THERE is much to be said about the multiplicity of music and the versatility of its roles: is it purely a hedonistic and euphoric vehicle of respite from life’s troubles, or must it be a transformative medium for the soul and a rich balm for a wounded heart?
This writer thinks there is room for both and more. Are artists who have seamlessly merged the two worlds few and far in between? This writer will not pretend to know.
Listening to the manifestation of such a union in the form of a studio album is one thing; witnessing such magic materialising before one’s ears and eyes in person is another, and that is precisely why the night of February 2 lingers in this writer’s mind.
Aptly named Pertunjukan Tutur Batin, organised by Renjana Idea, Yura Yunita’s concert at Zepp Kuala Lumpur on Thursday opened with elegant Sundanese instrumentation and the songbird’s piercing cry, echoing through the hall like a clarion call: almost signalling to the audience, “Welcome to the show; you are now entering Yura’s universe.”
Draped in hues of orange and hot pink and decked in patent red boots, the 31-year-old singer-songwriter, whose real name is Yunita Rachman, wasted no time as she made her steps to the centre of the stage with Mulai Langkahmu, an upbeat track about overcoming one’s self-doubt.
The chorus is simple: “Make your move!” The message is simpler: seize the day, because “believe it, happiness awaits”. Urgent but never forced or hasty, Yura’s bursts of energy perfectly relayed the song’s spirit as her voice interlaced with dizzying trumpet sounds.
Yura carried over the same eclectic soundscape into Bandung, an homage to her birth city and a clear testament to her love for the Sundanese culture she was raised in, the latter of which is particularly evident in its lyrics and use of instruments.
“I’m so proud that the Sundanese language could be sung beautifully even by those of you (who are) from a neighbouring country,” she wrote in an Instagram post two days ago.
Even Intuisi – an originally strings-laden masterpiece from her second album, Merakit, and one of her biggest hits to date – was given the Sundanese golden touch, both in terms of vocals and instrumentation.
The heart of the song and the buildup of emotions – from a hopeful, “love conquers all” feeling to the crushing pain of realising that, in fact, all of it is unrequited – nonetheless remained.
Somewhere in her litany of 17 songs, Yura surprised and delighted the audience with her rendition of Engkau Laksana Bulan in a tribute to the late P. Ramlee, one of the most legendary figures in Malaysia’s history of the arts.
Her take on the heartrending classic bore a bluesy hue, starting with sparse guitar before taking on a more jazzy direction with a trumpet solo and saxophone sounds.
Coming back to songs from the show’s titular album, the audience, without a doubt, had found plenty of room and space to heal in Tenang, Dunia Tipu-Tipu, Duhai Sayang, and, of course, Tutur Batin.
Tenang, said Yura, is about confronting one’s denial about not being able to move on from the past. The lyrics, however, paint the picture of a restless soul desperately seeking to turn to God in search of inner peace.
Dunia Tipu-Tipu, meanwhile, captures the feeling of finding refuge and security in a loved one in a world filled with deceit and uncertainty.
Tutur Batin, her third album’s titular song, is undoubtedly the core of this chapter of Yura’s musical journey: “Have you ever felt insecure? Have you ever been made to feel like you’re not enough?”
Yura assured the audience that there is no need to be perfect to be worthy of love, as she belted out “Akan ku rayakan apa adanya” (I’ll celebrate whatever I have, as it is).
‘Hero of my life’
Many moments during the show tugged on the audience’s heartstrings, but none were as bittersweet as Yura’s performance of Cinta dan Rahasia – one of her most well-known songs for her duet with the late R&B legend, Glenn Fredly Deviano Latuihamallo, who had mentored her and produced her self-titled debut album.
At 44, Glenn died in 2020 due to meningitis.
“He was the hero of my life,” Yura said, barely able to contain her tears. “Without him, I might not have reached this point (in my career).”
An accomplished singer-songwriter, Yura’s recent accolades include those from Anugerah Musik Indonesia last year and in 2018 for the Best Pop Female Solo Artist category through Tutur Batin and Harus Bahagia, respectively.
Her husband, Donne Maula, shares writing credits with her for the former song. The track was also produced by renowned industry player Ari Renaldi, who bagged six awards for his work on famed baritone Tulus’s Manusia album the same year.
Yura could have easily opted for another duet partner or chosen to carry Cinta dan Rahasia on her own. But she had quite literally saved a seat on the stage for Glenn; his trademark fedora, a playback of his voice, and photographs of them in the backdrop had all brought his “presence” in the hall to life.
Adding lines to the song’s interlude, Yura sang, almost in resignation: “Meskipun kau t’lah tiada/Kau tak akan pernah terganti” (“Even though you’re gone/You’ll never be replaced”).
Having grown up listening to songs like Januari, Sekali Ini Saja and Akhir Cerita Cinta, all self-penned by Glenn, this writer could not help feeling a little choked up during that particular performance.
While the stages of grief are never truly linear, life must go on; for that reason, Yura closed her show with two high-spirited songs, Hoolala and Harus Bahagia.
With lyrics that parallel the opening song, Hoolala served as the perfect ending: the show, to this writer, seemed to have come full circle as Yura sang, “You better be bold and strong enough/You better be tough and brave it out/You better be good, you better be good, yeah yeah.”
But make no mistake, this confidence isn’t always readily found: “I’m on my way to make me brave.” Yet, Yura encourages us to try anyway.
It is this writer’s view that a good singer, musician, entertainer, or anything a person in the performing arts wishes to call themselves, must also be a good storyteller.
In Yura’s case, she has proven herself to be a master of her craft. The moral of her story is clear as day: celebrate not only the good times but also the indomitable spirit of humanity that never fails to persevere through the darker moments in life. – The Vibes, February 7, 2023
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