MALUKU
| Type of Collection | : Cassette |
| Main Artist | : The Blue Diamonds |
| From | : Holland |
| Album Title | : Amboina Serenade |
| Origin of Traditional Songs | : Maluku |
| Languages | : Ambon, Indonesia, Minahasa, Dutch |
| Label | : ToCo International & Kings Record |
| Year of Release | : 1991 |
| Serial Number | : KG 1020791 |
| Contributor | : Halim, Bogor |
Reference Link:
Tracklist
| No. | Song Title | Language | Vocal |
| SIDE ONE | |||
| 1. | Potong Bebek | Ambon | The Blue Diamonds |
| 2. | Buka Pintu | Ambon | The Blue Diamonds |
| 3. | Selendang Sutera | Indonesia | The Blue Diamonds |
| 4. | Kau Kurindu | Indonesia | The Blue Diamonds |
| 5. | Sarinande | Ambon | The Blue Diamonds |
| 6. | Oleh Sioh Sayange | Ambon | The Blue Diamonds |
| 7. | Bintang Kecil | Indonesia | The Blue Diamonds |
| 8. | Waktu Potong Padi | Ambon | The Blue Diamonds |
| SIDE TWO | |||
| 1. | Ayun Ayun | Ambon | The Blue Diamonds |
| 2. | Kotek Kotek | Ambon | The Blue Diamonds |
| 3. | Terang Bulan | Indonesia | The Blue Diamonds |
| 4. | Getaran Bibirmu | Indonesia | The Blue Diamonds |
| 5. | O Ina Ni Keke | Minahasa | The Blue Diamonds |
| 6. | Waarom Huil Je | Dutch | The Blue Diamonds |
| 7. | Goro Goro Ne | Ambon | The Blue Diamonds |
| 8. | Dayung Sampan | Indonesia | The Blue Diamonds |
Artist Biography
Blue Diamonds is a Dutch duo singer. Both are siblings and were born in Jakarta. Ruud de Wolff (12 May 1941-18 December 2000) and Riem de Wolff (15 April 1943-12 September 2017), founded the band shortly after moving to the Netherlands in 1949. Their father and mother still have Maluku blood. Blue Diamonds in the beginning had auditioned for singers conducted by the largest record label in the Netherlands, namely Phillips.
Album
Although The Blue Diamonds built their careers in the Netherlands, Ruud and Riem still have an emotional connection with Indonesia. This album is one of The Blue Diamonds albums that brings Indonesian songs. There are 16 songs that they bring in this cassette album titled Amboina Serenade. Not all songs come from Ambon. There are several songs from other areas, including one Dutch -language song, Waarom Huil Je.
The Story
Nicknamed ‘the Everly Brothers of the Netherlands’, Blue Diamonds re-arranged several Everly Brothers songs from America. They only soared in popularity in 1960 after re -recording “Ramona“, a song composed for the old film Ramona (1928). The song was made for a promotional show with Dolores del Rio (the actress in the film) but was not featured in the film itself.
Ramona’s version of Blue Diamonds ranked 72nd on the Billboard Hot 100 United States chart in 1960. The record sold more than 250,000 copies in the Netherlands and more than one million copies in Germany in 1961. The golden years of The Blue Diamonds lasted between 1959-1971.
The vocal harmony of Ruud and Riem is very typical. Although they were initially followers of The Everly Brothers, but over time, The Blue Diamonds actually have a very strong character. Although more likely to sing cover version songs, but The Blue Diamonds seems to give a different spirit from the original version.
Although they last released a song in 1971, they continued to perform together, including a concert in Singapore in 1994. After Ruud’s death in late 2000, Riem continued his career and released albums until the end of his life in 2017.
In Indonesia, Blue Diamonds has also released several albums with Indonesian lyrics through the Remaco and Virgo Ramayana Records labels. They have recorded many popular Indonesian songs on cassette tapes. There are Panggung Sandiwara songs (composed by Ian Antono & Taufik Ismail), Mimpi (Donny & Theodore KS), and Juwita (Chrisye). Blue Diamonds has also made several albums with Arie Koesmiran, a famous singer from Sidoarjo, East Java.
