Bandung The Sea of Fire Behind the Lyrics of the Song Halo Halo Bandung
This Halo Halo Bandung struggle song turns out to be from a romantic doubt. The lyrics depart from the story of Ismail Marzuki who had fled to Bandung with his wife, Eulis Zuraidah in order to avoid the occupation of the British and Dutch troops in Jakarta.
Who would have thought, this Halo Halo Bandung struggle song actually came from romantic doubts, Bandung residents.
If we listen to the initial version of the lyrics of the song "Hallo Bandung", it shows, this song was born as a sentimental expression of longing, not meant as a song of struggle.
Quoted from a number of sources, the lyrics depart from the story of Ismail Marzuki who had fled to Bandung with his wife, Eulis Zuraidah to avoid the occupation of the British and Dutch troops in Jakarta.
Unfortunately, not long after they settled in Bandung, an ultimatum was issued from the British ordering the Indonesian soldiers to leave this flower city immediately.
Then, the Indonesian fighters retaliated by deliberately setting fire to houses and buildings in the southern part of the city of Bandung before they left the city on March 24, 1946. This incident is also known as the Bandung Ocean of Fire.
Ismail and his wife returned to the city of Batavia. However, fond memories of staying in Bandung will always stick in his memory.
This prompted him to compose a song in Sundanese with the title "Hallo Bandung". Not only that, he also composed several other songs such as, "South Bandung at Night" and "Saputangan from South Bandung".
The Bandung Lautan Api incident inspired Ismail Marzuki and the Indonesian fighters at that time to change the last two lines of the lyrics of the song "Hallo Bandung" to be more patriotic and ignite the spirit of struggle.
Soon after, the song Halo Halo Bandung became very well known and became one of the symbols of Indonesia's struggle for independence against the invaders
Although the song is about the land of Sunda, we will find the word "beta" in the lyrics of the song. Some say that the word "beta" in this song is taken from the local language of Ambon, Maluku, which means "I". However, there are also those who say "beta" comes from the Malay language.
Hello, hello Bandung, the capital city of Periangan
Hello, hello Bandung, city of mementos
It's been a long time I haven't seen you
Now it has become a sea of fire
Let's take it back bro. (din)**
Head of Discominfo Bandung
Yayan A. Brilyana
