Ministry Supports God Bless for Consistency in Music over 50 Years
reported by: Setiawan Liu
Jakarta, July 31, 2023/Indonesia Media – During the press conference about the making of video clip of ‘Musisi’ (musician) in Badung, Bali and a series of events for God Bless Anthology 50th Anniversary, Achmad Albar’s pleasantly high and loud singing drifted in the very-high gain guitar sound. The hard rock band, God Bless’ guitarist Ian Antono (Jauw Hian Ling) played solely for Albar who sang two songs which had been popular for decades. The songs were played, and Albar’s voice was also drifted in the sound of waves of Badung beautiful beach, Bali.
The effect of the music, played by the Band, during the press conference was nuanced by over a 50 years career in music. That is not an instant success. Over 50 years, the existence is acknowledged by the acting Director General (DG) of Culture, Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology (Kemdikbud), Ahmad Mahendra. “God Bless contributes to the field of music, and that is a real contribution. I will never forget one of the songs (I like most), namely ‘Huma Di Atas Bukit’ (Wasteland on the Hill). The song is always historial and authentic,” said Ahmad Mahendra at the press conference while also attending the celebration of God Bless Anthology 50th anniversary.
The band members, Kemdikbud and all the people at the press conference joined ‘tumpeng’, an Indonesian ceremonial dish of yellow rice served in a cone shape. Ahmad Mahendra gave a piece of ‘tumpeng’ to Hendra Lie (Lie Hong Kwang), the Executive Producer of God Bless Anthology. Meanwhile, Albar gave another piece of tumpeng to Tohpati who conducts songs arrangement and video clip of ‘Musisi’ with Czech Symphony Orchestra.
Ahmad Mahendra assures all musicians, especially God Bless, that the Ministry’s directorate general of culture really appreciates every artworkers, cultural worker who are consistent with the field they are getting involved in. Therefore, at the moment of Anthology 50th Anniversary, the Directorate General of Culture is in need of God Bless. “Perhaps, the position of God Bless is in reverse. The government appreciates those who contribute to the culture, art consistently. Therefore the consistency of God Bless, contributing to the music over fifty years, is a great asset. Perhaps, God Bless has stumbled and fallen over fifty years, showing consistency for Indonesian music,” said Ahmad Mahendra.
The Ministry (Kemdikbud)’s appreciation toward cultural workers, agreeing the funding for them who prepared dozens of activities in the field of culture. Activity of strategic agenda, which has been set and fixed by the Directorate General, will be included for the funding. “In this case, we support some parts of the series of events for Anthology 50th Anniversary God Bless. We support the next event in November, (namely) the exhibition of God Bless’ masterpiece in the National Gallery (Medan Merdeka Timur street),” said Ahmad Mahendra. (sl/IM)
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