Seven years since the release of her last Indonesian song, singer Anggun C. Sasmi returns with a new single dedicated to Indonesian women.
ndonesian-born singer/songwriter Anggun has released the single “Siapa Bilang Gak Bisa” (Who Says We Can't) seven years after the release of her last song in Indonesian.
Dedicated to Indonesian women as a tribute to their role in modern society, the song was reportedly written by Anggun and musician-photographer Christian Kretschmar.
Written by @Anggun_Cipta and me: Siapa Bilang Gak Bisa - time to learn some Indonesian 😜 🤘https://t.co/HjGY4jFMe9
— Christian Kretschmar (@CKretschmar) July 31, 2018
Ecstatic to learn that #SiapaBilangGakBisa the new anthem I wrote for @PanteneID campaign around #WomenEmpowerment has been viewed 2 Million times today. Thank you, terima kasih, Merci 🙏🏽💝 pic.twitter.com/wvmPBB7a67
— Anggun Official (@Anggun_Cipta) July 31, 2018
In July Anggun uploaded a short video, in which she shared a clip of the song.
“It’s been a long time since I wrote Indonesian song and recently I’ve been moved to write about and for women – about a woman’s power to give spirit for all women,” she said in the video. “This song tells that, as women, we’re capable of doing everything that we want, fulfilling our dreams that are even beyond people’s expectation.”
Read also: Anggun's '8' comes full circle, but falls slightly short
The “Snow on the Sahara” crooner said that despite being busy for the past few years, Indonesia never leaves her and she continues to pay attention to what happens in the country. "This is the new era for Indonesian women. They’re getting more positions, but also facing serious issues at the same time,” she added as reported by kompas.com.
Indonesian women continued to try to fulfill the expectations of society and their families, she said, and it seemed like their roles had been determined from birth.
Anggun went on to say that many people expected her to be a mother who nurtured her family and child. There was nothing wrong with the expectation, she said, but she also deserved to achieve her dreams as an artist.
“When women want something more than the expectations of society and their family, , it becomes a taboo. But, the fact is, while doing playing the traditional feminine role, Indonesian women are also able to do more. That’s the duality within themselves that is strong enough and cannot be underestimated."
A short and full version of the song can be found on YouTube as part of Pantene Indonesia's campaign. The former has so far received over 2 million views. (wir/kes)
Share your experiences, suggestions, and any issues you've encountered on The Jakarta Post. We're here to listen.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts. We appreciate your feedback.
Quickly share this news with your network—keep everyone informed with just a single click!
Share the best of The Jakarta Post with friends, family, or colleagues. As a subscriber, you can gift 3 to 5 articles each month that anyone can read—no subscription needed!
Get the best experience—faster access, exclusive features, and a seamless way to stay updated.