'The Finale' Perfect Closing To KRU Concert Series

By Nurhafizah Tan

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 24 (Bernama) -- Staging six mega concerts this year and performing to full houses is far from an ordinary feat, yet that is exactly what Malaysia’s legendary trio KRU has achieved.

After creating a sensation with their four-day GenKRU concert series in the capital in May and later in Singapore in June, brothers Datuk Norman Abdul Halim, Datuk Yusry and Edry returned to perform once again, this time on an even grander stage.

The trio delivered a memorable finale for their fans through ‘The Finale: One More Time’ concert, which drew more than 15,000 people to the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil here on Saturday night.

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Continuing to impress with high-energy performances of their hits such as ‘Awas’, ‘Mengerti’ and ‘Oh La La’, which had the crowd singing and dancing along, the brothers also sang several rarely performed tracks, including ‘Fobi’ and ‘Salah Siapa’.

“Have you ever heard these songs? These are rare tracks; some of you may not have heard them, but if you know them, you’re definitely GenKRU,” Edry quipped.

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An early surprise for the audience was the special appearance of Rabbani, performing ‘Intifada’ with KRU. This is the first time KRU themselves performed the nasyid (Islamic song) they composed live on stage.

KRU, which embarked on its musical career in 1992, also treated fans to a brand-new song titled ‘One More Time’.

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Adding a more polished and refreshing touch to their performance, the trio infused new musical arrangements into the show, including brass elements that added colour and dynamism to their hit songs.

“We never imagined the three of us would reunite on stage again. After our concert at Istana Budaya here (‘Konsert Gergasi KRU 25’ in 2018), we thought that was the end,” Norman said.

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While audiences are accustomed to seeing Yusry — known for the song ‘Dekat Padamu’ — perform solo, this edition also highlighted Edry and Norman individually, giving fans the chance to see them perform without being overshadowed by the other members.

Through numbers like ‘Freaky G’, ‘Diari Metropolitan’ and ‘Go KRU’, Norman took fans on a nostalgic journey through the golden era of hip-hop and dancefloor classics, complete with breakdancers, proving that age has not dulled the 53-year-old rapper’s energy or charisma.

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Edry, meanwhile, performed a duet with guest artiste Datin Juliana Banos, who returned to the spotlight after more than 20 years, through the romantic ballad ‘Sehidup Semati’.

KRU also had social media personality Kasih Iris Leona and cosmetics entrepreneur Datuk Seri Hasmiza Othman, better known as Datuk Seri Vida, as special guests when performing ‘Gerenti Beres’, prompting loud cheers from an amused audience.

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Edry also informed the audience that they were worried about their father Abdul Halim Kamal, 84, who was hospitalised three weeks earlier due to a liver infection.

“I’m sad because our father had hoped to attend this concert, but he couldn’t make it… please pray for his recovery,” he said before continuing the show.

Nevertheless, ‘The Finale: One More Time’ served as a fitting finale to KRU’s over 30-year musical journey, leaving fans with cherished memories of growing up alongside the group’s songs and evolving music.

-- BERNAMA