🎸Finding Neverland: Love Letter to an Indonesian Rockstar
🎸Introduction: Finding Neverland 🌑
Before BTS exploded onto the global stage and K-pop became a worldwide phenomenon, there was me. Aanika!🧚🏽♀️
A girl from Oklahoma who fell in love with Indonesian music. I didn’t speak the language. I had never been to Indonesia. But I became a Sahabat NOAH. A devoted fan of the Indonesian band NOAH (formerly known as Peterpan), whose lead singer, Ariel, captivated me from the very first note.
What lengths would you go to in order to meet your favorite Indonesian rockstar?
I once messaged the President of Indonesia, Jokowi Widodo, asking for help to meet NOAH after I saw pictures of him and the First Lady attending a NOAH concert. Which I had been dreaming of for over a decade, thousands of miles away. He didn’t respond , in case you were wondering.
This story chronicles my unexpected connection with Indonesian music through Ariel’s distinctive voice that provided comfort, inspiration, and a sense of belonging through life’s most challenging moments. What began with a random YouTube video recommendation evolved into a passionate journey across languages and cultures that has shaped part of my identity for almost two decades.
Before You Read: Clarification Notes About Peterpan, Ariel, & NOAH
🎤Introduction to Ariel NOAH
The lead singer of the band is professionally known as Ariel or Ariel NOAH but his official name is Nazril Irham. The band’s name was Peterpan for a while and then they rebranded under the name NOAH. Learn more HERE. Ariel pronounced correctly in this context: “AH-ree-yel” (NOT the Disney princess pronunciation)
What is a Sahabat NOAH? Sahabat NOAH are the official fan community of Indonesia’s most iconic alternative rock band NOAH (formerly known as Peterpan)
🎬 About the Music Videos I Reference
the music videos referenced are from when the band was known as Peterpan which is when I first discovered their music and was the original music videos I watched. The band’s studio albums Taman Langit, Bintang Di Surga, and Hari Yang Cerah under the name Peterpan were re-recorded and some of the music videos were later reshot and was released again under band’s new name NOAH.
📝Keeping My Original Voice: I’ve decided to retain the authenticity of my tone due to the time of when it was written by not revising Part 1 other than fixing any grammatical and spelling errors.
💫Book 1: Neverland is Where I Shall Be
I should’ve done this years ago but for whatever unfathomable reason I didn’t.
So here is me letting it all out into the wind.
An indirect ode to my favorite singer Nazril Irham.
🧚🏽♀️ Can’t I? – Tak Bisakah
On a hot summer day in August 2008, I hummed along to one of my favorite Bollywood movie songs called Kya Mujhe Pyar Hai (KMPH) on YouTube.
On the side, I noticed a video suggestion called something like “original song for KMPH. Indonesian song “Tak Bisakah”.
“Wait, so this song is a copy?” I thought.
Being a curious person, I clicked on it.
👁️First impression
hmmm…..interesting! pretty cool and sounds a lot like KMPH.
🔍Second impression
*pays closer attention to the music video instead of music*
wait wait wait wait!
I like this guy; I don’t know who he is but there is something about him.
I don’t know. Just something.
Wait, are those the same guys?
No, no…. not that guy…the one who is singing? Who is he?
❓Third impression
I hit the replay button 100 times afterwards because I get so into the melody.
I have no clue what is being said but I love the magical feeling of not knowing.
My life changed after that day. Literally.
Sounds dramatic, but how else can I explain it?
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At first, I was shocked, hurt, and disappointed all at once for a week in 2010 upon hearing the news of him going to prison upon accusations of spreading pornography and all the other controversies swirling around involving the videos.
I still considered myself a fan and just knew he was wrongly accused of a crime he never committed.
Then that voice in my head that rarely makes appearances said to me:
You never believed in love at first sight, but somehow when you saw him for the first time, you became obsessed with the idea that you had to know absolutely everything about this man.
Why?
Then another voice answered the first:
Because his music and his voice spoke to my soul.
Also, because I felt like I had to do everything I could to wipe that sad lonely look from his eyes because those foreign words he was singing made my heart go ZING!
Yes, eventually I fell in love with him because of his personality etc. but who cares how he spends his time in his personal life?
He is a marvelous singer, and I can never thank him enough.
Seems like a good-hearted person also.
I’m saying that after years of staring/observing/analyzing at his face when he speaks in a foreign language for hours on end for years.
🧚🏽♀️ Waiting for You – Menunggumu
We love people because they inspire us to be better than who we were before we knew them.
