Over the weekend, the SYOK team made our way up to the cool highlands of Genting for a very special night, and we truly had the best time ever. A huge thank you to our friends at Resorts World Genting for inviting us to catch Malaysia’s legendary Rock Queen, Ella, live at her Ella USA 30th Anniversary Concert at Arena of Stars.
If we had to describe the concert in just one word, it would be nostalgic in the most heartwarming way.
We arrived just minutes before the show started and were seated at PS1. With the arena being the perfect size, we had a great view of the stage, close enough to feel like we were part of the action.
Even before Ella appeared, the energy in the venue was electric. Fans came dressed in white and denim, the theme of the night, and it instantly transported us back to 1995. The crowd was buzzing with excitement, and when Ella finally stepped onto the stage, it felt like time stood still.
She kicked off her set with beloved tracks from her Ella USA album, including Ala Amerika, Itulah Saya, Risau, Esok Lusa Selamanya, Aku Kau Dia, Rindu, and Penawar. And as if that wasn’t already special, she brought out the legendary Japanese musician and producer Kyoji Yamamoto, who worked with her on the album, to perform live on stage.
The crowd went wild, singing every word of every song. But nothing could’ve prepared us for the wave of emotions when she performed her iconic hits like Sembilu, a medley of Pedih and Retak, Sepi Sekuntum Mawar Merah, and Permata Biru. The arena literally shook from the voices of Malaysians singing in unison, and we’re not even exaggerating.
At one point, Ella made her way down from the stage to interact with fans, even heading up to the first level to serenade the crowd. We can only imagine how those lucky fans must have felt being so close to the Queen herself.
And just when we thought it was over, she came back for a powerful encore. Ella closed the night with Standing In The Eyes of the World, because honestly, what’s an Ella concert without it, and brought Kyoji back out for a memorable performance of Gemilang.
To be honest, most of us at SYOK weren’t even born when the Ella USA album was first released, but we still found ourselves singing along to every word. That just goes to show the power of Ella’s music — it transcends generations.
We’re beyond grateful to have witnessed such a legendary night, and we’re already hoping we get the chance to see her live again soon. Thank you, Ella, for sharing your timeless music and energy with all of us. This night will live on in our hearts for a long, long time.
