The first one is The Tielman Brothers, the oldest music group from Indonesia. They played rock & roll, but some mentioned them as Indorock. They combined Indonesian and Western music in Keroncong root. The Tielman Brothers was the first Netherlands-Indonesian band which successfully was acknowledged in international scene during 1950’s. In addition, they were also one of rock & roll pioneers in Netherlands. The band was quite famed throughout Europe, long before The Beatles and The Rolling Stones appeared. Considering such mentioned proof, The Tielman Brothers is acknowledged as the oldest rock band in the world.

Andy Tielman and his family are from Timor. When the boys were still young, the band’name was The Timor Tielman Brothers. The music career of The Tielman Brothers was started in Surabaya in year 1945, where four brothers and one sister, Jane, frequently performed and delivered local songs and dances. Their talents were inherited from the father, Herman Tielman, a captain of KNIL forces, whose frequently played music with his friends at his house in Surabaya. Their stage was widely known attractive and amusing, even they jumped and rolled over on stage as well as presented outstanding guitar, bass and drums performances. In addition, Andy Tielman, the frontman, was believed had popularized attractions of playing the guitar by teeth, behind his head or his back long time before Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page or Ritchie Blackmore did.

There is also a singer, songwriter and guitarist from Ambon, Daniel Sahuleka, who was born in Semarang on 6 December 1950. He lived at Winterswijk, Netherlands. Few of his songs had been famed in Indonesia; such as “You Make My World So Colorful” which was appeared at the beginning of 1980’s in his album Daniel Sahuleka (1977), also “Don’t Sleep Away This Night” which was the single of album with the same title in 1978. On the brink of his career as a recording singer, Daniel was managed by Polydor (Netherlands). In 2004 he published an album contains ‘Berdendang’, which is heavily colored by tunes of his native, Molluca.

In 1995, Daniel returned to Indonesia and acknowledged an award in Yogyakarta. Daniel’s experience was reflected in his album “After the Jetlag” which was released by Sunflight in October 1998. Under his own label, Daniel also allows permit of releasing his best compositions to be marketed in Indonesia, in album The Best of Daniel Sahuleka, which was a joint production of Moedya Music & Alfa Records. In the latter album, besides the two hits earlier mentioned, which uses the version of album I Adore You (1993), there was also a ballad “Will You Still Be There”, “Lonesome on the Road”, “The Sunflight” and a song that contains humanity message, “Dust of Life.”

There are not only ballad compositions as the flagship of Daniel’s latter album. He also demonstrates dynamic aspect through “Imagine”, “The Rain” and an Ambon-traditional ethnic nuanced song, “Badendang”, which apparently proves his quality as a creative, innovative and international class musician. According to Daniel, he is very glad that finally met again his fans in Indonesia, although just through a record album. Since to him, Indonesian people would have special place in his heart.

Jamie Aditya was born in Canberra on 22 April 1978 of the couple Stuart Graham and Ati Ashyawati. His mother is the daughter of Achdiat K. Mihardja, a famed author and poem from West Java. Rather than as a musician, his name has been more familiar as advertisement star or presenter. During the golden era of MTV in 1990’s, he was chosen as the VJ of MTV Indonesia and VJ of MTV Asia, coupled with Sarah Sechan.

His roots as a musician had been prepared since he was a child. Since then Jamie already was capable of playing a few musical instruments. Few musical instruments that he mastered are guitar, bass, percussion and those of traditional instruments; kecapi, seruling (bamboo flute) and Sundanese drum kendang. His musical career was commenced in 90’s when he contributed his vocals for the first album of Humania in 1993. He also appeared in album Mystical Mist of Krakatau (1994). After then, his name was widely known as the VJ of MTV in programs MTV Asia and MTV Indonesia.

In 2007, he was as a judge of talent scouting event Indonesian Idol of the 4^th season, whilst he also was preparing his solo soul album. A year earlier, he contributed his vocals for song “Good Times” in Glenn Fredly’s album, Aku dan Wanita. In 2007, Jamie also became a guest vocalist in the album of Rock N Roll Mafia, Outbox and sang in song “Questions”. He also had once been a background vocalist of garage rock band from Bandung, The S.I.G.I.T.

In 2012, finally Jamie released his long-delayed solo album. The album, entitled LMNOP (Love Me Now or Perish) contains 9 soul and funk songs. The element of IDM then was appeared as the obtrusive experiment material as it was combined with the vocal pace of black music-alike. The multi-instrumentalist Jamie Aditya is not only capable of playing some musical instruments in his song, but he also the producer of the album LMNOP. His first album was also supported by a row of Indonesian leading musicians, one of them is the jazz maestro, Indra Lesmana.

While Tielman Brothers, Daniel Sahuleka and Jamie Aditya are those of foreign nationals’ parentage, Dougy Mandagi (vocalist, guitarist of The Temper Trap) is the genuine Indonesian national. He was born from a family that has strong art and music traditions, among others was influenced by church’s tradition. His father was a fan of country music, whose had influenced his musical pattern. Before he arrived in Australia, Dougy had once visited some provinces in Indonesia. He also had once lived in Hawaii. He started his career in Melbourne as a portrait artist and even street musician until he took a job at particular shop.

To be a shop attendant was surely not Dougy’s main target. His dream ever since long time ago was founding a band. He believes that Melbourne is a city for anyone who has a dream. Indeed, he had to get rid of his dream within quite a long time until he met Toby, a drummer who has long-insightful experience in music. They both started to do rehearsals. Jonny, Dougy’s old friend, then joined in as a bass player. Within a year, the three men always did rehearsal whilst performed at a few shows. An old friend of Toby, Lorenzo, then finally joined in as the guitarist. The Temper Trap was then founded.

Led by Dougy, The Temper Trap ran their musical tour in Australia. Their appearance had charmed everybody’s ears, including producer Jim Abbis, who came to Melbourne by purpose to help The Temper Trap in producing a debut record. Presenting some new songs, the band successfully got their fans. One of The Temper Trap’s captivating performances was on the final match of AFL 2012 in Melbourne. Witnessed by over dozens of thousands people, Dougy and his friends presented their satisfying performance. Dougy has became part of Australian tradition and people. He is the best art ambassador from Indonesia for Australian public.

