He was popular for his gritty-witty ballads accentuated on life of Indonesia's marginalized groups or political satire on the troubled Indonesian social/political scene under Soeharto. His socially aware hit-songs including: "Oemar Bakri" tells about teacher, "Lonteku" is a love story between a criminal and a prostitute, and "Wakil Rakyat" is about members of parliament.
After Reformasi movement on 1997 which leads to democratisation he was a kind of losing the edge for political satire, but his mature musical experience keeps him on Indonesian pop chart with inward-looking songs and songs about personal relationships.
17 Juli 1996
Iwan Fals Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Anjing herder sampai anjing peking
Dar der dor otak digedor
Dengan pelor hati di teror
Ngeles !...
Sas sis sus dengar desas desus
Hang heng hong berita bohong
Kongkalikong sindikat king kong
Cuek aje !...
Kwek kwek kwek suara bebek
Merem melek denger geledek
Dalam benteng diadu gambreng
Bandar judi tambah mentereng
Untung banyak do’i !...
Sengkuni kilik sana sini
Kurawa dan Pandawa rugi
Dewa dewa kerjanya berpesta
Sambil nyogok bangsa manusia
Hancur !...
Hak asasi hidup disini
Tinggal kata tinggal piagam
Bukan keki bukan bukan patah hati
Sebab hukum berwajah muram
Busyet dah !...
...Habis !...
The lyrics of "17 Juli 1996" by Iwan Fals describe the chaotic and corrupt political and social situation in Indonesia during the late 1990s. The first verse talks about dogs barking and how it reflects the chaos and violence taking place in the country. The sound of gunshots can be heard as the singer's heart is full of terror due to the unrest in the area. The phrase "Ngeles" means someone trying to avoid or escape from a difficult situation, which could be a commentary on the government officials' lack of accountability for their actions.
The second verse speaks about the spread of false rumors and many cases that are causing discomfort and pain to the people. The media are spreading lies, and there are corrupt syndicates, which could be interpreted as the singer's disappointment with the media and government officials' lack of transparency. The word "cuek aje" means "just being indifferent," which could imply that people have become apathetic and numb to all the chaos happening around them.
The third verse talks about the illegal gambling dens and the growing gambler population. It could also be a metaphor for the corrupt political system, where the wealthy and powerful continue to get richer, while the common people continue to suffer. The words "Untung banyak doi" means "they are making a lot of profit," which highlights the greed and selfishness of those who run illegal businesses.
Line by Line Meaning
Gonjang ganjing gonggongan anjing
There's a commotion and uproar caused by barking dogs
Anjing herder sampai anjing peking
All types of dogs, from herders to Pekingese, are involved
Dar der dor otak digedor
Minds are being pounded and shaken by loud noises
Dengan pelor hati di teror
Hearts are being threatened with bullets
Ngeles !...
People are looking for a way out of this dangerous situation
Sas sis sus dengar desas desus
Whispers of rumors and gossip are heard everywhere
Banyak kasus bikin sakit usus
Numerous cases and scandals are causing stomachaches
Hang heng hong berita bohong
False news is being spread through various media
Kongkalikong sindikat king kong
There are secret and criminal groups involved in this chaos
Cuek aje !...
People are indifferent and don't care much about the situation
Kwek kwek kwek suara bebek
Amidst the chaos, the sound of a duck is heard
Merem melek denger geledek
People are half asleep and half awake, wondering what that sound is
Dalam benteng diadu gambreng
Inside the fortress, there's a chaotic scene
Bandar judi tambah mentereng
Gambling establishments are becoming more prominent
Untung banyak doi !...
Those involved in gambling are making a lot of profit
Sengkuni kilik sana sini
Like Sengkuni in the Mahabharata, people are betraying each other
Kurawa dan Pandawa rugi
Both sides are losing in this conflict
Dewa dewa kerjanya berpesta
The gods are feasting and celebrating, while humans suffer
Sambil nyogok bangsa manusia
Using bribery, they manipulate the human race
Hancur !...
Everything is falling apart and in ruins
Hak asasi hidup disini
The right to live is at stake here
Tinggal kata tinggal piagam
All that's left are mere words and documents
Bukan keki bukan bukan patah hati
This is not just annoyance or heartbreak
Sebab hukum berwajah muram
Because the law is grim and hopeless
Busyet dah !...
The situation is really intense and alarming
Habis !...
It's all over, there's nothing left
Contributed by Keira I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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on Mungkin
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