Peterpan

Finally, a post about music. We’ve not done this yet, but we should. It’s about pop music though, so any of you interested in gamelan orchestras will just have to wait.

The biggest band in Indonesia, without a doubt, is Peterpan. (Yes, one word.) Their sound is pretty standard pop-rock, and there is no real reason why they should be popular instead of any number of other cookie cutter mass produced bands, but they are the ones. Whereever you go in Indonesia, in any shop or any internet cafe, you can here their latest album being played. It’s called Bintang di Surga, which means "Stars in Heaven." It’s even popular in Malaysia–we were at a mall a couple months ago and heard it being played on the loudspeakers. Their biggest hit is "Ada Apa Denganmu?," which means "What Is It With You?" This is like the "Hey Ya" of Indonesia; not that it sounds anything like it, but rather that it is a song that is pretty inescapable. Naturally, it’s become so ingrained in our head that before we left, we had to buy the album. As far as mass-produced pop-rock goes, it’s pretty listenable.

Here are the lyrics, with our best guess as to the translation. We should admit that we can’t really figure out the meanings. We know all the words, but the sentences seem semantically weird.

Ada Apa Denganmu?, by Peterpan

Sudah maafkan aku, segala salahku,
Dan bila kau tetap bisu ungkapkan salahmu.
Dan aku sifatku, dan aku khilafku,
Dan aku cintaku, dan aku rinduku.

Sudah, lupakan semua: segala berubah
Dan kita terlupakan kita terluka.
Dan aku sifatku, dan aku khilafku,
Dan aku cintaku, dan aku rinduku.

Kutanya malam, dapatkah kau lihatnya
Perbedaan yang tak terungkapkan?
Tapi mengapah kau tak berubah
Ada apa denganmu?
Oh…hanya malam dapat meleburkan
Segala rasa yang tak terungkapkan.
Tapi mengapah kau tak berubah
Ada apa denganmu?

What Is It With You?, by Peterpan

Pardon me, it’s all my fault
And if you are still mute, please tell your faults
And me, my characteristics, and me, my mistakes,
And I love myself, and I miss myself.

We’ve already forgotten everything
Everything’s changed
And we forget that we were hurt.
And me, my characteristics, and me, my mistakes,
And I love myself, and I miss myself.

I ask you tonight, can you see
The difference that cannot be mentioned?
But why won’t you change?
What is it with you?
Oh…only the night can wipe away
The difference that cannot be mentioned.
But why won’t you change?
What is it with you?

See…lyrics don’t make a ton of sense, so far as we can tell. If you want to hear the song, send us an email and we’ll hook you up.

Remember too that we are leaving for NZ today, so we may not have much email or blog access for awhile. We’ll talk to you soon.

Moriar May 8, 2005

I just strolled by via the www and noted:
Your translation sux :p
Here’s a more accurate version (well I dunno but maybe 😉 ) — email me if you have any corrections.
(* The song appears appear to be about him and someone who he appears to have broken up with. How very “Mungkin Nanti”!! *) Things in brackets are thoughts by me!
After forgiving me
All of my wrongdoings
And when you remain silent
Remember your own mistakes
And I, who I am (*sifatku — my characteristic but also who I am*)
And I, my weaknesses (*khilafku — innate flaws*)
And I, my love (*cintaku – my love, not that he loves himself; that would be Dan I cinta kepada diriku*)
And I, my sorrow (*he misses someone – the girl he is singing to, not himself*)
Have forgotten everything
Everything has changed
And we’ve forgotten
And we’ve been hurt
And I, who I am
And I, my innate weaknesses
And I, my love
And I, my sorrow
(*They’ve broken up and forgotten a lot about their relationship?
Everything does not appear to be the same anymore when they meet?
They’ve forgotten — all of the good times?
They’ve both been hurt by the ordeal?
And he is who he is, — Only human?
With his innate flaws
With his loves
And his sorrow*)
I ask the night
Can you see the difference?
That is not spoken?
But why have you not changed?
What is with you?
(*Did they meet at night?
He looks at her and wonders if she is still the same girl that he knew those many nights ago?
Yet he cannot see any difference – it cannot be identified.
And so he questions himself
Why has she not changed?
Was this a egotistical call on his side because he wanted to believe that he had a more profound effect on her?
Or is it because he does not know why she remains to be the same girl that he cared for? And thus still does?
Or is it because he sees her for who she really is now, now that he is no longer blinded by love and wonders what he ever saw in her?*)
Only the night can release
All the feeling that is not spoken
But why have you not changed?
What is with you?
(*So, only the night can free him from the hauntings of his mind.
And the emotions that cloud his head.
Why has she not changed?
What is with her?*)
copyright of translation to ME :p
Anyhow, the song is simple but rather profound in its own way so it is able to attract the attention of multiple age groups and different types of people. It’s hip in its own way, and yet it is also deep.
I could write an entire essay on this lyrics and what it could mean for different people hahaha. Anyway, hope it makes more sense now.

