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THE BAND Potret brought a nostalgic atmosphere with a lineup of hit songs that made them famous since the 1990s, while also encouraging the audience to show the same appreciation for Indonesian musicians during their performance at the 2026 Java Jazz Festival at Nice PIK 2, Tangerang Regency, on Saturday (05/30).
Potret vocalist Melly Goeslaw expressed her delight at returning to the Java Jazz Festival, which has become a favorite annual music festival.
“I’m so happy, so happy that Potret can be here at Java Jazz, an annual event that is a favorite of the people of Jakarta and all of Indonesia,” Melly said while greeting the audience.
Melly said she and the rest of Potret were delighted to be able to perform songs that are well-known to Indonesians.
“So, we’re really happy to be able to sing songs written by me and also by Potret, and I hope you enjoy them,” she said.
Potret opened their performance with “Ingin Dicium,” which was greeted enthusiastically by the audience. The group then continued their performance with “Tentang Seorang” (About Someone) and “Bimbang”.
The atmosphere became even more lively when Potret performed “Ku Bahagia.” Melly encouraged the entire audience to sing along, with most of the audience singing the lyrics in unison.
During her performance, Melly urged the public to show the same support to Indonesian musicians as they do to international musicians.
“Indonesia, no matter how far away it is from the venue, must be appreciated and watched, because this is also an asset of our nation,” Melly said.
According to her, the public can still enjoy the work of international musicians without forgetting to support the work of our own children.
“It’s okay to love foreign music; I love foreign music too; last night I watched Laufey. But what I mean is, if foreign music is pursued far away, Indonesian music should be given the same share,” she said.
Melly then lightened the mood by making a joke about her age before continuing her performance. “I’m 52 years old, yes. So, when I sing fast songs, I have to cool down afterward,” she said, drawing laughter from the audience.
Then, Potret performed “Mungkin” and “Bunda,” inviting the audience to sing along. The nostalgic atmosphere intensified when the group introduced a jazz arrangement for “Gantung,” followed by “Mak Comblang.”
The audience’s unison was evident when Potret performed “Bagaikan Langit.” Melly encouraged the audience to raise their hands and sing along, joined by a mass chorus from all corners of the stage.
The audience sang along again when Potret performed “Salah,” a popular song from the 1990s. Potret closed its performance with “I Just Wanna Say I Love You,” to enthusiastic applause.
Potret is a musical group formed in 1995 by Melly Goeslaw, Anto Hoed, and Arie Ayunir. The group is known for their distinctive blend of pop, jazz, swing, and musical theater elements. Over more than three decades of work, Potret has produced a number of popular songs such as “Mak Comblang,” “Salah,” “Bunda,” “Bagaikan Langit,” and “I Just Wanna Say I Love You.” [antaranews]
