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CHAPTER 12 Indonesia

LISTENING GUIDE 12.3

“Begadang II” (“Up All Night II”), performed by Rhoma Irama and the Soneta Group

Rhoma Irama has been the top male dangdut vocalist for decades. In “Begadang II” (“Up All Night II”), the lyrics celebrate what ordinary people (who cannot afford to dance in a nightclub or eat in a restaurant) do on a Saturday night: they hang out and stay up late with friends. The song alternates between the first verse (Part A) and the second (Part B), interspersed with a couple of instrumental solos for electric guitar and flute. A section (Part C) that functions as a bridge—in that it goes into a somewhat deeper meaning for the song lyrics— appears at 01:53. In many ways this song demonstrates some of the most important aspects of dangdut: its

instruments; its rhythmic pattern; and its content that focuses on the lives of the poor. The disparity between the income of its major performers and its primary consumers is of course well-known, even as the singer uses phrases such as “We who have no money,” thereby connecting himself to the poor. Obvious parallels may be drawn between this music and some subsets of American country music in terms of having a specific sound, lyric content that speaks for the poor and working classes, and the artists connecting themselves with their audience by sometimes referring to a lack of financial stability.

Timing Section

Lyrics

0:00

Instrumental introduction

0:22

Part A

What does it mean, Saturday night? For people who can’t afford it? Want to party, no money Finally just hanging out on the street. Up all night, let’s stay up all night Stay up all night while singing Although we don’t have any money We too can have fun. What does it mean, Saturday night? For people who can’t afford it? Want to party, no money Finally just hanging out on the street.

00:48

Part B

01:03 PROPERTY OF OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS Part A 01:28 Instrumental solo on electric guitar 01:40 Flute solo 01:53 Part C For those who have money Dancing at nightclubs [For we who have no money] It’s enough to just dance here.