Top 10 Interesting Facts about Rossa

Indonesian singer Rossa at the 16th Anugerah Industri Muzik, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia by Irwandy Mazwir – Wikimedia Commons

Top 10 Interesting Facts about Rossa

Sri Rossa Roslaina Handiyani, known simply as Rossa in Indonesia and Dato’ Sri Rossa in Malaysia, is an Indonesian singer and businesswoman. Born in Sumedang, West Java, Indonesia on 9 October 1978, she is one of the most popular artists in Indonesian and Malay-speaking countries, the most expensive Indonesian singer in Malaysia, and the best-selling Indonesian artist of all time based on album sales, selling over eleven million copies in the region until 2021.

 As an Indonesian diva, Rossa has produced numerous hit songs and gained Multi-Platinum Award and  Million Award for her albums. Since 1999, her albums have been released in Southeast Asia and also Japan. Even until Rossa’s songs were famous, she was once paid 150 million rupiahs to sing one of her songs entitled “Sakura” and 210 million rupiahs to sing one of her songs entitled “Ayat-Ayat Cinta”.

Here are 10 Interesting Facts about Rossa.

1. Rossa is the Queen of Indonesian Pop

At the beginning of 2017, Rossa launched her latest album “A New Chapter” which incorporates collaborations with international musicians such as Mitch Allan, Tushar Apte, Fiona Bevan, and others. 

It was awarded the 4 Platinum Awards on 5 October 2017. She also received the “Planet Muzik Special Award (Category: Legend Award)” from Anugerah Planet Muzik (Regional Grammy Awards) in Singapore on 28 October 2018. The first Indonesian singer to receive a special award for this category.

2. Rossa is also regarded as the Queen of Concert in Indonesia

Rossa during a concert by BlackLuster – Wikimedia Commons

The prominent presenter of Metro TV, Alvin Adam, mentioned in his biography “The Story Book Just Alvin Part.2’’ that Rossa is the Queen of Concert in Indonesia because there are too many requests to sing at concerts.

Singer and judge for the talent show Judika also shares the same view as Alvin Adam that Rossa is the Queen of Concerts in Indonesia.

3. Rossa debuted as a singer when she was ten years old

Rossa debuted as a singer when she was ten years old with her first album, Gadis Ingusan, in 1988. In 1990, she released her second album titled Untuk Sahabatku under the supervision of Dian Records/Pro-Sound. 

Following this album, Rossa took time to complete her studies before continuing her journey with music. However, her career as a child singer was not yet successful.

4. The Best of Rossa is ranked 10th on the list of Indonesian all time best selling albums 

Rossa by BlackLuster – Wikimedia Commons

Rossa’s second compilation album, The Best of Rossa is ranked 10th on the list of Indonesian all-time best-selling albums with over 1.5 million copies. Her solo album Love, Life & Music also broke the Indonesian Record World Museum (MURI) and Indonesia Recording Industry Association (ASIRI) as the highest-selling Indonesian album of all time with over 100,000 copies of CD sold in a day.

Her songs have been used for over 155 soundtrack titles, both for films and soap operas until 2021. Rossa has won many awards with a total of more than 115 awards until 2021. 

5. In February 2019, Rossa became the first Indonesian artist to join SM Entertainment

In February 2019, Rossa became the first Indonesian artist and first Southeast Asian solo artist to join SM Entertainment, an International label, and management group from South Korea that handles famous artists such as Super Junior, Girls’ Generation, EXO, Red Velvet, NCT, BoA, Super-M, and many others.

6. In addition to being a singer, Rossa is also an actress

Rossa by Adhitya1806 – Wikimedia Commons

Rossa starred in the soap opera entitled Dua Sisi Mata Uang. One of her Singles, Tegar was also used as an original soundtrack for the Indonesian soap operas Suami, Istri & Dia. 

 In 2000, the album Tegar was also released in Malaysia under BMG Music. At the end of July 2000, Rossa released her new album entitled Hati Yang Terpilih exclusively for the soap opera of the same name. Outside Indonesia. She also starred in the soap opera entitled Perisai Kasih with her song Kepastian as its original soundtrack. 

7. Rossa released a self-titled album Rossa on 14 January 2009

The single of this album was entitled Terlanjur Cinta, a duet with Pasha, Hati Yang Kau Sakiti, Tega and many more. To promote this album, Rossa also held a concert tour “Cerita Cinta” in 7 major cities in Indonesia plus 1 concert in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The same year, Rossa was awarded “The Best Inspiring Woman (Kartini Awards, 2009)” and “The Best Video Clip Inbox Awards 2009”. Rossa was also awarded in Malaysia as “The Best Malay Song Performed by a Foreign Artist – Anugerah Industri Muzik.

8. Spotify, calls Rossa a Music Legend by most people in Indonesia

Rossa Diva Indonesia by BlackLuster – Wikimedia Commons

Meanwhile, singer Agnez Mo, during her time as a judge on Indonesian Idol, said that Rossa was one of the Indonesian singers who never made a mistake in every appearance, including the pitch and everything else is perfect. 

Rossa is also a female solo singer who contributes the most significant music royalties to 7 Indonesian music composers such as Melly Goeslaw, Icha Jikustik, Hendra Nurcahya, Yovie Widianto, Mery LC, Enda Ungu, & Rian D’Masiv.

9. Rossa is also able to sing traditional Sundanese songs, dangdut, hip-hop, EDM and R&B

Aside from being a pop singer, Rossa is also able to sing traditional Sundanese songs, dangdut, hip-hop, EDM, and  r&b. Rossa has also recorded songs in other languages such as Malay, English, and Korean. Actress and entertainer Nagita Slavina called Rossa the “Diva Millenial Indonesia” because even though Rossa’s songs were not released in the streaming era, her songs are still well known among kids from Generation Z. Meanwhile, singer Raisa said Rossa was a singer who always existed in every generation. Singer and songwriter who graduated with a music degree in Singapore, Isyana Sarasvati, said that Rossa is an inspirational figure because she has a perfect musical side as a singer.

10. Rossa has had more than 92 albums

During 25 Years of Work, Rossa has had more than 92 albums, including solos, compilations, and so on, more than 115 Awards, more than 155 Soundtracks, more than 130 songs, No.1 hits on Radio, physical album sales with over 11 million copies. 

As of 2021, 48 Singles over 1 Million Streams on Spotify most for Indonesian female singers in the streaming era, and the queen of Indonesian music streaming total of all credits. She is the most active Indonesian diva holding concerts every year starting in 2008 at JCC, including surrounding countries such as Malaysia, Singapore & Brunei Darussalam, with a total of more than 48 concerts, not including several other artists and other performances.