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View all search resultsPop hit maestro Yovie Widianto celebrates 30 years in concert
Violinist Sharon Corr (foreground) from The Corrs graces the concert of musician and songwriter Yovie Widianto (background, center) on Tuesday
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Violinist Sharon Corr (foreground) from The Corrs graces the concert of musician and songwriter Yovie Widianto (background, center) on Tuesday. (Antara/Muhammad Adimaja) (foreground) from The Corrs graces the concert of musician and songwriter Yovie Widianto (background, center) on Tuesday. (Antara/Muhammad Adimaja)
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span class="caption" style="width: 510px;">Violinist Sharon Corr (foreground) from The Corrs graces the concert of musician and songwriter Yovie Widianto (background, center) on Tuesday. (Antara/Muhammad Adimaja)
The accomplished composer, arranger and songwriter showcased dozens of his best songs to celebrate his three decades in music in a concert titled 'Irreplaceable' at the Jakarta Convention Center in Central Jakarta on Tuesday evening.
'Thank God, I have been producing works for three decades. I'm thankful that I can work [alongside] generations of artists: from the likes of Fariz RM, Tito Sumarsono [in the 80s], to Gigi, Slank, Dewa 19 [in the 90s] and to Peterpan and Vierra [in the past decade],' Yovie said prior to the concert.
Listing dozens of top-playing songs across the decades, Yovie has defined his own landscape in the country's local music scene. Mostly making easy, fun-listening songs for crooners, in a group or solo, Yovie's songs have become nostalgic and seem to be there for every romantic occasion - from your first love to the anxiety of meeting exes while you're married.
No surprise that tickets were sold out for the evening. The convention center was filled to the brim with more than 3,700 people in attendance. The concert organizer had announced that the tickets sold quickly, with the most expensive tickets priced at Rp 3.5 million (US$300).
The opening fanfare greeted the audience, many of whom were women, at exactly 8.30 p.m. ' half an hour late from the schedule. YW Band Orchestra opened with an overture of a medley instrumental version of Yovie's hits 'Bila Kuingat' (When I Remember You), 'Indah Kuingat Dirimu' (I Remember You Beautiful), and 'Kasih Putih' (White Love), which was followed by Yovie's greeting.
'This is such a fitting venue. In this same place thirty years ago, I played my first national stage. I used the same brand of piano then like I use today, I still have the same manager and I also still hire the same stage technician.
'Loyalty and consistency is important to me,' said the 45-year-old in front of his piano on a raised platform on the stage, wearing a black suit and a bow tie.
After the greetings, a series of Yovie's well-known song immediately sent the crowd to singing along. The eight first songs were 'Merindu Lagi' (Missing Again), 'Terlalu Cinta' (Too Much Love), 'Katakan Saja' (Say It), 'Satu Mimpiku' (My One Dream), 'Peri Cintaku' (My Love Fairy), 'Pada Satu Cinta' (On One Love), 'Tunggu Dulu' (Wait) and 'Bukan Untukku' (Not For Me).
The songs were sung by celebrated pop songsters in the country, including Mario Ginanjar of Kahitna, Pradikta Wicaksono of Yovie & Nuno, Marcel Siahaan and Rio Febrian, all of whom added an R&B and soul and blues feel to the songs.
Yovie said he gave the familiar songs different arrangement and treatment than their original version on purpose.
'The concert concept is a composer putting forward his songs and singers. Most of the time my works include me working as a producer, arranger, or as a member of a band; I want to show something different in this concert,' Yovie said.
The next part of the concert presented teen heartthrob pop band RAN, rock band Alexa and young singers Andien and Raisa singing 'Tentang Diriku' (About Me), 'Andai Dia Tahu' (Wish She Knew), 'Suratku' (My Letter), 'Kini' (Now), 'Dia Milikku' (He's Mine), and 'Kekasih Sejati' (True Lover).
Playing alongside Yovie on the piano, RAN and Alexa gave a tinge of rock with energizing drum beats and guitar distortion, sending the crowd to dancing and clapping.
On the third act of the concert, Yovie played his hits with his bands Kahitna and Yovie & Nuno. They played 'Tak Sebebas Merpati' (Not As Free As Pigeons), 'Janji Suci' (Sacred Promise), 'Cinta Abadi' (Eternal Love), 'Menikahimu' (Marrying You), 'Salahi Aku' (Blame Me), 'Lebih Baik Darinya' (Better Than Him).
In Kahitna ' which was established in 1986, Yovie works with bassist Dody IS, percussionist Harry Suhardiman, drummer Budiana, guitariest Andrie Bayuadjie, keyboardist Bambang Purwono, and vocalists Hedi Yunus, Carlo Saba, Mario Ginanjar. Kahitna has released nine albums to date ' which include two compilation albums ' and has charted numerous hits.
With Hedy, Carlo and Mario, the stage became very lively as the vocalists interactively talked with the audience and teased Yovie on the story behind some of the overly romantic or desperate songs.
Kahitna also performed 'Lajengan' (Kites), an ethnic fusion song that brought them to the world finals of the Yamaha Band Explosion in Japan in 1991. 'After all of this year they can still nail it, with the choreography no less,' Yovie said referring to Kahitna vocalists.
Hedy, Mario, Marcel and Rio took command of the stage during an impromptu comedic segment as they playfully roasted Yovie. Yovie then took a challenge to write a song using words and basic notes given by the audience. The words were widow, levitating and hurt.
Yovie, Marcel and Rio went to the backstage to write and prepare the new song, while Alexa and Ran played 'Cukup Sudah' (Enough), which was a hit made popular by singer and songwriter Glen Fredly.
Yovie then got back on stage with the new song sung by Marcel and Rio; the love song bore his signature style and won applause from the audience.
By the time the impromptu song ended, the concert had lasted for two hours. The subsequent act presented guest stars Sharon Corr and Rick Price, each singing three of their songs with Yovie.
The guest star segment apparently served as a cooling down time for the audience, because more Yovie hits were coming.
In the final act, Yovie played 'Mantan Terindah' (Loveliest Ex), 'Menjaga Hati' (Tending Heart), 'Untukku' (For Me), 'Takkan Terganti' (Irreplaceable), 'Cerita Cinta' (Love Story) and 'Cantik' (Beatiful).
In 'Untukku', Yovie invited the audience to sing while he played the piano. The invitation was wholeheartedly accepted by his fans, who sang throughout the song.
The crowd got so caught in the singing and atmosphere that Yovie had to stop them from singing along after playing the intro of 'Takkan Terganti'.
'I'd like you to allow Marcel, Mario, Andien and Raisa to sing this first and you can join them later,' Yovie said. His plead was apparently an attempt to show off the singing arrangement, in which the singers sung completing each other's sentence in a canon-like singing.