The noticeable example is the music instrument of guitar. Ever since its appearance in circa 1500 AD, this thrumming instrument is designed to be used by those of right-handed people. Even if, in the past times, there were left-handed people who would play guitar, he/she would surely play it by his/her left hand. Based on a research carried out by Dr. Clyde Francks from the Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, Oxford University, which concerning left-handed human, some interesting facts were found.

Someone who performs his/ her activities by left hand, his/ her right brain would be more dominant and frequently contains excellent creativity. The superiority of left-handed people in compared with those who are right-handed, is that they likely to be superior in thinking, developing a new concept, besides extremely innovative.

Upon their creative and innovative thoughts, left-handed people had frequently taken a role as the frontman in particular band. Paul McCartney is one of left-handed musician who frequently has been mentioned worldwide. The bassist of The Beatles had once been praised as the “most successful composer and recording artist of all time” by the Guiness Book World of Records by his achievement of 60 Gold Discs of 100 million albums, 100 million singles as well the most successful composer in the history of British music. Other than bass, McCartney also masters few other instruments such as guitar, drums and keyboards. Although in fact, there were two songwriters in The Beatles; John Lennon and Paul McCartney, but their role were beneficial one to another. As McCartney mostly composed pop arrangements, Lennon wrote genius lyrics, which more likely contain anti-war movement themes. To the date, McCartney has been still active as a solo musician and frequently doing experiments of cross-genre; from classics to electronic music. His most updated work was Kisses on the Bottom (2012), which presents pop-classics with jazz touch in it.

The blues rock pioneer from USA, Jimi Hendrix is the other example of left-handed guitarist. Hendrix had been widely known by his acrobatic act when he plays his guitar by using his teeth during performance. The Jimi Hendrix with psychedelic rock trio format is apparently assumed as the climax of his professional career as the musician in year 1966. The band released 3 albums before it was broken up in 1969. Few months later, Hendrix founded a new band, called Band of Gypsys, with Billy Cox (bass) and Buddy Miles (drum). The band only lasted within a brief period, and only released a live album. Hendrix only enjoyed his successful career as a musician within 7 years. His first solo album The Cry of Love (1971), was even released a year after he died. Hendrix was diagnosed being addicted by drugs. It also records his name as one among a few musicians who dies at the age of 27 along with Jim Morrison, Kurt Cobain and Brian Jones. Although he had been known as a fan of alcohol-content drinks, undoubtedly Hendrix is one among most influential rock musicians, he even is still a pattern to today’s musicians. On 14^th of November 1991, Hollywood Walk of Fame recorded his name on the American distinguished floor. In addition, this Afro-American man got an abundant achievements and awards, such as US Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (1992), UK Music Hall of Fame (2005) regarding the 3 albums in a body; Are You Experienced (1967), Axis: Bold As Love (1967) and Electric Ladyland (1968).

Kurt Donald Cobain or widely known as Kurt Cobain is the frontman of the grunge band, Nirvana. This Seattle, Washington-based band consisted of Kurt Cobain (giitar, vocal), Krist Novoselic (bass) and Dave Grohl (drums). Cobain was born from a family that has musical backgrounds, so deservedly he inherited talent of art. Several media assumed Cobain as a grunge musician with punk attitude. This left-handed guitarist had changed the stigma of rock music into a unique-attractive fashion as well as eccentric behavior. During his teenage, the British punk music, such as Sex Pistols, indeed had influenced the character of Cobain, prior to founding Nirvana in 1987. The masterpiece work of Nirvana was in fact not emerged by their album debut, Bleach (1989), but by the second album, Nevermind, through the single hit “Smeels Like Teen Spirit.” The album got platinum certificate thanks to its sales which reached one million copies. After got the success, Cobain became “The Spokesman of a Generation”, which he became an icon and idol to the teenagers, then. But in fact, Cobain on the other hand felt discomfort even frustrated as Nirvana became a famed group. Cobain was then addicted by cannabis and drugs upon his disappointment to the situation that he endured. A year after the release of the third album, In Utero (1993), Cobain was founded died in his house, Seattle. The sale of albums up to 50 million copies was a memorable achievement the fans would always remember about Nirvana.

Perhaps to some people, Omar Rodriguez-Lopez would be well known as the frontman of post-hardcore band from USA, At the Drive-In. However, nobody would expect that Omar has a numerous of skills; as the multi-instumentalist musician, producer, actor and movie director. This multi-talented musician started to learn music when he was 12 by playing bass and at the age of 15 he started to play guitar. In 1993 Omar established At the Drive-In along with his close friends. Omar then felt saturated, who actually had just released the third album of At the Drive-In (Relationship of Command) in 2000. Afterwards, he and his brother, Marcell Rodriguez-Lopez, decided to found a progressive rock band, The Mars Volta. Other being dominant in writing lyrics, Omar also had major contribution in the matter of music concept. Although they are brothers, Marcell, who plays keyboards, is not a left-handed person, such as his brother Omar, who has always been acting as the frontman of bands he founded. Besides had once been awarded the Best Prog-Rock Band by Rolling Stones magazine in 2008, in the following year The Mars Volta’s song, “Wax Simularca” got a Grammy Award for The Best Hard Rock Performance, by defeating other famed nominees of Motley Crue, Disturbed, Rob Zombie also Judas Priest. After producing 6 albums, The Mars Volta finally decided to break up in January 2013, after Omar made a decision that he would carry on experiment with his new psychedelic rock band, Bosnian Rainbows, which was founded in September 2012.

If up to 90 percent of world population persen was dominated by right-handed people, so Paul McCartney, Jimi Hendrix, Kurt Cobain and Omar Rodriguez-Lopez are a few of those 10 percent of left-handed people, who had contributed new colors to the music. Those left-handed people, besides contribute significant influences to the other members of their bands, also have shared their extraordinary contributions in the matter of lyric and song composing, album concept as well as attitude. They even are acclaimed as idols, who gave their inspirations to today’s musicians. So, deservedly an International Left-Handers Day has been celebrated annually, which was initiated in England, since its inauguration on August 13^th 1992. This is a public awareness concerning advantages and debilities of being a left-handed people. On such special day everybody may take part in celebrating left-handed tea party, left-v-right or sports matches. However, all those activities must be done by left hand.

