October 10, 2002
Bang Ben, Jakarta's Phenomenon
Night soon to morning, i'm very tired and boring. I turn on the radio finding any broadcast that still on. Luckily, i found one who played traditional songs. It's old album performed by senior humourist Benyamin Syu'aib (famously called Bang Ben). Fame with its humour, i didn't change the channel.Talking Bang Ben, Indonesian must be connecting with Betawi, another name of "Batavia" (the city name in the era of colonilization, not the australian ship), or Jakarta, the capital city of the nation. He is the one and only person who become the icon of the metropolitan city, with its multicultural communities and life. Black curly hair, hard eyes, thickset whisker, with funny face, everyone must be want to laugh even before he had to talk with. It is why, he memorized by every Indonesian, even after his death several years ago.
Hear every his songs is really nice. The songs is simple, usually told the story of two young man and young girl who loves each other. The man is Bang Ben itself, and Ida Royani as his duet. In these songs, Bang Ben tells the world of Jakarta in its very nature, usually unique and warm. Orginally set on early 80s, both young couple create their stories, missing, loving, angry, jealous, and also fighting each others. The life goes naturally, sleepy, their bad fortune, in debt, the frown mother-in-law, and the fussy life of ordinary Jakarta sub urban. Whatever will happened, everything noisy, romantic, funny, and yet to mention in its very harmony. That's the portrait of Jakarta in Bang Ben's face.
I don't know why this music doesn't popular after Bang Ben generation. Played with traditional instrument named Tajidor, always been noisy, though, it seem very easy to play. The music, like rap if it need to be compared. But it is added with comments, humours, easy chat, and the must be rule, with very nature Betawi spoken. Bang Ben is very phenomenon, just to imagine, with only two words "Begini" (as this), and "Begitu" (as that), a warm, unique, and humourous song has been performed. Even we can laugh.
Update: For more information about Jakarta and its culture, i recommend these reading lists: a must to mention, Tale from Jakarta, wrote by Indonesian maestro Pramoedya Ananta Toer, contains short story of Jakarta in early 50s, an original and fascinating. Jakarta Inside Out, a new books authored by former editor of Jakarta's city magazine, djakarta!, though i didn't read it yet, i knew the Daniel Ziv writing is very funny and great. And, Jakarta Missing, a nice travel map i found at Amazon catalog.
Posted at October 10, 2002 04:19 AM | Life
