Every Dewa 19 Album, Ranked From Worst to Best

It's almost impossible to live in Indonesia and have never heard of the rock band Dewa 19. It's personal for me, because Dewa 19's Bintang Lima was the second cassette I ever bought—after M2M's Shades of Purple.

Dewa 19 formed in 1986, when all the members were still in middle school. All the bops and flops they wrote up until their disbandment in 2011 contribute to their legacy as one of the biggest icons in Indonesia. As someone who was born in 1996, I didn't get to experience what fans call the "true" era of Dewa 19. But what the hell, I'm going to make a best of list anyway.

8. Republik Cinta (2006)

I really didn't feel like revisiting this album ever again, but what choices do I have? If I want to hate this album, I better hate it with authority. So the other day I listened to this album on the commute to work. All along I was hoping that the music wouldn't leak out of my earphones. I didn't want the guy sitting next to me to mistake the song "Sedang Ingin Bercinta," which translates to "I Feel Like Making Love," as an invitation.

As horrible as it is, we have to admit that "Sedang Ingin Bercinta" is the most successful collaboration between a man (Ahmad Dhani, frontman of Dewa 19), his wife (Maia Estianty), and his mistress (Mulan Jameela). In case you don't live in Indonesia, Maia and Mulan were the only members of Duo Ratu, and thus assumed BFFs. Can you imagine how smooth and subtle Dhani was with Mulan, that Maia not only didn't suspect but also appeared in the music video? Buthink about it, Dhani and Mulan couldn't be more obvious about the affair. The song is literally telling us how horny they were, if only we would've listened. This album is horrible mainly for two reasons. Personally, I hate this album because my father used to play it in the car. He would go straight to track #9, "I Want to Break Free" and play it on repeat. It was so painful. Objectively, I think most songs in Republik Cinta contained more circular reasoning than the paper I wrote in 8th grade. They just kept repeating the same shit. Besides, how could Dhani have the audacity to tell us to spread love and end war in the song "Laskar Cinta," when he himself is obsessed with everything Nazi? Best song: "Larut" 7. Laskar Cinta (2004)

I think the only possible reason Dhani could came up with such a awful album is that he was so very sober. OK, a couple of tunes like "Pangeran Cinta" ("Prince of Love") and "Atas Nama Cinta" ("In the Name of Love") are complete bangers. "Satu" ("One") is also just as fun, except that it reminds me too much of God since it's the ultimate Ramadhan song. It's too bad that these three songs were put at the beginning of the album, making the second half boring. You'd probably start to realize how awful this album is by the fourth track, "Indonesia Saja" ("Just Indonesia"). They're trying too hard to say "I don't see race." Best song: "Pangeran Cinta"

6. Cintailah Cinta (2002)

If this album were a person, that person must be wearing denim jacket and striped shirt from Uniqlo. In other word, this album is mediocre as fuck. The only purpose the album serves is to be sung in karaoke with friends. But that's it. If you know someone who says their favorite Dewa 19's album is "Angin" ("The Wind"), don't trust that person. Best song: "Kasidah Cinta"

5. Dewa 19 (1992)

It's hard to believe that this album was produced when their members were only in their early 20s. The first song of the album was "Kangen" ("I Miss You"), and it made me think about how little I did when I was 20, which is last year. I didn't come up with a song that good, or any song at all. The only thing I'm proud of about last year is that my GPA was over 2.5.

For a debut, the album Dewa 19 is as solid as it gets. There's a lot of hit or miss, but nobody cares. Best song: "Kita Tidak Sedang Bercinta Lagi", "Kangen"

4. Format Masa Depan (1994)

Format Masa Depan or the Future Form is a very sweet album. In the album they celebrate all the mundane things in life—they're not trying to be deep. The lyrics are honest and the music is pretty lowkey. Dewa 19 has never been more relatable than their song "Sembilan Hari" ("Nine Days"). Although it feels personal, not every song talks about love. They also have "Selamat Ulang Tahun" ("Happy Birthday") and "Mahameru". Best Song: "Sembilan Hari", "Aku Milikmu"

3. Pandawa Lima (1997)

With all due respect, who the fuck designed the artwork? The covers for Format Masa Depan and Dewa 19 are really cool, and the one in Terbaik-Terbaik was OK. Whatever happened to that graphic designer? Dewa 19 talks about various themes in this album. They talk about nature in the song "Suara Alam" ("Nature Voice"), about friendship in "Petuah Bijak" ("Words of Wisdom"), politics in "Aspirasi Putih" ("White Aspiration"), and about the capital in "Jakarta Selatan" ("South Jakarta"). Long before there was Emir Hermono, there was Dewa 19. Why are the two comparable? Well, both of them are true South Jakarta bros. Dewa 19 talks mentions Pondok Indah and Kemang in the song. We get it, you live in downtown Jakarta. But I will believe that Indonesia has progressed only if people start making songs about Margonda. Screw your South Jakarta lifestyle. There isn't one anthemic song in this album, except for "Kamulah Satu-Satunya" ("You're the Only One"). While this album is not one for hanging out with friends, it could totally be your jam when getting ready to go to the mall with your friends. Lagu terbaik: "Sebelum Kau Terlelap", "Cindi"

2. Bintang Lima (2000)

This is Once Mekel's probation album as the new vocalist after Ari Lasso got kicked out of the band due to meth addiction. As we all know, Once did great during probation.

To be honest, I suspect that Ari's problem with Dhani and guitarist Andra Junaidi wasn't strictly drugs-related. I believe it's because Ari is a Capricorn, while Dhani and Andra are Geminis. Capricorns are uptight, while Geminis always do whatever they want. Thankfully Once was born on May 21, right in the transition of Taurus and Gemini, so he has best of both worlds. So it's safe to say that Once understands Dhani and Andra better than Ari could ever do. Astrology aside, I'm upset with songs in this album. Here's a sample of the lyrics in the song "Dua Sejoli": Hawa tercipta di dunia untuk menemani sang Adam / Begitu juga dirimu / Tercipta 'tuk temani aku. The point is, he said women are mere accessories in a man's life. Seriously, we have better things to do than play furniture in Dhani's life. When I was a kid, I thought "Risalah Hati" was a song about hypnotism. Just pay attention to the lyrics: Aku bisa membuatmu jatuh cinta kepadaku meski kau tak cinta kepadaku. (I can make you fall in love with me / even if you're not interested)

But all songs in this album are so catchy, and that's why Bintang Lima deserves the second place in the list. I mean, as long as you don't pay attention to the lyrics. Except maybe "Mukadimah."

Best song: "Hidup Adalah Perjuangan", "Lagu Cinta", "Roman Picisan"

1. Terbaik-Terbaik (1995)

It semeed like Dewa 19 knew this would be their best album ever. There isn't a single bad song on this album. The only thing that bugs me is the chants toward the end of the song "Terbaik-terbaik," but no human is perfect. Picture yourself driving to your new office. At first you use Google Maps, and then ask people for directions, and sometimes you take a wrong turn too. But sooner than later, you know where you're going. With Terbaik-Terbaik, Dewa 19 knows exactly where they're going. The album is nicely balanced, with song as sad as "Cinta 'kan Membawamu Kembali" ("Love Will Bring You Back"), and as confident as "Manusia Biasa" ("Ordinary Man"). The lyrics in the album are very mature, especially "Cukup Siti Nurbaya" ("Enough Siti Nurbaya"). I think they've passed their teenage angst phase, and now ready for their "cocky but lucky" phase. I wouldn't imagine that the same person behind this album could come up with Republik Cinta Management. Best song: "Cukup Siti Nurbaya", "Hitam Putih", "Manusia Biasa"