Created by musicians Silet Open Up, Jacson Zeran, Juan Reza, and Diva Aurel, the track fuses modern beats with authentic Minangkabau musical elements.
Its unique sound has captivated millions, with listeners across Indonesia singing and dancing to celebrate the country’s cultural richness.
"I think keeping the Minang element was the best decision. It became the song’s identity," said Silet Open Up, who played a central role in the production, in a statement here Wednesday.
Released in 2025 after a creative process that began the year before, Tabola Bale took an unconventional approach. The chorus was written first, with the rest of the song completed in just one week.
Although the Minangkabau influence was initially set aside, the team ultimately kept it — a choice that proved crucial to the song’s success.
Since its launch, Tabola Bale has gone viral. The official YouTube video has racked up over 241 million views. On TikTok, the track has been used nearly 9 million times, while Instagram Reels has seen 1.6 million uses.
The song also took center stage during Indonesia’s 80th Independence Day celebrations in August 2025, performed live at the Merdeka Palace.
President Prabowo Subianto was seen smiling and dancing along, adding to the jubilant mood.
The track’s success underscores the growing influence of local cultural elements in global digital media. Silet Open Up expressed hope that the song continues to inspire unity and joy.
“I hope this song keeps entertaining, brings peace, and helps us forget life’s burdens, even just for a moment. May it unite us, not divide us,” Silet Open Up said.
Tabola Bale is available on all major streaming platforms, and its official music video can be viewed on Silet Open Up’s YouTube channel.
The song’s popularity reached new heights on October 1, 2025, when several MotoGP riders danced to Tabola Bale after a parade in Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara.
Joined by local children performing traditional choreography, the racers danced on the main stage at Teras Udayana, cheered on by thousands of spectators.
Though some appeared slightly awkward, the riders' enthusiasm won over the crowd. The song’s infectious rhythm quickly turned the gathering into a mass dance celebration.
Among the MotoGP stars who joined the dance were Francesco Bagnaia, Marco Bezzecchi, Luca Marini, Brad Binder, Miguel Oliveira, Raul Fernandez, Franco Morbidelli, Fabio Di Giannantonio, Somkiat Chantra, and Indonesia’s own Moto2 rider, Mario Aji.
Related news: Prabowo dances to Tabola Bale in joyful Independence Day celebration
Translator: Livia K, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Primayanti
Copyright © ANTARA 2025
