[3] The following year, he recorded "Lilin-Lilin Kecil" for the Prambors Radio Teenage Songwriting Competition (Lomba Cipta Lagu Remaja);[4] the single, written by James F. Sundah, became his signature song.

[5][6] During this period he also released the highly unsuccessful Jurang Pemisah with Jockie Soerjoprajogo; Chrisye later described its sales as "warm as chicken shit".

[a][7] The successes of Guruh Gipsy, "Lilin-Lilin Kecil", and Badai Pasti Berlalu led Amin Widjaja of Musica Studios to sign Chrisye;[8] he would stay with the company for the rest of his career.

For promotion, Chrisye had a cameo in the film Puspa Indah Taman Hati (1979), in which he sang "Galih dan Ratna" and "Gita Cinta".

[11] Because Chrisye was disappointed with his only major acting role, in Seindah Rembulan (1980), and the failure of his next album, Pantulan Cita (1981), he took a two-year sabbatical.

[19] Two years later, the music video for "Setia" from Konser Tur 2001 stirred up controversy for its portrayal of a woman in skintight clothing, considered against Eastern values.