YOGYAKARTA – He was not young anymore, 49 years old. However, on last Saturday (19/2) night, about 5,000 audience at Graha Sabha Pramana were witnessing that Iwan Fals was able to amaze the Yogyakarta public. His distinctive voice is still attracting amazement. In every song he sang, the audience echoed soundly. They sang along, memorized by rote. Iwan opened with the song ‘Oemar Bakri’, there was hardly a silent spectator. The song was so popular in the ears of the audience. "If there is no ‘Oemar Bakri’, there will be no smart people here," said Iwan to the audience.
Initially, Iwan was wearing a jacket but after the first song, Iwan took off his jacket. "I thought the stage was air-conditioned. It turned out that it was hot as well," he said.
Every lyric is loaded with social criticism. That night, Iwan as if wanted to prove that his songs were still in tune with the times. Interestingly, in every song, Iwan was able to hypnotize the audience to sing along the song. The song titled ‘Hio’, ‘kesaksian’, ‘aku bukan pilihan’, ‘Manusia setengah dewa’, and ‘wakil rakyat’ one by one were presented.
That night, Iwan was accompanied by Indonesian Blue Wind Orchestra. The brass instruments Orchestra were able to counterbalance Iwan’s voice and the guitar he played. We can feel the really thorough preparation. The accompaniment of 64 players who played a flute, clarinet, oboe, trombone, bassoon, trumpet, guitar, piano, drums, and bass reminiscent of Iwan’s songs while collaborating with Sawung Jabo. "It felt like being in a vast meadow and wood houses," Iwan commented on his impression of the one and only brass instruments Orchestra in Indonesia.
With the entrance ticket IDR 25 thousand to 50 thousand dollars, the stage atmosphere was pretty grand. The lighting and position of the stage were giving interactive atmosphere. Iwan performed all out as if to prove that his songs remain a legend even though the songs were hits in the ’80s and ’90s.
The audience’s hysteria can be felt right at the end of the concert when Iwan sang ‘bongkar’. Iwan typical wail made the ballads and country music legend young again. Seven songs sung by Iwan were not enough to satisfy the audience. However, his presence at least met the public love for him, let alone Iwan Fals rarely appears at UGM. Unfortunately, the audience who asked him to sing ‘Bento’ had their inquiry unaccomplished.
Finally, hymn of the Gadjah Mada closed the music concert ‘Justice for Indonesia with Love’ which was held to celebrate the 65th Anniversary of UGM Law Faculty. Together with Indro ‘kimpling’ Suseno and artist Marissa Haque, Iwan invited the audience to sing the songs familiar to UGM students and alumni.