09 February 2019

The groovy tunes of dandgut seem to continuously echo throughout the nation, and even to be spreading abroad. Even though people’s musical taste buds are frequently stimulated by the emergence of new music and technological developments, causing music to be increasingly dominated by electronic elements, dangdut is still going strong, reverberating to the remote corners of the land. Even the revolution of dangdut seems to go along with the turn of times. So why does dangdut become people’s favorite music and continue to exist in our community? Here are the simple reasons.

 

Music of the People

To this day there are still many who percieved dangdut as plebeian. In the context of the music, indeed it strives in the villages of Indonesia. From dusk till dawn dangdut can constantly be heard in tenements, suburban stalls or intercity buses.

In densely populated areas and the narrow alleys of Jakarta, dandut has become the compulsory music for its inhabitants. Informal sector workers and housewives alike listen to dangdut radio station while going through their daily lives. Because its loyal listeners mostly came from the middle-class is why dangdut is often referred to as music of the people.

 

Relatable Lyrics

If you listen closely you’d find the words in dangdut tunes often depict the complication of our daily lives. From intimate love stories, the issue of polygamy, heartbreaks, to leaving your hometown to seek fortune, and even dark magic, these are the topics of choice dangdut songs. Songs such as “Kawin Lagi”, “Ibu Tiri”, “Begadang” and “Jaran Goyang” are true representation of the lives of most people today.

 

Economical Entertainment

It’s hard to imagine a dangdut show with expensive ticket prices. It might as well be free since sponsors or benefactors fund many dangdut shows. Free shows will definitely attract people to attend. (Red.)