Award-winning singer Dayang Nurfaizah recently celebrated two decades in the music industry with a show like no other. The concert, simply called Dayang Dua Dekad, was a one-night affair and held at Istana Budaya a day after her 38th birthday.
While she had had a low-key birthday celebration the day before, Dayang Nurfaizah Awang Dowty saw at least 1,400 fans pack into the concert hall, and later, sing her a birthday song.
It was anything but a quiet evening.
When it comes to the pint-sized singer, she still has her legion of loyal fans to fill Istana Budaya, even after two decades in the industry. The tickets for the show were snapped up in less than 24 hours!
There’s no denying that Dayang is indeed a vocal powerhouse who never fails to deliver and entertain.
“We decided to honour her request of only one night, even though many wanted us to extend the show,” said Shirazdeen Karim of Shiraz Projects, the concert organiser.
Well, whatever the reason may be, it worked out just fine. As for those who missed it, Shirazdeen said that there would be a similar concert planned across the Causeway come Dec 28 at Mediacorp’s MES Theatre.
In an interview prior to the concert, Dayang said that she drew inspiration from Grammy-winning English singer-songwriter Adele. Without antics or a troupe of dancers on stage, Dayang had the audience in her hands, thanks to her powerful vocals.
She performed her hit numbers as well as some classic tunes from singers of yesteryear.
Accompanied by 11 musicians and back-up singers, she took the audience journeying through hit songs she had recorded over the past 20 years. With just lighting and a huge screen in the background, she delivered an “upclose and personal” performance.
Vocals aside, it was also her stage presence and the interaction in-between songs which further endeared her to the audience. Dayang was quite relaxed on stage, which only added to the show’s entertainment value. This prompted a fellow journalist to ask (during the press conference held right after the show) about how she had prepped before the show.
“Actually I was very nervous about not being able to meet audience expectations for the night. I’m just nervous to see if after 20 years, I’m still relevant in this industry,” she answered.
Anyway, Dayang did not do anything out of the ordinary to calm her nerves that day. “What I did not do was talk. I just kept quiet prior to the concert. I was afraid that if I engaged in small talk, I might lose my focus. So I just kept to myself,” Dayang told members of the media who had crammed into her small dressing room at the back of Panggung Sari.
Although nervous, the winner of TV3’s Anugerah Juara Lagu’s (AJL) for Best Vocal three years in a row just wanted to give her best for the evening. “Doing my best means not just in song delivery, but also other aspects which my loyal fans expect of me. Those who’d been supporting me for the last two decades would want something special to remember, and that, for me, is to present in such a way that they don’t feel apart from me.
“As soon as I stepped on stage, the nervous feeling started to ebb away as I began to see familiar faces in the front rows. They too helped me feel relaxed and calm,” she said.
TWO DECADES IN TWO HOURS
Naturally, during the two-hour concert, the audience was mesmerised by Dayang’s beautiful vocals, as she belted out songs which had been given fresh arrangements by the concert’s musical director, Genervie Kam.
The evening began with the Kuching-born songstress singing the song which had earned her Best Vocal accolade at
AJL 30 for Tak Pernah Menyerah. Although it had a new arrangement, her diehard fans agreed that the original melody of the number was intact. They said that her ability to give her songs a fresh interpretation during a live performance was always a pleasant surprise, and one of the reasons why they loved going to her concerts.
The audience was also charmed by her songs from her early days, such as
Seandainya Masih Ada Cinta, Mana Mungkin, Erti Hidup and Sedingin Mana Cinta Mu.
Before carrying on with the number Mati Ku Bercinta, Dayang expressed her gratitude to singer-songwriter Ajai, the song’s composer who was also at the concert hall that evening. She also thanked other fellow singers who were present — Fauziah Latif, Ziana Zain, Misha Omar, Indah Ruhaila, Sarah Suhairi and Fazley Zainal.
Next, she belted out a medley of her hits including Bahagia, Inginku Miliki, Sayang, Coretan Cinta, Kasih Maafkan dan Andaiku Tahu. The audience seemed to become even more excited when she began singing Haram, the duet sung originally with Hael Husaini, which was AJL 33’s best song.
Dayang said that she was lucky to be given a chance by a young singer-songwriter to collaborate on the single, which had enabled her to remain relevant till this day.
She added that songs from Di Pintu Syurga up to her latest single, Sebentar, have allowed her to attract new and younger fans.
Dayang also covered a medley of classics such as Sejak Ku Bertemu Pada Mu
(originally performed by Sanisah Huri), Jangan Tenung Tenung (Nona Asiah and Zaleha Hamid), Jalan Bersama (Saloma) as well as Bunga Anggerik (Latifah Omar).
“This is my way of introducing old songs to the younger generation,” said Dayang, who proved that her repertoire embraces more than just ballads and R&B tunes.
LOOKING AHEAD
Dayang’s emotional rendition of Di Pintu Syurga had moved some members of the audience to tears. Just before singing the last song of the night, she reminded the audience to appreciate their loved ones while they are still around.
The audience then chanted for an encore. So she bade them good night with two songs — Lelaki Teragung and Dayang Sayang Kamu.
“While it’s been a long journey, I know that there are still many other things I have yet to achieve,” she said.
“Maybe I’ll work on some different sounding material, just like my latest single Sebentar.
Having just turned 38, Dayang gave a sheepish smile when asked for the umpteenth time who the love of her life was. She answered that love and marriage were beyond her control. And no, there’s no romance between crooner Hael and her.
“I feel comfortable working with him. He’s talented and it has been proven that we’re good singing duets.”
Meanwhile, the success of her concert prompted a debate between Netizens who drew comparisons between her and Datuk Seri Siti Nurhaliza Tarudin, some going to the extent of saying that Dayang’s style of communication is much better.
Siti has responded saying she hopes that fans don’t draw comparisons between artistes.
“When you go for concerts, of course each experience will be different.
“I hope fans won’t get too carried away. If we as artistes can be friends with one another, I’m sure fans can do the same too, no?” Siti was quoted as saying in a report.