Chrisye facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Chrisye
Born	Christian Rahadi (1949-09-16)16 September 1949 Jakarta, Indonesia
Died	30 March 2007(2007-03-30) (aged 57) Jakarta, Indonesia
Resting place	Jeruk Purut Cemetery, South Jakarta
Other names	H. Chrismansyah Rahadi
Occupation	Singer songwriter guitarist
Spouse(s)	Damayanti Noor ​ (m. 1982)​
Musical career
Genres	Pop pop rock progressive rock progressive pop
Instruments	Vocals guitar bass
Years active	1965–2007
Labels	Musica Studio's
Signature

Hajji Chrismansyah Rahadi (born Christian Rahadi; 16 September 1949 – 30 March 2007), known as Chrisye, was a famous Indonesian pop singer and songwriter. Many people consider him one of Indonesia's greatest musicians. Rolling Stone Indonesia magazine even called him the third-greatest Indonesian musician of all time in 2011.

Chrisye was born in Jakarta. He loved music from a young age. In high school, he played bass guitar in a band with his brother. He joined several bands in the late 1960s and early 1970s. In 1976, he worked with the band Gipsy and Guruh Sukarnoputra on the album Guruh Gipsy.

After this success, Chrisye recorded two very popular songs in 1977. One was "Lilin-Lilin Kecil", which became his signature song. The other was the soundtrack album Badai Pasti Berlalu. These hits helped him get a contract with Musica Studios. He released his first solo album, Sabda Alam, in 1978. Chrisye made 18 more albums with Musica Studios over nearly 25 years. He also acted in a film called Seindah Rembulan in 1980. Chrisye passed away in Jakarta on 30 March 2007, after a long illness.

Chrisye was known for his smooth voice and calm stage presence. He was highly praised in Indonesia. Five albums he worked on were listed among the 150 Best Indonesian Albums of All Time by Rolling Stone Indonesia. Four of his songs were also named among the best Indonesian songs ever. He received many awards, including two lifetime achievement awards.

Chrisye's Early Life and Music Journey

Chrisye was born Christian Rahadi in Jakarta on 16 September 1949. His father, Laurens Rahadi, was a businessman. His mother, Hanna Rahadi, was a housewife. Chrisye was the second of three sons.

As a child, Chrisye listened to his father's record collection. He enjoyed singing along to famous artists like Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra. When he was in high school, he became very interested in music. His father bought him a guitar. Chrisye chose the bass guitar because he thought it would be easy to learn. He and his brother learned to play by listening to records and songs on the radio. They started performing at school events.

Becoming a Band Member (1968–1977)

In the mid-1960s, Chrisye joined a band called Sabda Nada. It was formed by his neighbors, the Nasution siblings. He played bass guitar in the band. They performed regularly at local venues. Chrisye decided to leave college to focus on music.

In 1972, Chrisye got a chance to play with the band in New York. He was excited but worried about telling his father. His father eventually agreed. Chrisye joined the band in New York in 1973. They performed at an Indonesian restaurant for almost a year. Chrisye felt he couldn't fully express himself by only playing cover songs.

After returning to Indonesia, Chrisye started writing his own songs. In 1975, he went back to New York with another band, The Pro's. He had to return early when his brother Vicky passed away. Chrisye was very sad and stopped playing music for a while.

The Nasution family then invited Chrisye to join Gipsy again for a new project. They were working with songwriter Guruh Sukarnoputra. Guruh offered Chrisye songs where he would be the main singer. Chrisye joined them. They created an album that mixed Western rock with Balinese gamelan music. This album, Guruh Gipsy, was released in 1976. Its success made Chrisye believe he could be a solo singer.

In late 1976, Chrisye was asked to sing for the Prambors Radio Teenage Songwriting Competition. He first said no because he didn't want to sing pop songs. But when he heard the song "Lilin-Lilin Kecil" by James F. Sundah, he changed his mind. The song became a huge hit. It was played a lot on the radio and became the best-selling song of the year.

After "Lilin-Lilin Kecil" became popular, Chrisye recorded another album called Jurang Pemisah in 1977. Later that year, he recorded the soundtrack for the film Badai Pasti Berlalu. This soundtrack was also very successful. It won an award and was re-recorded as an album. This album included Chrisye's first song he wrote himself, "Merepih Alam".

Solo Career and Film Appearances (1978–1982)

Chrisye's amazing voice on Badai Pasti Berlalu caught the attention of Musica Studios. He signed a contract with them in 1978. He insisted on having creative freedom. His first album with Musica was Sabda Alam, released in August 1978. It sold 400,000 copies and was very popular.

In 1979, Chrisye released Percik Pesona. This album was not as successful. Chrisye realized he needed to try different music styles. He then started making romantic pop songs. His next album, Puspa Indah, was released in 1980. Two songs from this album, "Galih dan Ratna" and "Gita Cinta", were used in a popular film. Chrisye also had a small role in the film's sequel. Puspa Indah sold very well.

