Urban youth believe old timers still the best

By Hera Diani

JAKARTA (JP): It is often said that young people and music are inseparable. However, this is probably an ageist statement as James Finn Garner (author of Politically Correct Bedtime Stories) put it because music cuts across everything, including age.

If it didn't, Mick Jagger would probably have given up crooning when he hit forty.

But music does, indeed, play a major role in young people's lives, especially those living in urban areas such as Jakarta. And thanks to MTV, that role is increasing.

Music has become more than just entertainment. It has become a lifestyle. Or, to make an extreme statement, it has become the religion of the young. Remember that "Clapton is God" thing?

From generation to generation, there have been lineups of singers or musicians who became the young people's favorites or idols.

The 1950s had Elvis Presley rocking the house, while in the 1960s, The Beatles were successful in creating hysteria, especially among young women.

Countering The Beatles' suits and neat style, The Rolling Stones emerged at around the same time. Flower power bloomed at the end of the 1960s, with the likes of The Doors, Jimmy Hendrix and Janis Joplin.

The 1970s were the period where rock legend Led Zeppelin and art rock groups such as Genesis and Pink Floyd reigned supreme.

The new wave then came crashing in with the 1980s with, among others, Duran Duran. The Police and U2 ruled the roost, and, oh, don't let's forget that most famous celebrity mom and former material girl Madonna, and also the King of Pop Michael Jackson.

In the past decade, there were Nirvana, Metallica and Guns N Roses in the early years. And then Alanis Morrisette came along, before the era of boybands and Spice Girls later on.

As for today's youths in Indonesia, what and who are hip in the music scene?

Their tastes may vary, but those who were interviewed by The Jakarta Post apparently agreed on one thing: that the old timers are the best.

Indra, 24, an employee of a private company is a huge fan of U2.

"They (Bono and friends) have attitude. Their music is cool and the lyrics have deep meaning as the guys express concern over social and political affairs," he said.

As a fan, Indra collects all of U2's albums and is willing to spend all of his savings, if necessary, to buy tickets if U2 stage a concert here, or even in Singapore.

"It's too commercial and hypocritical, I don't like it," he said about the latest music trend, pointing to the likes of bubble gummer singers and musicians.

Sharing Indra's opinion, Romanus Suryo, or Iyo, thinks that the music of the past decade, especially the latest trend, is superficial.

"They're nothing compared to Genesis or Pat Metheny," said the 30-year-old businessman, referring to the art rock group and the jazz guitarist.

According to Iyo, who runs rtisi.com business communications and portal management services, both Genesis and Metheny were excellent in exploring music.

"It's got soul in it and has deep meaning. We can't even listen to their music while doing something else," said Iyo who has almost all of the CDs and MP3s released by his idols.

To prove his fanaticism for Metheny, Iyo bought a VVIP ticket for Metheny's concert here several years ago.

"If Genesis were willing to reunite and hold a concert here, I'd buy the ticket no matter how much it cost," he said enthusiastically.

Unlike Iyo and Indra, Mandy, 25, who works as a publicist with Miles Production, thinks that the latest music trend is interesting.

"Especially R&B. Many of the singers/musicians came up with a new interpretation which I found interesting, like Lauryn Hill, for example," she said.

But when it comes to favorites, Mandy said she likes Sting, Genesis, Madonna and Pat Metheny.

Skill is definitely what distinguishes the old timers.

"Old musicians are much more talented and skilled than recent musicians. Musicians now are taking advantage of technology. The old groups are better because they can produce high quality music using a limited number of instruments," said Uwi Nugroho, 28, a graphic designer who digs classic rock groups like Led Zeppelin.

Iwan Paul, 26, said that 1990s bands indeed have both skill and speed.

"But they (1990s bands) are too busy working on speed and complicated compositions that their music misses something important: soul. You see, 1970s groups like Pink Floyd and Genesis have deep and soulful music," he said.

Pink Floyd's guitarist David Gilmour, he added, plays guitar with his heart.

"But some of the '90s bands are good," he said, pointing to The Red Hot Chilli Peppers and Black Crowes.

Red Hot, Iwan said, has an excellent rhythm section and a cool beat while Crowes is among the few 1990s bands who can play blues and rock 'n roll well.

For Tasha, who is an employee at a newly established TV station, 1980s music is best.

"With the exception of big-haired rockers with cheesy songs like Bon Jovi or Poison, the '80s is the best. I love Wham, Culture Club, Duran Duran and many more," said the 24 year old, adding that she also likes "black music" like R&B and hip hop.

However, some people apparently still categorize music as either "guys" music or "chicks" music.

"Naah..., U2's too manly. I don't like it...it's a guy kind of music," said a young woman in a record store to her friend who asked whether U2's latest album was good or not. She then grabbed a record by All Saints, England's all female group.

Indonesian

As for the Indonesian music scene, young people also think that musicians from the good old days are better.

According to Iyo, the golden age of the Indonesian music scene was from the 1970s through the 1980s.

"Indonesian music is basically a reflection of western musical trends. But because the influence in the '70s came from art rock groups who had outstanding music and excellent lyrics, the result was also excellent," he said, pointing to Indonesian '70s groups like Godbless, Giant Step and Rollies.

But the best time, he added, was the 1980s because, surprisingly, western music had little influence.

"The music was very rich, ranging from pop, jazz, fusion, and also rock," Iyo said.

Separately, Iwan said that young musicians, especially rock groups, were quite promising.

"Too bad, they absorb Western influences too much," he said, pointing to new band Padi whose music clearly resembles U2's.

The great old timers, he added, were, unfortunately, unproductive now because they were too busy doing session projects.