Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Minang Folk Songs


Now, it is 1.58pm and i can't concentrate and can't do my work. My head is like dizzy and i haven't had enough sleep today. Anyway, i now would like to talk about Malay folk song. Apparently, i discovered that i now have a passion for Malay folk song, especially these two songs: "Apo Kono Eh Jang" and "Ayam Den lapeh".

The former is sung by Ally Noor & Mastura while the latter is sung by Anita Sarawak.
Now, why do i like these songs? Probably because of the uniqueness of the musics and the underlying humour hidden and intertwined between the words. Obviously, i do not understand the minang language. I can only (well, somehow) pronounce it, but i dont have any idea of its meaning. Now, let me perform simple, yet rigorous analysis of these two songs.

"Apo Kono Eh Jang" by Ally Noor & Mastura

( female )
Jang oh Jang
Mano pulak poi eh budak bertuah ni
Sonyap yo...
Siaplah jang oi...
Kobau tu tak boghi makan lai

( male )
Batu kikir jambatan bosi
Gulai udang sebelango
Cubo omak fikir dalam hati
Ayo ni bujang sudah lamo aih

( female )
Apo kono eh jang kau monong ajo
Orang ke bulan ekau di mano
Muko berpoluh apo teghaso
Carian ubek penawa duko

( female )
Poilah mandi hari dah tinggi
Jangan temonung menoman tanggo
Ke sawah kito menuai padi
Apo dikonang pekaro yang sudah

( female )
Si milah kau gilokan
Orang dah masuk meminang
Mano den lotak muko
Kondak kau jang diambik orang
Biar omak cari an lain
Ompuk orang jangan diidam

( female )
Ha... tu lah, dulu lai den koba kan
Kojo jang... kojo.
Ni.. ke kobun maleh
Ke sawah liat pulak tu

( male )
Ah.. Omak ni..
Sekolah tinggi tinggi takkan ke sawah do
Buek malu yo...

( female )
Nak kan anak orang tak payah beduit
Apolah nak jadi kau ni jang oi hai...

( male )
Abih macano mak
Badan seh ni nak domam yo ghaso eh

( female )
Dah den koba an dulu kumpo kan duit
Pinanglah copek ini kau tangguh an
Ke sawah kota mengumpo belanjo
Bekonan den si milah buek menantu

( female )
Apo lai kau sosakan
Menghaung tak ado guno
Milah kawin minggu dopan
Melopong kau jang putih mato
Jangan lai dikonang konang
Asik dikonang merano badan

( male )
Bekocak air di boting
Limau manih betaruk mudo
Bio becacak koghih dan lombing
Putih kuning den tarik juo

( female )
Kau nak apo an milah tu pulak
Jangan jang, malu omak
Kito yang susah nanti

( male )
Seh tak kiro
Seh nak an jugo milah tu mak
Apo nak jadi, jadilah

( male )
Dah di haruk setan ko budak ni
Dunio pun tak nampak layi...

( male )
Ke jelobak ke jelobu
Tuai padi tigo tangkai
Kato ombung den...
Kato ongah den...
Kato ocu den
Podih nyo hati menanggung malu
Tak mati badan menghasai... Aih

( male )
Apo kono eh jang...


This song is a (duet) conversation between a mother and his son. The mother is asking (in Minang) "son, what are you up to?". The mother is somehow sad upon knowing the fact that his son does not have a job. You see, in the old adage, having a job, even if it is an odd job, enables a person to earn some money. Then, when you have money, you can find a wife and get married. And when you don't have money, you can't get married, so the woman you're after will eventually fall to another hand and you'll regret for the rest of your life. So, the mother in this song is trying to say that get a job so that you will be happy with your dream girl.

That is, i think, the message that the song is trying to convey.

Let's have a look at the second song: "Ayam Den Lapeh" by Anita Sarawak.

Luruihlah jalan Payakumbuah Babelok jalan kayujati Dimahati indak karusuah Ayam den lapeh Oo hoi...ayam den lapeh Mandaki jalan Padang Sikek Manuruih jalan ka Biaro Dima hati indak ka maupek Awak takicuah Oo Hoi... ayam den lapeh Sikua capang sikua capeh
Saikua tabang saikua lapeh Lapehlah juo nan ka rimbo Oi lah malang juo.... Pagaruyuang jo Batusangka
Tampek bajalan urang Baso Duduak tamanuang tiok sabanta Oi takana juo Den sangko lamang nasik tuai Kironyo tatumpah kuah gulai Awak ka pasa alah usai Oi lah malang denai Oo hoi... ayam den lapeh


Honestly, i do not understand the meaning of this song at all, because this song is written and composed in Minang language. Therefore, i would appreciate it if anyone can enlighten me its meaning. However, i do enjoy this song as much as i've enjoyed other songs.

Go Minang folk songs, go!

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