The King of Dangdut: Rhoma Irama
Raden Haji Oma Irama, or as he is more widely known, Rhoma Irama was born on December 11, 1946, in West Java, Indonesia. Irama who is often deemed the “King of Dangdut ” is a legendary figure in Indonesian music because he pioneered and then popularized the genre. Dangdut is “a blend of Indonesian, Indian, Middle Eastern, and Western” musical styles (Gorlinski, 2023).
To give you a small taste of Rhoma Irama’s work, here is one of his most popular songs: “Kehilangan (Lost)”
Irama’s career began in the ’60s, then skyrocketed in the ’70s when he formed his band, Soneta Group, with which he produced many of his hit songs (Editors, 2020). Irama was influenced by the political and social changes in Indonesia during the ’60s and ’70s. During this time there was an abundance of political and social unrest and the emphasis on cultural identity became more prominent and impacted Irama’s music, shaping it into a reflection of those issues and values (BBC, 2019). Due to this, Irama’s music greatly influenced Indonesian culture and gave the Indonesian people a sense of pride during a tumultuous time for the country. His music still gives people a sense of pride and will continue to connect generations to come.
Official YouTube Profile Picture
After doing further research on Irama, I concluded that he has a very distinct way of writing his lyrics. They often reflect messages addressing topics such as love, spirituality, and social/political issues and because of this Irama’s songs have a poetic quality about them. The way Irama’s songs resonate so deeply with his community, or really Indonesia as a whole, served as a way to unite and uplift the country and continues to do so. His socially conscious lyrics have a way of addressing pressing issues and sparking awareness in people who might not have thought twice about the issues at hand.
My personal favorite from Rhoma Irama is “Gala Gala,” and the main theme of this song is love.
After gaining a basic knowledge of Rhoma Irama, it’s safe to say that he has amassed a significant following because of his contribution to Indonesian music and culture. His influence extends past just music though, he uses his platform to address social and moral issues such as the Islamic religious values of poverty, corruption, and modesty. He even ventured into acting and had a brief stint in politics as a member in the House of Representatives of Indonesia (Gorlinski, 2023). Personally I believe that Rhoma Irama’s lasting impact on Indonesian culture and his music’s ongoing popularity certainly solidify his legacy as the King of Dangdut.
Credit: liputan6.com
***If you are interested in learning more I highly suggest reading Rhoma Irama and the Dangdut Style: Aspects of Contemporary Indonesdian Popular Culture by William H. Frederick. (Use the link in my 3rd source)
Works Cited
(1) BBC. (2019, April 17). Indonesia profile – timeline. BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-pacific-15114517
(2) Editors , P. (2020). Rhoma Irama. Indonesia’s King of Dangdut. https://pianity.com/rhoma-irama
(3) Frederick, W. H. (1982). Rhoma Irama and the Dangdut Style: Aspects of Contemporary Indonesian Popular Culture. Indonesia, 34, 103–130. https://doi.org/10.2307/3350952
(4) Gorlinski, V. (2023, December 8). Rhoma Irama. Encyclopædia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Rhoma-Irama
(5) Reporter. (2020). Rock meets Islam in Indonesia. University of Pittsburgh: Department of Music. https://www.music.pitt.edu/blog/rock-meets-islam-indonesia080811
(6) Titon, J. T., & Cooley, T. J. (2017). Worlds of Music: An introduction to the music of the world’s peoples (6th ed.). Cengage Learning.