Seeing Ganjar Pranowo And Joko Widodo From Music Perspective

JAKARTA - The name of the Governor of Central Java, Ganjar Pranowo has emerged as one of the presidential candidates for the 2024 presidential election. The news appeared in the release of a survey by the Indonesian Survey Institute (LSI) which was circulated last Monday.

President Joko Widodo cannot run again as a presidential candidate in the next round. This is because Jokowi has served two terms. Some of Jokowi's voters are said to have moved to Ganjar.

We will not discuss too much about the 2024 presidential election. There is something that is no less interesting than the political constellation of the election of the number one person in the Republic. Namely, Jokowi and Ganjar both like loud music.

Jokowi, as we know, has often expressed his fondness for rock and metal music. Guns N 'Roses, Metallica, Judas Priest, Lamb of God, and Linkin Park are some of the bands he likes.

While still serving as Mayor of Surakarta, he watched the Linkin Park concert at the GBK Main Stadium in September 2011. And when he was Governor of DKI, he also attended a Metallica concert at the same venue two years later.

Meanwhile, Ganjar has liked rock music since high school. The man who was born on October 28, 1968, has collected tapes from famous rock bands of the 70s, such as Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple to Queen.

The nickname 'Governor of Rock N' Roll 'was attached to Ganjar when he watched the Dream Theater concert at the 2017 edition of the JogjaROCKarta event at the Kridosono Stadium.

Ganjar was present with his wife Siti Atiqoh Suprianti and his son Muhammad Zinedine Alam Ganjar. They were wearing black T-shirts that read "Dream Theater 25th Anniversary Tour".

During the break for the Central Java General elections (Pilkada) campaign, Ganjar, who was then a candidate for the incumbent governor, also took the time to watch a rock band performance, Europe, at the Pandanarang Boyolali Stadium on May 12, 2018.

Both Jokowi and Ganjar were invited by the thrash metal veteran Megadeth to witness their stage action at JogjaROCKarta 2018.

Through their official Twitter, Dave Mustaine (vocals/guitar), Kiko Loureiro (guitar), Dave Ellefson (bass), and Dirk Verbeuren (drums) directly invited Jokowi and Ganjar to attend the concert.

"We are hoping Indonesian President, Joko Widodo and Governor, Ganjar Pranowo @ganjarpranowo will accept our invitation to see us perform in Jogjakarta on Oct 27", wrote the Twitter account @Megadeth.

"We can't wait to play @jogjaROCKarta and meet you both there", they added.

Idolizing God Bless and sing along at the Powerslaves Concert

The presence of Ganjar Pranowo at JogjaROCKarta 2017 is not only for watching the progressive metal giant Dream Theater. Ganjar also saw the action of the Indonesian rock legend, God Bless. At that time, Achmad Albar et al appeared as one of the opening acts for JogjaROCKarta.

Not only this time, Ganjar saw God Bless. After the veteran band performed at the 65th Anniversary of Central Java in 2015 at Satria Purwokerto Sports Center, Ganjar and his entourage invited two God Bless frontmen, vocalist Achmad Albar and guitarist Ian Antono for lunch.

Ganjar's closeness and liking to Indonesian rock bands did not stop there. According to the manager of rock legend from Semarang, Powerslaves, Indra Budi to VOI, when Ganjar was still a student at the UGM Faculty of Law he was one of the committees for the Anniversary, which at that time invited Powerslaves as the main performer.

Then, when Powerslaves wanted to perform at the collaborative event of the National Education and Provincial Government of Central Java in mid-2015-2016 at the Tri Lomba Juang Stadium, Ganjar invited all Powerslaves personnel to his official residence to just chat and eat.

That night, when Powerslaves performed, Ganjar, who was accompanying vice president Jusuf Kalla, took the time to the stadium to sing with Powerslaves. What song did Ganjar sing? Of course Powerslaves' all-time hits, Dreams.

Recently, to be precise last Monday, Ganjar gave his appreciation to Padi Reborn as a musician who has high concern and has a positive contribution to society.

Padi Reborn is known to collaborate with the Alumni Family of Gadjah Mada University (Kagama) to release the song Kagama Bhakti. And Ganjar is the General Chairman of Kagama.

"This song has very good values. Through the musicality of Fadly, Piyu, Rindra, Ari, and Yoyo, this song is even more extraordinary. Hopefully, it can be an inspiration for many people, not only limited to UGM alumni only", said Ganjar.

From the point of view of his penchant for loud music, Ganjar has something in common with Jokowi. Yes, they both love music rooted in rock n 'roll. But, is it appropriate for Ganjar to be labeled The Next Jokowi? If it is related to the issue of the 2024 presidential election, you can get the latest information regarding Ganjar Pranowo here.