Profile of Iwan Fals, Journey from Street Musician to Indonesian Music Legend

Kapanlagi.com - Among the ranks of legendary Indonesian musicians, the name Iwan Fals always holds a special place in the hearts of his fans. This figure, with a distinctive voice and sharp lyrics, is not just a singer but also a reflection of the people's voice. Through his songs, he raises various social issues that awaken the consciousness of many people.

However, not many know that the journey of Iwan Fals to achieve legendary status was not easy. He started his career from the streets, busking with his guitar, and even experienced failures in the music industry. Thanks to his determination and consistency, he eventually became one of the biggest icons in the history of Indonesian music.

What is the story of his winding life? Here is the complete journey of Iwan Fals from childhood, the beginning of his career, to his achievements as a great musician.

1. Childhood and Early Music Journey

Iwan Fals' works are timeless. (credit: instagram.com/iwanfals/pritt)

Iwan Fals was born with the real name Virgiawan Listanto on September 3, 1961, in Jakarta. Since childhood, he has shown interest in music and sports. In fact, while studying in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, he brought home a guitar that later became his true companion in music.

Upon returning to Indonesia, he started busking in Bandung at the age of 13. Not only on the streets, but he also often sang at events such as weddings and circumcisions. From here, his talent for songwriting began to develop, with simple yet impactful lyrics.

2. From the Failure of His First Recording to Fame through Sarjana Muda

Iwan Fals' works are timeless. (credit: instagram.com/iwanfals/agrasuseno)

The first opportunity came when he was offered a recording by a producer. To finance the recording, Iwan even sold his motorcycle. He then joined the group Amburadul, but their first album failed in the market.

Not giving up, he returned to busking and tried various music festivals. After winning a country music festival, he participated in a humor song festival, but his recording at ABC Records was also unsuccessful. Fortune finally smiled upon him when he joined Musica Studio's. The album Sarjana Muda (1981) eventually exploded in the market and made his name widely known.

3. Music as Social Critique and Resistance Against the New Order

Iwan Fals' works are timeless. (credit: instagram.com/iwanfals/pritt)

Iwan Fals is known for his songs that boldly criticize government policies. Songs like "Wakil Rakyat", "Oemar Bakrie", and "Bento" reflect the public's unrest towards the existing system.

Due to his sharp lyrics, he often faced pressure from the New Order regime. Many of his concerts were canceled, and he was even closely monitored by the government. Nevertheless, the support from his fans remained strong, and they established the Yayasan Orang Indonesia (Oi) on August 16, 1999, as a community platform for fans of Iwan Fals' music.

4. Great Loss: The Passing of Galang Rambu Anarki

Iwan Fals's work is timeless. (credit: instagram.com/iwanfals/pritt)

On January 1, 1981, Iwan Fals was blessed with a son named Galang Rambu Anarki. He even wrote a song with the same title for his child, depicting the anxiety of parents amid rising living costs.

However, tragedy struck in April 1997, when Galang passed away due to drugs. The loss of his eldest son deeply affected Iwan. He took a break from the music world and chose to occupy himself with painting and practicing martial arts.

5. Returning to Create and Changes in His Music

Iwan Fals' works never fade with time. (credit: instagram.com/iwanfals/pritt)

After a long hiatus, Iwan returned to the music scene with the album Suara Hati (2002), which included the song "Just Face It" as an expression of grief over the loss of Galang. In 2010, he released the album Keseimbangan, followed by Raya (2013), named after his youngest child.

Over time, his music has undergone changes. While he was once known for his sharp social critiques, his songs now tend to be softer and often revolve around themes of love and reflections on life. Nevertheless, his commitment to continue creating and expressing his feelings remains unchanged.

6. What is the first famous song by Iwan Fals?

The song that made him widely known is "Sarjana Muda" which was released in 1981. This song depicts the harsh reality of searching for a job despite having a college degree.

7. Why do Iwan Fals' songs contain a lot of social criticism?

Iwan Fals always writes songs based on observations of everyday life. He feels the need to voice the people's concerns through his music, especially during the New Order era.

What do KLOvers think about this? Come on, write in the comments! If not now, when?

(kpl/vna)