Since I’m already on, might as well get some work done eh?
Tickets are at RM350.00, RM550.00, RM1,000.00. Kindly call the number provided for enquiries.
Also, Concorde Hotel Kuala Lumpur is offering a special promotion price for their rooms, call them to find out!
Oh, and D? CONGRATS ON BEING AN AUNT!
Ahh.. I think quite a few people are still reminiscing about THE concert. Me too, of course. Two days. Istana Budaya. Festival Muzik Kuala Lumpur.
The preparation were, as expected, endless. Song selection. Concept. Song arrangement. Meetings. Meetings. MORE meetings. There were so many things to do, and soo not much time. The fact that the RM25 and RM80 tickets were sold out after THREE days of ticket sale added to the excitement, and the nerves too.
Bosses have been going back and forth for meetings, discussions, rehearsals, what have yous.
S and I started going over on Monday.
Alah Cik K, tak yah la banyal songel. Jom tengok gambar saja.
The pictures below were of the rehearsals a few days before the concert. I love, love, LOVE the string section. I present, Orkestra Simfoni Kebangsaan, di bawah pimpinan Encik Mustafa Fuzer Nawi.
Ah-ha. The band was also there to add to the atmosphere. Those who have been to previous performances would know who they are.
I was around backstage area you know? where the dressing rooms were? tetiba ada pulak bilik labelled with this. Entahla bilik sapa. (Duh)
Then there were stage rehearsals. To see that the montages were in order, the screens were working and all.
Can you just SEE the determination?
AND THEN.
After sleepless nights preparing this and that, we were at the actual concert. Although I was working, I was actually able to be in the Auditorium itself, among the crowd. (Ok, ok, so at back of the crowd. Be petty, why don’t you).
It is actually very difficult to describe how I personally feel during both days of the concert. Even after all these years, and after so many performances attended, I would never fail to enjoy myself. I still get that… you know the rush, and the tingly bits up and down your spine? (I don’t even know how to describe it) when Mungkin and Ketulusan Hati were rendered. Padahal dah dengar bertahun-tahun. There would always be something different about the way the songs were delivered, the feeling it brings, and the feel he exudes as he delivers the songs.
MY personal favourite would definitely be the 80’s tribute. I first heard them during the runthrough. As luck would have it, S was freezing so she kinda took over my duties for awhile, giving me the opportunity to RUSH to the front of the stage and lose myself in the songs. Mengaku saja la, lupa diri terus. S was like going ‘WHERE the hey were you, i needed help and then I saw you shaking your booty nuuun kat depan sana!!!!‘
Ehem.
I still get goosebumps when I think of it. How he can deliver them in such a different way yet Still retain the feeling of nostalgia, I seriously have no idea. And i got the rush for 3 days straight, starting from the runthrough, mind you!
Honestly, I think, I wasn’t really working on the two days. Well, i WAS at my station la. But as soon as Kaulah Satunya comes on, I was shaking like an erupting volcano on my seat. Not to mention during Permata, Bila Resah, Suria & Siarra and Kau Bunga Cintaku, the laptop was untouched. Untouched, since i was busy shakin’ and movin’. Bakal je the space was limited, and i really didn’t want to end up on lap of the guy in front of me lah kan. Then only nak kelam kabut locating my place on the laptop.
I am sooo losing my job after these admissions kan?
And the crowd was FANTASTIC. You should be proud of yourselves, fans! You REALLY know how to shake it and enjoy yourselves!
The first day crowd was very.. mobile. They were shakin’, they were moving body parts, they were crying shamelessly during some songs.
The second day crowd weren’t moving so much, but they were more vocal, which was also inspiring. (Eh wah, macam akak yang buat konsert ni). Obviously IN LOVE. (hik, sorry, couldn’t resist).
But I think what warmed my heart the most was how the whole auditorium reverberated (is this the right word even?) in harmony, singing to some of the songs. THE most beautiful singing I have ever heard.
I wanted to share this pic, because of the picture on the left and right. It was a newspaper clipping from several years back, and it reads “All Rise for Anuar Zain”.
We did. Both nights. because it WAS a Phenomenon.
Next day, the office was like ‘Dawn of the Zombies’. We couldn’t remember what we talked about, what we did, what we ate even (which is unusual for me ok?).
Be-rapa lama, harus ku nanti, dapat pergi konsert lagi?
I get asked this question again and again.
