Sun, 11 Feb 2001

Guess What? J. Kristiadi

Popular jingles coming out of young people's cell phones are quite common. But when such a tune came out of noted political affairs observer J. Kristiadi's phone, it caused astonishment.

It was the jingle of controversial television cartoon series Crayon Shinchan, which belted out through Kristiadi's batik shirt pocket when he was recently interviewed, stunning some journalists.

"Oh God! I didn't know it's the tune from that cartoon. Is it forbidden? I didn't know that. I should tell my child to change it. This phone is not mine. Oh, this can get me into trouble," he exclaimed, responding to reporters questions.

"In my family ... we share cell phones," he added, explaining that it must be the work of one of his children who is now in college.

So, although there is controversy over the series -- featuring an outspoken, out-of-control and coquettish Japanese five-year- old boy -- its jingle has definitely won the heart of Kristiadi's child. (bby)