In 1980, Chrisye acted in the Indonesian film Seindah Rembulan. He later said he regretted this decision because he found the film crew unprofessional. In 1981, he released Pantulan Cita, which did not sell well. After this, Chrisye took a break from music.

Marriage and New Music Styles (1982–1993)

In 1981, Chrisye began dating Gusti Firoza Damayanti Noor, also known as Yanti. She was a former singer from a musical family. Chrisye followed her to Bali and told her he would marry her. In 1982, Chrisye converted to Islam and changed his name to Chrismansyah Rahadi. He married Yanti on 12 December 1982.

After his marriage, Chrisye started working on new music. He teamed up with Eros Djarot and Jockie Soerjoprajogo. They tried a new sound, mixing art rock with pop. Their album, Resesi, was released in January 1983. It sold 350,000 copies and was a big success.

Chrisye continued to release successful albums. Metropolitan (1983) and Nona (1984) were also popular. In 1983, Chrisye and Yanti had their first daughter, Rizkia Nurannisa. In 1984, Chrisye decided to try a new sound and worked with young composer Addie MS. Their album, Sendiri, won Chrisye his first BASF Award.

In 1985, Chrisye worked with Adjie Soetama. They created a lighter, more cheerful style of music. Their album, Aku Cinta Dia, sold hundreds of thousands of copies in its first week. Chrisye also released Hip Hip Hura (1985) and Nona Lisa (1986). On 2 March 1986, Chrisye and Yanti had their second daughter, Risty Nurraisa.

Despite his success, Chrisye and his family sometimes struggled financially. In 1989, he released Pergilah Kasih. The music video for this song was the first Indonesian song shown on MTV Southeast Asia. On 27 February 1990, Chrisye and Yanti had twin sons, Randa Pramasha and Rayinda Prashatya. In 1992, Chrisye's cover of "Cintamu T'lah Berlalu" was the first Indonesian music video shown on MTV in America.

Concerts and Collaborations (1994–2004)

Chrisye often worked with Erwin Gutawa (pictured in 2004) on his albums and concerts.

In the early 1990s, Chrisye felt pressure from the changing music industry. He thought about quitting music. But then, he was offered a solo concert at the Jakarta Convention Centre. No Indonesian artist had ever held a solo concert there before. Chrisye was unsure if he had enough fans.

After much convincing, Chrisye agreed to the concert. Erwin Gutawa was chosen to arrange the music. They faced challenges getting funding. But eventually, RCTI television station agreed to sponsor the concert. All the tickets sold out in a week.

The concert, called "Sendiri", was held on 19 August 1994. Chrisye sang his greatest hits with a full orchestra. He was amazed that the audience knew all the lyrics. The concert was a huge success. Chrisye then went on a successful tour to other cities.

After the tour, Chrisye decided to re-record his early hits with Gutawa. They used an Australian orchestra for the backing music. This album, AkustiChrisye, was released in 1996 and sold well.

Gutawa then suggested Chrisye try a new, more serious style. They worked together on Kala Cinta Menggoda. Chrisye found it hard to record one song, "Ketika Tangan dan Kaki Berkata", because it made him emotional. He finally finished it with his wife's help. In November 1997, Kala Cinta Menggoda was released. The music video for the title song won an MTV Video Music Award in 1998.

In 1999, Chrisye and Gutawa re-recorded Badai Pasti Berlalu. This new version was very expensive to make, but it sold well. It led to Chrisye's second sold-out concert, the "Badai" concert.

In 2001, Chrisye released Konser Tur 2001. In 2002, he released Dekade, an album covering important Indonesian songs from 1945 onwards. It also featured duets with Sophia Latjuba. By October 2003, it had sold 350,000 copies. On 12 July 2004, Chrisye held his third concert, "Dekade", which also featured duets with other artists.

Chrisye then worked on his last studio album, Senyawa (2004). He collaborated with other Indonesian artists like Project Pop and Peterpan. He even tried rapping for the first time in the song "Bur-Kat" with Project Pop. The album was popular, but had a small issue with artist names on the cover, so it was re-released.

Illness and Passing

Chrisye's grave in Jeruk Purut Cemetery

In July 2005, Chrisye went to the hospital because he had trouble breathing. He was later diagnosed with lung cancer in Singapore. He underwent chemotherapy treatments.

Chrisye's health got better in 2006. He gave long interviews for his biography. He also released two compilation albums. However, by February 2007, his health started to decline again.

Chrisye passed away on 30 March 2007, at his home in Jakarta. He was 57 years old. He was buried in Jeruk Purut Public Cemetery. Many people, including famous Indonesian artists, attended his funeral.

After Chrisye's death, Musica Studios released two compilation albums of his greatest hits. In 2008, his last single, "Lirih", was released. The song's existence had been a secret. A music video for "Lirih" was also released later. In 2020, another previously unreleased song, "Rindu Ini", was released.

Chrisye's Music Style

Chrisye was known for his unique voice. It was soft and smooth. One of his collaborators, Jockie, said Chrisye's voice had a special sound that worked well with keyboards. Erwin Gutawa compared Chrisye's voice to a blank sheet of paper, meaning it could fit any type of music.

