Dance of Life

Whatever its current role and significance in Anglo-American society, popular music has been and remains a tremendous social and cultural force in many parts of the world. This text explores the connections between popular music genres and politics in Southeast Asia, with particular emphasis on Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore. Over the past few decades, the countries of Southeast Asia have reverberated to the music of superstars like Indonesia's Rhoma Irama. Articulating the views of powerless citizens, they provided a critical discourse on national and international affairs. Some were even identified with mass-based sociopolitical movements seeking change.