Before we start with the list, I would first like to say that this list in by no means definitive. I am well aware that this list probably is leaving out such greats Sharifah Aini’s Selamat Hari Raya or Anuar and Ellina’s Suasana Di Hari Raya, but in my defence, I must also declare that I am a person that doesn’t personally celebrate Raya – I only participate in its celebration vicariously – so this list, although titled the Greatest Raya song of All Time, should have probably been titled as the most memorable Raya song that someone who doesn’t celebrate Raya appreciates.
This list, in other words, are the best Raya songs from an outsider point of view, and an outsider’s point, you have to agree, even if not definitive, is also a meaningful measure of what should be considered as the all time greatest of anything.
So without further ado, here is the list.
5. Aisha Retno, Aziz Harun - Ketipak Ketipung Raya
In recent times, one of the Raya songs that has left a strong impression on me is Aisha Retno and Aziz Harun’s Ketipak Ketipung Raya. Although it was just released in 2024, and thus it might be a little too early to say as to whether it will have the sort of endurance that is necessary to induct in into the list of the greatest of all time, I think I am going to list it anyway, under the reasoning that I did enjoy it very much, and you should at least add one new entry into a list of the all-time best, in order to keep it alive and fresh.
Ketipak Ketipung Raya reminds me of a celebration where everyone is happy that they were a part of something that went well.
It is akin to the happiness that you feel with your team , after all of you have succeeded in completing the task that was handed to you.
You are happy with yourself for doing a good job, you are happy that the job is well done, you are happy with your team that they did a good job, your team is happy that you have done your part well and everybody is happy that they are a part of the team where everything went well.
It is, in other words, a Raya song that makes you feel that you should be happy with yourself as well as happy with everyone else, as you celebrate a day or moment after everything went well.
4. Uji Rashid, Hail Amir – Seloka Hari Raya
I think Uji Rashid and Hail Amir’s Seloka Hari Raya is the song that makes it easiest to appreciate Hari Raya. Even if you are a kid, a foreigner or someone who doesn’t celebrate Hari Raya, listening to Seloka Hari Raya will imbibe you with the understanding that Hari Raya is a day of festivities and celebration, and you are welcome to be a part of it.
There is something very inclusive, easy to understand and welcoming about Seloka Hari Raya, and considering that we live in a multicultural country ,where we might not always have full knowledge of the events and and important days of everyone around us, I think that Seloka Hari Raya deserves a place in the list of the all time greats, simply because it effortlessly puts you in the right mood and vibe for Hari Raya, even if you don't celebrate it.
Make no mistake, by itself is a catchy song, that has endured the test of time and will probably continue to endure it for many more years to come, but the extra X factor that causes me to put in this list, is that it is also a song that is effortlessly transmits the Hari Raya mood and vibe.
3. Dato' Sudirman - Balik Kampung (Audio Video)
There was a time when social media was not yet a thing and a road trip was not something that you can do on a whim, and in these halcyon days, the only time that you will be able to meet and interact with your cousins and relatives was during an occasion like Raya.
As the awaited day nears, Balik Kampung’s chorus “ balik kampung, ooh ooh ooh balik kampung, ooh ooh ooh balik kampung, hati girang” , perfectly captures your emotions at the time.
It represents the excitement of knowing that great happiness awaits you just around the corner.
It is the song that will set you in the right mood in anticipation of Raya, just as how the final battle scene in an action movie, sets you in the right frame of mind to appreciate the final victory.
2. M. Nasir – Satu Hari Di Hari Raya
I think there is something in all of us that aspires for something that transcends our mundane experiences, and M. Nasir’s Satu Hari Di Hari Raya is a classic song that satisfies that foundational instinct in all of us, on the occasion of Hari Raya.
Hari Raya is just not a celebration, it is also a spiritual experience, and there is no song to remind you of that, other than M. Nasir’s Suatu Hari di Hari Raya .
If you wish to remind yourself as to the deeper meaning and significance of Raya, Suatu Hari di Hari Raya is a must on the playlist.
1. P. Ramlee - Suara Takbir
There is a saying that there is no happiness that is greater than peace, and there is no better Raya song that encapsulates that aspect of Hari Raya other than P. Ramlee’s Suara Takbir. Other Raya songs celebrate other aspects of joy and happiness that one can expect to experience during Raya, but Suara Takbir is arguably the only one that showcases the happiness in the day in the form of peace and contentment.
For this reason, I crown P.Ramlee's evergreen Suara Takbir as my top pick for the best Raya song.
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