If you all lived in the middle of 80’s decade, and your hair did not reach your shoulder, don’t dream to be personnel of a rock band. That was an era when rock musicians had a typical look that endured more than two decades since era of 70’s. Rock musicians presented visual characters that almost completely similar, whether it was in Los Angeles or Surabaya. They had long hair, leather jackets, necklaces and wristlets all over their bodies, some of them had tattoo of heart image on their hands.

That was an era when the long-haired rock music endured, which in USA was called as Hair Rock, and became an identity of mainstream music around the globe. This genre is actually rock n roll music which evolved upon its physical appearance. Style of glowing long haired musicians, alike mannequin at beauty salon, suddenly became epidemic in any big rock concert all over the world. Musically, their music root is not more than 70’s rock and roll. Even more, they contain love-nuanced lyrics and interspersed word of ‘baby‘, which had been slightly changed ever since 70’s era.

The hair-rock phenomena actually began at the end of 70’s decade in England, and it was disseminated as if a virus, with the first point of outbreak was Los Angeles. At the end of 70’s rock musicians with glamorous suit and made-up themselves by extreme theatrical model were appeared. A few big names of the era are among others; David Bowie, Alvin Stardust, Slade and KISS.

At the beginning of 80’s, at the Sunset Strip region, LA, the phenomena of rockers with long-high hair was emerged. Along the mentioned ghetto streets another phenomena of a new form of cultural rebellion was emerged: lovers of rock n roll music with long-haired style and hair spray, so their hair would be looked higher.

That was the first ever point of the emergence of Hair Rock generation at the beginning of 80’s. Famed pioneers in the era were bands, such as Motley Crue, Cinderella, RATT, Poison, Faster Pussycat and many more. Considering their music, in fact, their music is rock n roll music with a ‘more’ modern guitar distortion and extremely electrical. Most of their songs took love or party as the main themes with chorus which you can sing it whilst you are bathing. In addition, at least there had always been a half-minute guitar performance solo-break inserted between the chorus and ending parts. Hey, remember, during the era, almost all the bands featured high-pitch vocalists. The higher their pitch, they could have stronger pride on stage.

By presenting a more crunchy music formula as well as charming fashion style those surely made them the attractive features to the youngsters all over USA and the world. The role of MTV, then, was huge in campaigning the new generation of rock music of this kind. TVs, which emphasized visual element had been suitable with the emergence of such fashionable rockers generation. Countless of the rock clip videos dominated air time of music and entertainment TVs around the globe. Rock music magazines, such as Kerrang and Hit Parader featured Hair-Rock bands on their front covers. Most of reviews about them had been sensations and the lifestyle of rock star of the times, which still adhere free-sex, drugs, and rock and roll.

Rockers of Hair-Rock genre did not only dominate clubs, which occupied streets of LA, but also extended like an epidemic throughout giant concerts around the globe. In form that was almost similar, the era also brought out quite successful bands that were originated from other cities besides LA, such as Bon Jovi (New Jersey), Van Halen (Pasadena) even from Europe; Europe (Sweden), Def Leppard (England) or Gorky Park (Russia).

There had been a dispute whether Guns N Roses was included in the category of Hair Rock or not. Apparently, they looked like a Hair Rock band, but in music they music was more boisterous, more rebellious. Their most successful album; Guns, Appetite for Destruction (1987) were indeed released in the heyday era of Hair Rock.

Music critics had opinion that the Hair-Rock phenomena was vanished in a very tragic way by the emergence of a new music generation from Seattle, which is widely known as Grunge music. The vanishing moment of Hair-Rock was marked by the release of album Nevermind of a band called Nirvana in 1991. It was continued by other similar bands, which afterwards had been acknowledged as the successful bands; such as Pearl Jam, Soundgarden and Smashing Pumkins.

The change of rock music at the beginning of 90’s decade was the tragic end to the devotees of Hair Rock genre. Rock musicians were not required to have their hair long anymore or wear any metal accessories on their bodies. There was no more high pitch of particular rock singer. There was no more deadly guitar solo performance from a guitarist of a rock band.

The more dreadful of the such new era was proof of the emergence of new kind of music of modern punk which was popularized worldwide by the appearance of Green Day band (album Dookie 1994) and Off Spring (album Smash 1994). The emergence of such post-punk music made anybody can play guitar and even they can found a band with a minimalist music skill. Just imagine how, during the era, kids of Junior High School, who had just learned playing a guitar, able to get on stage and perform ‘When I Come Around’ (Green Day’s album, Dookie).

In fact, the end of Hair Rock genre was not as tragic as we might imagine it. They did their last defiance through a wonderful way. Motley  Crue released their best ever album, Dr.Feelgood in 1989. Poison launched their best hit, in album Flesh and Blood in 1990. Guns N Roses, if only they were one of those Hair Rock bands, released a legendary double album, Use Your Illusion in 1991. Those all mentioned albums are not only acclaimed as the best albums ever in the history of rock music, but also the best albums of those mentioned bands.

If you had missed the concerned decade and era during your life times to the date, I recommended a small number of albums suitable to be listened:

Motley Crue; Girls Girls Girls (1987), Dr Feelgood (1989)

Poison; Flesh and Blood (1990)

RATT; Out of The Cellar (1984)

Cinderella; Night Song (1986)

Bon Jovi; Sliperry When Wet (1986)

Guns N Roses; Appetite for Destruction (1987)

Europe; The Final Countdown (1986)

To the rock musicians of current era; be happy! Since you all can survive without depending on Combs and Hairspray.

How would the powerpop, industrial, new wave, or space rock music be, if there is no synthesizer? Those mentioned genres might have never been turned out. Yup, synthesizer has heavily influenced any music styles, so it gave rise to evolutions of such genres. One of the proof is the synthesizer fill-in in the album of Pink Floyd, The Dark Side of The Moon, which has prompted many influences to rock musicians, even more up to the today’s music. Synthesizer has been contributing another alternative in composing songs, so it makes the song more varied.

Synthesizer refers to electronic musical instrument which is consisted of various types of modules, in order to both produce and shape certain sound, such as oscillator, filter, or the electricity as the sound booster controller. By the appearance of such mentioned symptoms, a genre of electronic was then appeared. The word of synthesizer is originated from word synthesis (combination), which means to combine all types of components or certain individual parts to be one part. That is the utility of synthesizer; creating a number of sound capabilities by only one instrument.

