BMTH live in Jakarta 2024

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This time around Ravel gets it right and BMTH (Bring Me The Horizon) are headlining the Nexfest festival in Jakarta which also features Babymetal. In this format there is no seating - which makes for a much more intimate experience - although you do have to arrive really early if you want to pick a spot right up close to the stage.  We arrived about six hours before BMTH were scheduled to start their performance and bought plenty of drinks to stay hydrated in the tropical afternoon heat (mind you, some of those were Iceland vodka mix!) This was a gig I had long been looking forward to - especially after the debacle last year. Not everyone likes BMTH of course. For deathcore fans the band sold out. For metal heads the band is not purist enough. And for the wider mainstream audience, the band is too heavy. You can't please everyone of course but there are few bands in the rock world which can match the sheer emotional velocity of BMTH. To bring metal and even aspects of metalcore t...
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Barack Obama shows up in Menteng!

Good old Obama has finally showed up in Jakarta – although not in person - but as a charming young lad wearing what seems to be a typical Indonesian school uniform. But no, this ain’t thanks to time travel but rather the wishes of the Jakarta-based “Friends of Obama Foundation” who wish to see Obama honored before he has made any significant achievements in the political arena whatsoever.

Barack Obama statue in Menteng, Central Jakarta

The statue and its pedestal stand two meters tall and is located in Menteng Park, Central Jakarta. As for the butterfly perched in Obama’s outstretched hand, some reckon it’s there to signify the power of dreams although more cynical observers believe it alludes to Barry’s fondness for the waif-like creatures that can often be found hovering after dark (uh? oxymoron or what?) at the Taman Lawang Park, also in Menteng. 

However, there are considerable risks of erecting a statue of a still living individual who can be considered as an “inspiring figure” or “role model to the youth”. After all, it wasn’t so long ago that we all thought Tiger Woods was more wholesome than a bowl of Kellogg's Muesli. But now? Well, even Rod Stewart would feel jealous of old Tiger’s super stud status. What a change! And only in a few weeks! Heck, all we need now is for some dude to advocate a Greek-style statue of former first lady Dewi Sukarno to pay tribute to her particular “contribution” to society. Hold on a sec. What a bloody great idea!

Comments

  1. Fitri - saya turis...14 December 2009 at 19:40

    We really have the "obama" fever...

    ReplyDelete
  2. Donny Saputro15 December 2009 at 10:48

    This statue is embarrased me as an Indonesian. Why they don't built a statue of Sutan Syahrir, or Mohammad Hatta instead of him...what a lovely country haha..

    ReplyDelete
  3. Ken15 December 2009 at 14:09

    Good point. You never know if Obama might turn into Tiger Woods or Bill Clinton.

    ReplyDelete

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