Listening to his songs made me want to learn Bahasa Indonesian so I could truly understand the meaning without translations and so I did.
I also started listening to other Indonesian artists/bands as well.
My Bahasa Indonesian is still in its rudimentary stage, but it also made me think that if his Indonesian songs moved me so much then what else is out there.
I started listening to songs in many different languages and guess what? They were freaking awesome!
I watched the music video for “ Menunggumu – Chrisye ft. Peterpan” and felt so inspired that I sat down and wrote a whole poem.
The poem was called “Dark Angel” because that’s what came to my mind when I saw Ariel in the music video.
Me, writing a whole big poem? Yep. Shocking. I know, right? The world really did end.
The even weirder part was that people actually complimented my poem and kept saying “Wow! Who knew you were hiding this talent? This is going to blow everyone’s mind.”
This man was so great that I was amazed that no one had started an online forum for him.
So…..without having any knowledge or experience on about how to run an online forum, I started an international English-speaking forum for Ariel and the band (the first ever on the internet).
Online forum banner designed by Aanika for the first English speaking Ariel and Peterpan/NOAH Fan Forum created on the internet
by Aanika © 2008-2026 Aanika I.
I was walking around the grocery store singing….or well maybe muttering “aku melihat dibalik awan aku melihat dibalik hujan” under my breath and then that day came.
My mom finally asked me why I was walking around the house randomly bursting into song in a language she couldn’t understand?
I tried to get everyone around me to listen to Peterpan’s songs but later gave up on because no one had the patience to listen to songs they couldn’t understand.
And so, I convinced myself that nobody could understand the brilliance of the songs as well as I did at that time.
How many years of experience did I have in anything related to music/musical instruments/song writing/singing? Ermm….none. Oh yeah, I didn’t even speak the language!
At first, I counted how many concert and interview videos I watched and then I lost track. But I could almost promise that it was close to about 300. None of them had any English translations, I might add.
I even wrote about how much my life had changed because of this rock star guy named Ariel who lived in the mystical land called Indonesia in my personal essays for my university admission application.
Whenever I met an Indonesian person, I had to immediately announce that I was the biggest non-Indonesian Peterpan/Ariel fan on the face of the planet much to their bewilderment.
Since my town was too small, I emailed the Indonesian American diaspora organization in the largest city near me, requesting them to sponsor a Peterpan concert and promising I would try to get as many people as possible to attend the event.
They never emailed me back with a response. I felt crushed at the time.
Once I had a dream that I would wake up speaking Bahasa Indonesian because I was heard it all the time.
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Every time I feel hurt, I turn on Kukatakan Dengan Indah and sing out aloud until I’m out of breath.
Somewhere inside me lives this crazy girl who thinks Ariel “totally gets me” and wrote this song because again……. “he totally gets me”.
Despite sounding even more cheesy and insanely fangirlish, I will end with these last few lines.
I may never get the chance to live out my grand fantasies of meeting him in real life or seeing him at a concert, but that’s okay.
After all, isn’t that what Neverland is for?
Note: “Saya cinta kamu” literally translates to “I love you” in the Bahasa Indonesian language.
Thank you very much to all the wonderful Sahabat-NOAH who I met online that translated Bahasa Indonesian to English as much as possible for me after I annoyed the hell out of them. Or maybe they felt sorry for me. 😀
My story is dedicated to the Sahabat NOAH fan community. Story translated into Bahasa Indonesian HERE
My story continues below 👇🏾
🖤Read: Dark Angel poem
(inspired by the music video of Menunggumu by Chrisye ft. Peterpan)
🎨Browse: Artwork of NOAH/Ariel
🕯️Watch: Disappear in Flames music video
💫Book 2: Sahabat Forever
Nazril Irham’s voice is magic.
It’s an emotion.
It’s a feeling.
It’s an experience.
It is sacred.
The place I turn to for comfort and soothing.
The language of feeling heard, seen, and being understood.
What I grasp onto when I’m in despair.
In a fit of rage.
Drowning in the wells of loneliness, disappointment, sadness.
Or when I’m feeling cheerful and want to dance.
His voice has accompanied me all over the world, through deserts, oceans, and rainforests (literally!)
Question
“What in your life makes you so enchanted and responsive to NOAH and to the fabulous Ariel in particular?”
-someone in my life asked me recently after reading my story.
🎤 NOT a Rockstar
When I first started listening to NOAH’s songs, Ariel didn’t give off any arrogant, aggressive, flashy, entitled rock star vibes, although he easily could’ve have.
