Iwan Fals — The Great Javanese Hero

Today, we will talk about an Indonesian singer, guitarist, songwriter, and activist, Iwan Fals, who “chose life and did things with a light heart." His unparalleled contribution to Indonesian music, youth culture, and collective social conscience through his music and lyrics has earned him the title “the Voice of the People.” This is not surprising if you consider that he is of Javanese descent, which is the largest ethnic group in the region. As a result, he has historically dominated the social, political, and cultural landscapes and narratives of Indonesia and Southeast Asia as well.

In 2002, Time called him a ‘Great Asian Hero.’ It was indeed a reflection of his uncanny ability to capture the aspirations, frustrations, and dreams of the common Indonesian people. In this article, we embark on a journey against the arrow of time–to the past–and witness the ascension of Iwan Fals from his busking days to the throne of the king in the Indonesian pop scene and eventually becoming the pride of the nation.

Early Life and Music

Virgiawan Listanto was born in Jakarta on September 3, 1961, and later became ‘Iwan Fals,’ as the son of Haryoso (a soldier) and Lies Suudijah. If we were to stop our time machine in Iwan's earlier years, we would bet our money on him becoming a world-class athlete. Iwan Fals is well–trained in multiple styles of martial arts, such as karate, silat, and judo, and also played sports like football, basketball, and volleyball. In fact, he was the 4th Place Winner of National Karate in 1989.

Honing the spirit during these years, Iwan fought his whole life, but it was the art of music that was his true weapon. His musical career began at school in Bandung, where he started busking. Iwan’s friends usually covered songs by the English rock band  Rolling Stones, however, Iwan was more willing to play his own songs. Adhering to his principle of “looking at life simply”, he composed funny songs with humorous lyrics, and it made people happy.

“No matter how bad the song is…it is my own creation,” said Iwan. This principle, or sentiment, or whatever it might have been, still guides his work as a musician.

What's in a name? 

Iwan’s stage name, “Fals,” which is a shortened form of falsetto,  was actually a joke made by his former “manager” and busking companion Engkus, a motorcycle repairman and workshop owner. He told The Rolling Stones magazine that he kept this to protect himself from performing badly.

The Rise of Iwan Fals

The first group he formed was “Amburadul” while he was 18. They recorded two albums but had to disband since their released album "Perjalanan" in 1979 and the subsequent re-release in the following year was not successful.

To support himself and his family, Iwan had to keep on busking. It was 1981 when he signed to Musica Studio and recorded his first solo album, “Sarjana Muda” (Lit. “Bachelor Degree”). This album showcased Iwan’s signature country music style for the first time, unlike his previous albums. Finally, he was on his way to mainstream music of Indonesia, and his music was about to charm his countrymen. 

“Sarjana Muda” was in great demand following its release, and that resulted in Iwan being offered to sing for audiences and on TV shows. After 1987, he stepped into the world of television, and his songs, such as Oemar Bakri, were aired on TVRI, an Indonesian national public television network and one of Indonesia's two national Public Broadcasting Institutions. By this time, Iwan had stopped busking after the birth of his second child.

Songs For Social Change

What set Iwan Fals apart from his contemporaries was his ability to speak directly to the common people. His straightforward but poignant lyrics spoke of the challenges faced by ordinary Indonesians; their unfulfilled dreams and desires for a better life echoed in Iwan’s songs. Such resonance to the masses was instigated by a simple guy in glasses with his simple guitar accompaniment but emotionally charged delivery of each word. 

Take the protest song “Guru Oemar Bakrie,” for example. It portrays the life of a teacher who is poorly paid but still holds himself responsible for educating future well-paid and successful people. In Indonesia, Guru Oemar Bakrie became a very well-known character and it popularized Iwan’s name as well.

Or, 'Galang Rambu Anarki' from the 1982 album Opini established Iwan's reputation as a protest singer as well as a balladeer.  This song celebrated the happy event of the birth of his first child but also criticized rising prices. 

Political Repression and Personal Struggles

Iwan’s music was not politically conscious in his early days, his songs tackled mostly romance and mundane issues. However, as a poet and as an artist, he could not turn a blind eye to pressing issues in his country. After getting a wider audience, he started creating politically-charged music.

 In 1984, the song “Mbak Tini” (Miss Tini) was about a roadside prostitute who married a truck driver and put him under house arrest for two weeks. The problem was that the name, Miss Tini,  could also refer to first lady Tien Soeharto. Iwan’s outlaw reputation went on a rise following the arrest, many even compared him to Bob Dylan. His songs became the anthem for the anti-New Order government movement.

Iwan had been fearless, undeterred by the constant threat from the ruling regime. But in 1997, his son Galang, who had just started his own band, died from an apparent overdose on drugs. This was something that left Iwan broken, so much so that he even stopped writing and performing music. 

With the support of his family and the birth of his third child, Rayya Rambu Robbani, after a gruesome struggle with his own self, Iwan came out stronger and finally got over the loss of his son. But, he had changed a lot. His long hair and his style– all gone. The only thing that did not change was his unbreakable spirit.

Final Thoughts

Iwan Fals is a true rebel; his music and life both reflect that. Recently, he has decided to go indie. His albums can directly be purchased at the store at his Leuwinanggung home or make an order at his website. It might slow down his album sales; he is aware of that, but this is his attempt to stop his album from being pirated. 

Once every month, Iwan holds a free acoustic concert in his residence. It is a spectacular amalgamation of his fans from different eras of his forty-five-year-long career. What's more astonishing is how relevant Iwan and his music are even after more than four decades. This is a textbook example of resilience. He will undoubtedly continue to inspire social changes through his music, which has cemented his place as one of the greatest musicians in Indonesian history.