Seventeen (Indonesian band)

Seventeen was an Indonesian pop rock band that was formed in 1999 in Yogyakarta by schoolmates Yudhi Rus Harjanto, Herman Sikumbang, Zulianto "Zozo" Angga, and Windu Andi Darmawan. Vocalist Yohan "Doni" Saputro, bassist M. Awal "Bani" Purbani, and joined the band at a later date.

Seventeen
Origin	Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Genres	Pop rock alternative rock slow rock soft rock
Years active	1999–2018
Labels	Universal EMI Mi2 GP
Members	(Note: at time of tsunami) Riefian "Ifan" Fajarsyah Windu Andi Darmawan≠ M. Awal "Bani" Purbani≠ Herman Sikumbang≠ :≠ deceased
Past members	Yudhi Rus Harjanto Yohan "Doni" Saputro Zulianto Zulkifli "Zozo" Angga

The group was performing in a tent at the Tanjung Lesung resort on 22 December 2018 when the 2018 Sunda Strait tsunami, the result of an eruption from Anak Krakatau, struck the stage from behind, killing all the members of the band except one.

History

The band was formed by Harjanto, Sikumbang, Angga, and Darmawan, students who attended a private high school in Yogyakarta. With a serious desire to form a band, they asked M. Awal "Bani" Purbani, Yudhi's cousin, to join the band. Seventeen was officially formed on January 17, 1999. The band's name, "Seventeen", was chosen because all of the band members were 17 years old. One year later, Saputro joined the band to fill the vocalist position.^[1]

Their debut album, Bintang Terpilih ("Selected Stars") was released on July 17, 2003, through Universal Music Indonesia. They asked Indonesian MTV VJ at the time, Arie Untung, to do a duet on their song "Jibaku". This album achieved sales of up to 75,000 copies. Some of its songs were used for soap opera soundtracks. Shortly after the album's release, their label closed its local division. For the next two years, the band did not have a contract with a label. When the Universal Music local division was reopened, Seventeen immediately was signed to a contract. They released their second album, Sweet Seventeen in 2005, that featured the single "Jika Kau Percaya" ("If You Believe").^[1]

In 2008, vocalist Saputro, drummer Darmawan, and guitarist Angga left the band. The remaining band members were anxious to find a replacement for the crucial vocalist position. After going through the audition process, they hired Riefian "Ifan" Fajarsyah as their new vocalist. The difference in vocal characteristics between Saputro and Fajarsyah ushered in a change in Seventeen's genre, moving their style from rock to a more pop sound. Seventeen's third album, Lelaki Hebat ("Great Man"), was released in 2008; illustrating thea drastic change from rock to pop.^[2] Seventeen released their third album,in the Glodok electronic goods shopping center, that has been known as a place for music pirates. After the release of their third album, Darmawan rejoined as a drummer.^[3] In 2011, the band released their fourth album, Dunia yang Indah ("The Beautiful World"), introducing the hit single "Jaga Slalu Hatimu" ("Always Keep Your Heart").

In 2013, due to differences in music vision, replacement guitarist Yudhi Rus Harjanto left the band justas the fifth album Sang Juara ("The Champion") was to be released.^[4] The album contains two singles, titled "Sang Juara" and "Sumpah Ku Mencintaimu" ("I Swear I Love You").

Three years later, on 31 March 2016, Seventeen released their sixth album Pantang Mundur ("Persistent"). In this album, they worked with music directors for the first time. The album contains 11 tracks, including four singles: "Cinta Jangan Sembunyi" ("Love Don't Hide"), "Bukan Main Main" ("Not Kidding"), "Aku Gila" ("I'm Crazy"), "Menunggu Kamu" ("Waiting for You") and "Kemarin" ("Yesterday").^[5]

In 2018, they released a single entitled "Jangan Dulu Pergi" ("Don't Go Away"), written for the vocalist Fajarsyah's deceased father.^[6] Its music video was released on 10 June 2018. It was the last song by the band before it disbanded.

Sunda Strait tsunami

Further information: 2018 Sunda Strait tsunami

Seventeen was performing at the PLN Family Gathering in Tanjung Lesung, Pandeglang, Banten, when an eruption from Anak Krakatau caused a tsunami that abruptly struck the stage from behind. All the members were swept away by the tsunami, which hit at 9:30PM local time.^[7][8] Replacement bassist M. Awal "Bani" Purbani and road manager Oki Wijaya were declared dead at the scene. The body of guitarist Sikumbang (born (1982-03-17)17 March 1982 in Tidore, North Maluku), was found several hours later.^[9] The body of drummer Darmawan was found the following day. Crew member Rukmana "Ujang" Rustam and vocalist Fajarsyah's wife, actress and TV personality Dylan Sahara, were also killed in the tsunami.^[10]

Fajarsyah survived the chaos as the only remaining member of Seventeen. He continued performing as a solo artist.^[11][12][13]

Despite being disbanded, the band's name is still carried by Fajarsyah in his solo career. On 13 November 2022, he announced that although the band no longer exists, he will continue to use the band name in honor of the deceased members, naming them as eternal members who retain the posts they had while alive. Fajarsyah made the move to preserve the Seventeen name in the Indonesian music industry, announcing that he will not form a new band or join any other band, in honor of his former band members.^[14][15]

Documentary film

In 2019, Mahakarya Pictures announced with Mahaka Radio Integra that they were working on a documentary film of Seventeen. The project was announced in October 2019 as Kemarin ("Yesterday").^[16] The film was released on December 3, 2020, after facing several delays, including the COVID-19 pandemic.

