Born on the 14th March 1965, as a teenager she formed the band Monsoon, and created a fusion of Western and Indian pop styles. She married Steve Coe, who became the band's producer, and along with Martin Smith, the band became a trio. They made a single album, Third Eye, in 1982, from which they had a surprise hit single "Ever So Lonely". However, resenting pressure from their record company over musical direction, Monsoon as a band dissolved and Coe and Smith set about promoting Chandra as a solo artist on an independent label.
Chandra went on to release a number of albums in the 1980s, experimenting with her voice as an instrument. In the 1990s she released three albums on Peter Gabriel's Real World label, although Martin Smith ceased to be actively involved.
In 1996 she provided vocals for a cover of Prodigy's hit "Smack My Bitch Up". In 2002 she performed the song "Breath of Life" with Howard Shore for the Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers soundtrack.
She is no longer able to record, having developed "burned mouth syndrome" in 2010, which makes speech and singing so painful that she is effectively mute.
Prema Shanti Dharma Satya
Sheila Chandra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
manusia pancasila
satyaaaaa ku kuudarmakan
darmaaaaku ku baktikan
agar jayaaa indonesia
indonesia.tanah airku
kami jadi pandumu
The lyrics of Prema, Shanti, Dharma, Satya contain a mixture of Indonesian and Sanskrit phrases that translate to "We are the leaders of Indonesia, human beings who embody the Pancasila principles. I consume truth and devote myself to virtue, all for the prosperity of Indonesia - my homeland. We are the guides." Sheila Chandra's song is a tribute to the Indonesian people and their rich cultural heritage, as well as a recognition of the country's struggles for independence and sovereignty.
The opening lines "kami pramuka indonesia, manusia pancasila" refer to the Indonesian Youth Scouts and the Pancasila, Indonesia's national philosophy that emphasizes unity, humanity, social justice, democracy, and belief in one God. The next lines "satyaaaaa ku kuudarmakan, darmaaaaku ku baktikan" mean "I consume truth and devote myself to virtue" and highlight the importance of honesty and righteousness in Indonesian culture. The final lines "agar jayaaa indonesia, indonesia.tanah airku, kami jadi pandumu" translate to "All for the prosperity of Indonesia - my homeland. We are the guides" and express a sense of national pride and responsibility towards the development of Indonesia.
Line by Line Meaning
kami pramuka indonesia
We, the scout of Indonesia, are here to serve our nation.
manusia pancasila
We, as citizens of Indonesia, uphold and embody the values of Pancasila.
satyaaaaa ku kuudarmakan
I devote myself to truth and live my life in its pursuit.
darmaaaaku ku baktikan
I dedicate myself to righteousness, to act with moral integrity and compassion towards others.
agar jayaaa indonesia
So that Indonesia may prosper and succeed, we work towards its collective growth and progress.
indonesia.tanah airku
Indonesia, my homeland, where my heart and soul resides.
kami jadi pandumu
We will be your guides, your support and your leaders in building a better Indonesia.
Contributed by Madelyn O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
jaime chromosomeburning
"her attention span is incredible, she has a beautiful mind and voice and heart."
Sheila Ber
Very beautiful tune.
Fabrizio Lazzarini
Bellissimo pezzo, ballato tante volte alla mecca 30 anni fa
Legendar
Unrivalled being.
Cris Zarate
Ohm Shanti.
Cris Zarate
Preema Shanti Dharma satya
yogi alessandro
aum sehr schön aum......
Ikki Piggy
Did it take her long to remember the lyrics?