The distinctive feature that synthesizer has is this instrument contains 3 basic functions. First: it is an oscillator, a tool that produces original sounds. Second: it is a keyboard, which function is as a modul that can manage/ create sounds. The last one; it is a filter and effect tool, as a system of effect that modifies sounds.

Talking about its history, the first synthesizer was created in 1919 by Leon Theremin. At the outset, synthesizer was named as Aetherphone. However, as the time goes on, the name was then changed to be Theremin, to commemorate the inventor, Leon Theremin. The use of Theremin instrument was not done through a physical contact with the synthesizer itself, but musician may use it by only lift and move his/her hands through 2 censors of synthesizer antenna, controllable by volume controller and notes pattern. Theremin was widely used by a range of musicians on their albums. For instance; in the song of Beach Boys entitled Good Vibrations.

Synthesizer contains particular components that can produce sounds. Synthesis also possess some different names with different functions, as well. The first one is additive synthesis, which is capable of forming the sounds by way of creating sound waves. The samples of this additive synthesis are; Teleharmonium and Hammond Organ.  The second one is subtractive synthesis. The sounds which are produced by this synthesizer formed on the basis of sound wave filtering. This Synthesizer is usually called as an instrument that can be utilized through a signal generator controlled through a filter. Subtractive synthesis is the original base of Moog synthesizer, which produces sawtooth waves, and square waves sounds. The third one is FM (frequency modulation) synthesis. It is a process which usually involves two signal generators to create and modify sounds. This kind of synthesis can be found in Yamaha DX-7 synthesizer. Synthesizer is also functioned as creator of filter and being variable amplifier to create signal characteristics into sonic sound. The fourth is phase distortion synthesis which has capacity almost similar with that of FM synthesis. The difference is that phase distortion can produce distortion sounds. This synthesis system was invented by Casio company in 1984.

We move to components of synthesizer. Synthesizer can create sound techniques of analog and digital. At the beginning, components of synthesizer were created by analog hardwares. But recently, most of modern synthesizer use combination of DSP (digital signal processing) softwares and hardware, or any equipment which is naturally software synthesizer.  This synthesizer software then was called as digital audio workstation software. Electronic oscillator was the first component. This component can create colors of tone on the basis of sound waves. For example: frequency modulation and phase distortion. This vintage-controlled filter (VCF) can create sounds which are produced through osilator on the basis of frequency intensity. Another one is vintage-controlled amplifier, which function is as sound booster and produced an electric controller. ASDR envelopes provide sound sleeve to form harmonious sounds through functions of attack, decay, sustain and release.

Another important invention in synthesizer was when Dr Robert Moog created modular synthesizer. This Modular synthesizer was firstly invented by Harald Bode, the world’s first pioneer of electronic music instruments. His invention was then enhanced by Robert Moog. This Synthesizer consists of some modules which can be interconnected through wires. The component, which was invented Robert Moog, was a voltage that is calculated 1 volt per octave, and can be used to control basic function of synthesizer; such as cut out the filter limit, sounds tones, sound sleeve, or low-voltage osilator which may affect minimalist utilization of electricity. In fact, Moog’s invention was not stopped there. In 1969, he created Mini Moog Synthesizer. It is a result of minimizing the earlier synthesizer, which actually apply wires for operation and surely it can obstruct performance in concert or any live music show. Just like the name, Mini Moog is mini in size and technically this kind of synthesizer is easier to use. For instance, Mini Moog Synthesizer is also used by electronic pop band from Bandung, Homogenic on their live performance.

Mini Moog synthesizer becomes more popular as many international musicians began to use it for commercial works, from the end of 1960’s through 1970’s. Among them are ABBA, The Beatles, Bee Gees, Brian Eno, David Bowie, and Paul Beaver; names whose had been widely known as the first generation that inserted Mini Moog synthesizer onto their songs. The popularity of Mini Moog synthesizer was continued to the end of 1970’s up to 1980’s ever since the emergence of new wave genre along with bands that hold up this music style, such as Depeche Mode, The Cure, Duran Duran and New Order. To this new wave generation, synthesizer had been widely used by accompaniment of machine drums rather than analog drums. Quality of local musicians was also equal, such as Fariz Rustam Munaf who had once supported new wave by his own synthesizer when he joined his band, Symphony. Their album, Trapesium (1982) combines electronic music of Kraftwerk era with 70’s new wave.

In the middle of 1980’s, there were many hardwares which specialized on synthesizer instruments; among them are Korg, Roland, Casio, Yamaha and many more. The appearance of synthesizer products affected Nine Inch Nails, the American industrial rock band. Since the beginning, Nine Inch Nails had already utilized synthesizer to complete industrial sounds they championed. This situation was also happened to almost all other band with same genre, such as Rammstein, Skinny Puppy even Marilyn Manson. The digital sounds, which are produced by this synthesizer also promoted particular electronic music genre. Among others, in the scene of EDM (electronic dance music) there is Daft Punk from France or IDM (intelligence dance music) scene which presents Telefon Tel Aviv (USA), UK Garage genre presents London Electricity from England. In the era of 2000’s there were thrives of rock, pop, hip hop, metal, punk, hardcore even world music which had already used synthesizer to be just an “adornment” in each of their song. In Indonesia, there is Disconnected, the first pop punk band that blends their music with electronic element and synthesizer.

At the beginning of 1990’s, synthesizer grew rapidly. It was marked by the emergence of few digital audio workstation softwares which enable the users to perform recording, editing and playing back their music at the same time. It is a combination of some particular hardware instruments; such as; synthesizer, samplers and machine drums. Surely, these digital audio workstation softwares were invented after the birth of computers in circa 1980’s. Soundstream is the pioneer who created such software, it was followed by Apple Macintosh and Atari ST. However, in circa 1990’s, Cubase enhanced digital audio workstation softwares on the basis of DSP (digital sound processor), which then created VST (virtual studio technology). To the date, digital audio workstation software has widely used for the purpose of recording, creating, editing digital also analog music. Following are digital audio workstation software companies which are popular among electronic genre musicians; Cubase, Pro Tools, FL Studio, Reason Propellerhead, Ableton Live, Logic Pro and Garage Band. Practically, digital audio workstation software is supported by a range of MIDI controllers, which surely are inspired by synthesizer.

des presidents, mafia bosses and actors/ actresses; musicians have been sexy characters to be portrayed in movie. Viewers will be offered various presentations: tragedy, history to other sides of the artist’s personal life. Apparently, filmmakers would not face “out of sources of idea” (promising musicians) to be portrayed. Moreover, Hollywood has always been possessing genuine ways in packaging movie, that is in accordance with character of the leading role—as well as surely, his/ her fans.

