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Dangdut, which is characterized by an addictive sound with a simple repetitive rhythm, is a representative popular music genre of Indonesia. The rhythmic sounds of Dangdut are played by an ensemble of percussion instruments accompanied by suling, a flute made of gendang and bamboo, along with the singers’ vocalizations. “Dangdut” is known to be a composite of “dang” and “dut,” words for the sounds generated when beating a drum with one’s hands.Dangdut is not merely a passing trend but continues to be loved by Indonesians, albeit after undergoing alignment modifications with the changing trends of the times.

   Although the origin of Dangdut can potentially be traced back as far as Malay band music (Orkes Melayu) of the 19th century, it really began to be established as a popular music genre in Indonesia in the 1970s. Rhoma Irama, a singer affectionately nicknamed “King of Dangdut (Raja Dangdut),” rose to fame by merging Dangdut with American pop songs and British rock. However, Irama’s Dangdut had a limited fanbase due to its strong Islamic messages and undertones. There was even a prevailing sentiment among Indonesians at the time that Dangdut was “old-fashioned” and “tacky.” Nonetheless, Dangdut has established itself as an essential genre that revives the mood at village festivals, marriage ceremonies, and local events.

   Dangdut began to become truly accepted as popular music in the 2000s. Dangdut Koplo, which was new at that time, is a branch of Dangdut that originated in eastern Java and managed to become so popular that traditional Dangdut was in danger of being replaced. The secret of the popularity of Dangdut Koplo lies in its combination with electric sounds and fancy, extravagant dance movements. Inul Daratista, the “Hyo-Ri Lee of Indonesia,” is a female singer who played a key role in the popularization of Dangdut Koplo by incorporating dance movements with intense swaying of the body in alignment with more rhythmically lifting rock and EDM. At the time, some Islamic leaders and politicians of Indonesia requested broadcasting stations to prohibit the appearance of Inul in their programs because her dances were considered too lascivious for public viewing. Moreover, traditional Dangdut singers, including Rhoma Irama, presented the opinion that Dangdut Koplo should be distinguished from their Dangdut. 

   The sensational popularity of Dangdut was reignited after 2014 in line with the explosive popularity enjoyed by the Dangdut Academy (D’Academy), a public audition program produced by Indosiar (major production company in Indonesia). Via Vallen, who is from Surabaya, participated in the audition program and rose to instant stardom due to her exceptional singing ability. The music video for “Sayang,” a single she recorded, led the popularization of Dangdut to the extent of achieving 180 million views on her YouTube channel. In addition, the story of a girl who loved Dangdut and eventually won the contest after having undergone and overcome numerous difficulties was viewed as a success story of sorts by the Indonesian public, thereby further fueling the popularity of Vallen and Dangdut. Furthermore, the format that enabled program audiences to select the final winner by sending their votes through mobile texting greatly amplified the popularity of Dangdut. 

   Although the musical genre of Via Vallen is classified as Dangdut Koplo rather than traditional Dangdut, Vallen is evaluated as having established her own unique Dangdut style. The characteristics and the success of her Dangdut can be generally classified into three factors. First, Vallen’s Dangdut does not use repetitive mechanical sounds. To the contrary, she has won the love of the public with her familiar sounds and stable vocalization reminiscent of acoustic pop. Second, some of the popular songs that Vallen presented included lyrics in Bahasa Jawa. A cultural critic of Indonesia commented on the lyrics of the song as having become the foundation for Via’s popularity: “Because Bahasa Jawa has historically been used to convey the cultural nuances of Indonesia, it is a language that has a potential influence on the progress of popular culture.” Accordingly, it can be understood that Vallen’s popularity increased by stimulating the cultural sensibility shared by Indonesians. Last, Vallen’s Dangdut is youthful and trendy. The bridge portion that links the first and second verses featuring rap with a reggae beat, which appeals to the youth of Indonesia, who have a preference for Western pop songs. 

   Currently, the Dangdut circle in Indonesia features a predominance of young female singers, including Via Vallen, Lesti, and Ayu Ting Ting. These singers have formed a fandom equivalent to those of Korean idol stars and continuously engage in a wide range of activities. Moreover, the number of Indonesian youth preparing to participate in the Indonesia Dangdut Awards (held every year since 2014) with the dream of rising to stardom like Via Vallen continues to increase. Dangdut, which has been evolving in alignment with the trends of the time through the aforementioned generational shift, is being planted deep inside the consciousness of Indonesian youth as an opportunity to turn their lives around as well as a form of popular music beloved by the entire nation.