Gombloh
Encyclopedia
Soedjarwoto Soemarsono was an Indonesia
n singer and songwriter. He received the Nugraha Bhakti Musik Indonesia award from the Persatuan Artis Penyanyi, Pencipta Lagu dan Penata Musik Rekaman Indonesia.
on July 14, 1948. His parents were Slamet and Tatoekah. He studied at SMA Negeri 5 Surabaya. After graduating he continued his studies at the Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember Surabaya
.
after quitting his studies and became a street performer. After that, he joined the orchestra rock band, Lemon Tree's Anno '69, which was influenced by ELP
and Genesis
. They released Sekar Mayang, a Javanese language
album, aside from their several Indonesian language
albums.
In 1982, Gombloh released the album Gombloh Berita Cuaca. In 1983, he released Gila under Nirwana Records, which boosted his popularity; however, these early albums were not very successful commercially.
In 1984, he released 1/2 Gila (Half Crazy). In 1986, Apel (Apple) and Semakin Gila (Crazier) were released. Apel featured his most commercially successful song, "Kugadaikan Cinta" ("I Pawn Love"). In 1987, his last solo album, Apa Itu Tidak Edan (Is it Not Crazy) was released.
on January 9, 1988, due to lung disease. It has been attributed to his habit of staying up late and smoking.
According to Rolling Stone Indonesia, Gombloh's songwriting style was similar to Rick Wakeman
in that he drew on local culture and nature; among elements that he used were traditional songs and wayang
. His lyrics were generally not confrontative, without being overly critical or grateful.
The themes of most of his music were humanity, patriotism, natural beauty, heroism and humor. Other songs, such as "Berita Cuaca" ("Weather Report"), "Hong Wilaheng Sekareng Bawono Langgeng", "Denok-Denok Debleng", "Ujung Kulon Baloran", "3600 Detik" ("3600 Seconds"), "Kebayan-Kebayan", "Hitam Putih" ("Black and White") and "Kami dan Alam" ("We and Nature"), gave his perspective on social life. However, "Kugadaikan Cinta" was a highly commercial song, which has been described by Rolling Stone Indonesia as a symbol of idealism losing to pressure.
His songs about patriotism and heroism include "Dewa Ruci", "Gugur Bunga
" ("The Fallen Flower"), "Gaung Mojokerto-Surabaya" ("Mojokerto-Surabaya Echo"), "Indonesia Kami" ("Our Indonesia"), "Indonesiaku Indonesiamu" ("My Indonesia, Your Indonesia"), "Pesan Buat Negeriku" ("Message for My Country") and "BK". He also wrote social phenomena songs, including "Doa Seorang Pelacur" ("Prayer of A Prostitute"), "Kilang-Kilang" ("Refineries"), "Poligami-Poligami" ("Poligamies"), "Nyanyi Anak Seorang Pencuri" ("Singing of Son of A Thief") and "Selamat Pagi Kotaku" ("Good Morning My City").
In 2009, Rolling Stone Indonesia listed two of Gombloh's songs, "Kebyar-Kebyar" and "Berita Cuaca", as some of the best Indonesian songs of all time. "Kebyar-Kebyar", ranked second, was noted as being played every year in the national celebration for the Independence Day ceremonies. "Berita Cuaca", ranked 98th, was called extremely dramatic in its comparison of children playing and dead forests.
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
n singer and songwriter. He received the Nugraha Bhakti Musik Indonesia award from the Persatuan Artis Penyanyi, Pencipta Lagu dan Penata Musik Rekaman Indonesia.
Early life
Gombloh was born Soedjarwoto Soemarsono in JombangJombang Regency
Jombang is a regency of East Java, Indonesia. Its capital is Jombang. The regency has an area of 1,159.5 km² and population of 1,163,420...
on July 14, 1948. His parents were Slamet and Tatoekah. He studied at SMA Negeri 5 Surabaya. After graduating he continued his studies at the Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember Surabaya
Tenth of November Institute of Technology
Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember or ITS is a public university in Surabaya, East Java, Indonesia, focused in the higher education of science, engineering and technology. ITS took its name from the Battle of Surabaya which reached its peak on November 10, 1945. The day is also commemorated as...
.
Career
He moved to BaliBali
Bali is an Indonesian island located in the westernmost end of the Lesser Sunda Islands, lying between Java to the west and Lombok to the east...
after quitting his studies and became a street performer. After that, he joined the orchestra rock band, Lemon Tree's Anno '69, which was influenced by ELP
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
Emerson, Lake & Palmer, also known as ELP, are an English progressive rock supergroup. They found success in the 1970s and sold over forty million albums and headlined large stadium concerts. The band consists of Keith Emerson , Greg Lake and Carl Palmer...
and Genesis
Genesis (band)
Genesis are an English rock band that formed in 1967. The band currently comprises the longest-tenured members Tony Banks , Mike Rutherford and Phil Collins . Past members Peter Gabriel , Steve Hackett and Anthony Phillips , also played major roles in the band in its early years...