Unquestionably, we may not forget the remarkable performance of Jamie Foxx when he took the role of Ray Charles in Ray (2004). Starred as the legendary blind pianist/ singer, he got Oscar as the Best Actor Performance in Leading Role. The movie also had been acclaimed and nominated for awards, worldwide. Ray was one of bio-epical movies on musician that is deserved to get appreciations. Besides excellently presenting the character and personal life of Ray Charles, Ray also was able to present authenticity of historical backgrounds.

Such as when Ray Charles was rejected to perform in Georgia, since he was assumed presenting certain satanic music. At the moment, Ray Charles indeed took an original music base of Gospel and he developed it by adding touches of Soul, Rhythm & Blues up to reaching an orgasmic point: Rock n’ Roll. Other interesting scene is how Ray got an idea to sing uniquely by singing reciprocally with background vocals in song “What’d I Say”, or the motive he had on composing “Georgia on My Mind”.

Perhaps, trying to get a success alike what Ray got, a year after, Walk the Line was released. The movie, which was nominated in 5 categories of Academy Award, tells about the personal life of Johnny Cash, whose apparently had always been in turbulence until he reached his old ages.

Walk the Line was packed by formula almost alike that of Ray was. It was linear, complete and full of conflicts. The attention-grabbing point of the movie is on the “exploitation” of ego-centric and perfectionist character of Johnny Cash, whose could only be docile by June Carter, his eternal business-mate, who actually had been frequently his duet mate and later became Johnny’s second wife. The movie raised one of Hollywood’s underrated actresses, Reese Witherspoon, as a winner of Oscar. Walk the Line was story of a long journey; a quest sought by a legend in course of the climax of his life.

As Ray and Walk the Line set forth the adventure of music heroes’ careers, Nowhere Boy (2009) tells it through slightly different eyes. The British movie raises the adolescent life of John Lennon, a period before The Beatles was born.

Its point of interest is on what had been happened on Lennon’s life, by which had made him became influential person later on. The story tells about the significant role of Lennon’s mother, who taught him of playing banjo, then his first encounter with Paul McCartney up to Lennon’s complicated uniqueness during his schooldays.

Unlike those of the abovementioned movies, 24 Hour Party People tells about how was post-punk born in Manchester, England, which made it became famed by name of Mad-chester. Uniquely, the movie was emanated from the perspective of Tony Wilson; a radio presenter announcer, an owner of recording label and a night club manager. He was a responsible person on the birth of Joy Division, New Order and Happy Mondays.

This movie does not present the brightness of a legend, career tragedy or any kind of a journey towards a climax, but it portrays an authentic historical illustration on particular community, which was an embryo of a brand new sub-culture. 24 Hour Party People tells a lot about human struggle behind the scene, where they worked hard for the sake of legendary bands’ career. The movie, which was packed ala documentary film, might be a reference on the history of Manchester music and had been actually occurred at the end of 70’s to the beginning of 80’s periods.

Perhaps, talking about musicians’ personal life would be not enough without presenting tragedy. Sid and Nancy (1986) recites a ‘punk rock’ love story between iconic and controversial Sex Pistols’ bassist, Sid Vicious with Nancy Spungen, whose was murdered at a hotel’s bathroom as she was dating with Sid. Selena (1997) describes the life of Selena Quintanilla, a Mexican Latin-pop singer, who was tragically murdered by chairman of her fans club. The Doors (1991) tells about legendary group The Doors and Jim Morrison, who died at a magical age: 27.

There are still a lot of interesting bio-epical movies on musicians worthy to watch. Just check out the birth of blues legends: Willie Dixon, Etta James, Chuck Berry and Muddy Waters in Cadillac Records (2008); Eminem’s struggle in his semi-biography, 8 Mile (2002); uniqueness of 6 different characters of Bob Dylan in I’m Not There (2007) or the French legendary singer, Edith Piaf in La Vie en Rose (2007).

The greatest musicians shall not only be listened, but they also offer something to be watched in cinemas. Each artist actually got uniqueness that is capable of breaking in certain developed long-standing order. Possibly, that is the noticeable reason why we have always been seduced to discover their personal life through particular movie or literature: human have always been searching for another more “real” way instead of reality. Musical themed movies have suggested us to listen to life.

A real form of the close linkage of music with movie is in the matter of film score. Unlike those of common music we always listen to, film score is an original music which is made by purpose of accompanying pictures or visual in a film. Its form maybe appeared in soundtrack, dialogue, sound effects, or even in just a piece of instrumental sounds combination that may boost dramatic nuance of particular scene. The form of film score of instrumental combination (without lyrics included) has been mostly found to the date.

Film Score had been existed ever since 1940’s, which was initiated by the development of film industry. In the beginning, film score is presented in the performance of live orchestra, which adorned soundless movies. The combination of two elements; visual and audio, was an extraordinary innovation during the times. The composition had been assumed as one integrated entity. There was no schism between what we are watching and what we are listening to. Even more, it had been a kind of dogma that the composition could bring people into a higher level in appreciating the movies. They could feel and experience more insightful. Film Score then increasingly had been developed since 1950’s, when the trend of transformation was occurred from soundless movies to movies with sounds, up to the date.

Besides its function of accompanying certain scene in movie, film score also can make real the concept or nuance of the movie concerned, as well as involve the watchers’ emotion to be carried away into the nuance through sounds. Certain concept or nuance established from film score can portray circumstances, location, times and emotions of characters within particular scene. If you ever had watched “Amélie”, surely you will be memorized on how its film score made you as if being in a city, which is as beautiful as Paris, the setting / location of the story of the movie. Or, even you might be drawn in the emotion of the leading character of Amelie Poulain, which starred by Audrey Tautou. No wonder, the movie was nominated in Oscar (2002) in category of Best Sound and was awarded the ‘Best Original Soundtrack of the Year’ in the World Soundtrack Award (2001).

