An Indonesian band that mixes Arabic music with dangdut

Sixty-year-old singer Rein Yamayen performs in front of thousands of young Indonesians to the beat of a joyful tune dealing with the danger of nuclear bombs, as part of a festival in the capital, Jakarta, according to Agence France-Presse.
The singer, who has a sweet voice, is accompanied by female musicians from the “Nasida Raya” band, who wear headscarves and wear black and silver dresses, playing bongos, violins, mandolins, bamboo flutes and tambourines.
Among the phrases contained in the song “Boom Nuclear” she performs: “Oh, damned inventor of the atomic bomb, why do you call for the Day of Judgment?” Young fans of the singer dance to the tunes of this song, shouting encouragement to her, calling her “Mom!”
The group, which was established 47 years ago, was concerned with chanting and recitation, while it now includes dozens of female musicians who mix Arab musical heritage and popular Indonesian dangdut music, which was often considered unfashionable. Their popular songs, which mix humor with serious topics such as justice or human rights, have attracted a younger generation looking for joy.
Known for its entertaining songs, the band boosted its popularity, taking advantage of the resurgence in the Indonesian music scene. The band’s songs are full of metaphors and similes, describing, for example, people who excel in seduction as “low bats.”
“This is the way young people communicate now, and it works for us,” says Rin Yamayen. But more importantly, their circulation of sarcastic memes is an indication that the ideas expressed in our songs are convincing. And she continued, “I am grateful that the band is still loved by the young group, despite the fact that the majority of its members are advanced in age, and that the music we offer appeals to them.”
Musical tastes are evolving in Indonesia; In addition to popular Western songs, Indonesians are increasingly liking music that intertwines a traditional genre such as dangdut, as well as songs in the Javanese language and reggae music sung in dialects from eastern Indonesia. This trend makes Nasida Ria’s work more modern than ever, according to music journalist Shindo Albito.