Born as Abdul Gafar Abdullah in Wonodadi, Banjarnegara; he is the youngest son of Aboe Ja'far. He had many desires: engineer, doctor, and painter. But as it turned out, eventually he became a famous singer, although he only wants to be called a poeter.
In 1970s, Ebiet was close to Yogyakarta young artist society. It formed his musical style. Close to a prolific artist Emha Ainun Nadjib, he often sang his friend’s poems with his guitar. But, when entering recording studio, he did not sing any of Emha’s songs. Although Ebiet felt sorry to leave Yogyakarta, he concentrated to try his luck and natural talent in Jakarta. The recording of his songs were successful. He recorded in the Philippines to get the better recording. But he refused to record his songs in Japanese, when he had a chance to have a concert there.
Married with Yayuk Sugianto (Iis Sugianto’s old sister), in 1982; he has 4 sons: Abietyasakti Ksatria Kinasih, Adaprabu Hantip Trengginas, Byatuasa Pakarti Hinuwih, and Segara Banyu Bening. They lived in Ciganjur, Pasar Minggu, South Jakarta. In his house Ebiet raises about 20 birds.
Later, he recorded in Colombia Record, the United States. Ebiet also involved Adie MS and Jimmy Manoppo to assist his music.
Ebiet was chosen as the favorite singer of ABRI Radio Broadcasting (1989-1992), BASF Awards winner 1984 until 1988, and the best singer in 1997 Indonesian Musical Awards.
Until 1990, he has launched 12 albums, Camellia I (1979), Camellia II (1979), Camellia III (1980), Camellia IV (1980), Langkah Berikutnya (1982), Tokoh-Tokoh (1982), 1984 (1984), Zaman (1985), Isyu! (1986), Menjaring Matahari (1987), Sketsa Rembulan Emas (1988), and Seraut Wajah (1990). But Ebiet "went to seclusion" for the next 5 years. In 1995, the albums he launched were Kupu-Kupu Kertas and Cinta Sebening Embun. In 1996, Ebiet launched Aku Ingin Pulang. Kupu-Kupu Kertas was supported by musicians such as Ian Antono, Billy J. Budiardjo, Purwacaraka, and Erwin Gutawa.
In the following years, Ebiet launched 3 albums, Gamelan (1998), Balada Sinetron Cinta (2000), and Bahasa Langit (2001). Again, he secluded for 5 years, but he once appeared in the collaboration album Kita Untuk Mereka (2004).
In 2007, he launched a new album, In Love: 25th Anniversary, to commemorate his 25-year marriage. All of its songs are about love.
Kupu-Kupu Kertas
Ebiet G. Ade Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sudut matamu memancarkan rasa
keresahan yang terbenam, kerinduan yang tertahan,
duka dalam yang tersembunyi jauh di lubuk hati
Kata-katamu riuh mengalir bagai gerimis
Seperti angin tak pernah diam
selalu beranjak setiap saat menebarkan jala asmara, menaburkan aroma luka
Benih kebencian kau tanam bakar ladang gersang
Entah sampai kapan berhenti menipu diri
Kupu-kupu kertas
yang terbang kian kemari
Aneka rupa dan warna
dibias lampu temaram
ho ho ho ho ho
Membasuh debu yang lekat dalam jiwa,
mencuci bersih dari segala kekotoran
ho ho ho ho
Aku menunggu hujan turunlah,
aku mengharap badai datanglah
Gemuruhnya akan melumatkan semua
kupu-kupu kertas
Kupu-kupu kertas
yang terbang kian kemari
aneka rupa dan warna
dibias lampu temaram
ho ho
Kupu-kupu kertas
aneka rupa dan warna
dibias lampu temaram
hu hu
Kupu-kupu kertas
yang terbang kian kemari
aneka rupa dan warna
dibias lampu temaram
The lyrics of Ebiet G. Ade's "Kupu-Kupu Kertas" speak of the complexities of human emotions, particularly the pain and longing that we often hide deep within ourselves. The song uses the imagery of a butterfly made of paper, which flutters about, drifting aimlessly in the dark, searching for a way to escape the confines of its existence. In the same way, the singer feels trapped within his own emotional turmoil, struggling to find a way to express his pain and find a way out.
The opening verse speaks of the subject's smile and the "corner of their eyes" which betray a sense of unease and longing. The lyrics suggest that this person is concealing a great deal of sadness and pain within themselves, which is waiting to burst forth. The second verse speaks of the subject's restlessness, and the way in which they spread the seeds of love and pain throughout their life, never settling down long enough to fully commit to any one thing. The chorus repeats the image of the butterfly made of paper, flying aimlessly in the dark, while the singer longs for the cleansing rain to wash away the pain and sadness held deep within.
Overall, this song speaks to the universal struggle we all face when it comes to dealing with our emotions. The imagery of the butterfly made of paper perfectly captures the fragility and fleeting nature of our hopes and dreams, which can be so easily shattered or lost. Ultimately, the song seems to suggest that the only way to find peace and healing is to confront our inner turmoil and allow it to wash away with the cleansing rain.
