'Here I Am' Rossa Celebrates Love, Forges Unity
By Nurhafizah Tan
KUALA LUMPUR, June 16 (Bernama) -- More than 10,000 fans of Datuk Seri Rossa turned up at Axiata Arena in Bukit Jalil here on Saturday night to watch the Indonesian singer perform at her over three-hour-long ‘Here I Am’ concert.
With a setlist of over 30 captivating songs and powerful visuals, the diva, whose full name is Sri Rossa Roslaina Handiyani, did not just sing but celebrated love, shared her pain and embraced memories through her performance.
She opened her show with the iconic song ‘Tegar ‘, followed by ‘Malam Pertama’ and ‘Hati Yang Kau Sakiti’, turning the stage into an “open diary” where Rossa poured out her stories of love and sorrow.
Her vocals are as strong and as powerful as ever. She delivered the high notes flawlessly, proving that at 47, she could still hold the audience in awe, even if the sound system in some parts of the venue was less than ideal.
“After 15 years, I’m finally back at Axiata Arena for my fans here. Malaysia already feels like a second home to me,” she said to cheers from the crowd.
One of the most touching moments of the night was a special tribute to Datuk Seri Siti Nurhaliza when Rossa performed three of the Malaysian music icon’s most popular songs — ‘Percayalah’, ’Biarlah Rahsia’ and ‘Bukan Cinta Biasa’.
The segment became even more meaningful when Siti Nurhaliza, who was present in the audience, spontaneously joined in from her seat, singing along with Rossa, much to the delight of the audience.
Later, to reflect the unity between Malaysia and Indonesia, Ernie Zakri joined Rossa in a powerful duet that blended ‘Masing-Masing’ and ‘Aku Bukan Untukmu’ — two different songs that share the same themes of heartbreak and loss.
“This song (‘Masing-Masing’) has been streamed hundreds of millions of times. It’s a collaboration between Malaysia and Indonesia (Ernie and Ade Govinda) and today, I want everyone to sing along,” said Rossa before beginning the duet.
Malaysia’s Hael Husaini later appeared on stage with his own unique charisma. After performing ‘Terlalu Cinta’ with Rossa, many in the crowd expected them to sing ‘Haram’, a popular and emotionally charged duet originally performed by Hael and Dayang Nurfaizah, which would have blended in with the melancholic mood at that point in the show.
The two, however, chose to perform ‘Meriah Lain Macam’, a festive Hari Raya song originally sung by Hael and Nadeera, with slightly modified lyrics.
The concert also featured energetic collaborations with reality show talents from both countries, including The Ladies from ‘Indonesian Idol’ and ‘One In A Million’ stars (Marygrace, Kai Deva and Zazzleen), who delivered several high-energy numbers that livened up the night.
Other surprises included the appearance of Indonesia’s Ariel, who last performed in Kuala Lumpur with Noah in 2023. Ariel and Rossa performed ‘Nada-Nada Cinta’ before Ariel went solo with an upbeat new version of ‘Tegar’.
The stage transformed with the arrival of DJ Dipha Barus and MK Clique, who reimagined Rossa’s hits like “Sakura’ and ‘Pudar’, along with Datuk Sheila Majid’s classic ‘Sinaran’ into vibrant, high-energy disco remixes.
As a finale, Rossa delivered a powerful performance of ‘Hey Ladies’, an anthem about the empowerment of women.
What set the ‘Here I Am’ concert in Kuala Lumpur apart from its Indonesian counterpart was not only the different setlist and guest appearances but also the strong spirit of unity forged by the concert — two neighbouring nations brought together on one stage through music.
-- BERNAMA