Rewind album: Sarjana Muds, by Iwan Fals (1981)

Sarjana Muda
Iwan Fals
Musica

Alongside author Pramoedya Ananta Toer and filmmaker Garin Nugroho, musician Iwan Fals is one of the most influential Indonesian artists of the post-war era. And much like the late writer, Fals is a dedicated social activist whose lyrics and music exist not just to entertain, but also raise awareness.

That he recently recorded a protest song in support of the Palestinian people as they face daily onslaughts from the Israeli military only goes to show that he continues to remain relevant as a musician with a message.

Fals has long been compared with American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan, especially when it comes to the marriage of protest and music (not to mention his embrace of rock, folk and country), but his lyrical content, particularly on this debut album from 1981, is firmly rooted in the trials and tribulations of ordinary Indonesians - or rakyat kecil. And also unlike Dylan, Fals has never been accused of being an opportunist. He's always been a man of the people.

Sarjana Muda was released at the height of former Indonesian strongman Suharto's "New Order" regime, when the singer was just 20 years old. The then-president had ruled for well over a decade, and would remain in power until a student movement forced him to resign in 1998; it is his draconian leadership that is the focus of many of Fals' songs.

Given the dictator's tendency to finish off his opponents with impunity, Fals' message had to be subtle. The opening title track offers a good indication of his artistic sensibilities, with the sounds of the streets in the background and its strained melancholy. The song is about a young, educated boy unable to find work, and it ends with a whispered maaf ibu ("sorry mother"). The high and low strings, combined with Fals' acoustic guitar and soft piano melodies, make for an arresting, and startling, debut.