#SHOWBIZ: Indonesia's 'Soundtrack Queen' makes good her promise with magical show

New Straits Times

03-06-2025

LAST year acclaimed Indonesian singer-songwriter Melly Goeslaw promised Malaysian fans that she would be returning to the Axiata Arena for yet another concert, the third in her on-going Ada Apa Dengan Melly & Friends? series.
If her concert on June 1 last year was themed Graduation Night, this year's was Prom Night naturally.
The Indonesian music legend, dubbed the Queen Of Soundtracks, put another 9,000 fans under her musical spell for two-and-a-half hours at the arena as she sang 26 of her hits, including medleys, with ample sing-along opportunities for the cheering audience.
Ably assisted by four pop musicians headed by her husband Anto Hoed, plus a 12-member orchestra, the 51-year-old singer also had three guest artistes namely Indonesian actor Nicholas Saputra of the hit 2002 movie 'Ada Apa Dengan Cinta?' (AADC) which she scored, promising new Indonesian pop singer Dinda Ghania, and Malaysia's very own award-winning singer Aina Abdul.
Several Malaysian and Indonesian artistes attended the 9pm concert, and Melly introduced them at the start of the show.
They included Datuk Seri Siti Nurhaliza, Datuk Amy, Elite and Indonesian singer-actor Raffi Ahmad.
Melly's evening began with the fast-paced 'Ku Bahagia'.
This popular song from the soundtrack of AADC saw her guests sing along from the word "go" and ended with Melly saying: "Thank you Malaysia, I love you all."
UNIVERSAL
After her second song 'Ingin Mencintai Dan Dicintai', she remarked: "Music is the universal language. We may not speak the same language, but all of us love good music."
As the guitarists strummed their instruments louder, the guests knew that Melly's next song was 'Pencinta Wanita', made popular by Irwansyah, the star of the 2006 tear-jerker movie 'Heart'.
Fans sportingly sang the first few lines as well as the chorus, and Melly remarked that "party time has finally begun".
SAD SONG
After 'Malam Pertama', a song about first dates, Melly belted out 'Suara Hati Seorang Kekasih', a sad song about the challenges of a relationship, and 'Sampai Ku Menutup Mata', a poignant anthem about endless love.
Melly introduced her fans to 'Jika', the song which landed her in KL back in the early 2000s, and it sounded great with a jazzy new arrangement.
'Jika' was followed by another good rearrangement, 'Gantung', a sentimental number about abruptly ended relationships.
THICK
Melly said: "True friends stand by you through thick and thin, you will only know who they are when you are down."
This signalled her next song 'Cinta Sejati', which sounded like an ode to romantic love but was really about friendship.
Melly's first medley came next in the form of 'Bimbang' and 'Denting'. The first song was a sing-along about fighting feelings of love while the second was about sleepless nights.
WHITE
Melly then introduced one of her favourite Malaysian singers, whom she dubbed as the country's Lady Gaga.
Aina Abdul emerged majestically on stage, dressed in a flowing white dress inspired by the white peacock, to deliver a power-packed and soulful version of 'Cinta', the theme from Kabir Bhatia's hit 2006 movie of the same name.
Melly then talked about three of her favourite Malaysian singers and hinted that her next medley would feature popular songs from two of them in the audience.
She sang 'Janji Manismu' made popular by Datuk Aishah Ariffin, 'Isabella' made popular by Search and 'Betapa Ku Cinta Padamu' made popular by Siti.
MARCELL
Another monster hit from AADC came shortly after the less known 'Di Mana Malumu', a song about treating one's partner cruelly.
It was 'Hanya Memuji', which was made popular by Indonesian singers Shanty and Marcell Siahaan and has always been in Melly's "must sing" list.
Melly's next two songs were 'Tentang Seseorang', an ode to her Mr Right, and 'Berdua Lebih Baik', the most "sunshiny" song for the concert.
MOTHERS
Melly's second guest singer came next, looking sweet and stunning.
Dinda performed 'Jangan Pernah Berubah' with Melly and 'Bunda', a passionate tribute to mothers.
The final guest artiste emerged next as a poet.
Nicholas recited a poem by his AADC character Rangga, as fans cheered and screamed, and this heralded Melly's return to the stage to sing the title track of AADC in a medley which included Ratusan Purnama.
BBB
The theme song for another well-known romantic comedy 'Eiffel I'm In Love' (2003) was Melly's next number.
Titled 'Tak Tahan Lagi', it also proved a fan favourite.
Melly then got everyone dancing with 'Let's Dance Together', her 2006 duet with BBB, and 'Hey Ladies', a 2009 hit for Datuk Seri Rossa.
"I've had a great time in KL and I've also visited the wonderful Cameron Highlands. Thank you so much Malaysia," said Melly.
CAMERON HIGHLANDS
The singer had a brief drink before giving her fans 'Salah', 'Bagaikan Langit', 'I Just Wanna Say' and 'Demikianlah', and all three guests joined her.
While Melly may not be a powerhouse diva like Krisdayanti, she is very much a star in Indonesia.
Indonesia's best known female composer and lyricist, she is a "hit maker" whose songs have adorned many drama and movie soundtracks.