Line by Line Meaning
Setiap waktu engkau tersenyum
Whenever you smile
Sudut matamu memancarkan rasa
The corner of your eyes radiate a feeling
keresahan yang terbenam, kerinduan yang tertahan,
Of buried anxieties, of restrained longings
duka dalam yang tersembunyi jauh di lubuk hati
Of deep-seated grief that's hidden deep in the heart
Kata-katamu riuh mengalir bagai gerimis
Your words flow like a noisy rain
Seperti angin tak pernah diam
Like the wind that never rests
selalu beranjak setiap saat
Always on the move
menebarkan jala asmara, menaburkan aroma luka
Spreading a love trap, sowing the scent of pain
Benih kebencian kau tanam bakar ladang gersang
You sow the seeds of hatred, burning dry fields
Entah sampai kapan berhenti menipu diri
Who knows when you'll stop deceiving yourself
Kupu-kupu kertas
Paper butterflies
yang terbang kian kemari
Flying here and there
Aneka rupa dan warna
Various shapes and colors
dibias lampu temaram
Illuminated by dim light
Membasuh debu yang lekat dalam jiwa,
Washing away the dust stuck in the soul
mencuci bersih dari segala kekotoran
Cleansing away every impurity
Aku menunggu hujan turunlah,
I'm waiting for the rain to fall,
aku mengharap badai datanglah
I'm hoping for a storm to come
Gemuruhnya akan melumatkan semua
Its thunder will crush everything
Kupu-kupu kertas
Paper butterflies
yang terbang kian kemari
Flying here and there
aneka rupa dan warna
Various shapes and colors
dibias lampu temaram
Illuminated by dim light
Contributed by Cooper A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@KakMugi
kupu-kupu kertas (paper butterfly) is a reference to the common Indonesian idiom “kupu-kupu malam” (night butterfly) to refer to sex workers.
Why did he use paper butterfly instead the common night butterfly? I believe that he views them as an artificial beauty. A paper that was made to appear pretty, and colorful but yet fragile.
Some words that explain that he was referring to sex worker is:
“like the wind that never stays still, always moving every moment." to refer street sex worker.
"Spreading the nets of love, sowing the scent of wounds” to refer how they finding customers
and “Dim lights” to refer red disctrict
The lyric itself is very poetic and is hard to translate into English, but they mainly tell the story of sex workers and their daily life. How they are stigmatized and how they hide their sorrow behind their smile.
I interpreted the lyric as how Ebit G Ade views sex commercials as a negative thing in society (he is known as a spiritual person, and a social critic), but he also sympathized with sex workers. Like when he said, “Never knows when to stop fooling themself.” As they smiled and pretend they enjoying this kind of life, while deep down they are not.
This song was published around 1995 when Indonesia was very westernized, highly liberal. nightlife becomes more common, but illegal drugs came to be common too.
At the end of the song, he wishes a rain of purity to come and clean the “dust”. And to pound the paper butterflies.
@taufikandriawan9246
Setiap waktu engkau tersenyum
Sudut matamu memancarkan rasa
Keresahan yang terbenam
Kerinduan yang tertahan
Duka dalam yang tersembunyi
Jauh di lubuk hati
Kata-katamu
Riuh mengalir bagai gerimis
Seperti angin tak pernah diam
Selalu beranjak setiap saat
Menebarkan jala asmara
Menaburkan aroma luka
Benih kebencian kau tanam
Bakar ladang gersang
Entah sampai kapan
Berhenti menipu diri
Kupu-kupu kertas
Yang terbang kian kemari
Aneka rupa dan warna
Dibias lampu temaram
Membasuh debu yang lekat dalam jiwa
Mencuci bersih dari segala kekotoran
Aku menunggu hujan turunlah
Aku mengharap badai datanglah
Gemuruhnya akan melumatkan semua
Kupu-kupu kertas
Kupu-kupu kertas
Yang terbang kian kemari
Aneka rupa dan warna
Dibias lampu temaram
Kupu-kupu kertas
Yang terbang kian kemari
Aneka rupa dan warna
Dibias lampu temaram
Kupu-kupu kertas
Yang terbang kian kemari
Aneka rupa dan warna
Dibias lampu temaram
@satriawijaya1202
Ada yang dari 2024?
@gptheblues
Hadir masbro
@yohanes2850
Hadir bang😊
@hidayattangerang4609
Kab tangerang hadir😊
@lauren240
Hadir
@penggemar6923
Atjeh hadir lur🎉
@battletroughtheheavens6
Ingat lagu yang sering di nyanyikan Alfatihah buat bapak yang tenang ya pak 15:20 27-09-2024 ❤
@nurulhikmahsiregar5045
dari dulu saya paling suka lagu Ebiet. karna alm ayah saya adalah Ebiet versi kami. semenjak ayah tidak ada, sekalipun saya tak pernah sanggup mendengar lagu nya karna terbayang saat dia bernyanyi sambil bergitar.
. hari ini akhirnya setelah 2 tahun saya mendengarkan, dan tak terasa air mata bercucuran...
alfatihah buat ayah terbaik sepanjang masa.
@gamerhalim4717
Namo Amitofo 🙏
@muhammaddjeri2573
Oh sama