He wore normal clothes, sang with a lot of soul and wrote songs with beautiful melodies at every public event like in THIS VIDEO. I still feel he has a down to earth and humble approachable vibe to this day.
✍️Song Lyrics
He wrote most of the lyrics for NOAH’s songs himself. It was my firm belief from the beginning ( → still is) that someone who hasn’t experienced darkness and heartbreak in various forms and shapes couldn’t have written them.
🧭 The Voice and Emotional Contradiction
He lets emotional contradiction coexist in his tone.
In Tak Bisakah:
• His voice carries urgency without desperation.
• There is ache without collapse.
• There is intensity that never tips into posturing or control.
It feels as if he is saying, “I’m hurt. I want to be close. But I won’t beg or betray myself.”
And if you have spent your life navigating relationships where people:
• Numb themselves,
• Explode emotionally
• Perform emotion just to get what they want
then Ariel’s tone hits like emotional truth.
Because it is clean, felt, and unafraid to hold longing without force.
😊Joy
The joy on his face when he performs live at a concert for his fans. A sense of appreciation and gratitude that he has reached the level of fame and recognition he has because of his fans. How he gets so into his zone while singing each song.
🎬Acting in Music Videos
He is the King of Romance, Tortured Silence, and making you feel like you don’t exist with his facial expressions, all within the span of a few seconds. That’s my observation from the thousands of hours of videos I’ve watched analyzing his body language and facial expressions since very few have English subtitles.
Not to mention the story, creative concept, and execution all had depth and were very emotional.
I also liked how other band members starred in them as different characters. Cinematography was excellent!
Examples: Bintang Di Surga, Cobalah Mengerti, Menghapus Jejakmu
(filmed under the name Peterpan)
🌟Multitalented
He can sing, write, and play every instrument on the planet! And assemble gundam like a pro! Is there anything he can’t do?
💘Love at First Sight: Recognition, Not Idolization
The closest experience I’ve ever had to “love at first sight” was when I first saw HIM in the music video of Tak Bisakah on YouTube! His voice still makes my heart explode with happiness.
“Closest to love at first sight” makes so much sense now.
Because:
• It wasn’t lust.
• It wasn’t idolization.
• It wasn’t even understanding.
It was recognition.
Not rockstar appeal, not the music itself, not just the lyrics.
It was his presence inside the sound, and now I have the words for it:
How I receive Ariel.
I experience music relationally. I don’t listen for technical brilliance. I listen for whether the voice stays honest, makes space, and carries something quietly true.
His voice is:
• Textured with lived experience, but not performatively broken.
• Never chasing attention, but always grounded.
• Expressive without ego, what I call dignity in vulnerability.
I didn’t understand it then, not fully. It wasn’t the melody, or the lyrics, or even the video.
It was the way his voice made space for emotion without demanding anything back.
🤝 Actively encouraging, championing, and elevating other people’s talent and potential.
His support of upcoming younger generation of Indonesian musicians and numerous collaborations he has done with other famous Indonesian bands and singers who are his peers.
Examples:
Momo (former vocalist of band Geisha) – NOAH Feat. Momo GEISHA – Cobalah Mengerti
We all know how dazzling this combination turned out! Nothing more to say here.
Caessaria – “Little Old Man“
Someone of Ariel’s stature didn’t have to be in a new band’s music video that he starred and sang in.
Supernova’s music and lyrics along with Ariel’s voice and piano playing mixed with Arin’s voice is enchanting! I cannot even imagine if more effort is put into producing this type of creativity and collaboration.
Shakira Jasmine – Urieui Iyagi (Korean version of Semua Tentang Kita)
He worked directly with the Korean translator to make sure she understood meaning of the lyrics even though he didn’t record himself singing the Korean version of this song.
Seumua Tentang Kita is an extremely hit song which was composed by him, and the lyrics are written by him. He is not going to just let anybody translate into another language without them truly understanding the meaning of the emotions and story involved.
It is not because of his ego. But because he STILL cares A LOT about his work.
As Shakira points out in THIS VIDEO, he is a perfectionist who doesn’t do things halfheartedly.
He wants things done right and have the best of everything.
Need I say more?
🕰️ I will never forget – Aku tidak akan pernah lupa
The millions of hours I spent watching whatever video was available on YouTube of him giving interviews, performing on stage at different TV shows, and concerts back in the day.
