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Sinar Daily
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Sinar Daily
GenKRU: A love letter for fans who grew up with them
For the past two consecutive weekends, it felt like the peak of Malay pop culture re-entered our lives and wrapped itself around our collective memory like a well-worn denim jacket from the 90s. Faded, but never out of style. It was because KRU staged a four-night spectacle that turned into a cultural exhale. The trio brothers - Norman, Yusry and Edry gave it their all with amazing showmanship and moments of raw, unfiltered emotions that struck deeper than any beat drop. Now if there's one thing we all live for (consciously or not) it's the chance to relive simpler times. For millennials and Gen Xers, the GenKRU 2025 concert was our chance to do just that. It was equivalent of opening a long-time capsule. Like many 90s kids, our cultural compass didn't point to TikTok. For me, I listened to KRU because my older siblings listened to KRU. It was a secondhand discovery, but one that stayed with me into my adult years. It's only now that I realise how they were in every sense, ahead of their time as artists because decades later, their songs still resonate. They weren't just any boyband built for bubblegum, they were architects of their own sound. 'Malam ini kita menjadi remaja selamanya,' said Edry on stage. It was great seeing fellow millennials and Gen Xers just let go and immerse themselves in the music. For a few hours, we all forgot about adulting, school runs, deadlines and just enjoyed the moment. But it would've been extra cool if my siblings were there dancing with me too. I noticed how the little details were tailored perfectly to the generations in the audience. The seated setup was a thoughtful move especially considering, you know, that backaches tend to creep in once you hit your 30s. It was like they knew we'd want to sing and dance, but maybe not for three hours straight without a little support. KRU wasn't just any boyband built for bubblegum, they were architects of their own sound. - Photo: Bangswan Pictures Then there were the lyrics, projected on the screen for every song. It felt like a subtle nod to the fact that, yes, we might need a little refresher on some of those iconic tunes. Later, at the press conference after the third night of the concert, the trio reflected on how the energy was particularly electric that night (have to say I patted myself on the back for contributing to that). The setlist - made up of songs like The Way We Jam, Fanatik, Awas, Jangan Lafazkan, Apa Saja, Terhangat Di Pasaran and more - were expertly curated, giving fans both the nostalgia they craved and unexpected thrills. But what made GenKRU special wasn't just the playlist, it was their presence. The brothers looked seasoned, yes, but never out of touch. The choreography was tight, the banter was natural and the vocals were still sharp. In a live music landscape increasingly dominated by international acts and digital flash-in-the-pans, GenKRU was a reminder that Malaysia has its own legends. - Photo: Bangsawan Pictures One of the most memorable moments of the concert was when the brothers dedicated a song to their parents for Mother's Day called Penjunjung Namaku. It was a genuine, touching moment to see three grown men, standing in front of a packed Axiata Arena, be vulnerable with their emotions without a second thought. You could feel how grounded they are in love and respect for their parents. 'After 33 years of watching us perform, we want to cherish every moment and give them the memories that we performed for them,' said Edry during the press conference. For fans, KRU's legacy isn't just about memory. This concert reminded us just how much they've contributed outside the spotlight too as producers, storytellers, filmmakers and composers. In the end, GenKRU wasn't about reviving the past. It was about showing us how much of it still lives in us.
New Straits Times
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New Straits Times
#SHOWBIZ: KRU still a force to be reckoned with
IN Malaysian music history, two "bands of brothers" have become household names in different decades. There was The Alleycats in the 1970s, who were defined by their afros and superb rendition of Malay pop songs. And there was KRU in the 1990s, who were defined by electrifying hip-hop beats and catchy pop tunes. COMEBACK KRU — comprising Datuk Norman, Datuk Yusry and Edry Abdul Halim — announced their much-touted comeback with a spellbinding, two-and-a-half-hour concert at the popular Axiata Arena recently and gave fans an explosive evening of non-stop entertainment. Norman, Yusry and Edry had more than 9,000 fans singing and dancing to 24 of their songs at their GenKRU concert. Taking fans back to their early days in the 1990s, the trio who looked fit, youthful and rejuvenated danced, sang and partied non-stop and offered plenty of sing-along opportunities throughout their show. KRU's concert wowed fans with state-of-the-art visuals on a large screen. Better still, they brought on stage their first proteges girl group Elite and their best-known discovery from Akademi Fantasia, Sabahan hip-hop singer Adam Mat Saman. KRU emerged on stage at 8.45pm dressed stylishly in black suits and waving to the cheering crowd. Their show got off to an explosive start with 'Fanatik', their energetic rebuke of extremists which reminded Malaysians to always choose moderation. BEAUTIFUL "Apa khabar Malaysia?" said Norman, and the crowd responded positively. "It's such a beautiful night," said Yusry, giving hints of their second song, the melodious 'Malam Kita'. The audience's excitement rose several notches with the groovy 'Ooh La La', that was accompanied by bright lights and skyscrapers. Yusry said that he had two English songs, and the crowd shouted out the name of one. Alas they were wrong as KRU sang the R&B tune 'Babe'. The fans' answer, 'The Way We Jam', came next, and the brothers proved that their footwork was as good as during their heyday. KRU continued their magic with the feel good 'Untukmu', and the big screen featured relaxing images of palm beaches and starry nights. YOUTHFUL A familiar beat came next, signalling the catchy 'Terhangat Di Pasaran', KRU's collaboration with Adam, and he soon came up stage, looking youthful but larger. "I'm so happy to be back tonight, thank