thing is that it's Indonesian people's prized
possession," he said underlining the promotion of dangdut as an
original Indonesian product that should be favored above western
music.

But no one could deny the western influence used throughout
the show, including accouterments, dance movements and stage
equipment. And award nights originated from the home of western
pop culture, the U.S.

But no one bore a bigger smile that night than the 50-year-old
dangdut prophet Rhoma Irama. He was crowned Dangdut Legend and it
was more than deserved. He is the vanguard of dangdut's
advancement. A 1970s ASEAN Pop Singer, Rhoma is renowned for
being the first to introduce dangdut overseas, in films and in
commercials during his 25 year career span. Every time he plays
with his Soneta Band, he never forgets the importance of lights,
laser and dry ice. He makes a dangdut stage as extravagant as any
other music concert.

The singing guitarist's revolution even triggered William
Frederick from the University of Hawaii to research him in his
1982 dissertation, Rhoma Irama and The Dangdut Style.

"This event is very monumental. It shows the nation what
dangdut is like. It lifts the appreciation," Rhoma said.

But Rhoma never seems to halt his drive and believes the event
could be improved in the future. "I would like the event to give
more time to the winners to comment on stage," he said. And no
man has more right to criticize dangdut than him.

But in the meantime, no one can say that dangdut is a poor
business. It is completely the contrary.