Indonesia's melody-maker Titiek Puspa turns 60

By Rita Widiadana

JAKARTA (JP): She has prospered in the fickle world of the local music industry for almost five decades. Along the way, Titiek Puspa has created distinctive musical idioms and enriched the Indonesian music vocabulary.

Over the years, she has acquired an esteemed reputation as one of the country's most prominent singers and composers.

Her songs of the 1950s and 1960s are as familiar as old pals, and linger in middle-age memories like invisible friends from childhood.

For the younger generation, Titiek channeled their jittery emotions through her songwriting's easy-rhythm, naive lyrics in enchanting love songs, including Jatuh Cinta (Fall in Love ) performed by Eddy Silitonga, and Adinda (Babe), sung by Acil of the Bimbo group.

Even children are attuned to her soft and grandmotherly voice through her favorite song Menabung (Saving).

Titiek is grateful to have weathered the turbulent years and often rough transitions to become a respected star.

Her thankfulness was expressed at her 60th birthday party which fell on Nov. 1.

As a mother of two adult daughters and a loving grandmother to a brood of grandchildren, Titiek seems to appreciate every breath she takes.

"I am now ready if He calls me at any time. He has given this wonderful life to me," she said.

Choked up by emotion, Titiek was lost for words in response to her birthday gifts. A beautiful poem from one of her beloved daughters, a song from a friend, a series of birthday celebrations and, more importantly, a tribute concert organized by private television station RCTI on Nov. 18.

"I feel so touched to realize that my family and friends love me that much," Titiek said during her birthday party at a hotel here.

One of her close friends, Alex Kumara, also vice president of RCTI, convinced her that no fewer than 80 artists would be involved in the tribute concert.

"It will be a special gift for an extraordinary person," Kumara explained.

Dwiki Dharmawan and 76 other young musicians grouped in Orchestra Fantasi will accompany more than 30 top artists like Acil, Vina Panduwinata, Ruth Sahanaya, Aning Katamsi and Dewi Yull.

Comedians Project P, Miing and Ateng will also do their routines.

Surprise

The concert, Citra Karya Titiek Puspa, (The Works of Titiek Puspa), will be held at the Plenary Hall, Jakarta Hilton Convention Center, and will be broadcast live by RCTI at 7:30 p.m.

Other surprises are in store for her. Initiated by singer Camelia Malik, a group including director Edo Pesta Sirait and Misbach Yusa Biran are now working on her biopic.

Prominent authors Ramadhan K.H and Nina Pane are writing the screenplay.

Titiek herself says she has not penned an autobiography because her life is not deserving of one.

Acil praised Titiek as Indonesia's most prominent music figure.

"She is the genuine and talented singer, composer, entertainer and comedian. Titiek's talents are so rare and incomparable. I don't think that Indonesia will have another. During her long- lasting career, she has made Indonesian music flourish."

She was born Soedarwati in Tanjung, South Kalimantan, on Nov. 1, 1937. Her father, Tugeno Puspowidjoyo, changed her name to Soemarti to protect her against bad luck.

"Titiek was my nickname, while Puspa came from my father. My stage name at school parties was Titiek Puspa," said the entertainer, who remains healthy and attractive despite her age.

Titiek's interest in music was kindled at an early age. Her professional career got fully underway when she won second prize in a radio singing contest in 1954 at the age 17.

"My father urged me to become a teacher," recalled Titiek who graduated from a teacher training college. With the help of her brother, Titiek finally got her father's permission to pursue a career in music.

Together with stars such as Sam Saimun, Tuty Daulay, Nurseha, Fetty Fatimah and Nina Kirana, Titiek dominated local music stages in the 1950s.

They built a strong foundation for the Indonesian music industry. State-owned Radio Republik Indonesia (RRI), the only radio station in the country at that time, played a significant role in boosting Titiek's career and other musicians and singers of that period.

In her early performing years, Titiek sang an array of songs written by high-profile composers such as Ismail Marzuki, Iskandar, Isbandi, Muchtar Embut, Syafii Embut and her late husband, Mus Mualim.

Titiek's natural vocal talent, combined with her skillful interpretation of different musical genres, made her an evocative singer who could mesmerize thousands without the need for fancy show-stoppers or the back up of dozens of dancers.

Ismail Marzuki's popular songs like Rindu Lukisan, Sepasang Mata Bola and Juwita Malam have been performed by dozens of singers, but they always sounded different when Titiek sang them.

When she started singing, her performance was impeccably phrased and suffused with emotions which made it all the more haunting.

Other composers were eager to produce hits for Titiek. The late Iskandar composed a special piece for her, Puspa Dewi, which became one of Titiek's trademark ballads in the late 1950s and early l960s.

Titiek recorded hundreds of songs by numerous composers. Most of her records in this early period dealt with romantic and often sentimental themes, although a few contained social criticism.

Some years later she began to compose songs, although lack of musical education had made her hesitant. Her first composition, Kisah Hidup (Story of Life), was a flop.

"I just wanted to prove to myself that I could write a song," Titiek once said.

It was fortunate she had Mus Mualim, a pianist and composer. He improved and polished her songwriting skills.

Titiek eventually became a prolific songwriter.

"I don't know how many songs I have written," Titiek said. Her husband, before he died in 1990, estimated she had penned more than 600 titles.