I am transported back to the time when I was a teenager hungrily scanning Ariel’s facial expressions for a clue of what he might be saying every time I watched any video of him to this day.
Buying Ariel’s single “Dara” when it was released on iTunes while he was in prison.
All the times Ariel enthusiastically yelled “Lanjut!!!!!” towards the audience into the microphone at the beginning of the show before he started singing. His charming voice saying something that was making everyone laugh.
He has such a charismatic stage presence and seemed to have this really fun, goofy nice persona that made me always want to hug him and tell him how much he means to me even though I didn’t really know him. If only I knew exactly what he was saying! *sigh*
And all the times, he paused and gave a spotlight to Lukman by saying his name while the cameras panned towards Lukman playing his guitar. Which he still does fabulously well! You rock, Lukman! You’re still my favorite guitarist.
The tenderness on Ariel’s face when his adorable daughter Allea Ananta was growing up over the years.
(I nearly fell off my chair watching a recent video of the now all grown-up Allea singing Menghapus Jejakmu with her beaming proud father).
I wasn’t able to watch Sang Pemimpi (2009) because it was difficult to find the movie with English subtitles online at the time of its release.
I finally watched it many years later and my complaint was that Ariel didn’t receive enough screen time to display his acting prowess.
💬I say it beautifully, openly – Kukatakan dengan indah, dengan terbuka
Mention Indonesia and the first thing that comes to MY mind is NOT Bali.
It’s Ariel and Indonesian music.
My unexpected love affair with the Bahasa Indonesian language began when I started listening to NOAH’s music. As a teenager, I spent many hours on Google on various language websites trying to learn basic vocabulary and phrases used in conversation, but there wasn’t anyone I could practice with.
In case anyone is wondering, yes, I know the difference between Pak/Bapak and Bu/Ibu.
Unfortunately, my reading comprehension isn’t good enough to read KapanLagi’s articles, for example, because I still have to use a translator to translate into English.
That was the beginning of my learning journey about Indonesian history, art, culture, politics, economy, etc.
While listening to NOAH’s songs, I was introduced to the music of other Indonesian bands and musicians such as
Chrisye
(I love every single cover Ariel has done of his songs)
Nidji
(I sang along to Giring Ganesha’s Heaven and Laskar Pelangi when it was released and still have it on my phone)
Sheila on 7, D’Masiv, Geisha, Ungu, Iwan Fals, Agnez Mo, Anggun, Titiek Puspa
and probably some other Indonesian musicians I can’t even remember now.
Later, a friend introduced me to Japanese pop artists, while another introduced me to K-pop/K-dramas. Thus began my international musical journey.
I was much more receptive to listening to songs in languages I didn’t speak or understand.
This was then translated into international movies. And so it went on.
Somebody says the word Garuda. The first thing that comes to mind is that it is the name of Indonesia’s national airline.
Despite my fear of public speaking, I volunteered to give a country presentation on Indonesia at an International Club meeting in high school before I graduated and went to university. Borobudur, Prambanan, Raja Ampat, Joko Widodo, and more were included in this PowerPoint presentation. The club members in attendance thought I had already been to Indonesia or was at least 50% Indonesian biologically as I spoke and answered everyone’s questions with such enthusiasm!
I really enjoyed watching Laskar Pelangi and Sang Pemimpi (movies) based on the books of the same name by Indonesian author Andrea Hirata.
When an Indonesian family opened an Indonesian restaurant in my hometown, the owners were surprised by the few Bahasa Indonesian words I tried to speak with them! They were even more surprised when I asked if they had visited Belitung Island, where the story is set, or that I already liked and knew the names of Indonesian foods!
I had an Indonesian neighbor growing up, and I loved being invited over for dinner all the time! What was there not to like about Indonesian food? I didn’t really have any conversations with her about her country as a kid, but I learned more about her country through a musician who lived thousands of miles away on the Internet! (My neighbor had moved away and we had lost touch by the time I discovered NOAH’s music).
🪶Not the Same Anymore – Tak Lagi Sama
I still believe it was a grave injustice to convict and send Ariel to prison.
No matter how rich or famous he is, it’s not like he has a huge team of cybersecurity specialists working 24/7 for him to prevent distribution of any personal content online.
Ariel’s personal life is nobody’s business, and he doesn’t have to give a damn about anyone’s opinions of his personal life either.
Look at his achievements! He was already a megastar a decade ago.
Does that seem like a man who needs to or would even waste his time using a cheap tactic such as leaking sex tapes or actual pornography hungrily seeking attention or fame?
