Ifa Raziah: Interpretation Of “Masuk Lagi” Lyrics Depends On Listener’s Mindset

Dangdut singers need to be wise in choosing and performing songs, especially those with double meanings, to avoid being misinterpreted by listeners, said singer Ifa Raziah.

According to Ifa, songs with double meanings are not new in the music industry; they have existed for a long time.

“Honestly, songs with double meanings have been around for ages. The difference now is that social media makes these issues bigger,” she told Boom!

She made the remarks while commenting on the controversy surrounding Baby Shima’s song Masuk Lagi, which sparked debate due to its suggestive lyrics.

Ifa, 50, explained that lines like “basah baju kita, basah hati kita, mesranya berpayung daun pisang, walau basah bajuku, rela aku rela” can be considered normal within the context of entertainment and storytelling in songs.

She believes that singers like Baby Shima perform such songs purely as entertainment, not to teach or promote negative behavior.

“The interpretation comes from the listener. Whatever they visualize—if their mind is pure, it stays pure. If their mind is perverse, that’s what it becomes,” she said.

She added that a person’s mindset and way of understanding a song’s message play an important role in evaluating a piece of art.

“You have to understand the story being told. That’s why it’s important for dangdut singers to be wise in delivering a song not just singing, but understanding its message and context,” she said.

Ifa also agreed with Ani Mayuni’s view that singers do not always have the power to choose their songs, as most are decided by record labels.

She noted that while the reality of the music industry shows that singers often lack full control, the situation is gradually changing as artists become bolder in expressing themselves and negotiating.

“Baby Shima and Harry Khalifah are not newcomers or naive. They know what they’re doing, so we have to be fair,” she said. -Boom!