A person/ composer that is responsible for writing a song for film score is named as “Music Supervisor”. Unlike those common musicians, Music Supervisor has always been putting her/himself as a musician who his/her work is made especially to complete contents of visual media. However, he/she would create/ compose music only for film/ movie, but also for TV program, advertisement campaign, theatres’ play etc.

During his/her creation/working process, he/she shall be responsible of completing what the director and producer wanted in terms of sounds. Usually, the three parties would organize a brain storming session to determine what kind of music best for completing the visual of movie they produced. Sometimes, a Music Supervisor is challenged to compose song/ music based on his/her own impression upon just the movie script (without watching the movie). Up to the music she/he wrote would be performed by orchestra, band, an instrumental solo performance, choir or single vocalist which is recorded by Sound Engineer.

There were big names of Music Supervisors, who had been famed through their extraordinary works, such as Hans Zimmer (“The Holliday”, “Inception”, “Sherlock Holmes”), Yann Tiersen (“Amélie”, “The Piano”, “Goodbye Lennin!”), Mychael Danna (“Little Miss Sunshine”, “Money ball”), Mark Mothersbaugh (“Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist”, “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs”) and many more.

From local music scene, there are many composers who deal with movie business as Music Supervisor. Among those names are Zeke Khaseli (“Janji Joni”, “Kala”, “Rumah Dara”), Mondo Gascaro (“Pintu Terlarang”) and a young composer Arya Prayogi (“Merantau”). The musics they created are also as excellent as those created by foreign composers. Just one exception; there shall be no many people who already noticed on their existence and contributions in “enlivening” those movies. Whilst, it is possible that one of the movies, which had involved them, could be your favorite one.

Should we become movie aficionados or even music lovers to appreciate their existence? In what way should it be? Just enjoy and listen to the music they created. Since, in fact, we could enjoy the film score without required to watch the movie. Since, although by just the music, we might be carried away into the nuances they created through sounds.

During recent few years, there were many emerging collaborations among famed musicians, which many of them had produced remarkable and easy listening music, although also many of them made covered versions of particular musician’s song. However, there were many of them had composed their own song, which was different than those of they did earlier. This kind of collaboration, widely known as Super-group, combines various music background of each personnel.

One of the super-groups had just been founded in last 2011. The names inside this collaboration shall be familiar for you. They are; Mick Jagger, Joss Stone, Dave Stewart, Damian Marley and A.R Rahman. Alike those common band does, Super Heavy, the name they had chosen, contains a strong concept and adhered to as their musical distinctive characteristic. You may find the music of rock, reggae, Indian pop, electronic, and soul through the works of the group, which is managed by label Universal Music. There shall be no classification of music found, since Super Heavy combines a variety of music to produce a new nuance, such as Dave Stewart uttered; “Super Heavy is a scientist’s very crazy experiment.” No wonder, as you listen to their works, you will find something different.

How did those five most talented persons in music coming from different countries (even continent) able to be assembled and create a music work? “A year ago I was at home in Jamaica, and one night I listened to all music that are originated from different regions, from a sound system which was extremely reggae, rock, and blues. I thought, this is something that I really want to do, bringing the differences of sounds altogether into a single band,” Stewart said. Later, he phoned Jagger from his house in Jamaica and told the idea. Fortunately, the offer got positive response by Jagger. Being fans of Jamaica and especially Jamaican music, they both were encouraged to recruit a musician for the country. The one whom had been chosen was son of reggae music legend, Bob Marley, Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley. To Jagger, Marley is a writer of strong lyric, completed by his bent of carrying on experiment and collaboration in music. ‘Jr.Gong’ was not alone, as he took along a bassist and composer Shiah Coore as well as drummer Courtney Diedrick. Similar with Stewart, who took his long-time partner-in-crime, Ann Marie Calhoun, a rock violist, whom previously made collaboration with Foo Fighters.

Not only Marley, Stone also did not reject to join with these musicians, and when he conducted a recording session in Los Angeles, later they met A.R. Rahman, who at the moment had just acknowledged an Academy Awards for his work in movie directed by Danny Boyle, Slum Dog Millionaire. When he was asked about the Indian musician, Stewart thought that he is a figure that has an extraordinary music sense. He has extensive music knowledge, an extraordinary musical character, as well as melody and singing strength from a different culture.

Then finally, Stewart, the founder of Eurythmics, Joss Stone, a famed soul female singer, Marley, who had partaken his father path in reggae, Rahman, the Indian sound composer and Mick Jagger, surely everybody in this planet knew him already, are officially united and working in the project.  “I am living for today, but I have never been thinking about it. This is incredible, and I believe I can do this.  I just do this, and thought this will be lasted in a fast track, since to me this would be still something new. Once I started this, I thought this is a centuries’ difference, but I like it. I will be keeping it goes on. The band, the project, everything is awesome,” Jagger uttered when he was interviewed by dailymail.com.

Within 18 months, Super Heavy carried out recording sessions privately. In particular news, it was mentioned that it was not a kind of secret mission. The album production process even involved a number of places; Los Angeles, Turkey, Italy, Greece, India and Miami. “We met many people from different times and places,” Jagger said. Seemingly, this had contributed to a different nuance for music of Super Heavy. Additionally, surely the differences of backgrounds among the personnel, in which Jagger, Stone and Dave came from England, Rahman from India and Marley from Kingston, Jamaica.

The first album, Super Heavy was officially launched in September containing eleven tracks, with the single debut “Miracle Worker”, which got positive reviews. “This is the Superstar with a Miracle Worker”. The clip video of the single presents their activities in studio during the recording sessions. Another track entitled “Satyameva Jayate” which means ‘the truth itself is a victory’ was sung by Jagger in Urdu tongue.

Examining the unique songs and all creativities of those musicians, it would be not exaggerated if Stewart assumes that it was a kind of experiment, which is similar to a crazy scientist’ experiment. Fusing those talents of the best front-men of all times, the Indian composer as beneficiary of two Academy Awards, the wonder child of soul world, the reggae star who won three Grammy Awards and one of the most wanted producers in the world, Super Heavy successfully creates a new music and they are deserved to be praised as a Supergrup.

