Sebuah Nama, Sebuah Cerita dari Peterpan

                                           

Cikal Bakal Peterpan

Peterpan dibentuk pada tahun 1997, awalnya bernamaTopi ketika Andhika (kibor) membentuk band Topi dengan mengajak adik kelasnya di SMU 2 Bandung, Uki (gitar), serta teman mainnya, Abel (bas) dan Ari (drum). Uki pun mengajak teman SMP-nya Ariel yang mengisi posisi vokal. Dengan formasi seperti itulah, mereka mulai manggung dan memainkan musik beraliran Brits alternatif. Kemudian Ari mengundurkan diri dan Topi pun bubar tanpa sebab yang pasti.

Andika mengumpulkan kembali personel Topi di tahun 2000. Namun kali ini, posisi drum dipegang oleh Reza. Untuk memberi warna musik yang lebih dewasa dan lebih kaya melody, maka diajaklahLoekman, teman kakak Indra, yang akhirnya jadi lead guitar (gitar utama). Setelah terbentuk dengan formasi enam orang, mereka pun mengambil nama peterpan. Tanggal 1 September 2000 secara resmi peterpan terbentuk.

Perjalanan profesional peterpan dimulai tahun 2001 dengan merambah dari café ke café di Bandung. Mereka bermain di café O'Hara dan Sapu Lidi dengan membawakan lagu-lagu top 40, serta alternative rock seperti Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Cold play, U2, Creed, dll. Saat di café Sapu Lidi-lah potensi mereka terlihat oleh Kang Noey (basis Java Jive) yang sedang mencari band untuk mengisi album kompilasi. Dari tiga lagu yang dikirim untuk demo, "Sahabat", "Mimpi Yang Sempurna", dan "Taman Langit", terpilih lagu "Mimpi Yang Sempurna" untuk dimasukan ke album kompilasi Kisah 2002 Malam yang dirilis Juli 2002. Tak disangka lagu tersebut menjadi jagoan album ini dan mendongkrak penjualan sampai di atas 150.000 kopi.

Perusahaan rekaman Musica Studios pun tak melewatkan potensi peterpan. Musica mempercepat pengajuan kontrak untuk debut album peterpan. Akhirnya debut album peterpan bertajuk Taman Langitdirilis bulan Juni 2003. Tak disangka, album itu mampu terjual di atas angka 650.000 kopi. Atas prestasi tersebut, mereka menerima Multi Platinum untuk album Taman Langit.

Di awal tahun 2005, PeterDi awal tahun 2005, Peterpan meraih penghargaan sebagai artis favorit Indonesia di MTV Asia Aid pada tanggal 9 Februari 2005 di Bangkok. Dalam Anugerah Musik Indonesia (AMI) 2005, Peterpan menempati urutan teratas nominasi dengan memperoleh 11 nominasi. Empat di antaranya dicetak lewat lagu "Ada Apa Denganmu". Dari 11 nominasi itu, Peterpan mendapat 7 penghargaan, antara lain untuk "band terbaik", "album terbaik", "grafis desain album terbaik" dan "karya produksi terbaik", karena album Bintang di Surga. Pada ajang SCTV Music Awards 2005, Peterpan mendapat penghargaan di kategori "Album Pop Group Ngetop"' dan "Lagu Paling Ngetop". Di tahun 2005, Peterpan kembali merilis 2 album yaitu : VCD Untuk Sahabat Peterpan yang berisi Orginal VCD Karaoke termasuk video klip serta dokumentasi saat mereka melakukan pemecahan rekor konser selama 24 jam di 6 kota, dan album jalur suara film Alexandria.

Pada tanggal 4 November 2006, Andika dan Indra, resmi keluar dari anggota band. Kedua mantan personil ini pada akhirnya membentuk kelompok lainnya yang diberi nama The Titans. Pasca keluarnya Andika dan Indra, posisi mereka ditempati oleh dua pemusik tambahan, yaitu Lucky dan David. Dengan formasi tambahan ini, Peterpan merilis, Hari yang Cerah. Acara launching album ini juga dibuat lain karena dilakukan di dua negara. Di RUUMS Kuala Lumpur pada 25 Mei 2007 setelah itu di Bandung di Monumen Pahlawan Gazebo dan disiarkan secara live di 6 stasiun televisi.

