BenGawaN SoLo

Bengawan Solo

Riwayatmu ini

Sedari dulu jadi...

Perhatian insani

Musim kemarau

Tak seberapa airmu

Dimusim hujan air..

Meluap sampai jauh

Mata airmu dari Solo

Terkurung gunung seribu

Air meluap sampai jauh

Dan akhirnya ke laut

Itu perahu

Riwayatnya dulu

Kaum pedagang selalu...

Naik itu perahu

This song was written by Gesang in 1940 when he was 23 years old. Gesang known as the "maestro keroncong of Indonesia,". he becamepopular through this song, which is famous in Asia, particularly in Indonesia and Japan. At that time he was sitting on the edge of bengawan solo river and he was amazed by these rivers. This admiration inspiring Gesang to write this song.

This song tells about the beauty of bengawan solo river that filled with sweet memories. After the second world war ended, the Japanese soldier returning to their country and introducing this song there. This song eventually became very popular song after sung by one of several Japanese singer especially Toshi Matsuda.

I think this song is one of the best and the most popular song in Indonesia. The song ' Bengawan Solo' has been translated into at least 13 languages (including English, Chinese, and Japanese). This song has become soundtract movies japanese "Stray Dog / Nora Inu". I believe most people in Indonesia know this song and that is why I choose this song as a traditional song popular in Indonesia.

This song reflects on the beauty of Indonesia in the past. This song has a message to defend the values of Indonesian culture and to keep this beautiful state remains as when Gesang wrote this song.

Bengawan Solo in english version

Solo River

Solo River

Thus your chronicles

Have been since earliest times

Of sentient attention

In the dry season

Your water is not much

In the rainy season, wate

Spills reaching far distances

Your water springs forth from Solo

Surrounded by a thousand mountain

Water flows to reach far distances

Eventually to the sea

That boat

In your past chronicles

The merchant folks had always

Sailed in such boats

Bengawan Solo in japan version

変わらぬは　ソロの流れ

kawaranu ha Solo no nagare

いわれを秘めて　今日も流れる

iware wo himete kyou mo nagareru

乾燥期（かれどき）は　水は乾けど

karedoki ha mizu kawakedo

雨期は豊か に　あふれ流れる

uki ha yutaka ni afure nagareru

緑の深山（みやま）に　囲まれ た水上（みなかみ）

midori no miyama ni kakomareta minakami

流れて終（つ）いには　海に そそぐ

nagarete tui ni ha umi ni sosogu

過ぎし日 を　語るように

sugisi hi wo kataru you ni

商いの舟　今日も漕ぎ行く

akinai no fune kyou mo kogi yuku

source : grup Pecinta Drama Jepang di Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/group.php?gid=75053469124)