Influenced by the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Bettie Davies, and Led Zeppelin among others, the band forced many music fans to take notice of its powerful, flawless genre-crossing blend of blues that incorporate influences from rock, funk, and soul. Led by guitarist/vocalist Gugun, Gugun & Blues Shelter has released two albums under the Bluesbug moniker "Get The Bug" (2004) and “Turn it On” (2007) that has been gaining praises from music critics and fans alike.
”Turn It On” was voted as one of the best Indonesian album in 2007 by Rolling Stone Indonesia Magazine and Gugun was noted as one of the most promising local guitar player by the same maga-zine. In the same year, Indonesia's Trax Magazine also voted Gugun as the best guitar player in South East Asia. Gugun Blues Shelter is not only drew the attentions of local music lover only.
The band also received attentions from European fans, thanks for years of playing for expatriate fans during its pub-playing days. As the result, Gugun Blues Shelter was participated in Belfast Big River Blues and Jazz Festival 2008 and played several dates in a four-weeks UK tour at cities like Burnley, Scarborough, and Crewe. Due to the good receptions, the tour was extended to other cities like Leeds, Oxford, York, Rotherham, and culminated in another festival, ”Colne Great British R n' B Festival” at the Manchester outskirt.
In Asia, recently Gugun Blues Shelter played several dates in Malaysia in 2008, participated in Singapore Art Festival at the same year, as well as in Indonesia's big festivals such as Java Jazz Festival and JakJazz Festival.
Recently, Gugun & Blues Shelter embarked another European invasion by participated in Skegness Rock and Blues Festival and finished recording another new album, titled “Set My Soul On Fire”.
Basa-Basi
Gugun Blues Shelter Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Jika harus berbasa-basi
Yang kumau kepastian
Dari dulu hingga sekarang, em
Setiap hari kulihat TV
Banyak orang berbasa-basi
Entah mengapa ini terjadi
Oh, mo
Oh, no
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Aw
Yeah
Apa jadinya negri ini
Jika harus berbasa-basi
Yang kumau kepastian
Dari dulu hingga sekarang, eh
Ah
Setiap hari kulihat TV
Banyak orang berbasa-basi
Entah mengapa ini terjadi
Mungkin hidup harus begini, yeah, yeah, yeah
Aw
Aw
Mmm
The song "Basa-Basi" by Gugun Blues Shelter is a reflective commentary on the current state of affairs in Indonesia. The lyrics express the frustration and disappointment in a country where people are compelled to engage in small talk and superficial communication instead of getting down to business and finding concrete solutions to problems. The artist wonders how the country can make progress if people are always sugarcoating their words and actions instead of being direct and honest.
The repetition of the line "Apa jadinya negri ini jika harus berbasa-basi" which translates to "What will become of this nation if it has to engage in small talk" emphasizes the gravity of the issue at hand. The artist longs for straightforwardness and clarity in communications, as the uncertainty that arises from "berbasa-basi" or small talk only exacerbates the problems Indonesia is facing. The song's message is that only with true honesty and directness can Indonesia hope to overcome its challenges.
In singing about what he perceives as a lack of progress or transparency and a surfeit of small talk in contemporary Indonesian society, Gugun Blues Shelter underscores the importance of frank, open communication in moving the country forward.
Line by Line Meaning
Apa jadinya negri ini
What would happen to this country
Jika harus berbasa-basi
If we have to beat around the bush
Yang kumau kepastian
What I want is certainty
Dari dulu hingga sekarang, em
From the past until now, yeah
Setiap hari kulihat TV
Everyday I watch TV
Banyak orang berbasa-basi
Many people are beating around the bush
Entah mengapa ini terjadi
I don't know why this is happening
Mungkin hidup harus begini, yeah
Maybe life has to be like this, yeah
Oh, mo
Oh, I don't know
Oh, no
Oh, no
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Aw
Aw
Ah
Ah
Mmm
Mmm
Writer(s): Gugun
Contributed by Charlotte Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.