_{Source: Pexels, modified}

Joko. His full name was Joko Widodo. He was a legendary busker from Solo. He was the son of a Solo nobleman who chose a career as a busker. He was a talented musician and a student of contemporary musician Tony Prabowo. Ten years ago, after finishing high school, he joined a textile ship to the United States.

He made it to San Francisco, the city of dreams for buskers like him. There he busked wherever he could. Some buskers then took him to New York. There he became acquainted with several sailors who later helped smuggle him into Europe.

"You have had a great adventure, Joko," I said, pushing a large glass of beer in front of him. We were drinking at For Whom The String Clink Pub, which was located at the intersection of Wittgenstein Street and Chomsky Street. Maxim patted his shoulder in appreciation.

"Not extraordinary," said Joko. "I'm only following in the footsteps of some of my predecessors."

"Are they successful?" asked Maxim The Saxophonist.

"Few were successful. But many failed and ended up being deported," said Joko.

"Rod Stewart was also deported," said Maxim.

"Do we need to try New York and San Francisco, Max?" I asked Maxim.

"Good idea," said Maxim, bursting out laughing. His white teeth were shiny in the light of the light.

"But I tried to conquer Buskeria first. There are many challenges here," he said. Buskeria was a city in Rising Star game.

"Have you ever been arrested by the police?" I asked Joko.

"Almost. But, my busker friends helped me. Their solidarity was high," said Joko. "They know that if I get caught by the police, I'll be deported and my journey is over."

"Do Solo buskers also have high solidarity?" asked Maxim.

"Yes. In almost all the cities I have visited, the buskers have strong solidarity. Maybe because we feel in the same boat," said Joko.

"Who is the famous Solo busker?" I asked.

"His name is Didi Kempot. He started his career as a singer of mixed songs. It's a Javanese pop song with dangdut rhythms. He started his career as a busker in Solo and Jakarta before becoming famous and made dozens of albums. He wrote hundreds of songs. One of the famous ones is Ambyar. The theme of his songs is generally about sadness so that his fans gave him the nickname as the Godfather of Broken Heart, "said Joko.

"Unfortunately, he died last year," Joko added. "I want to be like him, to be a famous musician too."

"Then let's toast to the Godfather of Broken Heart," I said, raising my glass.

We toasted. On the pub stage, the Blues Brother warmed up the atmosphere with songs that invited the audience to dance.

_{Source: Eugen Buzuk from Pexels}

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Mimpi Menjadi Bintang (Bagian 10): Pengamen Solo

Joko. Nama lengkapnya Joko Widodo. Dia pengamen legendaris dari Solo. Dia anak bangsawan Solo yang memilih karir sebagai pengamen. Dia pemusik berbakat dan murid musisi kontemporer Tony Prabowo. Sepuluh tahun lalu, setelah tamat sekolah menengah atas, dia menyusup ke sebuah kapal pengangkut tekstil ke Amerika Serikat.

Dia berhasil sampai di San Fransisco, kota impian para pengamen seperti dia. Di sana dia mengamen di mana saja dia bisa. Beberapa pengamen kemudian mengajaknya ke New York. Di sana dia berkenalan dengan beberapa pelaut yang kemudian membantu menyelundupkannya ke Eropa.

"Petualanganmu luar biasa, Joko," kataku sambil mendorong segelas besar bir ke depannya. Saat itu kami sedang minum-minum di For Whom The String Clink Pub, yang terletak di persimpangan Wittgenstein Street dan Chomsky Street. Maxim menepuk-nepuk bahunya sebagai tanda apresiasi.

"Tidak luar biasa," kata Joko. "Saya hanya mengikuti jejak beberapa pendahulu saya."

"Apakah mereka berhasil?" tanya Maxim The Saxophonist.

"Ada yang berhasil. Tapi banyak yang gagal dan akhirnya dideportasi," kata Joko.

"Rod Stewart juga pernah dideportasi," kata Maxim.

"Apa kita perlu menjajal New York dan San Fransisco, Max?" tanya saya kepada Maxim.

"Ide yang bagus," kata Maxim seraya terbahak-bahak. Gigi putihnya mengkilap terkena cahaya lampu.

"Tapi aku mencoba menaklukkan Buskeria dulu. Di sini banyak tantangan," kata dia.

"Apakah kau pernah ditangkap polisi?" tanyaku kepada Joko.

"Nyaris. Tapi, teman-teman pengamen menolongku. Solidaritas mereka tinggi," kata Joko. "Mereka tahu bahwa kalau aku tertangkap polisi, aku akan dideportasi dan tamatlah perjalananku."

"Apakah pengamen Solo juga punya solidaritas yang tinggi?" tanya Maxim.

"Ya. Hampir di semua kota yang pernah kudatangi, para pengamen punya solidaritas yang kuat. Mungkin karena mereka merasa senasib," kata Joko.

"Siapa pengamen Solo yang terkenal?" tanyaku.

"Namanya Didi Kempot. Dia memulai karir sebagai pengamen lagu-lagu campur sari. Itu lagu pop berbahasa Jawa dengan irama dangdut. Dia mengawali karir sebagai pengamen di Solo dan Jakarta sebelum akhirnya terkenal dan mencetak puluhan album. Lagunya ratusan. Salah satu yang terkenal berjudul Ambyar. Tema lagunya umumnya tentang kesedihan sehingga penggemarnya memberu dia julukan sebagai Godfather of Broken Heart," kata Joko.

"Sayang, dia meninggal tahun lalu," Joko menambahkan. "Saya ingin seperti dia, bisa menjadi musisi yang terkenal juga."

"Kalau begitu, mari kita bersulang untuk Godfather of Broken Heart," kataku sambil mengangkat gelas.

Kami pun bersulang. Di panggung pub itu, kelompok Blues Brother menghangatkan suasana dengan lagu-lagu yang mengajak penonton berdansa.

_{Source: Ruslan Alekso from Pexels}

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