My apologies to some I wasn’t able to meet, chat, and lepak-lepak with. Penat dow.
vote Anuar Zain for Most Popular Artist (Malaysia)
It’s alllll happening at Istana Budaya gang! 1st & 2 nd July 2009. See you there!
for tickets, go to http://ticket2u.biz
haaaaaaaa
I think for once, I will try to be current.
hah currentlah sangat.
aaanywayssss… 6th of February 2009.
A magical date. The zenith of a few months of planning, selling tickets, etc etc.
Frankly I was exhausted that night. We were at Concorde Hotel, KL, on the move from morning up until the end.
This was basically, a private, intimate affair. No press, not much publicity, only the fans. It was only advertised on the net, and was only briefly mentioned in the newspapers a few days before the event was to go on.
But it was worth it.
Because it was a fantastic night. The man gave his best. The crowd was responsive, enthralled.
To me, what was magical about the event was that… everything was different than the ‘usual’ Anuar Zain performance. Even the decor was different. The concept is of course, not like your normal Secretaries’ Week do. This is more personal. It is after all Anuar.. piano.. & YOU.
And Anuar Zain was in his element. Every song was delivered in his own inimitable style, making them his own. My favourite would be Kain Pelikat all jazzed up (was it jazz or swing or big band?). Impromptu, and so different that the audience only realised what it was during the la la la part. Ingenious.
I love this picture, because it proves the unity of the fans. Almost everyone in almost perfect angular position holding their phone/digicam/recordable watch. Or else, they have this rapturous look on their face. The ballroom may be dark, but you can still see the glow on their faces.
So that was how it went. The evening ended past midnight, song after song after song after song.
And there WERE a lot of songs. So if you happened to not enjoy Anuar Zain (i assume you are in denial), you would enjoy the decor (sangat gojes la Z).
Magical.
Why la I chose such a long title when i wanted to make it into several hundred episodes kan? Thank goodness this would be the last in the trilogy.
Well, we all know what happened on that Saturday, 8th November 2008. The concert. Which was held here:
Esplanade. Where it all happened.
We were there early. Very early. (By MY definition lah, you know?)
Things are very strict there, and everyone needed passes to get in and out. So in the end I spent a lot of time inside, because i really can’t be bothered to check in and out everytime.
This would be my favourite place (Thank You Esplanade for providing this)
Ah-ha.. the Boardroom.Where big decisions are made. Where i get all my big ideas. hik.
Anyways, suddenly suddenly i don’t have a lot to tell pulak. Typical eh? So i’ll just do what i normally do, fill up the silence with pictures.
Anyhoo a picture paints a thousand words, does it not? or so the song goes…
Yes. You can’t just simply saunter into the concert hall with your selipar jepun and expect to be taken seriously eh? We now know that the IN footwear at The Esplanade is…. Phua Chu Kang boots.. Colour optional (they’re not THAT strict after all)
I wonder who’s behind this door? ehehehe.
But of course, would any of my entries be complete without my favourite subject?
Noooooooooooooo.
The organisers really gave us good food (Thank you Kevin). This is from The Donut Factory, and see the ones with white topping and yummy black stuff on top of it? The oreo donut will forever be my Dream Donut. I still drool when i think of it. And this hearthrob back in Singapore promised me a bunch of these… tanda kaseh sayang kita kan FF? (Akak sendiri geli dengan statement ini). But hey, I will not forget! (BB, DD, ZZ and everyone else with double alphabets, please remind the aforementioned hearthrob).
And for dinner, we had this tummylicious treat:
It’s kind of a fusion Chicken Rice with chicken chop, fish fingers (or was it Foo Chuk>) and veggies and tofu. Heaven I tell you.
But I had a lot of donuts, and only had ONE pack of this (Dah saket kah Knitwit? Only ONE pack???).
*Sigh*
Have I said that I hate doing food blogs? Because they make me sooooooooo hungry!
Oh yes, i now remember why we were at Esplanade…
This was rehearsal. No need to say anything more right? (Yang tak melibatkan makanan pendek saja penerangannya kan?)
I think that there is nothing that hasn’t been said about the concert. The Man was mesmerising, the sound amazing, the lighting fantastic, the whole atmospehere and bonding between him, the fans, the music…. was.. well you HAD to be there to know what i mean. Indescribable ( NO, I am soo not being biased).
And after that exhilarating experience, we had to celebrate it all eh? What did I do?
Of course.
Ah-ha… this is sup tulang and sirap bandung. Finally something red eh? The sup is red, and not soupy at all. The sirap is kinda pinkish and very, very sedap (to quote my boss, is there anything yang tak sedap, K?) Honestly though, I was too tired to do the ‘let’s get to the best middle part’ thingy because you really had to suck. And suck hard.
