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Kahitna's enduring love stories
Everlasting: Kahitna has been in the music industry for 30 years with few changes to its line-up
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Everlasting: Kahitna has been in the music industry for 30 years with few changes to its line-up.
Kahitna proved its standing as a leading band when droves of fans attended its 30th anniversary concert, with old fans bringing new ones.
It was Saturday night and Alexandra Luna was excitedly gearing up to watch her first Kahitna show at the Jakarta Convention Center (JCC). The 30-year age gap between the girl and the band members has not prevented her from falling in love with the band's big hits.
'My favorite song is 'Cantik' (Pretty). Mom often sings the band's songs and I usually parrot her,' the 10-year-old girl denizen of Bekasi told The Jakarta Post before the concert.
Growing up with the Bandung pop band, her mother, Luciana, 36, secured tickets to see it once more in December 2015.
'I have most of their CDs, though a few albums are missing. I hope they will stay productive because Yovie is the greatest songwriter,' she said, referring to the band's lead singer and love song factory Yovie Widianto.
Alexandra and her mom were part of the two generations of fans who packed the JCC last Saturday afternoon to enjoy the band's special concert entitled 'Kahitna's 30th Anniversary Love Festival'. While young couples with children were a common sight, the event was dominated by groups of women in their 20s and 30s.
'Our music concept and lyrics give us the advantage of continued relevance. Kahitna's lyrics are poetic and romantic. They are relatively modest for the era. Today, I see Ran, Raisa and Tulus doing just the same,' Yovie said in a press conference on Feb. 12 before the show.
With the highest ticket price reaching Rp 5 million (US$373), the 4,000 tickets that sold out two weeks prior to the concert reflect the powerful connection between the idols and their fans. Event promoter Berlian Entertainment also offered 2,000 other tickets for a number of separate gigs.
Set in a festival style, the two-day event was a celebration of Kahitna's long career in the music industry. Kahitna performed at the main venue called the Love area, while 20 other performers, including Raisa, Isyana Sarasvati, Tulus, Titi DJ, Project Pop, Ran, The Overtunes and The Groove entertained audiences at three other venues. Outside the JCC building, visitors were offered a long array of 15 food trucks, numerous culinary delights and musical performances from singer Lala Karmela and group bands Barasuara, Alexa and Souleh and Soulehah.
All of the supporting performers covered one or two Kahitna's songs during their gigs, so those who could not secure a spot in the main show were still able to enjoy the band's love rhythms.
A couple of hours before midnight, the long wait of the die-hard fans was finally over. Fangirls promptly screamed hysterically when the white curtain on the stage was slowly raised and the three beloved vocalists, Hedi Yunus, Mario Ginanjar and Carlo Saba, belted out a medley of 'Everybody Needs Somebody' and 'Permaisuriku' (My Queen).
Handsome in dark suits and signature bowties, the three singers still managed to entertain their fans with their melodious voices and dance moves.
'Good evening Kahitna's soulmates! We were initially disheartened to learn that the prices of the tickets were widely deemed exorbitant. However, the presale tickets reached 800, higher than the targeted 500,' Hedi said right after the first medley.
He stopped for a while to catch his breath while Mario and Carlo quickly grabbed their bottles of mineral water, inviting ripples of laughter from the audience.
For the band members, time has flown quickly. Hedi recalled the struggles and sweet moments that colored their early career in the music industry. From taking public buses and jostling each other in the back of a jeep on the way to perform in the capital city to singing at wedding receptions and being rejected by many music labels, his stories showed that the group truly began at the bottom.
Established in 1986, Kahitna experienced a first milestone with victory in the world finals of the Yamaha Band Explosion in Japan in 1991 with an ethnic fusion track entitled 'Lajeungan' (Kites). The second milestone took place a few years later in 1994 when it released its first album, Cerita Cinta (Love Story), under legendary recording company Musica Studios.
After the debut album, the band only saw a change in one vocalist, Ronni Waluya, who quit in 1994. Mario was introduced for the sixth album, Cinta Sudah Lewat (Love Has Gone), which was released in 2003. The other members remain the same. Dody IS as bassist, Harry Suhardiman on percussion, Budiana on drums, Andrie Bayuadjie on guitar and Bambang Purwono on keyboards.
The band has released 10 albums including two compilation albums. Kahitna's latest album is Rahasia Cinta Kahitna (Kahitna's Love Secret), which is spearheaded by single 'Rahasia Cintaku' (The Secret of my Love). The new album, sold at a limited number of 5,000 CDs during Saturday's concert, still topped the iTunes album chart as of Thursday.
Looking back, Yovie said he could never have predicted a journey that had spanned 30 years.
'I know that even a band of three people can constant argue and split in three or four years. By the fifth year, they may have different fees and break up. Those who are together for over 10 years are great. But for those who have been around for more than 20 years like us, this togetherness is a gift from God,' he said.
He also gave credit to his manager, Bedi Gunawan, who had worked with him for 31 years, and the loyal crew members who had stayed with him for decades. His short speech was followed by 'Takkan Terganti' (Irreplaceable), with a new arrangement with a quicker beat.
It was an evening full of celebration of the band's everlasting works. Hedi, Carlo and Mario's conversations and jokes bridged a number of Kahitna's sweet tunes that live in the hearts of fans, such as 'Andai Dia Tau' (Wishing She Knew), 'Tak Sebebas Merpati' (Not As Free As Doves) and 'Tentang Diriku' (About Me). Those who were once madly in love, heartbroken, part of a love triangle, involved in a mixed-religion relationship, engaged, married, tempted to have an affair or missing their loveliest ex ' all could sing along loudly during that night.
Kahitna also showcased its signature ethnic fusions. When the band personnel changed outfits into stylish tops with batik patterns, they infused an energetic ambience with 'Kita Bangun Negeri' (We Build the Nation), 'Di Rantau' (In a Strange City) and 'Lajeungan'.
That evening, Yovie and other band members took a challenge of creating a song based on three basic notes given by Indrawati Widjaja from Musica Studio and six keywords. They returned with a new song titled 'Kau Pembunuh Cinta' (You are A Love Killer).
Kahitna received a standing ovation from the audience, who demanded more. The group gave an encore consisting of 'Merenda Kasih' (Lacing Up Love), 'Aku Dirimu Dirinya' (Me, You and Her) and 'Setahun Kemarin' (A Year Ago).
After the show, a seething crowd of fans quickly surrounded an official booth to buy Kahitna's album and merchandise. Showered by love from such loyal fans, Kahitna may still be around for some years to come.
