A

pa artinya sebuah derita
Bila kau yakin itu akan berlalu?

(What does suffering mean anyway If you are sure that it will pass?)

Kapanlagi.comThe lines from “Esok kan Masih Ada” or “There is still Tomorrow”, written by Dodo Zakaria, addressed a girl whose face was almost always clouded by sorrow, encouraging her to accept what life gave and to move on.

However, over the past few months the song appeared to be more fitting for the original singer himself.

Utha Likumahuwa, the Ambonese artist who rose to fame in the 1980s, passed away on Tuesday in Jakarta at the age of 56. Utha is survived by his wife, Deby, and two children.

His death was the end of months-long fight that began with a stroke in June that caused the right side of his body to become paralyzed.

Utha was diagnosed with diabetes and heart conditions afterward. A blood clot in his brain prompted doctors to perform a surgery involving the removal of the left side of his cranium.

Fellow musicians and friends held events to help Utha financially and mentally, and he seemed at times the embodiment of the optimistic lyrics of “Esok kan Masih Ada”, despite his ailments.

Kompas.com quoted Utha’s cousin Marianne Sahetapy in July as saying that Utha “misses singing”. Photos of him in a hospital bed giving a thumbs-up sign raised hopes that his condition would indeed improve and the singer would soon be back on stage again to entertain the crowd.

Utha was born in 1955. According to kapanlagi.com, one of his first spotlight moments was when he won second place as best performer in the 1989 ASEAN Pop Song Festival in Manila. The song he performed, “Sesaat Kau Hadir” by Budi Bachtiar and Aldino, was chosen as the best song in the festival.

He was particularly memorable for his impressive vocal range, which enabled him to reach moderately high notes, and his voice’s strong character gave him a penchant for crooning ballads and jazzy numbers.

However, Utha also sang more energetic, and distinctively 1980s numbers such as “Puncak Asmara” (Pinnacle of Romance).

The uncle of Barry Ikumahuwa released 10 albums and one mini-album during his lifetime. He worked with a number of musicians such as Embong Rahardjo and Trie Utami. Pop singer Glenn Fredly recently covered two of Utha’s songs: “Esok Kan Masih Ada” and “Rame-Rame”.

Glenn cited Utha as having a “huge influence” on his career.

“[Utha] should have made a living through royalties,” he said as quoted by kompas.com during the “Charity Melody for Utha” event in August.

The event was held to help raise money for Utha’s medical expenses. A number of famous musicians, including Mus Mujiono and Tompi, participated in the event.