People appreciate, adore, and love him because of his talent.
Because of how his music resonates with them and the contributions he has made to the Indonesian music industry in the span of his career.
Obviously, Ariel’s experience in prison has changed him in ways that the public doesn’t know.
I haven’t analyzed that many videos of him talking and interacting with people lately, but there’s something very different about him.
It’s not just his styled gelled hair compared to his long hair from before.
It’s his facial expressions when he sings and when he speaks. There is a mask on his face. It’s hard to describe, but I don’t know if other fans have noticed it.
I still have the audio version of Ariel’s cover of the following songs on my phone:
You and Me – Lifehouse
Wherever You Will Go – The Calling
Semperti Yang Kau Minta – Chrisye (SYKM)
Watching this cover of SYKM brings tears to my eyes.
I feel the love pouring out of me because of how Ariel’s voice makes me feel when he sings. There is a sweetness and softness when he smiles in this video at 0:39-0:41.
I have always wished that the man of my dreams would sing this song for me, or to me.
Another fantasy back when I first heard this song in this music video was that maybe in some crazy world Ariel would sing this song live for me at my wedding while I danced with the love of my life.
I know singers’ voices change over time and that’s normal. However, there was a softness when Ariel is singing his old songs in some of these music videos referenced.
His facial expressions are different, and I found his voice to be more expressive compared to some of the old songs that he has recorded under the NOAH name or has sang even live on stage in more recent years.
I still have the audio version of Ariel singing Hero for the first time in public in the UK at a concert on my phone.
It was a big deal for me at the time to hear an original English song by NOAH.
When the music video came out, I didn’t really like it.
Recently, after listening to this song again, I still don’t like it that much.
I think it sounds very polished compared to the first time he sang it, and I thought that version had more emotion in it.
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🔄 My summary of what happened
(regarding prison referenced in Story Part 1 for English speaking readers/non-band fans)
Ariel was formally charged and convicted for a three-year prison term (10 years ago) for creating and then not preventing the “distribution of pornography” on the basis that he should’ve been aware that fans could imitate his behavior due to being a public figure under Indonesia’s strict law.
He served two years and was released from prison in 2012.
📜American / Western context: several blurry sex tapes were leaked online.
Private videos featuring Ariel and other Indonesian celebrity women were shared online after being stolen from his personal laptop.
These tapes were classified as “pornography” per Indonesia’s law.
None of the women featured in the videos were formally accused or convicted because perhaps it was more convenient and socially acceptable to punish a famous man than to dishonor any woman’s reputation.
News articles published by Western media in English regarding this event can be referenced HERE, HERE, and HERE.
👣Look at my Steps – Lihat Langkahku
How Ariel NOAH continued to influence my life over the years…….
~ My friend and I danced to Menghapus Jejakmu on a bridge on Ariel’s birthday in 2008 and we took some pictures of each other signing his name “A R I E L with Heart Symbol” in American Sign Language (ASL) pictured above. I wrote the lyrics of another NOAH song in the Galentine’s Day card I gave her. Later, she asked me what it meant, and I told her to just look it up. Writing lyrics to an Indonesian song was the kind of thing everyone did in my teenage years did, right?
~ I once went on a date with a guy and while he was driving, he handed me his phone and asked me to put on my playlist so he could learn more about what kind of music I listened to. I mentioned that I had been listening to Indonesian music since I was a teenager because my favorite band was from Indonesia. Then I put Ariel’s cover of “Kisah Cintaku” on the car stereo and sang along happily in my broken Bahasa Indonesian. He probably thought I was very weird, but didn’t tell me so afterwards.
~ Some time ago there was a person in my life who I called “sayangku”. When that person asked me why I called them that, I dreamily replied: “Because I’ve always wanted to call someone that. I wanted to give them a special nickname that no one would ever call them by, and that was it. The name stuck. I never called them by any other name. I told this person that we should go to Indonesia together and it would be quite normal if I called them by that name while we were there. After all, everyone on the streets of Indonesia walks around calling their partners sayangku, right? Just kidding! 😉
I adored this song and it reminded me of the way I felt about this person. Once again, I found this song during my exploration of other Indonesian musicians. Gita Gutawa’s version still haunts me and gives me goosebumps, even though I know and have heard the original song being sung by the band Andra and the Backbone.
~ I wanted to name my future kids “Sempurna” because I just loved that word. My Indonesian friends at the time laughed and thought I was crazy and probably should not be name my future children that word.
