If you’re after some quality entertainment in Bali, then go no further than Champs Sports Bar in Seminyak, where no song is too much trouble.
Unfortunately, it’s not me performing. But a Balinese duo (not sure which one is Justin), who wander around the restaurant taking requests. And even if they don’t know the song, that’s no problem…
They’ll drag someone off the street who does!
In my case, there is a very well known song in Indonesia that I really like…but I have no idea what it’s called.
Problem: How do you describe a song that you don’t know the words to, have no idea what the name is, and can’t remember how the melody goes?
Answer: Explain to them…”It has a kind of soft melody…but with rap parts in it”.
At which point, Fiona goes from shaking her head at reading their confusion to my request…
“Oh, you mean…“Ya Sudahlah”.
To admiring me as being the greatest cross-cultural request interpretor of all time…(or maybe just for a Friday night, at least).
They knew the song I was talking about BUT…they didn’t know the words. And rather than just ask for a different song, they ran all over the restaurant asking staff if they knew the words (a couple of them knew the chorus), and even dragged two Balinese boys off the street who actually knew the words!
So, we were serenaded by the “Justin duo”, as well as two staff members and two strangers off the street. And that type of dedication to executing a song request is worth every cent (or Rupiah, in our case).
Here’s the actual song by the band who recorded it. Enjoy 🙂
Adventurers Extraordinaire 