Indonesia ’80s Is a Blast From the Past

Sylviana Hamdani

For some of us, the 1980s are a decade filled with plenty of special memories.

“It was a colorful time,” said Jazziray Hartoyo, a graduate of Delapan Dua Daha high school in Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta. “We were growing up and there were a lot of exciting things going on in the city.”

During that time, a new teen culture was developing in some of the bigger cities in Indonesia.

The clubbing scene was alive with young daredevils trying to breakdance, a style of dance that involved a lot of spinning and leg and arm movements, and teenage girls were looking up to pop singer Madonna as their new idol.

Music was at the heart of it all. The DJs were spinning popular hits in the nightclubs such as “Billie Jean” (Michael Jackson, 1982), “All Night Long” (Lionel Richie, 1983) and “I Want To Dance with Somebody” (Whitney Houston, 1987). And people would often hear popular Indonesian artists on television and the radio singing hits such as “Burung Camar” (“Seagull,” Vina Panduwinata, 1985), “Barcelona” (Fariz RM, 1987) and “Hasratku” (“My Passion” Imaniar, 1988.)

“The songs from the 1980s are everlasting,” Jazziray said. “Many are still being played in the clubs, on TV and radio today.”

When some graduates from Delapan Dua Daha, or DDD, as they like to refer to the school, gathered in April 2011, many of them talked about their love of the music of the ’80s.

“We wanted to bring it back. We wanted to relive our sweet memories from back then,” Jazziray said.

With that idea in mind, the DDD graduates contacted Artha Bangun, a famous radio announcer in the 1980s who now manages his own events company, ARB Productions, in Tangerang, to help them organize a special concert, Indonesia ’80s.

More than 3,000 people are expected to attend the five-hour event, which will run from 7 p.m. to midnight on Saturday, Sept. 15, at the Tennis Indoor Senayan stadium in Jakarta.

More than a dozen top Indonesian artists from the ’80s are scheduled to perform, including Fariz RM, Harvey Malaiholo, Titi DJ and Vina Panduwinata.

“The concert will be like an open reunion, not only for DDD alumni, but also for everyone who enjoyed good moments in the 1980s,” Jazziray said.

“They will take turns performing on one stage,” Artha said of the scheduled acts. “But don’t worry, there won’t be any intervals between the performances.”

Two famous Indonesian DJs, Olly Tandjung and Jockie Saputra, are also scheduled to perform at the concert.

“I believe it will be a full house,” Olly said. “All of my old friends are very excited to come to the event and celebrate the ’80s.”

A group of Zumba fitness dancers will take the stage while the DJ spins records to encourage the audience to get out of their seats and on their feet.

“We’re going to present a series of dynamic Zumba dances,” said Diana Pattihahuan, founder of Junko n Crews Zumba Fitness.

Revelers will also be able to sample some of the best food and drinks from the ’80s, with stands such as Roti Bakar Edi (Edi’s Toast, Blok M, South Jakarta) and Bakso Joni (Joni’s Meatballs, Blok S, Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta) expected at the event.

Tony Wenas, vocalist and keyboardist from music group Solid ’80, said the event would “answer the longings of our die-hard fans.”

“We’ve waited so long for such an event,” said Wenas, who will perform Solid ’80’s biggest hits, including “Asa Diriku” (“My Own Hope,” 1985), with his band at the event.

Tickets for the event, which is supported by Permata Bank, can be purchased at special counters at Permata Bank Sudirman (Central Jakarta) and Permata Bank Bintaro (South Jakarta). Safitri Damajanti, head of marketing at the bank, said Permata Bank Priority and Preferred Customers would receive a 30 percent discount.

Tickets for the show are priced between Rp 500,000 and Rp 1.5 million ($52 and $157).

Concertgoers can donate their old books at the Gerakan Anak Indonesia Suka Baca (Indonesian Children Love to Read Movement) booth.

“It’s a very positive effort by the organizing committee of this concert to encourage more Indonesian children to read,” said Yanti Sugarda, a member of the group.