Rita Sugiarto and Dangdut: Indonesia’s Queen Still Rules with Goyah | EN
- HP Music
- 3 hari yang lalu
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When most Americans think of Southeast Asian music, their minds jump to K-pop or traditional gamelan. But in Indonesia—the world’s fourth-largest country—another sound dominates wedding halls, night markets, and streaming charts: dangdut.
With its pulsing hand-drum rhythms, melodramatic lyrics, and roots in Malay, Indian, and Arabic traditions, dangdut has long been the country’s most beloved popular style. It’s rowdy, emotional, and deeply communal—think of it as Indonesia’s answer to country music or reggaetón, a genre that carries both heartbreak and celebration in equal measure.
And if dangdut has a queen, her name is Rita Sugiarto.
The Queen of Dangdut
Since the 1970s, Rita has been a defining voice of Indonesian pop culture. Known for her elastic vocal runs and commanding stage presence, she became famous as a member of Rhoma Irama’s Soneta Group before launching her solo career. Over five decades later, she’s still recording, still touring, and still shaping the genre for new generations.
Her latest single, Goyah (“Unsteady”), is classic Rita: a ballad of heartbreak, sung with raw emotional intensity but framed in the infectious rhythms of dangdut. Written by Suto Pranto and arranged by Ichal Gumilang, the track has found its way to Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube—making it easier than ever for listeners outside Indonesia to dive in.
Watch the official video here: YouTube – Rita Sugiarto, Goyah
Why Dangdut Matters Globally
While dangdut has often been dismissed by Indonesian elites as “lowbrow,” the genre’s staying power lies in its relatability. The lyrics speak directly to the everyday struggles of love, betrayal, and longing, while the rhythms are built to move entire crowds.
For global listeners, dangdut offers an exciting counterpoint to the dominance of Western pop. Its tabla-like grooves feel at once familiar and fresh, drawing parallels to reggaetón’s dembow beat or the fiddle-driven twang of American honky-tonk. It’s folk music that went electric—and never stopped evolving.
Labels like Sik Asik by HP Music are now working to bring dangdut into the digital age, curating both legacy acts like Rita and younger artists such as Riri Chantika. By making playlists accessible on Spotify and Langit Musik, they’re hoping to spark a “world music” crossover moment similar to what Afrobeats has enjoyed in recent years.
Where to Start
If you’re new to dangdut, Goyah is a strong entry point. But don’t stop there. Explore live clips of Rita with full dangdut orchestras, dive into Rhoma Irama’s politically charged anthems, or check out newer acts experimenting with EDM-infused “koplo” dangdut.
A few essential links:
Final Word
In an era when world music is only a click away, dangdut deserves a seat at the global table. And there’s no better ambassador than Rita Sugiarto, who proves with Goyah that the Queen of Dangdut is still very much on her throne.
For listeners hungry for something beyond the usual pop cycles, consider this an invitation: press play, turn it up, and let dangdut move you.
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