Songbird Vina returns after two-year hiatus

Songbird Vina returns after two-year hiatus

By Yogita Tahil Ramani

JAKARTA (JP): Pitch black eyes, beautiful hair and animated
faces are a dime a dozen among sultry female singers.

But utter the song title Burung Camar (Seagull), and the one
and only Vina Panduwinata rises from the faceless pack.

The song was a huge hit more than 10 years ago, and its gentle
lyrics are still a mainstay on easy-listening radio stations.

Vina, now 38 and a mother, is back in the recording studio
after a two-year hiatus. The album will be released later this
year.

Among her favorite songs from the new album is Lebih Dari
Cinta (More Than Love) by Audie Agaam. Songs by Indonesian
singers Anang and Nugie are also included.

The public's love affair with Vina's romantic pop-jazz music
began in the 1980s with Citra Biru (A Blue Image), produced by
Jackson. Her songs -- slow, soft, emotive -- were safe refuge
from the onslaught of shock-rock bands and heavy metal as the
next decade approached.

"I would say my speciality lies in my husky voice," Vina said
before a comeback performance at Planet Hollywood last Wednesday
night.

The trademark voice added soulful depth to lyrical
masterpieces like Dia (That Person) or the recently popular Aku
Makin Cinta (Loving More Than Ever) produced by lyricist Loka
Manya. But Vina also knows how to expertly pick what is right for
her.

"I am very fussy when it comes to singing a piece," she said.
"It has to be something I would like to sing, not something I'd
do for a favor."

The public also embraced her music because it had the ring of
reality. "There were terrible times I went through when I had to
stay at my sister and brother-in-law's place," she said. "I heard
the fights and used to hide in my room, and once composed a song,
now known as Dua Anak Manusia (Two Children)."

Songs like Dia, Mawar Merah (Red Rose) and her own favorite
Aku Cinta Kepada Mu (I Love You) are poignant, alluring and
melodic, but it is the sultry sound and mood that gives them
meaning and substance.

Asked what she thought of the copy-cat culture of emulators,
Vina said: "Even children learn to use spoons following their
parents' method of using a spoon. It is not wrong to emulate, as
long as one knows what is to be emulated."

She explained that the distinct waves in some of her songs was
inspired by famous London-based pop-and-jazz singer Asha Putli.

Her musical career began at the relatively advanced age of 26.
Vina had spent five years in Germany when her father was working
at the Indonesian consulate. She mentions Bernd Wippich, her
German music producer, as one of the influential forces in paving
her way in music, as well as Indonesian music producer Mogi
Darussmann and long-time friend, manager and mentor Ajeng. M.

She won the special music award at the Kawakami Festival,
Tokyo, Japan, in 1984 and her career continued on from there.
Vina claims to sing for no particular market. "I sing songs that
are of my liking, not for particular age groups," Vina said,
identifying local singer Harvey Maleiholo as her musical
counterpart.

She professes to never taking voice lessons these days. "I
hardly ever practice, I just sing everyday. It could be in the
shower or anywhere around the house."

Vina laughed at the contradiction in terms of being a
successful and complete woman without a family.

"I enjoy being a woman, and I don't believe in being someone
who thinks being complete is possible without a man in a woman's
life. That is not true. Money can be earned again, but not trust,
and not true companionship."

She devotes herself to her husband, entrepreneur Boy
Harrijanto, and son Vito.

"The happiest moment in my life was when Vito was born," she
said.

Her motherly duties include getting up early to take her son
to school, and picking him up later. Yet, she believes singing
will always be part of her life.

"My husband will never stop me from singing because he
understands about necessary balances in life," she said.

Vina has single-minded determination to achieve happiness.
"What happens, will happen. I just want to be happy in the way
that every person wants to be. Their own way."