💭Behind the Cloud – Di Balik Awan
I was very close to my grandparents when I was growing up. They meant (and still mean) the world to me. Suddenly my world was turned upside down when three of my grandparents died within 5 months of each other. I was heartbroken and in a state of unending grief. How could I go on with my life knowing that they would no longer be in it? I had never lived in a world where they didn’t exist. Their loss was unbelievably painful. I had never experienced loss on that level. I felt hopeless and alone. As if I just existed and life was meaningless. I never got to say goodbye to any of my grandparents. Their love had sustained me all my life and had vanished like flames.
It was during this time that I created Disappearing in Flames video.
A time when I found a different type of love that helped me cope with my loss even though I didn’t understand the exact meaning of the words coming out of Ariel’s mouth.
I felt like he understood the darkness I was experiencing while watching his facial expressions in the band’s music videos. The lyrics of the song I chose for this video reflect my feelings about losing my grandparents at that time in my life.
There is a famous saying: it’s good to be loved but its profound or divine to be understood.
Note:
I made this video using the free Windows Movie Maker on my huge HP computer when all the fancy video editing software that we have available as apps today didn’t exist without any training or watching online tutorials regarding video editing. Please excuse the amateur vibe, haha.
🏙️Dead City – Kota Mati
It is common for fans to feel and believe that they have a special relationship with their favorite singer. I’m also aware of the stereotype of female fans and their special relationship with the lead singer/all-male band, so I’ll address this topic before someone else says something.
I am no longer a teenager, but an adult woman. I don’t feel like I know Ariel because I obviously don’t. Although it’s VERY nice to finally have confirmation of information I’ve always read and heard, but never been able to verify until now such as his posts on his personal Instagram account. For example, he is a huge fan of The Cranberries and Kahlil Gibran.
Does the opening scene of the newly released music video for Kota Mati make me nostalgic for the video clips and pictures of Ariel that I found online when I first discovered his music as a teenager? Yes, for sure! But I never had a photo collage on my wall. As a fan who has never attended a concert or owned any official merchandise, I had no idea about the big flags either! Making this music video be the prequel to Tak Ada Yang Abadi was a brilliant idea.
The special connection I feel with Ariel is about how much he has inspired me and how his music has impacted me positively and surrounded me at different stages of my life.
Two of my recent favorite songs whose lyrics were relatable, and I really appreciated the way Upie Guava executed the creative concept in the music videos for both: Kau Udara Bagiku and Mendekati Lugu.
Note: I have become a huge fan of director, cinematographer, editor, and videographer Upie Guava over the past few years while watching the music videos he has directed, and I found this music video to be spectacular. His best work on a NOAH music video in my opinion.
💨You’re Air To Me – Kau Udara Bagiku
Yes, Ariel doesn’t know me and I want him to know who I am but……
I want Ariel to know that I started the first English speaking fan forum on the internet for him and the band 10 years ago.
I want Ariel to know that being an American English-speaking fan is still a huge struggle for me every single day. I cannot fully participate in any fan communities online, easily find information regarding the latest news/song information or purchase official merchandise because of the language barrier.
And yes, I noticed that Ariel used a professional translator for the English subtitles in the Gunpla Basic video. I laughed. And then I felt like crying a little inside because I’ve spent a lifetime begging people online for those subtitles because YouTube still doesn’t provide accurate live translations of interviews and other events. Which is why I’ve spent thousands of hours analyzing Ariel’s facial expressions for a clue to what he’s saying/feeling in every video I’ve watched in the last 10 years.
Video timestamp: 9:39 – end = what is he saying!?!?!? There aren’t any subtitles! ☹
I want Ariel to know that I tried to contact the local Indonesian cultural communities around me and ask if they could maybe sponsor him and the band to have a concert in my small conservative town in America when I was 17 years old and didn’t understand or speak Bahasa Indonesian.
I’d like Ariel to read the poem Dark Angel that I wrote, see all the artwork that I designed, and the music video that I edited/created creative concept of, all of which were a result of being inspired by his magnetic voice, the lyrics of the songs he wrote, and the music he created.
I want Ariel to know that I have believed in his talent and potential for over a decade, and I still strongly believe that other people would LOVE Indonesian music as much as I do if it were more accessible.
I want Ariel to know that I STILL believe that with the right team of people, an effective long-term strategy and consistent effort, NOAH can be successful in reaching an international/English speaking audience.
I want Ariel to know that I STILL want to find sponsors to host a solo NOAH concert to America. The only band I really wanted to see live in concert.
