Medan, Indonesia – On a blisteringly sizzling and thundery day within the metropolis of Medan, followers peeled off their T-shirts and hoisted one another up onto shoulders to get a greater view of one among Indonesia’s most well-known rock bands.
“Don’t forget to spread the virus of peace across Indonesia” Slank’s frontman and lead vocalist, Akhadi Wira Satriaji, higher referred to as Kaka, screamed to the hundreds of people that had come all the way down to Istana Maimun, the palace of the Sultanate of Deli, to rock out with their favorite band.
The gang, referred to as “Slankers”, roared their approval and grabbed selfies with their idol, as Kaka crouched close to the sting of the stage, shaking palms and bumping fists with thrilled followers.
However whereas the ambiance was electrical, Slank had not come to Medan on Indonesia’s western island of Sumatra, simply to placed on a very good present.
In Indonesia, there’s a custom of presidential and vice presidential candidates enlisting fashionable musicians of their campaigns in an try to spice up their electability.
“Political elites and political parties have actually been using artists to gain support or votes for a 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 it is effective or not is rather difficult to measure unless you want to wait until the election results come out. Even then, it is difficult to know for sure whether a candidate’s victory was the result of votes from a supporting artist’s fans or not. Because voting is secret. So who knows?”
The Slank gig was organised at the side of a go to to the town by presidential hopeful and former governor of Central Java, Ganjar Pranowo, and his operating mate Mahfud MD, the previous coordinating minister for politics, authorized and safety affairs.
A pure match
To some supporters, the live performance was the right mixture of music and politics.
Johnny and Dian, each building staff, informed Al Jazeera that they have been lifelong Slankers and fervent supporters of Ganjar.
“We like their songs because they are easy to listen to and understand, and they appeal to young people,” 30-year-old Johnny stated. “Slank also often come to Medan to perform and we also go to see them.”
Dian, additionally 30, added that he appreciated Slank as a result of they “sing from the heart” and that he would vote for Ganjar and his occasion, the Indonesian Democratic Celebration of Wrestle (PDI-P), as a result of Slank supported them.
For Dian, the band and the candidates are a pure match. He famous Slank was thinking about social justice, whereas the PDI-P, a secular-nationalist occasion, had historically been affiliated with the pursuits and rights of staff throughout Indonesia.
“Ganjar will work for the people and will make changes for the Indonesian populace. He supports grassroots workers more than other candidates,” Dian stated.
Slank was based in 1983 by a bunch of then-teenagers in Jakarta and takes its identify from the time period “slange’an” which suggests “free men” in Betawi, the language of the Betawi ethnic group within the capital.
Slank has additionally lengthy been recognized for the political nature of a lot of its songs and lent its assist to present Indonesian President Joko Widodo, popularly referred to as Jokowi, when he ran for the presidency in 2014 and 2019 on a PDI-P ticket.
Now that Ganjar is the PDI-P presidential candidate (Jokowi has served the utmost two phrases in workplace), Slank can be backing him forward of the presidential election on February 14.
“They want to build a perception among the public that they will be left behind or ‘not cool’ if they don’t support the PDI-P and Ganjar [by saying], ‘See, Slank support him, why wouldn’t everyone else?’” lecturer Saefullah stated of the alliance.
Additionally within the crowd on the live performance have been market-sellers 34-year-old Ratna and 28-year-old Lisa who stated that that they had come to the occasion to assist Ganjar who they praised for being “an intellectual candidate”.
Amongst his election guarantees, Ganjar has stated will enhance Indonesians’ work life, together with elevating salaries, paying off farmers’ money owed and eliminating the corruption and nepotism which have lengthy plagued the job market in Indonesia.
He has additionally pledged to distribute social help extra evenly and broadly throughout the archipelago of 278 million individuals.
“The cost of living is rising in Indonesia and essentials are becoming more expensive,” Ratna stated. “Rice and cooking oil are more expensive now while salaries are still low. We want salaries to be reasonable, which is why we support Ganjar.”
No ensures
Nevertheless, not everybody within the crowd was satisfied.
Mulia, a 20-year-old communications pupil on the State Islamic College of North Sumatra, informed Al Jazeera that he had come to the live performance to see Slank however that he had but to determine who to vote for.
“Maybe I will choose Ganjar. It seems like he is close to young people and he might do more for the youth of Indonesia if he is elected,” he stated.
“It depends how I feel when I see him. If I like him, then I’ll vote for him.”
Ganjar, himself, made solely a quick look on the live performance.
Given a conventional Sumatran welcome dance, he made his method via the gang, a flower garland round his neck, greeting supporters who screamed and grasped his palms whereas taking selfies on their telephones.
However, whereas Ganjar stood alongside Kaka and clapped enthusiastically to the music, he didn’t tackle the gang and shortly left for an additional occasion with operating mate Mahfud.
Different candidates are additionally hoping the facility of celeb interprets into votes.
Former Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto and operating mate Gibran Rakabuming Raka, who can be Jokowi’s oldest son and the present mayor of the town of Surakarta or Solo, have been endorsed by 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 the previous Governor of Jakarta Anies Baswedan and the deputy speaker of the Individuals’s Consultant Council, Muhaimin Iskandar.
‘Slank U’
Again at Istana Maimun, 19-year-old Lufti and his 5 buddies have been waving a flag bearing Slank’s brand, and stated that they have been a mixture of Prabowo and Anies voters and had no intentions of voting for Ganjar.
“We are hardcore Slankers because their songs are amazing and so fun to listen to,” Lufti stated.
“I won’t vote for Ganjar because Prabowo is my idol,” he added. “I will always choose Prabowo because he has vowed to keep the country safe and guard our national interests.”
Tio, carrying a Slank-themed T-shirt embossed with the phrases “Slank U”, was on the live performance together with his spouse Cindy.
They stated they have been there “to see Slank first and Ganjar second”.
“I love Slank because they are such creative musicians and they preach a message of peace,” the 20-year-old entrepreneur informed Al Jazeera.
“They make their songs for the people and they always supported Jokowi when he was running for office,” Tio stated of his favorite band.
However Tio’s assist additionally highlights the potential threat politicians face once they search endorsements from rock bands.
“I will vote for Ganjar now because of Slank’s endorsement,” Tio stated. “But if they decided to support another candidate like Prabowo, then I would follow Slank and support Prabowo too.”