KUALA LUMPUR: The Ada Apa Dengan Melly concert was a lively affair as more than 2,800 concertgoers donned school uniforms and sang along to 30 songs by popular Indonesian singer-composer Melly Goeslaw.
The concert with a "back-to-school" theme at KLCC's Plenary Hall last night was also attended by Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah and her daughter, Tengku Puteri Raja Tengku Afzan Aminah Hafizatullah Al-Sultan Abdullah.
Melly, accompanied by a four-member band led by her husband, Anto Hoed, and local orchestra musicians, opened her show with 'Aku Ingin Mencintai dan Dicintai', 'Gantung' and 'Jika', before greeting "students" as the "school principal".
"Art has no limit. It transcends all boundaries. I'll prove to you that whatever language a song is sung in, you'd feel it with your heart and take it home.
"Welcome all to Melly Goeslaw's Music School, where I guarantee you, too, can write songs at the end of the concert," she said at the opening of the show.
This was Melly's first performance for a live audience in Malaysia.
Melly, who donned outfits by Indonesian designer Rinaldy Yunardi, also performed songs that she wrote for other artistes, including 'Menghitung Hari' by Krisdayanti, 'Cinta Sejati' by Bunga Citra Lestari, 'Berdua Lebih Baik' by Acha Septriasa and 'Pencinta Wanita' by Irwansyah.
The 49-year-old singer also interacted with the audience and spoke to Tunku Azizah and singers Siti Nurhaliza and Rafi Ahmad.
She also paid tribute to the late Tan Sri P. Ramlee by performing 'Di Mana Kan Ku Cari Ganti' and 'Bunyi Gitar' and brought out TikTok sensation Yoyo the Cat when talking about her dreams to open a veterinary department.
"For me, the song 'Di Mana Kan Ku Cari Ganti' really represents the heart of every musician and composer. It is my lifelong dream to fight for the rights of composers."
The three-hour concert ended with Melly performing 'Ku Bahagia', 'Let's Dance Together' and 'Hanya Memuji'.
Melly will perform at the Plenary Hall for the second night of the Ada Apa Dengan Melly concert tonight.