I want Ariel to know that when my friends and family read this story, they told me they had no idea I was such a huge fan of any band, and they understood why I was such a huge fan of this talented man. They listened to Menunggumu and said they “liked” it! My heart exploded with happiness when I heard that reaction. Several people listened to Indonesian music for the first time in their lives just by reading my story! What a wonderful feeling it has been.
And I have believed from day one in promoting Ariel’s talent.
(and of course, the band and Indonesian music as a whole).
I always have.
I always will.
Try to Understand – Cobalah Mengerti
More than 10 years ago, I told my Indonesian online friends that all I wanted to do was get on a plane and fly to Jakarta. Then I would visit Musica Studios office, travel to Bandung, and hopefully attend a concert.
Somehow, during all this, I would try my best to meet Ariel and tell him how much his music meant and continues to mean to me in times of hardship, loneliness, and grief.
I haven’t been to Indonesia YET…. but my dream remains the same: to meet him in person and tell him how much his music has positively influenced my life.
Except I’m more worried than ever about how to communicate with Ariel since I haven’t practiced my Bahasa Indonesian in ages.
How could I properly express the impact his ethereal voice, heart-wrenching lyrics, and soul-stirring facial expressions have had on my life?
After all, I am the self-appointed president, vice president, treasurer, secretary, and public relations officer of his fan club.
Tak bisakah… kamu balas tulisanku, Ariel?
(English translation: Can’t you… write back to me, Ariel?)
Ariel Fan Forum Banner designed by Aanika
© 2008-2026 Aanika I.
🌈 Epilogue: Di antara beribu lainnya
Kau tetap, kau tetap, kau tetap benderang
English Translation:
Among a thousand others
You stay, you stay, you stay bright
The greatest musical influence of my life is Nazril Irham (Ariel)
My life would be very different without his magical voice, lyrics, and music compositions accompanying me through different phases of my life.
The love I feel for him is one of gratitude for the ways he has shaped my life.
A holy love.
The following lyrics of the song Sendiri Lagi sung by Chrisye capture the essence of how I feel.
Tak ada arti hidupku
Bila kau tak di sisiku
Kuingin kau pun tahu cinta suci ini
Kubawa sampai mati
*******************************************
There’s no meaning to my life
When you’re not by my side
I want you to know this holy love
I’ll carry it until death
© 2008-2026 Aanika I. All Rights Reserved.
A shorter version of this story was published in Inside Indonesia!
Thank you very much for listening! 😊
Translated Bahasa Indonesian version of my story HERE.
⚠️ Disclaimer: English Translation of original lyrics in Bahasa Indonesian by translation app.
Please contact me if any information or translations are incorrect.
🎯 Related Ariel NOAH Articles
🎶 Song Review – Honest Thoughts on NOAH’s English Songs
😅 The Struggles of Being an English-Speaking Sahabat NOAH
🎨 See My Artwork Inspired by Ariel NOAH
📝 Read My Poem: Dark Angel
📜NOAH Resource Hub
📱Contact Aanika
Want to say hello? 💖 Questions/Comments?
Email: klfootprints@outlook.com or Instagram DM @klfootprints
⭐Help Me Meet Ariel & Make My Dream Come True!⭐
1. I want Ariel to read my story and I want to receive official confirmation that he did.
Please help me share my story with Ariel on Instagram by tagging him, Musica Studios, and all other affiliated official band social media accounts.
Instagram Story Example: Hello @arielnoah, please read #SahabatNOAH Aanika @klfootprints cerita! @musicastudios
#kaleidoscopicfootprints #kaleidosopicheart #arielnoah #sahabatnoah #sahabataanika
Website Link: https://klfootprints.com/arielnoahid/
I want official confirmation that he has read and understood what I’ve written from him personally, sent directly to me via email, Instagram DM, or ideally a video. Or official confirmation from an official representative of his management team/staff at Musica Studios who can be identified by name and easily contacted.
2. 🌹Meet Ariel in person! Obviously! ☺️
I want the opportunity and time to have a real genuine conversation with him and allow him time to ask me anything he wants. What I don’t want is to take a few photos with him and band members, get some autographed merchandise, and then leave.
Please ask Ariel to read my story. EVERYTHING I wrote (including the referenced material). I do NOT want someone to give him a short, translated summary in their own words or tell him that there is a huge fangirl of his in America. I want him to read what I’ve written (ALL of it) and then (ideally and hopefully) have someone properly explain and translate what I said/wrote as needed.
