M. Nasir enthralls crowd in latest concert
The crowd that turned up at Axiata Arena in Bukit Jalil here was transported to the golden era of Malay rock at the three-hour ‘Cipta 3: Malam Ini Gua Rock’ concert.
KUALA LUMPUR - Datuk M. Nasir performed to a packed venue on Saturday night, proving that at 68, the legendary artiste can still captivate an audience.
The crowd that turned up at Axiata Arena in Bukit Jalil here was transported to the golden era of Malay rock at the three-hour ‘Cipta 3: Malam Ini Gua Rock’ concert.
Performing 31 songs, the show reflected the journey of the celebrated singer, composer and lyricist, weaving together his life philosophy, nostalgia and the raw essence of rock that has been part of him for more than four decades.
He opened the night with a medley of ‘Isi Atau Kulit’, ‘Musnah’ and ‘Jerangkung Dalam Almari’, followed by the epic anthems ‘Pembakar Perasaan’ and ‘Opera Hidup’, his "golden” voice mesmerising the audience.
This was no ordinary concert. The thunderous cheers and fans’ singalongs shook the arena, bearing witness to the greatness of this Singapore-born artiste who remains firmly at the peak of his artistry despite his age.
"’Cipta 3’ is my way of honouring the rock bands and singers who have performed my songs. So I see this as both an opportunity and a blessing to express myself in rock through a concert of this scale,” he said at the post-concert press conference. He also revealed that the three-hour show had to be shortened, forcing him to drop 10 songs from the setlist.
Dressed in his usual casual style, M. Nasir also sang ballads like ‘Laila Namamu Teratas’ and ‘Srikandi Cintaku’ and poetic pieces such as ‘Pertama dan Selamanya’, ‘Rendang Tak Berbuah’ and ‘Mahligai Syahdu’.
The atmosphere intensified when he delivered ‘Di Jalan Sesat’, ‘Aku dah Bosan’, ‘Hipokrasi’, ‘Cinta Sepi’ and ‘Gemuruh’, stirring the emotions of the audience even further.
The nostalgia deepened when the maestro delivered ‘Impian Seorang Nelayan’ and a medley of ‘Perjuangan’, ‘Hati Emas’, ‘Gerhana’ and ‘Duit Duit’, originally performed by the 1980s band Kembara of which he was a member.
He ended the performance with ‘Apokalips’ and ‘Pawana’, reimagined in a ‘koplo’ style (an Indonesian dangdut-rock fusion). The crowd danced and cheered as though unwilling to let the night end.
M.Nasir, meanwhile, said he is grateful that he can still deliver his songs in the original pitch.
"That comes from discipline, that is, taking care of myself and my diet as well as training. Many of my peers no longer have the ability because of the struggles of life (not being able to take care of themselves and their health). So I consider myself fortunate to still be able to perform at this level," he said.
Even so, he admitted to facing challenges performing some songs originally written for other singers, such as ‘Gemuruh’, which demands a higher vocal range. Still, he delivered them with energy and passion.
M. Nasir also made it clear that his journey is far from over.
"’Cipta 3’ is not the finale. As long as I am healthy, as long as I have loyal fans and media support, I will continue," he said. - BERNAMA
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