Album ini diklaim sebagai album terakhir mereka dengan nama "Peterpan". Ariel mengklaim bahwa pada akhirnya mereka akan melepaskan nama Peterpan dan menggunakan nama lainnya. Meski tanpa foramsi utuh seperti dulu, peterpan masih mampu memperlihatkan 'taring'nya. Di bulan September 2007, mereka mendapat kehormatan untuk mengikuti acara "Song Festival" di Korea Selatan. Sebelumnnya, peterpan juga masih mampu mengantongi penghargaan sebagai Best Favorite Artis Indonesia MTV Asia Award 2006 dan Album Pop Group Ngetop SCTV Music Award 2006.

Setelah diguncang oleh perpecahan di antara para personilnya, band ini sekali lagi ditimpa musibah, yaitu dengan munculnya kasus video adegan mesum seseorang yang mirip Ariel Peterpan. Kasus ini mengakibatkan ditangkapnya Ariel pada tanggal 22 Juni 2010. Namun kasus ini tidak menyurutkan semangat penggemar Peterpan. Dan untuk menjawab kerinduan penggemar mereka, Ariel dan kawan-kawan beberapa kali mengadakan pertunjukan di dalam Lembaga Pemasyarakatan.

Album studio

• Kisah 2002 Malam (2002)
• Taman Langit (2003)
• Bintang di Surga (2004)
• Ost. Alexandria (2005)
• Hari yang Cerah (2007)
• Sebuah Nama Sebuah Cerita (2008)
• Single Ariel (2011)

Album lainnya

• Untuk Sahabat Peterpan (2005)

How Should Science be Done?

Lately I keep running into the idea that the proper way to do science is to continually strive to disprove a hypothesis, rather than support it*.  According to these writers, this is what scientists are supposed to aspire to, but I've never actually heard a scientist say this.  The latest example was recently published in the Wall Street Journal (1).  This evokes an image of the Super Scientist, one who is so skeptical that he never believes his own ideas and is constantly trying to tear them down.  I'm no philosopher of science, but this idea never sat well with me, and it's contrary to how science is practiced. 
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Rhythmic Gymnastics - So you want to be the next Frankie Jones?

Jo Coombs, Head of Performance and Excellence at Welsh Gymnastics is coach and mentor to TeamGB rhythmic gymnast Frankie Jones. In this blog she tells us about Frankie's early years in the sport and explains why rhythmic gymnastics is a great sport to be involved in.

Wales' Frankie Jones: TeamGB's soul individual
rhythmic gymnast at London 2012

The flawless beauty of Rhythmic Gymnastics lies in the complex combination and technique in handling the apparatus.

On 4 July Francesca Jones was officially announced as Team GB's sole individual representative for Rhythmic Gymnastics at the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Frankie, who is from Wellingborough in Northampton, surprisingly started training in Artistic Gymnastics when she was ten years old and then came to rhythmic aged 12.

“In the early days of coaching Frankie she was quiet, methodical and hard working. She was very receptive to improving and generally a lovely gymnast to coach," says Jo Coombs, Frankie’s Welsh Coach and mentor.

“Frankie was potential talent from the word go. She was very capable of doing the elements of a high degree of difficulty, which would show that she actually had the talent,  as well as having a good range of movement and skill ability.

“I remember teaching Frankie a back flexion pirouette when she was younger - an element most gymnasts find nigh on impossible to learn - but Frankie had the natural capabiltities to get into that position.

“It has been those natural skills that have allowed her to progress onto more difficult skills,” adds Jo.

As a competitive discipline Rhythmic Gymnastics evolved toward the 1920s in the USSR. However it wasn’t until the late 1950s that it received the International Federation of Gymnastics (FIG) recognition. The individual competition premiered in Budapest in 1963 at the World Championships and Rhythmic Gymnastics was fully included in the Olympics in 1984 at the Los Angeles Games.