Let’s keep it clean, people.
Next time we go again ok gang?
So here ends my Singapore trip. Short, busy, yet meaningful.
Oh yes.
A lot of people were a bit disappointed that there wasn’t a meet the fan session.
Well, apparently, ONE fan got to meet him.
It’s ok. I do understand the jealousy. And I forgive you for hating me.
Yeahh.
The Singapore experience is a long, long picturesque story, so it warrants a few entries. Basically because i want my pictures BIG, you understand. And i love telenovela-ing everything eh? So we need a few episodes, no?
Why do i even NEED to explain? Everybody knows The Knitwit is a DramaQueen.
So there I was in Singapore. Kunun – kunun wanted to take pictures riiiight from the beginning lah kan? The bus trip, the departure, the arrival, etcetera.
But hey, it was real early when we started off okeys? Not my best when you have to be upright so early. I prefer the supine position, thank you. So there it is, I can only share when i am actually in Singapore, after a shower and chit chat and what have yous. Which means, malam lah.
We stayed at The Amara Hotel, our gracious sponsor. It’s a beautiful hotel.
And i squeezed in a bit of sightseeing hat night, before actual work starts.
On the way to makan – makan, I saw this structure somewhere…
I like. So unity.
So we actually went to makan at Lau Pa Sat. I actually found out that was the name of the place we went to when searching for the link ok? Knitwit is a bimbo when she’s hungry. This (according to the websites) used to be an old market. But I love the architecture of the place.
so cantik. I am especially besotted with the arches:
sooooooooo cantik. Imagine me terdongak – dongak taking pictures k? Eeeeeverybody knows I am not Singaporean.
I also like this concept? Where they have a stage on a raised platform? really cool I thought.
But let’s get to my favourite topic, FOOD.
At Lau Pa Sat, we had a blast. Tummy-wise that is.
yaaaaa…. Nasi Goreng Kampung, Satay, Rojak Buah, Chicken Wings and Mango Ice Kacang.
So, not everything is red in Singapore as rumoured ya? And they all taste very nice. No, it isn’t because I was hungry.
ah-ha. And this is definitely a firm fave. Char Kuey stuffed with sotong. Very, very sedap k? And i’ve never seen in KL (got meh?)
i also like this. The Ais. Singapore style, ehehehe.
And in that short span of time, I also got to do a bit of sight- seeing…
ehem. It’s actually called One Fullerton, tapi tak muat kamera pule. Hik.
Amateur.
Anyways, I got some Singapore monuments as it were eh?
Pictures, i mean. Hik.
Jangan sampai orang tak caya Aunty K pegi Singapore pulak kan?
Ah-haaaa…. The Singapore Flyer. At least i get to take picture kan?
And of course, no trip to Singapore would be complete without:
Ah-haaaaaaaaaaaaaa. The Merlion. Must take picture right?
Thanks to my friends who had kindly taken me to these sights, makan-makan and shopping-shopping…..
ahh..
Welcome back Knitwit (for the nth time). It’s been awhile, i’ve got so many things to share yet haven’t, and i really have no excuse for it. Work? Maybe. Stress? A possibility. Laziness? A certainty.
Oh well.
Singapore last November was a memorable trip for me. Other than the fact it was for a fantastic concert, I also have not been there for the longest time. Maybe 8-9 years? And the last time I was there was when i was young (eh wah young la sangat) and i only went to the clubs you know?
So it was exciting for me in many ways, to be back in Singapore.
But of course, most great things have a beginning. And everything began in Malaysia. ( that is SO corny Knitwit).
With rehearsals of course.
yeah. notice that all my pictures are kinda cropped with this new background. but hey, i want my pictures BIG.
The hot seat. (Actually the studio was rather cold)
The hot mike (for rehearsals only)
The hot, hot band.
Yeah, we Malaysians are a hot lot.
Well? what are you waiting for? Tickets on sale today! Click on the picture for more info!
Aunty K now has a new addition to the Royal Rebel. Well, it’s been added weeks ago, but only today I had time to tell, you know? *sigh*
Baby Eryna Safira was born on the 17th of December 2008.
I just want to share with the world my new niece! (World ke?)
This is Eryna, a few days old (two days was it? Tula, lambat-lambat lagi buat entry!!)
And here she is, as of yesterday:
she’s a doll when she’s not bawling eh? (Ask my sister, she definitely knows ahahaha)
