Iwan Fals (born Virgiawan Listanto; 3 September 1961 in Jakarta) is an Indonesian singer–songwriter. In 2002, Time magazine named him as a Great Asian Hero.
Iwan was born Virgiawan Listanto in Jakarta, on 3 September 1961 to Harsoyo, a soldier, and Lies Suudijah. He studied at SMP 5 Bandung and SMAK BPK Bandung. He continued his studies at Sekolah Tinggi Publisistik and then Jakarta Arts Institute. At the age of thirteen, he appeared as a street musician in wedding ceremonies and other social events.
While he was 18, Iwan Fals, Toto Gunarto, Helmi and Bambang Bule formed a group named Amburadul. The group released the album 'Perjalanan' in 1979, which was not successful, but was re-released with the added track '3 Bulan' as '3 Bulan' (1980) in 1980. The group disbanded and played no further role in Iwan Fals' career.
As part of his early career, Iwan Fals also recorded some comedy albums, after winning a comedy country singing contest. He sang of comic situations and themes, and his first release was on 'Canda Dalam Nada' (the A-side featured five songs by Iwan: Generasi Frustrasi, Dongeng Tidur, Imitasi, Kisah Sepeda Motorku (aka. Kopral), and Joni Kesiangan while the B-side consisted of songs by Tom Slepe and Pusaka Jaya). The songs Dongeng Tidur, Joni Kesiangan and Kisah Sepeda Motorku were released, with one new song, Ambulance Zig Zag, on the Iwan Fals mini-album Canda Dalam Nada, while Generasi Frustrasi and Imitasi were also included on the 'Yang Muda Yang Bercanda II' multiartist comedy compilation.
Sejak dilahirkan aku tak tahu
Siapa orang tuaku
Aku berpindah dari satu kasih sayang
Kesatu kasih sayang yang lain
Aku hisap air susu
Dari tetek banyak ibu
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Ohhoo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Ohhoo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Ohhoo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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Tentang siapa orang tuaku
Walau aku memang merasakan
Ada sesuatu yang hilang
Sesuatu yang hilang
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