you KRU," said Adam. KRU, now in violet suits, delivered two less-known songs 'Balada Hati' and 'Di Dalam Dilema'. A tribute to the King Of Entertainment Datuk Sudirman Arshad, 'Perpisahan Terasing' came next, complete with photos of the legend. Everyone sang along and Edry said that Sudirman will always live in our hearts. KRU then delivered the first single from their latest album 'Kaset' titled 'Voodoo'. The haunting song featured a creepy video of the brothers being "created" Frankenstein monster-style in a laboratory. Three songs came next, as the brothers' Mother's Day segment. "Happy Mother's Day to all mums," said Norman, as KRU belted out 'Bidadari Hingga Ke Jannah', 'Wanita' and 'Apa Saja'. Yusry reminded fans that he acted in the 2003 movie 'Cinta Kolesterol'. He asked if they knew its theme song, and belted out 'Dekat Padamu', giving his microphone to the crowd. Next came 'Negatif' which sounded like a New Kids On The Block song. Elite, comprising Sasha Saidin, Abby Abadi, Watie Sadali, Linda Rafar and Azza Zawari, emerged to roaring applause. The best-known girl group of the 1990s joined KRU in 'Di Pintu Syurga' which was both spiritual and romantic. MEDLEY In the first medley for the evening, Yusry led KRU in singing 'Sedetik Lebih', made popular by Anuar Zain from their hit movie 'Hikayat Merong Mahawangsa'. It was nicely paired with The Lima's ballad 'Separuh Masa', Edry's band Mojo's 'Romancinta' and Ezlynn's catchy 'Hi Hi Bye Bye'. The show continued with a less known romantic number 'Dua', a romantic medley of 'Hanya Kau' and 'Inikah Ertinya Cinta', and another comprising feel good songs 'Semuanya OK' and 'Mengerti'. KRU revisited their second single from 'Kaset' titled 'One More Time', before announcing that their time was up. "It was a great night, and we hope to be back for more next time," said Norman. The brothers went backstage briefly and returned with the anthem about honesty 'Jangan Tinggal Janji', the catchy plea for mercy 'Jangan Lafazkan' and the explosive 'Awas'. Norman said: "We are delighted to see such great support and love from fans far and near. "Thank you all for supporting us all these years, and we assure you that entertainment will always be part of us." Norman, Yusry and Edry proved to Malaysians that they remain relevant to the music industry, as music-makers and live performers.
New Straits Times
04-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New Straits Times
#SHOWBIZ: KRU brings 9,000 fans on nostalgic journey at Axiata Arena
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's most successful band of brothers had more than 9,000 fans singing and dancing along for two and a half hours tonight. Datuk Norman, Datuk Yusry and Edry Abdul Halim — better known as KRU — mesmerised fans of all ages as they took music lovers on a nostalgic journey back to their early days in the 1990s. The trio danced, sang and partied non-stop with the crowd on the second night of their GenKRU concert, which began at 8.45pm at the Axiata Arena, Bukit Jalil. They performed 18 of their greatest hits, offering plenty of sing-along opportunities throughout the show. The concert wowed fans with state-of-the-art visuals on a large screen and cutting-edge AI technology, which brought their younger selves to life in interactions with the new generation of music lovers. Several of KRU's protégés also joined them on stage as guest artistes, including girl group Elite and Sabahan hip-hop singer Adam Mat Saman. The evergreen songs performed included Awas, Fanatik, Jangan Lafazkan, The Way We Jam, Terhangat Di Pasaran, Ooh La La, Voodoo and One More Time. Backed by a dozen musicians and dancers, the brothers also shared the stories behind each song, accompanied by archival footage of performances from their heyday. Norman said: "We want to thank our fans for supporting us all these years, and assure them that entertainment will always be part of us. We will continue to support Malaysian entertainment." The concert, organised by ICON Entertainment, began on Saturday at the same venue. A third evening has now been added due to popular demand, and will take place on May 10. Among the artistes who attended the concert were Tomok, Marsha Milan Londoh, Ernie Zakri, Syamel Fodzly, Datuk M. Nasir, Zed Zaidi, Dafi Ismail Sabri and Fasha Sandha. ICON founder Iman Tang said: "We didn't anticipate such overwhelming support, with endless inquiries on social media. Datuk Norman, Datuk Yusry and Edry fully agreed to extend their concert to another evening as a thank you to fans across Malaysia and beyond." GenKRU marks KRU's return to the stage after a seven-year hiatus. Their last mega-concert was Konsert Gergasi KRU25 at Istana Budaya, Jalan Tun Razak, in 2018. Although KRU initially disbanded that same year, they reversed their decision early last year following overwhelming feedback from fans. The multi-talented brothers from Gopeng, Perak, have since released a new album titled Kaset, featuring 10 new singles. Formed in 1992, KRU revolutionised the local music scene with their unique blend of pop, hip-hop and R&B. They have won numerous accolades, including Anugerah Bintang Popular 1994's Most Popular TV Entertainer; Anugerah Industri Muzik (AIM) 1995's Best Engineered Album and Best Pop Album (Awas); AIM 1998's Best Music Video (Fanatik); and the Malaysian Film Festival's Best Film for Magika (2010) and Hikayat Merong Mahawangsa (2011).
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Thomas Müller linked with Fenerbahce move
After 25 years at Bayern Munich, Thomas Müller will part ways with the club this summer, with the big question being where the 35-year-old will go next. According to Turkish outlet Fanatik, Fenerbahçe are interested in signing the veteran forward, with head coach José Mourinho looking to add experience to his squad as Edin Džeko and Dušan Tadić depart this summer. The report suggests that the Istanbul club could offer Müller a one-year contract, with an option for an additional season. Mourinho has long admired Müller and praised him back in 2019, saying: 'When you are successful in football at a young age, people forget how old you are. I feel the same. Sometimes people think I'm 75. I'm 57. That's how it is when you show up at the highest level so early. Thomas isn't old, he just started being successful at a very young age.' Müller has also been linked with a move to the United States.
