BISNISREAL.COM, JAKARTA – Tuesday May 20,2025 — A wave of nostalgia and artistic appreciation filled the Jakarta Art Building (GKJ) on May 9, 2025, as Barong’s Band Millennial, spearheaded by the legendary Eros Djarot, took the stage. The event felt like a reunion of Indonesian artistic giants, with the presence of Christine Hakim, Slamet Rahardjo, Setiawan Djodi, Keenan Nasution, Candra Darusman, Marini Sardi, and numerous other esteemed artists and performers.
The performance by the band, which Eros Djarot originally formed in the 1970s, attracted not only these senior figures but also prominent individuals such as Deputy Minister of Transmigration Viva Yoga Mauladi, DPR member Djarot S. Hidayat, singer Once Mekel, intellectual Hamid Basyaib, and education expert Ki Dharmaningtyas, alongside a diverse audience.
The return of the band, which last performed in 1975, marks a significant moment. While the current iteration, Barong’s Band Millennial, features talented young musicians, the guiding force remains Eros Djarot.
Deputy Minister Viva Yoga Mauladi, who attended the entire show, lauded the performance and his long-standing friendship with Eros Djarot, both in politics and their shared passion for music and art. “My friendship and admiration for Mas Eros’s work are why I am here at GKJ,” he explained.
Viva Yoga emphasized that the revival of Barong’s Band showcases Eros’s undying spirit in the arts, even amidst his political and media engagements and advancing age. “Mas Eros has an abundance of talent, potential, and enthusiasm,” he said.
The concert saw Eros not only performing but also conveying important messages about democracy, nationalism, anti-corruption, and ethical values. “Mas Eros urged us to be honest in our daily lives,” Viva Yoga noted.
He also commended Eros’s collaboration with the younger generation, highlighting the importance of regeneration. The involvement of young musicians aims to connect Gen-Z with the iconic songs of the 1970s and 1980s. “Once Mekel’s renditions of Mas Eros’s creations like ‘Selamat Tinggal Kekasih’ and ‘Pelangi’ were beautiful, demonstrating the timeless quality of these songs,” Viva Yoga remarked.
Viva Yoga expressed his hope that Eros’s relentless dedication to his craft would inspire other artists, emphasizing the “diligence and patience needed to produce monumental works.”