Comments 18

fazu March 25, 2005

And here I was thinking Sheila on 7 was the most popular band in Indonesia….
Nice song!
-aishah- April 5, 2005

Saw their live performance on SEA’s “Anugerah Planet Muzik” (APM 2005). They are good…seriously…even though yes, their genre of music is not as unique and outstanding as Dewa…but they are GOOD. As I’ve been in love with Dewa, I’m in love with them now…Nice…
DeLy April 10, 2005

i`m need poster ariel `n peterpan. thx
jude April 13, 2005

i am a fan of peterpan-indo band. glad to know non-indo love indo-peterpan too (i assume that you are non-indo, arent you??)
anyway, your translation of ‘ada apa denganmu’..was too word to word translation. no wonder for you it’s wierd to understand..while for indonesian “it’s me!”- saya sekali-gue banget! gitu loh! hahaha…btw, peterpan’s lyrics more to indo-new genre poem, so i think you cant translate it just like that…i could understand that non-indo wont get the meaning of the song(s)…moreover, although peterpan’s quality of music for some people is not good as DEWA, but people fallin’ in love with peterpan’s ‘simplicity’. so, just listen, then you cannot stop listening…just like being hipnotise….
nurul April 16, 2005

i love peterpan…and i hope i can get poster peterpan
Vodka- April 30, 2005

Yeah. I love Peterpan too. 🙂 Mungkin Nanti & Ku Katakan Dengan Indah is always playing in my head. So, I agree with DeLy, their simplicity is nice. And plus, I like Ariel’s voice. It’s pretty. And Dewa’s good too.
Vodka- April 30, 2005

Oh, wait. I got all those names wrong. 🙂 I agree with nurul, not DeLy. Oopsie.
Vodka- April 30, 2005

HAHAHA. Nooo. I got the name wrong again. It’s jude I agree with. This is spam. HAHA.
Moriar May 8, 2005

I just strolled by via the www and noted:
Your translation sux :p
Here’s a more accurate version (well I dunno but maybe 😉 ) — email me if you have any corrections.
(* The song appears appear to be about him and someone who he appears to have broken up with. How very “Mungkin Nanti”!! *) Things in brackets are thoughts by me!
After forgiving me
All of my wrongdoings
And when you remain silent
Remember your own mistakes
And I, who I am (*sifatku — my characteristic but also who I am*)
And I, my weaknesses (*khilafku — innate flaws*)
And I, my love (*cintaku – my love, not that he loves himself; that would be Dan I cinta kepada diriku*)
And I, my sorrow (*he misses someone – the girl he is singing to, not himself*)
Have forgotten everything
Everything has changed
And we’ve forgotten
And we’ve been hurt
And I, who I am
And I, my innate weaknesses
And I, my love
And I, my sorrow
(*They’ve broken up and forgotten a lot about their relationship?
Everything does not appear to be the same anymore when they meet?
They’ve forgotten — all of the good times?
They’ve both been hurt by the ordeal?
And he is who he is, — Only human?
With his innate flaws
With his loves
And his sorrow*)
I ask the night
Can you see the difference?
That is not spoken?
But why have you not changed?
What is with you?
(*Did they meet at night?
He looks at her and wonders if she is still the same girl that he knew those many nights ago?
Yet he cannot see any difference – it cannot be identified.
And so he questions himself
Why has she not changed?
Was this a egotistical call on his side because he wanted to believe that he had a more profound effect on her?
Or is it because he does not know why she remains to be the same girl that he cared for? And thus still does?
Or is it because he sees her for who she really is now, now that he is no longer blinded by love and wonders what he ever saw in her?*)
Only the night can release
All the feeling that is not spoken
But why have you not changed?
What is with you?
(*So, only the night can free him from the hauntings of his mind.
And the emotions that cloud his head.
Why has she not changed?
What is with her?*)
copyright of translation to ME :p
Anyhow, the song is simple but rather profound in its own way so it is able to attract the attention of multiple age groups and different types of people. It’s hip in its own way, and yet it is also deep.
I could write an entire essay on this lyrics and what it could mean for different people hahaha. Anyway, hope it makes more sense now.
Vodka- May 27, 2005

Moriar’s translation sounds better than yours. Haha. 🙂
irene July 30, 2005

hi there, im from the philippines,i just love listening to peterpan! its very good! if you can give me a copy of translation of mungkin nanti pls… i would really appreciate that.. i love indo music..even if im not indo.. but still im asian =)
matasapi January 17, 2006

Isn’t “rinduku” more like “my longing”?
reece March 2, 2006

OMGosh!!
Your translation is really disturbing!
Moriar’s translation and analysis is much better and I really do interested in analysing the poem, lol.
Ah well, it’s good to know that there’s many non-indo people in love with indo music 🙂
I’ve always thought our music cannot go beyond our borders, lol
Well then. hope everything’s well with you guys…
tchau!
reena June 2, 2006

I love peterpan especially the lead singer “Ariel”. About the lyrics, I guess the 2nd version of the translation makes more sense don’t you think so?. Anyway, I hope to meet up with them soon…Wonder when will peterpan come down to Malaysia again. “Any idea?”
reena June 2, 2006

I love peterpan especially the lead singer “Ariel”. About the lyrics, I guess the 2nd version of the translation makes more sense don’t you think so?. Anyway, I hope to meet up with them soon…Wonder when will peterpan come down to Malaysia again. “Any idea?”
funix June 13, 2006

Hi,
I run a Peterpan lyrics translation site.
Feel free to visit it for more Peterpan song translation.
the address is:
http://www.peterpanband.co.nr
or http://peterpan.awardspace.com
Moriar March 22, 2007

Haha. Recently someone contacted me about translations for another Peterpan song but later on managed to get hold of it elsewhere.
I’d completely forgotten about this post :P. Glad to see that some people enjoyed it. I’m a big fan of Peterpan, although sometimes I wonder to myself, I can’t believe I’m such a fan of Peterpan!
It’s something in the music that just sneaks inside your head and next thing you know, you’re humming it non-stop!
I’ll look into future translations if people are interested.
seeker April 17, 2008

Could anybody tell me the meaning of the word matasapi? Thanks