Kusadari
Music/Lyrics by Elfa Secioria & Wieke Gur.
Arrangement by Elfa Secioria
Vocal Harvey Malaihollo
Indonesia captured the two top prizes in the fifth ASEAN Pop Song Festival, held at the Neptune Theatre Restaurant on 16 April 1988.
The six judges picked the song “Kusadari” (I Realise) as the best. It was composed by veteran songwriter Elfa Secioria, 28, who has won a string of awards in his country and abroad. The lyricist was Miss Wieke Gur.
Mr. Secioria said: “I composed the song within a day in a fit of inspiration, but I owe it to my lyricist who gave the song the words to fit the tune.”
Fellow Indonesian Harvey Benyamin Malaihollo, 26, who gave a moving rendition of the song, walked away with the best performer award. Said mr. Malaihollo: “I sang it with all my heart because the song needs it. It tells about how life should go on even when love ends.”(Source: Singapore, The Sunday Times, April 17, 1988)