Lilin-Lilin Kecil
| "Lilin-Lilin Kecil" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Remastered cover | ||||
| Single by Chrisye | ||||
| from the album LCLR Prambors I | ||||
| Released | 1977 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 5:05 (album version) 4:23 (edit) | |||
| Label | Prambors | |||
| Songwriter | James F. Sundah | |||
| Chrisye singles chronology | ||||
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| Audio sample | ||||
Chrisye - "Lilin-Lilin Kecil" (1977 version)
| ||||
"Lilin-Lilin Kecil" ([ˈlilinlilin ˈkɛt͡ʃil], English: "Little Candles") is an Indonesian pop song written by James F. Sundah for the Prambors' 1977 Youth Songwriting Competition (Indonesian: Lomba Cipta Lagu Remaja) and performed by Chrisye.
Considered as Chrisye's signature song, "Lilin-Lilin Kecil" has been covered by over fifty artists. Rolling Stone Indonesia listed the song as the thirteenth best Indonesian song of all time.
Composition
James F. Sundah, then only 21 years old,[1] wrote "Lilin-Lilin Kecil" for Prambors' Youth Songwriting Competition of 1977. The song was composed in the keys of D major and F major.[2]
Chrisye was chosen to be the singer for his smooth vocals.[3] The song was arranged by Jockie Soerjoprajogo.[4]
Themes
According to Sundah, "Lilin-Lilin Kecil" is about his friends who had difficulties in life when older generations had successful careers.[2] It has also been described as a memorial song.[5]
Reception
"Lilin-Lilin Kecil" placed fifth in the competition and was the most popular of the finalists on the Lomba Cipta Lagu Remaja album.[2] The song boosted Chrisye's career and has been called his signature song.[2] He considered its success to be due to its immersing melody and romantic lyrics with his smooth vocals.[3] Rolling Stone Indonesia listed it as the thirteenth best Indonesian song of all time.[2]
"Lilin-Lilin Kecil" has been used as a memorial song, such as at the sixth anniversary of the 2002 Bali bombing.[5] Indonesian director Richard Buntario considered that the song as one of the examples of the contemporary gospel songs.[6]
1992 version
| "Lilin-Lilin Kecil" | |
|---|---|
| Song by Chrisye | |
| from the EP Cintamu Telah Berlalu | |
| Released | February 1992 |
| Length | 5:03 |
| Label | Musica |
| Songwriter | James F. Sundah |
| Producer | Younky Soewarno |
In 1992, Chrisye re-recorded "Lilin-Lilin Kecil" for his first and only extended play Cintamu Telah Berlalu. This version featured Bina Vokalia, who provided children's backing vocals,[7] and was arranged and produced by Younky Soewarno.
Personnel
Personnels adapted from album's liner notes.[8]
- Younky Soewarno – drums, keyboards, arrangement
- B.U.90 – backing vocals
- Bina Vokalia – children's choir
- Aria - children's voices
- Asti - children's voices
- Donny - children's voices
- Gina - children's voices
- Rily - children's voices
- Tina - children's voices
Other cover versions
"Lilin-Lilin Kecil" has been covered by over fifty singers and groups, including the Blue Diamonds, Victor Wood, and Arie Kosmiran. Instrumental versions were released by Alex Faraknimella and Yockie Soerjoprajogo.[2]
References
- ↑ "Guess What?: James F. Sundah". The Jakarta Post. 20 May 2001.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Sakrie, Denny. "150 Lagu Indonesia Terbaik Sepanjang Masa: 13. Lilin-Lilin Kecil." Rolling Stone Indonesia. December 2009. P. 47. (Indonesian)
- 1 2 Endah, Alberthiene. Chrisye: Sebuah Memoar Musikal. Gramedia. 2007. Pp. 119. (Indonesian)
- ↑ Yudono, Jodhi (ed.)"Jockie Soeryo: Musik di Balik 'Diana' Archived 2011-07-25 at the Wayback Machine" Kompas. 7 July 2010. (Indonesian)
- 1 2 Prayers, candles to remember Bali bomb victims Archived 2011-08-12 at the Wayback Machine. ABS CBN News 10 October 2008.
- ↑ "Eksklusif Richard Buntario, Sosok Penggebrak di Belakang Layar Musik Indonesia". VOI. 19 September 2025. Retrieved 17 May 2026.
- ↑ "Chrisye, Mini Album 4 Lagu" [Chrisye releases extended play with four tracks]. Neraca. 2 March 1992. p. 5 – via Monumen Pers Nasional.
- ↑ Cintamu Telah Berlalu (Media notes). Chrisye. Musica. 1992.
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