Gemilang (song)

"Gemilang"
Single by Krakatau
from the album Krakatau
Written	1985 (1985)
Released	January 1987 (1987-01)
Genre	Bubblegum pop jazz fusion
Length	4:09
Label	Bulletin
Songwriter(s)	Dwiki Dharmawan Mira Lesmana
Krakatau singles chronology
"Gemilang" (1987) "La Samba (Primadona)" (1988)

"Gemilang" (English: "Dazzling") is the song written by Indonesian filmmaker Mira Lesmana and musician Dwiki Dharmawan in 1985. It was released as a debut single by the Indonesian fusion band Krakatau in January 1987, through Bulletin.

"Gemilang" received positive reviews from critics, who praised its memorable production and deemed it a career highlight. The song is also used as an official theme song for the 2018 adventure film Run to the Beach.

Background, composition and theme

Dharmawan began writing "Gemilang" in 1985, when he was still nineteen years old. Lyrically, the song vividly unravel "youth dazzle", which brings teenagers to solve their problems and save the world.[1]

Critical reception

"Gemilang" was met with generally positive reviews from music critics.[2] Rolling Stone Indonesia placed the song at number 62 of the best Indonesian songs of all time.[3] Tertiani ZB Simanjuntak, writing for The Jakarta Post, praised "Gemilang" as "the song started it all".[4]

"Gemilang" on year-end list

Critic/Publication	List	Rank	Ref.
Rolling Stone	The 150 Best Indonesian Songs of All Time	62	[3]

Personnel

Credits adapted from album's liner notes.[5]

• Dwiki Dharmawan — keyboards
• Indra Lesmana — keyboards
• Donny Suhendra — guitar
• Pra Budidharma — bass
• Trie Utami — lead vocals, background vocals
• Gilang Ramadhan — drums

Andien version

"Gemilang"
Single by Andien
from the album Kirana
Released	2012
Recorded	2010
Genre	Pop
Label	Platinum
Songwriter(s)	Dwiki Dharmawan Mira Lesmana
Music video
"Gemilang" on YouTube

In 2010, Andien covered "Gemilang" for her fourth studio album Kirana, with an arrangement done by Nikita Dompas. Her version received generally positive reviews, including its softer and elegant arrangement.[6][7]

An accompanying music video for her version of "Gemilang" was co-directed by Candi Soeleman and uploaded to her YouTube channel on 2 July 2012. Shot outside of the University of Indonesia, the video stars Indonesian actress Christine Hakim, athlete Susi Susanti, film producer Mira Lesmana, politician Meutia Hatta and designer Anne Avantie.[8] Initially, Iwan Fals and B.J. Habibie also appear in this video, but they don't appear due to time reasons.[9] The music video won 2013 Dahsyatnya Award for Outstanding Music Video and was nominated in the Outstanding Director category for Andien and Soeleman.[10][11]

Personnel

Credits adapted from liner notes of Kirana.[12]

• Andien — vocals
• Dimawan Kusnowo Adji — cello
• Dwiki Dharmawan — original writer
• Nikita Dompas — guitar
• Rifka Rachman — bass

In popular culture

"Gemilang" appears on a 2018 Indonesian adventure film Run to the Beach, in which Indonesian boy band RAN piqued their interest for the song's cover in the film's soundtrack.[13][14]

References

1. Thohir, Erick (2020). Akhlak Untuk Negeri. Arga Tilanta. p. 175. ISBN 9786025098550.
2. "Krakatau Fusion Band Mulai Gemilang" [Krakatau Fusion Band began to dazzle]. Berita Yudha. 8 March 1987.
3. Rolling Stone 2009, 150 Lagu Indonesia Terbaik.
4. Simanjuntak 2016, Legend Lives On.
5. Krakatau (Media notes). Krakatau. Indonesia: Bulletin. 1987. Inner cover.
6. Alpito, Agustinus Shindu (23 September 2014). "5 Lagu Indonesia Lawas yang Sukses Dinyanyikan Ulang". Medcom.
7. "Menimbang Lagu Garap Ulang". Kompas. 1 February 2015.
8. "Andien: Video yang Menginspirasi". Kompas. 12 July 2012.
9. "Andien Undang Tokoh Inspiratif Jadi Model Video Klipnya". Tribun. 4 July 2012. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
10. "Minim Dana, Andien Tetap Berjaya". Kompas. 22 January 2013.
11. Rahmatullah, Syukri (21 January 2013). "Dahsyatnya Award Live di Music Okezone". Okezone.
12. Kirana (Media notes). Andien. Indonesia: Platinum. 2010. Inner cover.
13. "RAN Miris Minimnya Lagu Anak". Republika. 26 June 2018.
14. "Film Kulari ke Pantai Rilis Album Soundtrack". Medcom. 26 June 2018. Retrieved 8 July 2024.

Further reading

• Sakri, Denny (December 2009). "150 Lagu Indonesia Terbaik Sepanjang Masa". Rolling Stone Indonesia. Archived from the original on 16 March 2012.
• Simanjuntak, Tertiani ZB (14 May 2016). "In Tune: Krakatau Reunion The Legend Lives On". The Jakarta Post. Retrieved 4 December 2023.