Hive Open Mic Week 131 - Negaraku Penjaraku (Cover) by Indonesia Bersatu

Hello brothers and sisters, We are Indonesia Bersatu, a Punk Rock band from Medan, Indonesia. We are here again to entertain you and also share the music video that we played in the Hive #OpenMic community which has entered its 131st week. So, this week's theme is “Orgullo Patrio” which means “National Pride” which has been chosen by spotlight artist @lasembradora Wow, this is a unique theme and a bit contradictory to me, because I'm not a nationalist, but our vocalist is a nationalist who loves the country but doesn't like the system that runs in our country.

I am an individual anarchist as well as a nihilist. Of course, the ideas of patriotism and nationalism are slightly opposite to me. I don't hate nationalists, because everyone who has a choice is what he believes is the ideal. The reason I didn't become patriotic or nationalist was that in my opinion, being a nationalist was like a double-edged sword. Nationalism can be used as ammunition to fight colonialism by other nations. On the other hand, nationalism can be a fascist and racist group that hates other nations.

I, who is an individualist anarchist, sometimes argue with my vocalist, who is a nationalist. For me, the system of hierarchy and arbitrary authority is something that must be destroyed, and the way is to abolish the State. But my vocalist said that the state and the leader must remain, but with good and fair policies. But I do not believe in a just state and state leaders. Because we have changed presidents seven times and many regional leaders, but it's the same. My family and I live in the shadow of oppression and the grip of the capitalist system which is quite terrible.

From this theme, the two of us agreed to perform a cover song from a punk band from Jakarta, namely "Bunga Hitam" entitled "Negaraku Penjaraku" which means "My Country is My Jail". This song is about a country that we love, but its system is full of oppression, corruption, and social inequality. We also often perform this song when we perform at collective gigs.

Indonesian Lyric

“Aku cinta negaraku yang berseragam
Negara yang berbicara dengan senapan
Seakan bersuara seperti intropeksi
Ku tak tau kemana arahnya

Aku bukan seorang patriotik sejati
Yang menunggu dering telepn penuh misi
Ku tak mau mati seperti mereka
Ku tak tau ucapkan revolusi

Ooo Negaraku
Ooo Penjaraku
Ooo Negaraku
Ooo Penjaraku

Merah putih lambang bendera yang tercipta
Negaraku penjaraku yang tersayang
Ku bahkan tak tau arti kebebasan
Menyerah pada akhir ketukan drum”

English Lyric

“I love my country in uniform
The country that talks with guns
Sounds like introspection
I don't know where it's going

I'm not a true patriot
Who is waiting for the phone ringing full of missions
I don't want to die like them
I don't know how to say revolution

Ooo my country
Ooo my prison
Ooo my country
Ooo my prison

The red and white symbol of the flag created
My country my beloved prison
I don't even know the meaning of freedom
Give up at the end of the drum beat”

Lyric Source by chordtela

The place where we recorded this video at our friend's music studio named Mita, which is located on Jl. Setia Budi, Medan City, Indonesia. We recorded it using a Cannon brand mirrorless camera. For the sound produced, I edited using Adobe Audition CC to reduce noise in the sound recording, and the final process of editing the video was using Adobe Premiere Pro CC software. That's all we can say, hope you like it and thank you. Peace to all of us.

Below is their original version of the song