BENJAMIN S, ROSSY & SI GOGO
"Indehoi"
Band: "Melodi Ria"
Conductor: Rachman A.
The Cover: Postcards of the 60's depicting the modern Jakarta always show the same spot: Hotel Indonesia and the nearby Jalan Thamrin.
At present day this area is dwarfed by new much higher buildings that sprang up all over the city.
In front of Hotel Indonesia are standing: Benjamin S, dressed more or less like a schoolboy, and Rossy, I think from the girls singer group Rita, Nita & Rossy.
Benjamin S. ( Benjamin Sueb ) became a comedian, a burlesque actor and kind of Jakarta folk hero.
It is not the music that counts first, but the lyrics in Jakarta dialect. It will be more apreciated by "Betawi" people who understand the language.
( "Betawi" is a nickname for Jakarta )
I will try to make a translation of the songtitles.
The songs are in "Betawi" dialect, some words are unclear to me.
The title of the record is: " Indehoi " which means: having a good time.
Indehoi is from the Dutch phrase "In het hooi" ( In the hay ). Those old day farmers-boys played and fooled around in the hay, which was stacked very high, out of sight from their parents, even more fun when some farmer's girls joined in.
"Si Neneng" - Neneng - Is about his fiancee "don't care she is dumb and ugly"
"Taisennye" - The song goes: I f you are the flower - I'll be the honey bee etc. etc. the song goes on like this. The duck-like voice is Si Gogo an electronic gimmick which the 50 and 60's folks were carazy about.
"Daag Say" is about modern life, a scooter, girls in mini dress, going "naar boven" which means a weekend trip to the cooler high grounds, while papa is busy with his new wife,
"Ngundang" He will marry soon, he praying to get financial contributions from the guests.
"Masih Untung" Still lucky or: lucky escape? Has the song a double meaning?
The song "Nyai Dasima" is an old story from the "Opera Stamboel" a open-air street theatre of more than 100 years ago.
There one could see all kind of tales from the east, but also "Romeo and Juliet" and "Little Red Riding Hood" altered more ore less to suit the taste of the audience. These plays were attended by people of all races, except the high class people who preferred going to the genuine opera like in Milan and other big cities in Europe.
"A'de Deeh" - Old and young are much the same when in romantic mood
"Apa Boleh Buat" - Why Worry - He promised to take his girlfriend to the cinema at payday, but after paying off his debts nothing is left so he has to sell his pants to get money for the cinema.
The songs are difficult to translate , I can just a little understand some words and phrases and where's the song about, but maybe miss the underlying
gag at he end.
Si Neneng - ( Rachman A. ) Benyamin S.
Taisennye - ( Benyamin S. ) Benyamin S. & Si Gogo
Daag Say - ( Djoko S. ) Rossy
Ngundang - ( Benyamin S. ) Benyamin S.
Masih Untung - ( Benyamin S. ) Rossy
Nyai Dasime - ( Maruti - Rachman A. ) Rossy
Ade Deh - ( Rachman A. ) Si Gogo
Apa Boleh Buat - ( Benyamin S. ) Benyamin S.
