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JAKARTA - INDONESIAN President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has revealed his artistic side by launching a music album.
Although he did not sing all the songs, he picked a team of popular stars to sing them at a gala concert attended by the big names in Indonesia's music industry at Pekan Raya Jakarta hall on Sunday.
His 60-minute compact disc entitled Rinduku Pada Mu (My Longing for You) contains 10 songs, mainly ballads based on peace, love and friendship.
Among the big names in the music industry who sang the songs were Ebiet G. Ade, Widi Mulia, Dharma Oratmangun, Gee Foregia and rock group Kerispatih.
Speaking at the launch, President Yudhoyono said: 'Music is my hobby, just like fishing, horse riding and mountain climbing are the favourite pastimes of other leaders.
'All the songs in this album were written in between breaks in my hectic schedule as I pondered about life and about the problems that this country is facing.'
He also penned poems which he kept in his private journal and some of which became lyrics in his music.
The title track, Rinduku Pada Mu, which he wrote in April last year, was written just two years after he became president. At that time, he had to deal with a string of natural disasters in the country.
Another song which he wrote in Sydney after attending the Apec meeting last month is Mengarungi Keberkahan Tuhan (Seeking God's Blessings), which was his prayer to the Almighty for divine guidance.
The President told the gathering that he decided to produce the album at the suggestion of his friends and to set the pace for other Indonesians to produce creative works.
Dr Yudhoyono, who has been playing guitar and keyboard since his school days, also applied for his works to be registered under Indonesia's intellectual property rights law and for membership of Pappri, the Indonesian songwriters association.
Four members of his band during his teenage years in Pachitan, East Java, were also at the concert, where copies of the album were given to more than 1,000 guests.
Presidential spokesman Andi Mallarangeng told The Straits Times that the CDs would be available in the market soon.
'We plan to give away the proceeds from the sale of the CDs to charity,' he added.
Critics of the President thought the launch may have something to do with the 2009 presidential election.
Some recalled that, in the run-up to the 2004 presidential election, Dr Yudhoyono sang at his election rallies while his rivals General Wiranto and Dr Amien Rais each produced CDs of Indonesian and Javanese songs respectively to endear themselves to voters.
Legislator Alvin Lie said: 'All these years, we have never been told that the President has this passion for music.Why the sudden interest in cutting an album? It is definitely part of his campaign for 2009.'
But Dr Andi responded: 'Critics may say what they like, but the President produced the album without any agenda behind it. It is purely his interest in music.'
salim@sph.com.sg
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