Hopefully, a person or group of people with a broad and deep knowledge of the English language who also understands and speaks Bahasa Indonesia can accurately interpret and translate. Yes, of course not everything can be translated across languages, but I really believe that he will understand what I’m saying once he reads/someone explains it to him.
I can already imagine the focused look in Ariel’s eyes and the serious expression on his face as he listens and reads intently.
Yes, I see the irony of it all. A language I don’t speak or understand has changed my life. The same language in which I cannot properly convey my thoughts to Ariel 🙃 who is not fluent in English and may not be able to fully understand what I have written without additional translation (someone please correct me if I’m wrong!).
🚀Aanika’s Wishlist….🌏
Host Ariel’s stay in Oklahoma, America – my hometown!
Have Ariel eat at least one home-cooked meal and have dinner with my family.
I will take him to the white bridge where I danced to Menghapus Jejakmu with my friend over a decade ago and teach him about my culture and language!
🎶Sing songs together in English and Bahasa Indonesian with Ariel! 🎤
🎸Spend a day with Ariel talking and him showing me his favorite places to eat, chill, buy music, and things to see around Bandung and/or Jakarta.
Ask Ariel if he could be my Bahasa Indonesian language tutor. 🤩🙃😅
Spread the magic of Ariel/NOAH: find a sponsor to host a NOAH concert in the USA that I once dreamed of as a teenager so other potential fans can be invited to enjoy and experience how amazing Indonesian music is.
Sing/record a few lines in Bahasa Indonesian and English for a new original NOAH song (preferably written and composed by Ariel).
Collaborate with a professional journalist/writer, translator, and editor who can help me translate and edit my story in a nuanced and thoughtful manner for both English and Bahasa-Indonesian-speaking audiences to be published in different mediums to be shared with a wider global audience.
Pitch the idea of a reality travel show to in Indonesia to a producer: Ariel + Aanika travel around Jakarta/Bandung, Indonesia tasting famous local cuisine, talking about various topics, and engaging in different fun activities together.
Week 1: Ariel will take Aanika to his favorite places to eat, chill, buy music, and things to see around Bandung and/or Jakarta.
Week 2: Aanika teaches Ariel her language and introduces Ariel to her culture 😀
Collaborate on a music video with Ariel with the creative concept being my story for the following song: Sendiri Lagi Feat Angger Dimas (Remix).
Disclaimer: all images/graphics were designed and created by Aanika I.
© 2008-2026 Aanika I. All Rights Reserved.
Please credit Aanika if reposted or reshared anywhere.
🎵Where to Find NOAH’s Songs
NOAH Official YouTube Channel: NOAH band
Ariel NOAH’s Official YouTube Channel: Ariel NOAH
🎶Song References
Bollywood Hindi Song Reference
Film: Woh Lamhe
Song References
English songs sung originally by Ariel
Hero – official music video
(lyrics by Ariel and Giring Ganesha)
Steve LillyWhite Producing “Hero” by Noah
Little Old Man – Caessaria feat. Ariel NOAH
music video with Ariel, audio version
My Situation – official music video, acoustic version
Covers of English songs sung by Ariel/NOAH
The Scientist – Coldplay with Sheryl Sheinafia
Smells Like Teen Spirit – Nirvana
Fake Plastic Trees – Radiohead
Wherever You Will Go – The Calling
NOAH Indonesian songs reference
Tak Bisakah – Peterpan
(from the soundtrack of 2005 film Alexandria)
Menunggumu – Chrisye ft. Peterpan
Ku Katakan Dengan Indah – Peterpan
Ku Katakan Dengan Indah – NOAH
Sendiri Lagi – Chrisye (original)
Semperti Yang Kau Minta – Chrisye (original)
Semperti Yang Kau Minta – NOAH (cover)
Kisah Cintaku – Chrisye (original)
Indonesian song reference for other Indonesian singers and bands
Sempurna – Andra And The Backbone (original)
(from the original soundtrack of 2008 anthology romance film Love)
(from the original soundtrack of 2008 film Laskar Pelangi based on the novel The Rainbow Warriors by Andrea Hirata)
Ariel singing in other Asian languages
Moshimo Mata Itsuka – Japanese version of Mungkin Nanti
Urieui Iyagi – Korean version of Semua Tentang Kita
sung by Indonesian singer Shakira Jasmine
(Ariel hummed along to certain parts while sitting beside her during the recording and worked closely with the Korean translator since he wrote the song lyrics)