Listening to the result of combination of various music which is prepared by various musicians from different background, is now might be a choice to those who wants to be involved in a new experience. Furthermore, their music charisma is as if able to hypnotize the listeners. So, it would be not exaggerated that in one occasion Jagger had said, “I wish people would like it”.

Yup, bicycling is cheap, easy and healthy as well. By bicycling we shall reduce air pollution, reduction of air pollution means reducing global warming threat level. Reduction of hot weather means increasing life coziness for now and then. That is an issue which had been offered over most recent decade.

The use of bicycle is now everywhere. There are many people already use it as transportation vehicle for daily activities, either for transportation to campus, office or malls, where some of them have provided exceptional park area for bikes. The interesting one; bicycling is not merely vehicle or cheap and fun sport’s device; the value of bicycling now has became a lifestyle and show off.

As we know recently, there were few genres of bikes; Fixed Gear, BMX, or MTB even there was a lineage or variant of MTB, i.e. Hybrid Bike. Moreover, those bicycle devotees are identical with certain fashion and music, and it was different, depending on the type of bike they chose.

Starting with Fixed Gear bike, which is commonly used by urban people; those who usually listen to chill music, a bit electro or other types of urban music. Their fashioned suits would be street wear, skinny denim + t-shirt + sneakers, sometimes parachuted sport coat with vivid colors, as the fixie kids do. Furthermore, the local band group RAN composed a song about bikes and produced clip video that deploys Fixed Gear phenomena. In that video, it was obvious that Fixed Gear is really “urban”. This kind of bike is initially a race-bike and used to be utilized in a velodrome. Through its varied of colors, Fixed Gear rider can attract any people who made a squint. By its function, apparently the fixie bike is mostly utilized for the purpose of lifestyle. Therefore, no wonder, the development of fixie bikes can increasingly be found on Friday night, Saturday night and on Sunday, as the climax time. The presence of fixie bikes can be seen disseminated everywhere and attracts many people’s attention.

The following variant of bike also animating; Hybrid Bike is a bike that combines road-bike and mountain bike (MTB) characteristics, and becomes a strong, comfort bike as well as faster to be ridden on asphalt road, in compared with common MTB. Devotees of MTB and Hybird Bike shall be hardcore fans. Arian13 and Adi Gembel are MTB devotees, they preferred MTB, since it is effective, practical to be used on the capital’s roads either tiny alleys, where the conditions are just like in forest, where damages and soggy streets surely require strong and staple bike. The fashion of MTB users either Hybrid Bike users, is almost similar. If we attended to underground gigs, the venue would be infested by those who wear short pants + t-shirt + sneakers and the music they adore shall be metal, hardcore and so on. Such character is still attached to the people concerned up to the date, and possibly it will not be changed too much on the near future.

Almost alike MTB either Hybrid Bike, there is variant of BMX. BMX is an old player and within some last years was an icon, at the same time with skateboard, which the fashion has been a culture to the date; an extra large t-shirt and baggy pants. BMX, which is actually the acronym of bicycle motor-cross, has been utilized in extreme attractions, which are heavily attached to melodic punk or college punk.

And then the most recent phenomena: the old legendary bicycle (onthel). The onthel bike owners shall be surely conservatives or those who inherited the onthel bike from their ancestries. The price of onthel bikes is not cheap actually. National holidays would be the most anticipated targeted moments for fans onthel bike to share convoy with their distinct fashion of the 1945 era of national independence war, completed with national flag of Red and White. Most of onthel bikers are old cracks, who actually keroncong (music) diehard fans or 40’s Malayan songs’ fans. If you want to see a group of onthel bikers, without waiting for the national holidays, you may visit regions at Jakarta, where some people do jobs as ojek (rental bike rider) of onthel bike. Those are attractive sights at the current modern age.

Those bikes are current trends at many settings. Using the bicycles is not only transportation device, but also a lifestyle. Moreover, the bike you chose might be a representation of yourself. (Raditya. N)

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Being beady in finding talents and runs an effective marketing strategy to deal with promotion within the music industry scene anywhere in the world, are important and essential steps to actors and figures in it, in order to grab incomes as well as reach climax of popularity.

No wonder, if in particular project, music producers are dare to spend promotion cost that is far more excessive than production cost. Such bravery of producers certainly based on matured considerations in talent scouting, marketing and assessing creativity which is developed by a team of production and consistently monitoring market needs. In order to round off the mentioned concern, usually, producers will be assisted by his/ her Talent Scout expert and Marketing Manager, whom are demanded to observe constantly the development of the market trend in global music, which in turn, shall deploy facilities of electronic, printed and off-air media as tools to introduce their artists to the public at large.

As a result, in the era of the beginning of modern music development, roles of a Talent Scout and Marketing Manager shall be vital in determining artist to be produced by certain recording label. From time to time, at certain label, talents scout and marketing manager are seemed more important to “approach” by artist candidates, for the sake of boosting their career, instead of the position of producer itself.

However, as the “industrial” music comes into post-millennium era, where internet “epidemic” rapidly contaminated the world, roles of talent scout and marketing manager are seemingly just waiting for their time to be completely “disappeared” after in February 2005, three former employees of internet-based payment service company, PAYPAL, who located at California USA, i.e.  Chad Hurley, Steve Chen and Jawed Karim “shake” the world by their invention of video publication site, which has been widely known as YouTube.

From their headquarter at 901 Cherry Ave, San Bruno, California, USA, Chad, Steve and Jawed designed their innovation as a “practical” means enabling users of internet to share visions of video recording of other users anywhere by free through the site www.youtube.com. The site can also conduct an accurate data collection system (show video statistic), to compute how many viewers had watched particular video, after it is uploaded. It means the video makers or producers may not require anymore the use of average calculation technique on number of viewers. From that point, producers may easily carry on further step of marketing strategy on the basis of the amount of viewers, which is displayed on the website page. In addition, anybody could be a talent-scout by just clicking www.youtube.com and then chose the latest video category of the up-loaders. The Ontario, Canadian teen singer, Justine Bieber successfully reaches global popularity as well as grabs huge financial incomes after his video was uploaded in You Tube. However, it has been also people made just for kicks, just like a French man, Remi Gaillard, who finally becomes famed figure after he taped and disseminated his “exaggerated” raillery video through You Tube.

