MALAYSIAN rock music's grooviest grandpa Datuk Suhaimi Abdul Rahman, better known as Amy, and his band Search gave 5,000 fans an electrifying performance recently at Mega Star Arena, in Sungei Wang Plaza, Jalan Sultan Ismail, Kuala Lumpur.
He had prepared for the event by walking 4km to 5km a week for more than a month.
TWO HOURS
Amy and his band — comprising bassist Nasir Daud and guitarists Hillary Ang and Man Kidal (Abdul Rahman Mahmood) — performed for two hours.
The 8.30pm concert, which featured the beautiful keyboardist and music director Rie Tsuji and drummer Jenk Ali, was titled Search Symphonic Live In Kuala Lumpur.
Dressed in black suits and bow ties, Amy, Nasir, Hillary and Man performed 20 of the band's hit songs with brand new operatic arrangements, in collaboration with 26 experienced orchestral musicians from around the country led by conductor Datuk Mokhzani Ismail.
ON THEIR FEET
Amy, 66, kept fans on their feet. He urged them to sing along by displaying his "arm stretch" gesture and clarion call "phweet".
Describing his band's first major concert for 2024 at as a "musical milestone", Amy sang both Search songs and his solo number 'Tiada Lagi' in the non-stop show and was energetic throughout the evening.
He kicked off the concert with 'Gelora Cinta', a power-packed number about turbulent love.
Then, after a change of outfit, which now saw him dressed in a grey T-shirt beneath a black jacket, Amy serenaded fans with 'Langit Dan Bumi', a song about irreconcilable differences.
LOSS
Amy's next song was 'Nigina', an ode to lost love, followed by 'Kau Pergi', about coping with loss.
Next came the melodious singalong 'Rozana', one of the band's most popular "dreamgirl" anthems, and the sombre yet catchy 'Diari Habil & Qabil', about everyday human values.
As he reached the one-hour mark, Amy removed his scarlet jacket to reveal a sleeveless scarlet shirt, before belting out 'Fenomena', about being lovestruck, 'Isi Atau Kulit', about how looks can be deceiving, the poignant 'Setelah Hujan', about overcoming life's "lemons" and 'Meniti Titian Usang', which counselled against fragile relationships.
NABILA
Amy dedicated 'Gadisku' to Nabila Huda Suhaimi, his multitalented and award-winning eldest child, as the crowd sang along.
He then paid tribute to the planet Venus with the heartwarming 'Kejora' and followed this with 'Yin & Yang', about achieving balance in life, and 'Pelesit Kota', about avoiding society's parasites.
ISABELLA
The moment every fan was waiting for finally came as the lights slowly dimmed.
This exciting moment was the sign for Amy to sing 'Isabella', their 1989 monster hit about forbidden love.
'Isabella', Search's most popular song, was made into a 1990 movie titled 'Fenomena', which had Amy as a supporting character.
While Search fans did a great job singing the entire chorus of 'Isabella', Amy remarked that they did even better with his next song 'Fantasia Bulan Madu', a bittersweet anthem about passionate love and a "must sing" in all of their concerts.
SOLITUDE
The groovy grandpa then sang 'Mentari Merah Di Ufuk Timur' about standing up to challenges and change, 'Gothik Malam Edan', an ode to solitude, and the fast-paced 'Bencana', a song that warned fans to be mindful of "troublemakers".
SOLO
Amy's last two songs saw the band play more aggressively to the cheers and whistles of fans.
He thanked everyone for their support and advised them to drive safely, before singing 'Pawana', about controlling lust, and his painful but melodious solo hit 'Tiada Lagi', which ended the show with a blast.
The concert was organised by Persatuan Rekreasi Global Malaysia (PRGM).
A total of RM5,000 from ticket sales was contributed to Persatuan Karyawan Malaysia to help needy artistes.
The artistes who attended the concert were the rock groups Wings, Exists, Spider and Sixth Sense, singers Ella and Neves and actress Sherry Ibrahim.