BUILDING THE FIGHTER MENTALITY
Idol competition is a casting competition. Each participant will go through any steps before emerging as the best. All candidates are required to improve their capacity, have an attractive performance and build strong mentality to get severe criticism from the juries. In American Idol take an example, the finalist must be ready to accept any criticism launched by Simon Cowell, the jury. In Indonesian Idol, Harry has been ever teased not to have commercial name and performance….”
Entertainment is often bringing surprised. Sometimes no one knows it. In Portugal, take an example, the idol is coming from street singer. In Norwegian, the winner is a plumber, a father of two children. However, success is not merely luck. There is no instant process since all go through struggle.
For Harry, his struggle is the key factor of his success. He has a dramatic story in Indonesian Idol. The distinguished thing is he has also philosophic thought about what and how the struggle is. Mm…that’s great! The coming question then…how Harry has such fighter mentality? Let’s go on….
“Harry, how come so you have such mentality?”
“Mmm…actually I do a normal thing. When I was a little boy, I was similar with other boys in my village. Even, I liked hunting cricket in hills. I liked playing. It’s very normal. However, when other children liked to sing children song, I preferred to songs of Whitney Houston and Boys II Men. I felt that I wanted to be different, to be over the average and to be excellent. In short, I have a target to live more than common!”
“Is there someone support your spirit?”
“Certainly! My mom always encourages me since I was a child. She always took and accompanied me to sing. She cares much on my activities. She buys me new shirts and makes up to have an attractive performance. Her attention and care is very great….”
“How about your daddy?”
“It has a particular story! In the beginning, when I was still a child, daddy did not support my hobby and my singing carrier. Perhaps, he is not interested in entertainment. However, one day there was a peculiarly change of him. When I was 13 years old, I won a singing competition (PosoLake Festival) in Central Sulawesi. Though I was the youngest participant, I was the champion. My uncle took me to the competition place, but when daddy knew I was the first winner, he came to pick me up. He was so delighted. The next day he offered me to have a picnic. Since then, he supports my hobby and carrier, even he warns me whenever I fell reluctant to practice.”
“Is there a professional figure that builds your fighting mentality?”
“Off course! Singing is a hard skill. Even scientist said that skill in art of music is one form of intelligence. It will be different when we meet some experts having specialization in this skill. Appreciation and motivation they gave is so worth for me.”
“I will not forget my vocal teacher. His name is Wisnu. From him I learn much the correct vocal technique. He is the one revealing the secret of the skill. My thanks also go to my close friend, Deddy Zebua. He tells me much about totally performance. From him I learned how to catch the message of the song and how to deliver to the message to the audience so that they can enjoy the song. Those advices are clearly growing in my spirit. They are not just speaking, they have given proofs of what they said.”
“Sociologist said that personality is formed by society and culture as the life background. What do you think?”
“Wow…it is question I waiting for. Sure, I want to interact in global concept, so I match with Indonesian Idol. The concept of this event is wide worldly. This event is not only held in America but also in other countries including Canada, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, France, Italy, Poland, Austria, Norwegian, Spain, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, Argentina, and even Middle East countries. I feel that I am a part of global trend. However, I one side, until the end of the world, I love my Toraja. I released Toraja’s songs’ album in a fresh arrangement.”
“Beyond my awareness, Toraja values have become part of my soul. I never say that Toraja is superior to other cultures. I do not want ethnocentric thought traps me. However, I am sure that I inherit the struggle value to survive of Toraja people. There is a poetry talking about the bravery of Toraja, their will to roam to other countries, and firmly persisting in the gloomy side of life. The poetry confirms that Toraja people keep fighting to gain their ideas. Suffering is a logic consequences of a struggle. Those principles inspire me much.”
THE STRUGGLE VALUES OF TORAJA PEOPLE
Kami sang Torayan (we are the Toraja people)
Umba-umba padang ki olai (to any countries we will go)
Maparri masussa ki rampo (though very hard and difficult we will arrive in)
Tangki po mabanda penawa (it will not reduce our spirit)
Ia mo passanan tengkoki (it is consequences for us)
Umpasundun rongko’iki (to fulfill our goal)
“Well, very impressive! Hail the Toraja! Since you’re so philosophic, you must be inspired by spiritual values, right?”
“Love is an important spiritual value for our life. I am sure that closer to God makes ones full of love. In my faith, life without love and affection will have no value. It is normal if we love those who love us, but it will be amazing when we love our enemies, forgive their fault, and pray for those torturing us. Do not reply evil with other evil, but with kindness instead. It is such a radical love!”
“The last question, please. What other profession aside off singing that inspires you and build up your struggle mentality?”
“Emm, sometimes people have narrow-minded. When he has good reputation in a certain field, he tends to so absorbed in the field that neglects others. I think he has a less world. We become more creative if we open our life to other field different with our specialization.”
“I am lucky since I have some hobbies such as reading, traveling, and playing sport. I like badminton. I do not want to be much absorbed in singing. By learning, reading, looking, and trying many new things, I am more dynamic. The spirit of sport for example, encourages me to have a sportive soul to fight!”
THINK BIG, START SMALL, ACT NOW
DON’T LET YOURSELF ALONE
ALL ABOUT ACHIEVEMENT
