Dangdut
Dangdut is a genre of Indonesian popular music that is partly derived from Malay, Arabic and Hindustani music. It developed in the 1970s among working class Muslim youth, but beginning in the late 1990s reached a broader following in Indonesia, Malaysia and the southern Philippines.[1][2]
A dangdut band typically consists of a lead singer, male or female, backed by four to eight musicians. Instruments usually include a tabla, mandolin, guitars, and synthesizers. The term has been expanded from the desert-style music, to embrace other musical styles.[1] Modern dangdut incorporates influences from Middle Eastern pop music, Western rock, house music, hip-hop music, contemporary R&B, and reggae.[1][3]
Etymology
The term "dangdut" is a Javanese onomotopoeia for the sound of the tabla (also called gendang) drum, which is written dang and ndut.
Culture
Most major cities, especially on Java, have one or more venues that have a dangdut show several times a week. The concerts of major dangdut stars are also broadcasted on television.
Beginning in 2003, dangdut became the focus of a national controversy in Indonesia regarding performances by singer Inul Daratista that religious conservatives described as "pornography". Street protests called for Daratista's banning from television, and legislation was passed in 2008 by the People's Consultative Assembly that introduced a broad range of activities described as pornography.[4]
Because the popularity of the genre, some movies and TV show use Dangdut themes such as Rhoma Irama's movies and Rudy Soedjarwo's Mendadak Dangdut.
Performance artists
Leading dangdut artists include:
- Rhoma Irama (The "King of Dangdut"[1])
- Elvy Sukaesih (The "Queen of Dangdut"[1])
- Inul Daratista (Creator of Goyang Inul which sparked an anti-pornography controversy)
- Evie Tamala
- Iis Dahlia
- Mansyur S.
- A. Rafiq
- Dewi Persik
- Fahmy Shahab
- Meggy Z.
- Camelia Malik
- Dorce Gamalama
- Ikke Nurjanah
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e Campbell, Debe (18 April 1998), "The 'Billboard' report: Dangdut thrives in SE Asia--music rules Indonesia", Billboard, vol. 110, p. 1
- ^ Nuvich, Alexandra (18 April 1998), "Dangdut thrives in SE Asia--Malaysia embraces genre", Billboard, vol. 110, p. 1
- ^ Gehr, Richard (10 December 1991), "Dawn of Dangdut", The Village Voice, vol. 36, p. 86
- ^ Gelling, Peter (30 October 2008), "Indonesia passes broad anti-pornography bill", The Wall Street Journal