Fitri, Mataram – Some dangdut songs have gone too far, according to the West Nusa Tenggara Broadcasting Commission, which on Thursday announced a ban on 10 songs with "pornographic" lyrics.
Dangdut diva Julia Perez's "Jupe Paling Suka 69" ("Jupe Likes 69 Best"), for example, is delivered in an erotic voice with lustful sighs and emphasis on lyrics which portray intimate relations and the singer's preferred mode of sexual intercourse, said Badrun A.M., the head of the commission known as KPID.
The song, along with others such as "Maaf Kamu Hamil Duluan" ("Sorry I Got You Pregnant") by Ageng Kiwi, "Hamil Duluan" ("Accidentally Pregnant") by Tuty Wibowo and "Apa Aja Boleh" ("Anything Goes") by Della Puspita, have been banned from being aired on radio and television in the province.
Stations which broadcast any of the banned songs may be reprimanded and could face a reduction in permitted broadcasting hours or even loss of their license.
The KPID took two weeks to examine 300 of the most popular dangdut songs after receiving a complaint from a group of citizens which it said included academics and cultural scientists from the province.
"In principle we do not wish to curb the creativity of anyone's art, but the KPID also wishes to protect the public from the negative impacts of listening to these songs. There's the potential for children and teenagers to copy what they hear," Badrun insisted.
He also said he feared that if the songs became too popular, the allegedly pornographic actions they portray might become "commonplace."
More vulgar still, according to Badrun, was "Mobil Bergoyang" ("Rocking Car") by Lia M.J. and Asep Rumpi, which he said promoted sex outside of marriage and detailed sex positions.
Singer Minawati Dewi's "Wanita Lubang Buaya" ("A Woman's Crocodile Hole") and Rya Sakila's "Ada Yang Panjang" ("Here's Something Long"), Badrun added, were perhaps the worst as they made specific reference to genitalia.
"This is very vulgar, and completely inappropriate to be heard by our community. Not to mention 'Mucikari Cinta' ['Pimping Love'], which tells the story of a husband who sells his wife as a prostitute – this does not represent our Eastern culture," he said.
An angry Perez took to Twitter on Thursday to complain about the ban. "Call the Indonesian Record Museum, I'm the Queen of Bans!!" said one tweet. Another said: "It should be the 'Apple Traders' that are banned!," referring to corrupt politicians who ask for "apples," a code for money.