Gigi lashes out at Rhoma's remark

JAKARTA: The penchant of self-appointed dangdut music king Rhoma Irama (shown in photo) for slating younger artists landed him in hot water recently.

This time the target of his criticism was once-popular pop- rock band Gigi.

In a widely-publicized remark broadcast by almost all TV gossip shows, Rhoma made a stinging comment on Gigi, saying the quartet was a frustrated band unable to stay the course of playing straight rock music.

Rhoma appeared to be commenting on Gigi's latest outing, a religion-themed record including a song titled Raihlah Kemenangan (Reach for Victory), which has sold impressively and has even gone platinum.

The album, released during Ramadhan, was targeted at Muslim folks due to celebrate Idul Fitri last month. Rhoma might have been irked by Gigi's rendition of mostly traditional Islamic tunes.

Commenting on Rhoma's remark, Gigi management said that it regretted such a statement as it was made by one of the country's music legends.

"His works may have won ample recognition, but that doesn't mean that he (Rhoma) can say whatever he wants about other people's music," Gigi publicist Dhani Pete said in a statement, quoted by Detik.com newsportal.

Earlier last year, Rhoma, whose daytime job requires him to juggle between singing and sermonizing, mobilized scores of dangdut singers to disown singer Inul Daratista for her "erotic dance moves".

Earlier this year, gossip columns got their revenge when they published photos of Rhoma leaving the apartment of aspiring female dangdut singer Angel Lelga in the middle of the night. He eventually stated that he had married the girl, but soon after the revelation, divorced her. -- JP