“Rhythmic Gymnastics  is very watchable as a spectator sport," Jo explains. "It’s elegant; it incorporates the skills of an acrobat, the dexterity of a juggler and the beauty of a dancer. It maintains the feminine form and stays true to the flexibility elements associated with gymnastics,”

Rhythmic Gymnasts perform to music on a floor area measuring 13x13 metres and they use five pieces of hand apparatus rope, ball, hoop, clubs and ribbon but only four during a competition, (which four, is decided on a rotational basis before the competition begins). Apparatus must be handled with as much variety as possible and must be in constant motion. Routines include specific fundamental groups of body movements and technical groups that incorporate a variety of shape, amplitude, direction plane and speed along with apparatus usage.

The apparatus

The Rope is made of hemp, or other synthetic material, and is proportional to the gymnasts’ height. The fundamental groups of body movement for the rope include; jumps, leaps, skips and hops. The technical elements are jumps and skips. The rope is a very dynamic piece of apparatus requiring agility, jumping ability and co-ordination.

The Hoop is made of plastic or wood. The groups of body movement required for the hoop are; jumps, leaps, pivots, balance and flexibility. Technical groups are rolls over the body on the floor, rotations around the hand or other parts of the body throws and catches. Handling the apparatus includes swings, circle and figure of eights.

The Ball is the elegant piece of apparatus and is made of rubber. Technical groups of body movement include throws, catches, bouncing and rolling over the body or on the floor. Handling elements involved with the ball are ‘thrusts’, swings, circles, figure of eights and flip overs.

The Club are 40-50cm long and are made of wood or a synthetic material. The fundamental body movements for the clubs are balance elements. The technical groups of body movements include mills, small circles, throws, catches and tapping. Handling elements are ‘thrusts’, figure of eights and asymmetrical movements.

The Ribbon was first introduced in 1971 at the World Championships in Cuba. It is made of satin, measures six metres long and 4-6cm wide. The fundamental groups of body movement are pivots. The technical groups are; ‘snakes’, spirals, throws, catches and small tosses. Handling elements include; ‘thrusts’, swings, circles and figure of eights. Movements with the ribbon should be large and free flowing and require strength of shoulders and arm muscles.

“Children should give Rhythmic Gymnastics a try because it improves, like all forms of gymnastics, fundamental skills for life, which can transferable onto other sports and other ways of life. It’s a sociable sport which teaches children discipline and respect, plus it’s a whole lot of fun,” Jo continues.

“Having Frankie at the Olympics will help bring the discipline to life, in-terms of creating a wider exposure for Rhythmic Gymnastics, which will be great for which will be great for existing clubs offering Rhythmic Gymnastics. It also presents an opportunity for other gymnastic clubs to start up Rhythmic sections, which Welsh Gymnastics can help support.”

Currently you can try Rhythmic Gymnastics at Llanelli Gymnastic Club, Phoenix Gymnastic Club and Barry YMCA.

For more information visit Welsh Gymnastics and follow @GymnationWales on Twitter.

Cycling - So you want to be the next Geraint or Nicole?

Ian Jenkins is Director of Cycling Development at Welsh Cycling. With Nicole Cooke and Geraint Thoamas dazzling the nation with their pedal power,  Ian tells us why any budding cyclists out there should take up the sport and how.

Geraint Thomas: Men's Team Pursuit Olympic champion

The ‘whizz’ of wheels, flash of colour and shouts of excitement can be seen at any cycle event, be it the extremes of off-roading at a Mountain Bike race, the speed of sprinting in a Road event or the thrills (and spills!) experienced on the BMX circuit.

Cycle sport is unique in allowing all abilities to compete over similar terrain, enjoying the competition whilst experiencing the ‘buzz’ of professional racing. Fancy the Olympic Mountain Bike Race? Get into the woods and race the trails! Tour de France? Sprint for the road signs! 

Cycling is a fantastic sport where participants on any bike can enjoy the thrill of racing, and where everyone can match their endeavours to the professionals…

Many people have a bike. Gathering dust in the garage – get out the hose pipe! Feeling flat in the shed – pump up the tyres and get pedalling! Cycle sport is often seen as the domain for an elite few, but opportunities exist where all abilities and ages can get involved, pin on a number and head to the start line. 