. They released Sekar Mayang, a Javanese language
Javanese language
Javanese language is the language of the Javanese people from the central and eastern parts of the island of Java, in Indonesia. In addition, there are also some pockets of Javanese speakers in the northern coast of western Java...
album, aside from their several Indonesian language
Indonesian language
Indonesian is the official language of Indonesia. Indonesian is a normative form of the Riau Islands dialect of Malay, an Austronesian language which has been used as a lingua franca in the Indonesian archipelago for centuries....
albums.
In 1982, Gombloh released the album Gombloh Berita Cuaca. In 1983, he released Gila under Nirwana Records, which boosted his popularity; however, these early albums were not very successful commercially.
In 1984, he released 1/2 Gila (Half Crazy). In 1986, Apel (Apple) and Semakin Gila (Crazier) were released. Apel featured his most commercially successful song, "Kugadaikan Cinta" ("I Pawn Love"). In 1987, his last solo album, Apa Itu Tidak Edan (Is it Not Crazy) was released.
Death
He died in SurabayaSurabaya
Surabaya is Indonesia's second-largest city with a population of over 2.7 million , and the capital of the province of East Java...
on January 9, 1988, due to lung disease. It has been attributed to his habit of staying up late and smoking.
Style and appearance
Gombloh was different from other musicians. Asrat Ginting writes that some felt he was not worth watching, as he just wore white clothes, shoes without socks, dark glasses and a hat. Rolling Stone Indonesia also notes that Gombloh had a limited stage persona, looking as if he were constantly ill.According to Rolling Stone Indonesia, Gombloh's songwriting style was similar to Rick Wakeman
Rick Wakeman
Richard Christopher Wakeman is an English keyboard player, composer and songwriter best known for being the former keyboardist in the progressive rock band Yes...
in that he drew on local culture and nature; among elements that he used were traditional songs and wayang
Wayang
Wayang is a Javanese word for theatre . When the term is used to refer to kinds of puppet theatre, sometimes the puppet itself is referred to as wayang...
. His lyrics were generally not confrontative, without being overly critical or grateful.
The themes of most of his music were humanity, patriotism, natural beauty, heroism and humor. Other songs, such as "Berita Cuaca" ("Weather Report"), "Hong Wilaheng Sekareng Bawono Langgeng", "Denok-Denok Debleng", "Ujung Kulon Baloran", "3600 Detik" ("3600 Seconds"), "Kebayan-Kebayan", "Hitam Putih" ("Black and White") and "Kami dan Alam" ("We and Nature"), gave his perspective on social life. However, "Kugadaikan Cinta" was a highly commercial song, which has been described by Rolling Stone Indonesia as a symbol of idealism losing to pressure.
His songs about patriotism and heroism include "Dewa Ruci", "Gugur Bunga
Gugur Bunga
"Gugur Bunga di Taman Bakti" , better known as "Gugur Bunga", is an Indonesian patriotic song written by Ismail Marzuki in 1945. Written to honor the Indonesian soldiers killed during the Indonesian National Revolution, it tells of the death of a soldier, and the singer's feelings...
" ("The Fallen Flower"), "Gaung Mojokerto-Surabaya" ("Mojokerto-Surabaya Echo"), "Indonesia Kami" ("Our Indonesia"), "Indonesiaku Indonesiamu" ("My Indonesia, Your Indonesia"), "Pesan Buat Negeriku" ("Message for My Country") and "BK". He also wrote social phenomena songs, including "Doa Seorang Pelacur" ("Prayer of A Prostitute"), "Kilang-Kilang" ("Refineries"), "Poligami-Poligami" ("Poligamies"), "Nyanyi Anak Seorang Pencuri" ("Singing of Son of A Thief") and "Selamat Pagi Kotaku" ("Good Morning My City").
Legacy
In 1996, several artists from Surabaya formed the Solidaritas Seniman Surabaya to commemorate Gombloh. They also created a bronze statue of him and placed it at Taman Hiburan Rakyat Surabaya. On March 30, 2005, Gombloh received the Nugraha Bhakti Musik Indonesia award from Persatuan Artis Penyanyi, Pencipta Lagu dan Penata Musik Rekaman Indonesia.In 2009, Rolling Stone Indonesia listed two of Gombloh's songs, "Kebyar-Kebyar" and "Berita Cuaca", as some of the best Indonesian songs of all time. "Kebyar-Kebyar", ranked second, was noted as being played every year in the national celebration for the Independence Day ceremonies. "Berita Cuaca", ranked 98th, was called extremely dramatic in its comparison of children playing and dead forests.