Band members

• Windu Andi Darmawan – drums (1999–2018; his death)
• M. Awal "Bani" Purbani – bass guitar (1999–2018; his death)
• Herman Sikumbang – guitar (1999–2018; his death)
• Riefian "Ifan" Fajarsyah – vocals (2008–2018)

Former members

• Zulianto Zulkifli "Zozo" Angga – guitar (1999–2008)
• Yudhi Rus Harjanto – guitar (1999–2012)
• Yohan "Doni" Saputro – vocals, guitar (2000–2007)

Timeline

Discography

Studio albums

• Bintang Terpilih (2003)
• Sweet Seventeen (2005)
• Lelaki Hebat (2008)
• Dunia Yang Indah (2011)
• Sang Juara (2013)
• Pantang Mundur (2016)

Singles

• "Jibaku" (featuring Arie Untung) (2003)
• "Jika Kau Percaya" (2005)
• "Selalu Mengalah" (2008)
• "Untuk Mencintaimu" (2008)
• "Lelaki Hebat" (2008)
• "Jalan Terbaik" (2008)
• "Jaga Slalu Hatimu" (2011)
• "Hal Terindah" (2011)
• "Sang Juara" (2013)
• "Sumpah Ku Mencintaimu" (2013)
• "Cinta Jangan Sembunyi" (2016)
• "Bukan Main Main" (2016)
• "Aku Gila" (2016)
• "Menunggu Kamu" (2016)
• "Kemarin" (2016)
• "Jangan Dulu Pergi" (2018)

References

1. Azanella, Luthfia Ayu (2018-12-24). "20 Tahun Seventeen, Ganti Personel dan Label, hingga Tragedi Tsunami" [20 Years of Seventeen, Personnel and Labels : Changes to Tsunami Tragedy]. Kompas (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2018-12-25.
2. Saharuni, Faizal (2009-07-22). "Seventeen tanpa Doni" [Seventeen without Doni]. Kosmo! (in Malay). Retrieved 2018-12-26.
3. "Seventeen Punya Drummer Lagi" [Seventeen got their Drummer Back]. Detik.com (in Indonesian). 2008-08-05. Retrieved 2018-12-26.
4. Ratna, Dewi (2012-12-31). "Tak Sepaham Lagi, Gitaris Seventeen Mengundurkan Diri" [Visions Differ, Guitarist left Seventeen]. KapanLagi.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2018-12-26.
5. Wahyuningrum, Rima (2016-03-31). "Seventeen Rilis Album Pantang Mundur" [Seventeen releases Album "Pantang Mundur"]. Okezone (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2018-12-26.
6. Ardian, Dicky (2018-03-23). "'Jangan Dulu Pergi', Seventeen Kawinkan Musik Tekno dengan Kerinduan" ['Jangan Dulu Pergi', Seventeen combines Techno Music with Longing]. Detik.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2018-12-26.
7. "Indonesian band Seventeen swept away as tsunami strikes beachside concert leaving two band members dead". meaww.com. Retrieved 2018-12-23.
8. "Gitaris Seventeen Herman Sikumbang Ditemukan setelah Hilang Diterjang Tsunami di Pantai Anyer Serang". Tribun Wow (in Indonesian). 2018-12-23. Retrieved 2018-12-23.
9. Casiano, Louis (2018-12-23). "Indonesia pop band Seventeen's members dead or missing after tsunami slams stage during performance". Fox News. Retrieved 2018-12-23.
10. "Seventeen's Ifan [Fajarsyah] loses Wife to Tsunami". The Jakarta Post. Retrieved 27 December 2018.
11. Webb-Liddall, Alice (23 December 2018). "Dramatic Footage shows Moment Indonesia Tsunami hits Band Performing on Beach". Newshub.co.nz. Retrieved 24 December 2018.
12. "Indonesia tsunami: Wave crashes Into Local Pop Band Seventeen's Concert". Channel News Asia. 23 December 2018. Retrieved 24 December 2018.
13. "'Volcano Tsunami' hits Indonesia after Krakatoa Eruption". BBC News. 23 December 2018. Retrieved 23 December 2018.
14. Anggraini, Pingkan. "Ifan Seventeen Janji Nggak Akan Bikin Band Baru Demi Mendiang Personel!". detikhot (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2022-11-13.
15. "Watch : Indonesia's Seventeen Band loses Band Members in Sunda Strait Tsunami". The Nation. 23 December 2018. Retrieved 2018-12-23.
16. "Seventeen Documentary Film". DNews Radio. 19 October 2019. Retrieved 19 October 2019.

External links

• Seventeen on GP Records (in Indonesian)