TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - When we hear people talk about traditional songs or folk songs, we often have flashbacks to our childhood days when our teachers taught us how to sing these songs passed down from generation to generation. They were often included in our subjects in school. However, the White Shoes and the Couples Company managed to alter this perception through their third album entitled Menyanyikan Lagu-lagu Daerah (Singing Traditional Songs).
The band of youngsters from Jakarta, popularly known for their tempo doeloe, or classic Indonesian style, have put a twist on some traditional Indonesian songs and put forth a fresh new arrangement to please the ears of the current generation. Sari (vocals), Mela (keyboard), Rio (guitar), Saleh (guitar), Ricky (bass), and John Navid (drums) have created an even more beautiful arrangement that is fresh, cheerful, yet still powerful enough to bring out the ethnic ambience of each song’s origin.
Although they seemed to only bring a fresh new pop melody to these classic tunes, their creativity still deserves two thumbs up. Last October, the band recorded five traditional songs from around the archipelago including Jangi Janger (Bali), Tjangkurileung (Jawa Barat), Lembe-lembe (Maluku), Te O Rendang O (Maluku), and Tam Tam Buku a.k.a. Trang Trang Kolantrang (Malay).
White Shoes manager Indra Ameng said the band wanted to play around and create a fresh new arrangement for traditional songs to enhance their love and nostalgia for the Old Order. The Old Order is the term coined to describe the nation during the reign of Indonesia’s first president Soekarno.
The band’s new song arrangement, aided by producers Aradea Barandana and David Tarigan, successfully created a fresh new version that can revive the people’s love for these legendary tunes. Unfortunately, they only recreated five songs. This makes us crave for more pleasing tunes to bringing a nostalgic yet modern feeling that pleases the soul.
ISMA SAVITRI