On stage, Chrisye was often described as calm and didn't move much. However, he worked with a choreographer to improve his stage presence. Chrisye chose his own costumes and liked to experiment with different colors. He often wore the same style of shirt in his music videos.

Chrisye's Lasting Legacy

Chrisye on a 2020 stamp of Indonesia

Glenn Fredly performing a tribute to Chrisye at the 2009 Java Jazz Festival.

Chrisye is often called a "legendary" musician. Rolling Stone Indonesia ranked his album Badai Pasti Berlalu as the best Indonesian album of all time in 2007. Several of his other solo albums were also on the list. Four of his songs were listed among the best Indonesian songs ever. In 2011, he was named the third-greatest Indonesian musician of all time.

The original Badai Pasti Berlalu album is one of the best-selling Indonesian albums ever, with nine million copies sold between 1977 and 1993. The music video for "Pergilah Kasih" was the first Indonesian music video shown on MTV Hong Kong.

Many Indonesian artists have performed Chrisye's songs as tributes. In 2009, a sold-out concert called "Chrisye: A Night to Remember" was held in Jakarta. Another concert, "Kidung Abadi Chrisye", was held in 2012. It featured a special holographic image of Chrisye performing with other singers. This concert also included a new song, "Kidung Abadi", created using parts of Chrisye's past recordings.

Two biographies have been written about Chrisye by Alberthiene Endah. A film about his life, starring Vino G. Bastian, was released in 2017. In 2019, Google celebrated his 70th birthday with a special Google Doodle. In 2022, Rivers Cuomo of the band Weezer even covered Chrisye's song "Anak Sekolah".

Awards and Honours

Chrisye received many awards during his career. His albums Sabda Alam and Aku Cinta Dia were certified gold. Other albums like Hip Hip Hura, Resesi, Metropolitan, and Sendiri were certified silver.

He won three BASF Awards for best-selling albums. In 1994, he received the BASF Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions to Indonesian music. He also won awards for Best Male Pop Singer at the Anugerah Musik Indonesia (AMI) in 1997 and 1998. In 2007, he received the first SCTV Lifetime Achievement Award after his passing.

Chrisye's Personal Life

Chrisye was described as a simple man. He enjoyed eating at roadside food stalls, even after he became famous. He would sometimes be surprised when people stared at him.

After Chrisye married Yanti, she stopped her singing career to focus on their family. Chrisye was often busy with performing and recording. However, he tried to spend as much time as possible with his children. In a 1992 interview, he said his children did not want to become singers because they saw the challenges it brought to the family. His wife, Yanti, passed away in 2020.

Discography

Chrisye released 31 albums during his life. This includes one album with Guruh Gipsy, 21 studio albums, and 9 compilation albums. All his solo albums after Sabda Alam sold over 100,000 copies. Chrisye once said that he would feel sick after recording each album because of the pressure to promote them.

Chrisye also released many singles. Some of his songs were used as theme songs for Indonesian TV shows. For example, "Pengalaman Pertama" was used for Ganteng-Ganteng Kok Monyet.

With Guruh Gipsy

• 1976 – Guruh Gipsy

Studio Albums

• 1977 – Jurang Pemisah (Dividing Canyon)
• 1978 – Sabda Alam (Nature's Order)
• 1979 – Percik Pesona (Stain of Enchantment)
• 1980 – Puspa Indah (Beautiful Flower)
• 1981 – Pantulan Cita (Reflection of Dreams)
• 1983 – Resesi (Recession)
• 1984 – Metropolitan
• 1984 – Nona (Miss)
• 1984 – Sendiri (Alone)
• 1985 – Aku Cinta Dia (I Love Her)
• 1985 – Hip Hip Hura (Hip Hip Hurray)
• 1986 – Nona Lisa (Miss Lisa)
• 1988 – Jumpa Pertama (First Meeting)
• 1989 – Pergilah Kasih (Go Away Dear)
• 1993 – Sendiri Lagi (Alone Again)
• 1996 – AkustiChrisye
• 1997 – Kala Cinta Menggoda (When Love Tempts')
• 1999 – Badai Pasti Berlalu (The Storm Will Surely Pass; re-recorded with Erwin Gutawa)
• 2001 – Konser Tur 2001 (2001 Concert Tour)
• 2002 – Dekade (Decade)
• 2004 – Senyawa (One Soul)

Soundtrack Albums

• 1977 – Badai Pasti Berlalu (The Storm Will Surely Pass)
• 1980 – Seindah Rembulan (As Beautiful as the Moon)

Singles

• 1977 – "Lilin-Lilin Kecil" ("Small Candles")
• 1995 – "Asalkan Pilih Jalan Damai" ("As Long as You Take the Peaceful Path"; with Krisdayanti and Harvey Malaiholo)
• 2008 – "Lirih" ("Softly")
• 2020 – "Rindu Ini" ("Longing"), a previously unreleased song recorded in 1995.

Images for kids

• 

  Chrisye playing the bass in 1977.

See also

In Spanish: Chrisye para niños