Album Bintang Lima Dewa 19 Rated as the Best Formation, Agree?

Kapanlagi.com - After being left by Ari Lasso, Dewa 19 immediately got a new vocalist, namely Once Mekel. However, the presence of Once Mekel was initially doubted by Dewa 19 fans, Baladewa. Because Ari Lasso's voice had already become ingrained in the hearts of Baladewa, and automatically, the presence of Once Mekel as Dewa 19's vocalist was highly doubted.

Even Dewa 19's frontman, Ahmad Dhani once doubted Once Mekel's vocal quality. Dhani was afraid that the next new Dewa 19 album would not be accepted by Baladewa. Dewa 19 released their debut album with the new vocalist titled Bintang Lima in 2000.

1. Album Bintang Lima

KapanLagi.com/Bayu Herdianto

After its release, the album Bintang Lima by Dewa 19 exploded in the market. The album sold millions of copies. Certainly, the sales results made Ahmad Dhani feel relieved, finally Once Mekel could be accepted by the wider community. 

However, Ahmad Dhani himself admitted that he had dreamed that the presence of Once Mekel as the vocalist of Dewa 19 would not be accepted by the public and his stage performance would be abandoned by the audience.

"I really dreamed about it. After Slank performed, Dewa performed, and Once sang. Everyone went home, it was a real dream. It turns out that the dream was 180 degrees different," said Ahmad Dhani at FX Sudirman, South Jakarta, on Wednesday (15/1/2020).

2. Once Les Vokal

KapanLagi.com/Bayu Herdianto

Because they were afraid of not being accepted by the wider community, the members of Dewa 19 asked Once to take vocal lessons. However, Once Mekel immediately opposed the request from the other members of Dewa 19. In fact, Once even had a fight with Ahmad Dhani.

"Oh yes. We even had a fight. Me, Andra, and Tyo forced Once to take vocal lessons. Once got angry," said Dhani.

Once is not a new singer, long before this he had been the vocalist of the group Fargat 272, along with Pay BIP, Ronald Dr. PM, and Andy Liani in the 90s era. However, after that project, Once took a break from the music industry. He chose to work in an office.

3. Once on Hiatus and Practicing Again

Entering the year 2000, Once became a member of Dewa 19. Because there was a gap from the 90s to 2000 where Once didn't sing regularly, he had to practice again, especially in terms of vocals.

"I haven't sung for 5 and a half years. Although I have known many musicians since 1991, there was a period where I didn't sing. Coincidentally, I met Dewa at that time to make the album Bintang Lima, so I had to practice again. It's not easy. Because as Dhani said, this is also a determination. I was thinking, I used to have a dream, a solo album on my own," said Once.

4. The Best Bintang Lima Album

©special

In addition, the Bintang Lima album, at that time Dewa 19 consisted of Ahmad Dhani, Once Mekel, Tyo Nugros, and Andra. Interestingly, the Bintang Lima album formation is considered the best formation of Dewa 19 of all time.

"That's what they say. But it's not nice to say that, there's Ari Lasso," concluded Ahmad Dhani.

(kpl/far/DIM)