"Rasa sayange" song proven to be originally from Indonesia

This is good news for the people in Indonesia. Finally a proof that tells about the “Rasa Sayange” song as Indonesian original song comes out from “tempo” newspaper dated 10 October 2007. I feel that this news must be spread widely so everybody in the world could now it.

A national printing company “Lokananta” in Solo found an archive of recorded “Rasa sayange” song. Roektiningsih the head of Lokannta said that the song was recorded on 15 August 1962 as a souvenir for Asian Games (SEA GAMES) IV on Jakarta. At the cover of the record there is a line saying “Souvenir from Indonesia, for ‘the fourth Asian Games”. The song was sang by more than one people in a disk with others songs such as Sorak-sorak Bergembira, O Ina ni Keke and Sengko Sengko Dainang. The song duration was 2 min 40 second. And according to Roektiningsih the song was recorded and copied by the order of Indonesian President which was Ir.Soekarno to the minister of information R.Maladi. And still according to Roektiningsih the master reel recording is still save in there with the registration number 253.

A staff from the minister of tourism, art and culture Jordi Pariaman meet with the head of Lokananta to ask for this evidence, and he said that with this evidence the ministry will make some legal action to Malaysia who uses the “Rasa sayange” song as their tourism jingle.

Well I think this is very good, all the truth finally will come up. If you are a country who said to have a big variety of culture why don’t you use your own art and culture to get the attention of the world tourism then using Indonesian culture? Please remember that we all do love peace but if someone trying to steal from us we won’t be quiet about it. Still this info is open to anyone who have another info about this. It is not for a fight. but it is to know the important truth in order to keep the relation between both country in a good way.Peace everyone :)

Gang Kelinci singer

Indonesia is in grief again. Lilies Suryani a singer from the era of 60 which famous with the song of gang kelinci has past away on Sunday (7/10) at 21.30 WIB, in her house on Jalan Haji Naman Pondok Kelapa, East Jakarta. She past away because of uterus cancer which she got since 4 years ago.

Lilies Suryani start her career in 1963 when she was only 15 years old. She was in the entertainment singing world for over frothy years. Beside “Gang Kelinci” there were another popular song from Lilies such as “Asmara” and “Ulang Tahunku” which was created by another famous Indonesian artist Titiek Puspa.

She also wrote over than 50 songs such as 'Lenggang Kangkung', 'Ratapan Sang Bayi', 'Air Mata', 'Tepuk Tangan', and “Ujung Pandang' . She even create a song for president Soekarno with the title of “Paduka yang mulia” and “Muhibah”. And another song she write with the title of “Si Baju Loreng” was a song base on her admiration to one of the member of Indonesian army (ABRI); this was a song that was famous in middle of 60 as a heroism song.

This is the lyric of Lilies Suryani most famous song “Gang Kelinci”:

Jakarta kota ku indah dan megah

di situlah aku di lahirkan

rumahku di salah satu gang

namanya gang kelinci

entah apa sampai namanya kelinci

mungkin dulu kerajaan kelinci

karena manusia bertambah banyak 

kasihan kelinci terdesak 

*

sekarang rumahnya berjubel

oh...padat penghuninya

anak-anak segudang 

krudak... kruduk...

kayak kelinci

kami semua hidup rukun dan damai

hanya satu yang aku herankan

badanku bulat tak bisa tinggi

persis kayak anak kelinci

Rasa Sayange song

(Picture taken from : www.seasite.niu.edu)

The issue about the Malaysia who use the folklore song “Rasa sayange” as their theme song for tourism in Malaysia is being a hot topic in Indonesia this few weeks. Many of Indonesian people feel that their right of the song has been hijack by the Malaysian because they use the Maluku’s folklore song without permission.

There is a skeptical feeling that growth in Indonesian people maybe the Malaysian is trying to steal the rights of “Rasa sayange” song, they has tried it for batik, and angklung so what stopping them to get the “Rasa sayange” song too. So to prevent it many artists and the people of Indonesia in their own way try to fight for the right of “Rasa sayange” song.

It is true that in Indonesia the awareness for the claims of copyrights is still very low. It is very regrettable and it make it easy for another country (especially the one who said to have many similar culture and art with Indonesia) to claims the copyright and authority of many Indonesian culture and art as their own and discard Indonesia rights.

Semy Toisutta as the head of Maluku’s culture, aware that the writer of the song identity is unknown (NN à No Name) again it is because the low rate of Indonesian awareness to the importance of copyright claim. But he also said that the Rasa sayange song has been a Maluku’s folklore songs since centuries. The evidence is in the lyric it self the “e” letter behind “Rasa Sayange” is a characteristic of Maluku’s dialect not a Malay dialect. The song used by Maluku’s people in their community party since long time ago.

Hatta Rahardja as Indonesia nation secretary minister said “That we should not make it as a problem” about Malaysia who use Rasa sayange song. But for many people in Indonesia it is a problem, because they are trying to use something that is part of our culture to attract people to go tourism to their country (which I sure will make a lot of devise money for them) without our permission. Although they only use the melody with a small change lyric but it is still the “Rasa Sayange” melody song. And this in my point of view is equals to stealing. A foreign country is stealing from our country and Hatta Rahardja said that this is not a problem!! How come??

Fortunately this issue brings a great awareness to artist and some people in the government of Indonesia about the important things of copyrights claiming authority. Jero Wacik the minister of culture and tourism of Indonesia even said that he will be ready to help Indonesian artist to make the claims of copyright for Indonesian artist invention so in the future this kind of things won’t be happening again. I do hope that Indonesian people will continue to be aware of the importance of copyright so there won’t be another country who tries to steal the cultural richness of Indonesia. We have to be aware that our culture is priceless and we have to protect it so no one can steal our rights again.