#SHOWBIZ: Eurodance legend returns to Malaysia after 30 years

New Straits Times

2 days ago

RENOWNED for his infectious Eurodance and reggae hits, the legendary Nigerian-Swedish singer Dr Alban recently returned to Malaysia after three decades.
The 67-year-old artiste headlined the much-anticipated Dr Alban Live in Malaysia concert at Zepp Kuala Lumpur.
This performance marked his first show in the country since his 1994 showcase.
Dr Alban, whose full name is Alban Uzoma Nwapa, has been active in the music industry since the 1980s. He initially became a deejay at a Stockholm club to finance his dentistry course at Lund University.
In 1990, he met acclaimed producer Denniz Pop from the SweMix label.
Teaming up with Pop and rapper Leila K, he released his debut single, 'Hello Afrika', marking the beginning of his illustrious music career.
It was at this time that he adopted the stage name Dr Alban, a nod to his background in dentistry.
His debut album featured breakout hits such as 'Hello Afrika' and 'No Coke', both of which became million-selling singles.
The album achieved significant commercial success, earning gold certification in several countries, including Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
Dr Alban's success reached new heights with the release of his second album, 'One Love', in 1992.
This album featured major European hits like 'It's My Life' and 'Sing Hallelujah'.
The single, 'It's My Life', became a chart-topping sensation, reaching No. 1 in countries such as Austria, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Germany, and securing the No. 2 spot in Norway, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
A WARM WELCOME BACK
When he met reporters during his recent visit, the singer described Malaysia as a "great country", just as he remembered it from his first showcase in 1994.
"Malaysia is very nice, warm, the people are nice, and the service is great. It's great to be here again because the hospitality is also good.
"So, I'm grateful to be able to make money, travel, have fun, and meet so many people like you after 30 years. So, I'm happy and grateful to be able to do this, thank you, because all of this is so great."
At the concert, held at Zepp Kuala Lumpur last month, Dr Alban delivered a vibrant selection of his hit numbers.
Organised by Mojo Projects in collaboration with Tuff & Loud, the event offered fans an engaging performance concept with various entertaining elements.
The songs performed had dominated international music charts in the 1990s.
The event also featured retro DJ performances, a 1990s-themed activity zone, unique visuals, and various creative elements that effectively evoked the atmosphere of that era.
REVIVING RETRO MUSIC
Meanwhile, Mojo Projects CEO Ratna K. Nadarajan also spoke at the press conference, stating that the Rewind & Play Experience with Dr Alban was the company's first English concert.
According to Ratna, choosing Dr Alban to perform in Malaysia aimed to revive the retro music that the star once popularised.
"We feel this segment has not been fully explored and there are many retro artistes who will definitely be successful in Malaysia.