Medan, Indonesia – On a blisteringly sizzling and blustery day within the metropolis of Medan, followers peeled off their shirts and climbed onto their shoulders to get a greater have a look at one in all Indonesia's most well-known rock bands.
“Don't neglect to unfold the virus of peace all through Indonesia” The frontman of Slank and vocalist, Akhadi Wira Satriaji, higher often called Kakà, shouted to the hundreds of people that had come to Istana Maimun, the palace of the Sultanate of Delhi. , to rock out along with his favourite band.
The gang, often called 'Slankers', roared their approval and snapped selfies with their idol, as Kaka huddled close to the sting of the stage, shaking palms and bumping fists with excited followers.
However whereas the ambiance was electrical, Slank hadn't come to Medan on Indonesia's western Sumatra island simply to placed on a very good present.
In Indonesia, there’s a custom of presidential and vice-presidential candidates utilizing widespread musicians of their campaigns in an try to spice up their election.
“Political elites and political events have actually used artists to realize assist or votes for a very long time,” stated Hikmawan “Indra” Saefullah, who performed guitar within the Indonesian indie band Alone at Final from 2002 to 2013 and is a lecturer in Indonesian. Research on the College of New England.
“Whether or not it’s efficient or not is fairly troublesome to measure, until you wish to wait till the election outcomes come out. Even then, it’s troublesome to know for certain whether or not a candidate's victory was the results of fan votes of a supporting artist or not. As a result of the vote is secret. So who is aware of?”
Slank's live performance was organized together with a go to to the town by the presidential candidate and former governor of Central Java, Ganjar Pranowo, and his associate Mahfud MD, the previous coordinating minister for politics, authorized affairs and safety.
A pure match
For some supporters, the live performance was the right mixture of music and politics.
Johnny and Dian, each building employees, informed Al Jazeera that they have been lifelong Slankers and ardent supporters of Ganjar.
“We like their songs as a result of they’re straightforward to take heed to and perceive, and enchantment to younger individuals,” stated 30-year-old Johnny. “Slank additionally usually involves Medan to carry out and we additionally go to see them.
Dian, additionally 30, added that he likes Slank as a result of they “sing from the guts” and that he’ll vote for Ganjar and his celebration, the Indonesian Democratic Social gathering of Battle (PDI-P), as a result of Slank helps them.
For Dian, the band and the candidates are a pure match. He famous that Slank was desirous about social justice, whereas the PDI-P, a secular nationalist celebration, was historically affiliated with the pursuits and rights of employees in Indonesia.
“Ganjar will work for the individuals and make modifications for the Indonesian individuals. He helps grassroots employees greater than different candidates,” stated Dian.
Slank was based in 1983 by a gaggle of youngsters then in Jakarta and takes its identify from the time period “slange'an” which implies “free males” in Betawi, the language of the Betawi ethnic group within the capital.
Slank has additionally lengthy been recognized for the political nature of lots of his songs and has given his assist to present Indonesian President Joko Widodo, popularly often called Jokowi, when he ran for the presidency in 2014 and 2019 on a PDI ticket. -P.
Now that Ganjar is the PDI-P presidential candidate (Jokowi has served the utmost two phrases in workplace), Slank is supporting him even earlier than the presidential election on February 14.
“They wish to construct a notion among the many public that they are going to be left behind or 'not cool' in the event that they don't assist the PDI-P and Ganjar.” [by saying]”You see, Slank helps it, why not everybody else?” Professor Saefullah stated of the alliance.
Additionally within the crowd on the live performance have been market distributors Ratna, 34, and Lisa, 28, who stated they’d come to the occasion to assist Ganjar who they praised for being “an mental candidate”.
Amongst his election guarantees, Ganjar stated he would enhance Indonesian working life, together with elevating wages, paying off farmers' money owed and eliminating corruption and nepotism. alongside the labor market in Indonesia.
He additionally promised to distribute social help extra evenly and extensively within the archipelago of 278 million individuals.
“The price of residing is rising in Indonesia and necessities have gotten costlier,” Ratna stated. “Rice and cooking oil are costlier now whereas wages are nonetheless low. We would like wages to be cheap, that's why we assist Ganjar.”
No assure
Nevertheless, not everybody within the crowd was satisfied.
Mulia, a 20-year-old communications scholar on the Islamic State College of North Sumatra, informed Al Jazeera that he had come to the live performance to see Slank, however that he had not but determined which vote to vote for.
“Perhaps I’ll select Ganjar. He appears to be near the youth and he may do extra for the youth of Indonesia if he’s elected,” he stated.
“It depends upon how I really feel once I see him. If I like him, then I’ll vote for him.”
Ganjar, himself, made solely a short look on the live performance.
After a conventional Sumatran welcome dance, he made his means by way of the group, a garland of flowers round his neck, waving to supporters who shouted and held palms as they took selfies on their telephones.
However, whereas Ganjar stood subsequent to Kakà and enthusiastically clapped to the music, he didn’t tackle the group and shortly left for an additional occasion with operating mate Mahfud.
Different candidates additionally hope that celeb energy interprets into votes.
Former Protection Minister Prabowo Subianto and his associate Gibran Rakabuming Raka, who can be the eldest son of Jokowi and the present mayor of the town of Surakarta or Solo, have been endorsed by the Indonesian rock band Dewa 19.
In the meantime, Rhoma Irama, the so-called “King of Dangdut”, a type of Indonesian people music, has thrown his assist behind former Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan and Individuals's Consultant Council Vice President Muhaimin Iskandar.
'Slim U'
Again at Istana Maimun, 19-year-old Lufti and his 5 buddies waved a flag with the Slank emblem, and stated they have been a mixture of Prabowo and Anies voters and had no intention of voting for Ganjar.
“We’re hardcore Slankers as a result of their songs are superb and so enjoyable to take heed to,” stated Lufti.
“I can’t vote for Ganjar as a result of Prabowo is my idol,” he added. “We nonetheless selected Prabowo as a result of he promised to maintain the nation protected and take care of our nationwide pursuits.”
Tio, who was sporting a Slank-themed T-shirt emblazoned with the phrases “Slank U,” was on the live performance along with his spouse Cindy.
They stated they have been there “to see Slank first and Ganjar second”.
“I like Slank as a result of they’re such artistic musicians they usually preach a message of peace,” the 20-year-old entrepreneur informed Al Jazeera.
“They do their songs for the individuals they usually at all times supported Jokowi when he was operating for workplace,” Tio stated of his favourite group.
However Tio's assist additionally highlights the potential threat politicians face when in search of endorsements from rock bands.
“I'm voting for Ganjar now due to Slank's endorsement,” Tio stated. “But when they determined to assist one other candidate like Prabowo, then I’ll comply with Slank and assist Prabowo as properly.