There are still multitudinous of “instant” artists candidates, who intentionally or unintentionally lain deploy YouTube as their “narcissism” tool, but probably profitable. In our nation, efficiency of YouTube as a free and wide-reaching marketing and promotional tool has been proved by few people. Such as two Bandung-based students, Sinta and Jojo, who abruptly became famed figures after they uploaded their video of lip-sync, the dangdut song, “Keong Racun”. Moreover, there was an act of singing Indian pop in lip-sync, “Chaiyya Chaiyya”, by an Indonesian policeman, Officer Norman Kamaru, whose his act was taped through his friend’s cell-phone camera and danced a la Bollywood’s Shahrukh Khan. By which, the action has been powerful enough attracting various responses and reactions from public at large. And the most ridiculous one was how somebody’s act—he named himself as Udin Sedunia—expressed his act through video and then it was uploaded in YouTube.
The question is now; as common people, how far it will be that we do a quality control upon such videos, so they can be deservedly assumed as an entertainment media, which complies with common ethics?

To be honest, our public is still disregarding ethics in accepting certain entertainment broadcasting from internet. Since in fact, as long as they like one video, quality and ethics have been the trivial factors to be considered.

Funny, interesting and entertaining are quite enough to assume certain video is good and acceptable for the people at large in this country. In my opinion, those would become a “boomerang” for the quality development of artworks in Indonesia. That means, although YouTube, at certain point, has been a media that enables artists—or whoever it would be—to promote their artworks easily and free-of-charge, most of our people are still vulnerable in quality assessment aspect, as they prefer “sensational” views instead of “achievement”.

Up to the date, however, operators of You Tube have been censoring any video displays, which had violated common morality. But don’t forget, morality principles cannot exceed vision of considerations of the world’s people, as an individual, and it is naturally very relative. For instance, the clip video of American famed singer, Lady Gaga. Who would dare to declare that her video does not violate morality principles? However, there have been individuals who dare to say that the music quality of the New York-born artist is categorized as “awful” (below standard).

So, the point is how we shall educate our mental through a positive vision upon any video displays we have been viewing sporadically through internet. Afterwards, we must dare to eliminate any form of dissemination of any graphics that are beyond ethics and morality restrictions, in accordance with our noble culture.
Are we ready yet?

*Budi Abuy (former vocalist of Time Bomb Blues, Senior Editor of The Flag Magazine)

Great Britain has been widely known as an arable land of music creativities. Even more, it becomes one of world’s music mark point. In each era of transformation—entailed by music trend transformation–-musicians are the important parts within. Every music genre has delivered loads of fames.

There was a name; Andrew Lloyd Webber. Alike those of other British musicians who had made its country’s name famed, he also got traditional honorary appellation. It completes his name becomes Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Possibly his name is not as popular as other British musicians. There were other contemporary musicians: Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Paul McCartney and Elton John. His face had been rarely caught by cameras, by those who preferred news on–-let alone only just for sensational–-celebrities.

Perhaps it is because of merely his choice in music. He chose opera. Although his music works are still in scenes of pop, opera or drama music, his fans are partial. Moreover, this kind of music performance in Indonesia is rare. This year’s success of musical shows achieved by Mira Lesmana for the musical show of drama Laskar Pelangi and Arie Tulang’s Ali Topan Anak Jalanan would be a quiet excellent beginning to those of the local fans of this kind of show.

One that differentiates Laskar Pelangi and Ali Topan Anak Jalanan is merely a matter of transforming the pack; from a non-musical movie to a stage’s musical show. While, the works of Andrew Lloyd Webber are mostly emerged from conceptual music albums (opera), be presented on stage (a few of them were taped into film videos), as well as be presented in cinemas.

Taking from those music shows in concept of opera, some of the songs became popular. Many charts placed the songs on the tops and became the most wanted requests in radios. Upon his music works, he has collected dozens of awards. And–-moreover, for sure—that has counted up his assets hoard. The Sunday Times: Rich List of Britain has recently published the assets of composer Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber, which total up to £680 million. That certifies him as the second richest musician in England. (And, I think everybody already knew; success and wealth are not the cardinals of quality appraisal upon certain artwork).

Pop Opera

As the musical drama, though the lyrics of his songs, you don’t have to think too hard to follow the storyline along with the entire conflicts inside. His music arrangements are yet ear-friendly to us. So, it is no wonder (it could be Sir Andrew’s secret formula), that each of his opera work has its own hit song.

The story of Phantom at The Opera had produced the hit of The Music of the Night and Learn to Be Lonely, Jesus Christ Superstar (I Don’t Know How to Love Him), Evita (Don’t Cry for Me Argentina and You Must Love Me, popularized by Madonna), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat (Any Dream Will Do), Cats (Memory, this one was very famed by the voice of Barbra Streisand) and the song Pie Jesu of Requiem, an album which was dedicated for William Lloyd Webber, his father who was passed away in 1982.

Other than music of opera, he had once composed a theme song for Olympics of Barcelona in 1992, with his lyric writer, Don Black, and the song was Amigos Para Siempre – Friends for Life. His ex-wife, Sarah Brightman made a duet with Jose Carreras for the song and popularized it. Don Black was again got Sir Andrew’s trust for his collaboration with Indian composer, A.R. Rahman. They produced a musical drama al a Bollywood, Bombay Dreams in 2002.

The most recent news tells that Sunset Boulevard, the classic of 50’s which had once been transformed into musical drama and shown in 1990, will be adapted into a big-screen movie. That was a drama which tells about Norma Desmond, a former movie stardom who goes into her old ages. For the leading role, Sir Andrew persuades the senior singer and artist, Madonna. ”You know, who would be seemed remarkable for taking the leading role as Norma Desmond in the big screen version? Madonna! She is now at her perfect age”, Sir Andrew uttered at Piers Morgan’s Life Stories, a British TV program.

That is a brief of Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber, who initiated his music career in musical of drama since his teenage to the date. As a composer, he chooses a role behind the stage. Only his music works which had been frequently limelight of newsmakers. He is rather an artist than a celebrity.