SCMP reported that Indonesian musicians did not agree with censor songs with sensitive lyrics by Cardi B, Bruno Mars and Ariana Grande in this country.

On July 14, SCMP reported that the Indonesian Broadcasting Commission (KPI) announced the list of 42 songs of Western artists – including Justin Bieber, Rita Ora and Ariana Grande – accused these songs of having sensitive lyrics.

Ariana Grande’s song Positions is banned from broadcasting in Indonesia.

Adiyana Slamet, director of KPI’s West Java branch, said songs like Lonely (Justin Bieber), (Ariana Grande), (Bruno Mars ft Cardi B)… was banned under article 32 of the Indonesian Broadcasting Code due to “violent, suggestive lyrics. Ugh”. Please Me (Eminem) and Lose Yourself (Maroon 5), Beautiful Mistakes Positions (Rita Ora), How We Do

In addition, Adiyana affirmed that the purpose of article 32 is to ensure the purity and integrity of Indonesian radio and television stations, maintain and protect the “fine customs and traditions” of Islamic culture.

Accordingly, 42 songs will be banned from being broadcast on radio stations in West Java before 10 p.m. After 10 hours, the censored lyric versions of the above songs will be allowed to be broadcast.

Indonesia began censoring works of art in the 1960s under President Sukarno. However, music critics in this country say that censorship is no longer appropriate in the internet age, with the development of streaming services and VPN (virtual private network) applications.

Irna Minauli, a clinical psychologist in Medan, said there has long been a ban on songs that do not conform to “cultural and religious norms” in Indonesia. In the 60s, Je t’aime moi non plus by Serge Gainsbourg and Jane Birkin was banned because it contained lyrics that expressed the feelings of young people of that time. there. President Sukarto even banned Indonesian singers from learning the style of Western artists, according to SCMP.

“These bans only affect communities living in rural areas, but in the cities, Indonesian youth no longer watch television, but instead they access the Internet for unlimited information,” Minauli shared.

Cardi B’s music was also banned from broadcasting because of sensitive lyrics.

Musician Hikmawan “Indra” Saefullah, also opposed KPI’s move to ban 42 songs. Most Indonesian audiences are listening to music and entertainment through streaming services and VPN applications. Therefore, the broadcast ban makes the audience forget the poor performance of KPI, Indra said.

Mikail “Mike” Israfil, a punk singer, said that KPI’s censorship is a step backward in the current integration trend and betrays the democratic principles that are about to be implemented in Indonesia.

“The moral crisis in society stems from a culture of ignorance, not from music,” Mike reply SCMP .