Disciplines such as Cyclo Cross are easy to enter and with a reasonable level of general fitness, ideal for those wishing to exercise their competitive spirit in the company of like minded enthusiasts! It also allows for an fun workout whilst enjoying the great outdoors.

The best way to find out where the best competitions, rides and like minded enthusiasts is through your local cycling club.

Finding a club is easy – check the ‘club finder’ link from British Cycling’s website and look for your chosen interest. Clubs are many and varied, so don’t be afraid to make contact and find out which suits you. Most clubs have a focus on specific disciplines, and many split between an interest in ‘true’ competition and personal challenges through popular ‘Sportive’ challenges and rides.

The club finder can be found from www.britishcycling.org.uk/clubfinder  .

Those dusting off their bike, getting active and even making the leap into competition will get a head start on the explosion of enthused new participants expected through the ‘Olympic interest’. Welsh stars and defending Champion’s Nicole Cooke and Geraint Thomas are expected to inspire a new generation of young and old participants to get active and take to the pedals!

Welsh Cycling are particularly keen for youngsters wanting to try the sport to enjoy one of our Go-Ride coaching or competition activities. Full details of your nearest club and competitions can be found on the Welsh Cycling website. Be inspired and try cycle sport – our next Olympian could be you!

Follow @WelshCycling on Twitter.

#2012cymruwales - Sue Maughan, Games Maker (Part 2)

With London 2012 now fully up and running, we hear from Sport Wales staff who are joining the thousands of volunteers who'll be keeping the Games ticking behind the scenes. We caught up with Senior Officer, Sue Maughan who has been chosen as a Games Maker official for athletics at both the Olympics and Paralympics. 

So with selection as a National Technical official in the bag (or so I thought) May saw the start of my journey to London, quite literally.

Every Olympic event had a designated test event, a chance for various aspects of the stadium to be put to the test, whether it’s the security, medal presentations or even how athletes will be led to their event start point. The athletics test event was the BUCS Athletics Championships, held between 4-7 May with the Paralympic test event taking place on 8 May. 

Sue Maughan: London 2012 Games Maker

So, on the train to London I got, with bags packed full of officiating kit, wet weather gear and clothes for a six day stay. I suppose hitting London at rush hour, and dragging my case and bags on the tube across London, will be good practice for July but note to self; try and avoid rush hour trains and tubes next time!

So I arrived at the hotel early evening, checked into my hotel just across the road from the Olympic Park, and joined the throng of other officials in the queue to get our event accreditation. I knew a few faces but I’d know a lot more by the end of the long weekend.

That evening we had a National Technical Officials (NTO) briefing scheduled which would be inside the stadium. For me it was my first visit to the Olympic Park and site of the stadium where I’d be spending several weeks over the summer. Security was minimal at this time of night but was our first taste of things to come. I think it’s fair to say that all the officials were like little kids, all wanting our photo taken, all with big grins on our faces...We were actually here, it was really happening. 

We were given a quick behind the scenes guided tour, avoiding the construction and finishing touches that were still underway, before being briefed. We were told we were selected because we were the best but it was also made clear that we were still under test with final selections being made at the end of the month.  Time to be on best behaviour!

The Olympic Stadium in Stratford

Following technology training the competition kicked off on Friday night. What an experience for those University students who were participating…one to tell their grandkids about.

Duties for me included the pole vault, discus, javelin and the long jump and as the weekend progressed the conviviality between officials grew, we sharpened up on our presentation, marching out to competition sites, sitting smartly at event sites. Our aim was not to be seen and noticed, but to ensure the competition ran as smoothly as possible. 

Five days of completion flew by and I think we even got a bit complacent about where we were, but it still brought a smile to my face when I thought about it. The next time I’d be here would be for the Olympics where things would be on a much bigger scale, with more people, more security and the athletes competing for much higher stakes.

The end of May finally brought the confirmation of ‘official selection as an NTO’ for the Olympics and Paralympics. Emails have since been flying in around arrival times, kit collection and even how much sun-cream we can take into the stadium and what sunglasses we can wear. So now it’s next stop London on 31 July with bags getting packed as we speak.

Keep track of all our Welsh athletes at London 2012 and follow @sport_wales on Twitter for all the latest news. Remember to use the #2012cymruwales hash tag!