Page 40 - Inzist Special Edition

E IPO

A SONG THAT CONNECTS THE HEARTS OF PACIFIC

The melody of the song ‘Mimpi Sedih’ has caressed the During my time in Wellington, ‘Mimpi Sedih/E Ipo’ has been
hearts of the Pacific people. It epitomizes the power and performed numerous times in varying scale of events.
magic of music that lie in its intangibility and limitlessness. Indonesian singer, Edo Kondologit, and New Zealand pride,
Rama Waipara performed it during the Symphony of
Mimpi Sedih (Sad Dream) is a much-acclaimed love song Friendship concert in Wellington in 2018 to a rapturous
composed by A. Riyanto, a renown Indonesian song writer, in reception.
the 70s. Prince Tui Te Teka, a famous New Zealand singer,
once heard the song being played by New Zealand soldiers In one of the most memorable collaboration, Glen Fredly
stationed in Singapore. It inspired him profoundly that he (Indonesia), Ellaphon Tauriki (New Zealand), Swiss (Tonga)
subsequently decided to adopt the song in Māori language and Tree Manu (Samoa) blew the audience away in the Sound
with the title ‘E Ipo’. Teka released the song in 1982 and of the Pacific concert in Auckland in 2018. More recently in
instantly became a major hit as it was the number one single 2020, I invited Dr. Share Reti, National MP and the deputy
for two weeks in New Zealand. leader of the opposition, to sing the song together which
then included in the “Friends for Good” album.
That success inspired many song writers in the Pacific to
write a version in their local languages. The first moment I It is safe to say that Mimpi Sedih has a special place in the
heard the version in local languages of Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, hearts of the Pacific people for decades now. I am glad that
Cook Islands, and Nauru was one to cherished. I have had the this lovely and peaceful song is fittingly well-known in a
great honor and pleasure to join many singers in performing region that it’s literal meaning is peaceful in character, the
various versions of the song. Pacific.

As an ambassador who is also a singer and songwriter, I
think the far-reaching exposure of ‘Mimpi Sedih’ has been
nothing short of phenomenon. The name of A. Riyanto as
composer and Indonesia as the origin country of the song
deserve greater recognition.