The Value
Indonesia-Dutch relations have a dark history in the past. The existence of music art is a means that can strengthen the friendship between the two countries. This album has an important value in establishing relations between the Indonesian people and the Dutch people.
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Biografi Artist
Blue Diamonds adalah penyanyi duo Belanda. Keduanya adalah saudara kandung dan lahir di Jakarta. Ruud de Wolff (12 Mei 1941-18 Desember 2000) dan Riem de Wolff (15 April 1943-12 September 2017), mendirikan grup musik ini sesaat setelah pindah ke Belanda pada tahun 1949. Ayah dan ibu mereka masih memiliki darah Maluku. Blue Diamonds pada masa awalnya pernah mengikuti audisi penyanyi yang dilakukan oleh label rekaman terbesar di Belanda yaitu Phillips.
Album
Walaupun The Blue Diamonds membangun kariernya di Belanda, namun Ruud dan Riem masih memiliki hubungan emosional dengan Indonesia. Album ini merupakan salah satu album The Blue Diamonds yang membawakan lagu-lagu Indonesia. Terdapat 16 lagu yang mereka bawakan dalam album kaset yang diberi judul Amboina Serenade ini. Tidak semua lagu berasal dari Ambon. Ada beberapa lagu yang berasal dari daerah lain, termasuk satu lagu berbahasa Belanda, yaitu Waarom Huil Je.
The Story
Dijuluki ‘Everly Brothers-nya Belanda’, Blue Diamonds mengaransemen ulang beberapa lagu Everly Brothers dari Amerika. Mereka baru melejit popularitasnya pada tahun 1960 setelah merekam kembali “Ramona“, lagu yang dikarang untuk film lama Ramona (1928). Lagu ini dibuat untuk pertunjukan promosi bersama Dolores del Rio (pemeran di film ini) tetapi tidak ditampilkan di film itu sendiri.
Lagu Ramona versi Blue Diamonds menempati peringkat ke-72 di tangga lagu Billboard Hot 100 Amerika Serikat pada tahun 1960. Rekamannya terjual lebih dari 250.000 kopi di Belanda dan lebih dari satu juta kopi di Jerman pada tahun 1961. Tahun keemasan The Blue Diamonds berlangsung antara tahun 1959-1971.
Harmoni vokal Ruud dan Riem memang sangat khas.Walaupun awalnya mereka adalah follower The Everly Brothers, namun seiring berjalannya waktu, The Blue Diamonds justru memiliki karakter yang sangat kuat. Meskipun lebih cenderung menyanyikan lagu-lagu cover version, namun The Blue Diamonds seolah memberi sukma yang berbeda dengan versi aslinya.
Meski mereka terakhir kali mengeluarkan lagu tahun 1971, mereka terus pentas bersama-sama, termasuk konser di Singapore pada tahun 1994. Setelah Ruud meninggal dunia pada akhir 2000, Riem masih terus berkarier dan mengeluarkan album sampai akhir hayatnya di tahun 2017.
Di Indonesia Blue Diamonds juga telah merilis beberapa album dengan lagu berlirik bahasa Indonesia melalui label Remaco dan Virgo Ramayana Record. Banyak lagu-lagu Indonesia populer yang pernah mereka rekam dalam pita kaset. Ada lagu Panggung Sandiwara (ciptaan Ian Antono & Taufik Ismail), Mimpi (Donny & Theodore KS), dan Juwita (Chrisye). Blue Diamonds juga pernah membuat beberapa album bersama Arie Koesmiran, penyanyi terkenal dari Sidoarjo.
The Value
Hubungan Indonesia-Belanda memiliki sejarah kelam di masa lalu. Keberadaan seni musik merupakan sarana yang dapat mempererat hubungan persahabatan antara kedua Negara. Album ini memiliki nilai penting dalam menjalin hubungan masyarakat Indonesia dan masyarakat Belanda.
Writer: Hengki Herwanto-Museum Musik Indonesia
