Many fans showed up in full 90s style — bandannas, baggy jeans, tinted sunglasses, crop tops and cargo pants
by AKMAR ANNUAR
IT BEGAN with a whisper of anticipation and ended in a full-blown roar of reverence.
GenKRU was never just a concert — it was a cultural reckoning, a generational checkpoint and for many Malaysians, a deeply personal rewind into adolescence.
This writer attended twice — Day 1 and Day 4 — and would have gone every night if she could.
That’s what KRU means to Generation X and older millennials who grew up in the 1990s. Its music was more than entertainment. It was an identity, a memory. Home.
A Personal Evolution
This writer was once a staunch 4U2C fan. Dance routines were rehearsed religiously with her brother, right down to the hand gestures.
But everything changed the night he played a TV3 recording of KRU performing Hanya Kau — the trio’s first single.
It was fresh and exciting.
From that moment on, KRU took over her world. Her late father, reluctantly, became the designated buyer of every cassette and CD featuring KRU, Feminin and Elite.
The family car became a rolling concert hall. Their living room, a practice stage. Every school break was punctuated by the sound of Awas or Ooh! La! La! on rewind.
Little did she know then that decades later, she’d be singing those same lyrics alongside 16,000 others in a sold-out arena.
Day 1: An Electric Homecoming
May 3, 2025. Axiata Arena, Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur.
The lights dimmed. A low rumble grew. And then Fanatik blared through the speakers as the trio stormed the stage.
The reaction was immediate and feral — an eruption of memories and joy. It felt less like a concert and more like a reunion.
Many fans showed up in full 90s style — bandannas, baggy jeans, tinted sunglasses, crop tops and cargo pants filled the stadium.
This wasn’t just dress-up. It was a tribute.
For a few hours, adulthood faded and the crowd turned into a sea of teenagers finally meeting their idols in real life.
KRU didn’t take the stage alone. With help from official AI partners BYOND Asia and WebTVAsia, fans got to see lifelike digital avatars of the group through HoloBox AI — a first-of-its-kind concert tech in Malaysia.
Fans queued to take photos with the holograms, blending the analogue devotion of 90s fans with the digital future they never imagined.
Musically, the experience was no less rich. Reza Ramsey served as musical director, supported by The Negative’s razor-tight band. Denny Mojo and Jay Cugat’s twin guitar attack gave heft to the classic arrangements.
The setlist — Fanatik, Awas, Apa Saja, and a heart-stopping Hanya Kau — offered a sharp reminder of just how expansive KRU’s discography remains.
Despite being in their late 40s and early 50s, the Abdul Halim brothers — Datuk Norman, Datuk Yusry and Edry — performed with stamina and showmanship that rivalled their early days.
Their vocals were unwavering, harmonies tight and their physical energy on stage was nothing short of impressive.
On Day 1, this writer felt as though she were 11 years old again. The moment her favourite song, 2 (Dua) began, every fibre of her being reacted with overwhelming emotion, and she found herself cr ying uncontrollably. It was raw, nostalgic and absolutely worth every second.
Elite’s duet with KRU on Di Pintu Syurga stunned the audience with its emotional intensity (pic: MEDIA MULIA
Day 4: The Emotional Crescendo
Day 4 on May 11 brought something else entirely — closure. Not an end, but a summation.
The mood was heightened. Fans came dressed in 90s tribute fits, cassette covers clutched, lyrics memorised. And then the cameos began.
Feminin and Elite, reunited on stage after decades, reanimated the audience. The response was deafening, emotional.
These weren’t just performers — they were fragments of shared childhoods made flesh again. Elite, in particular, added unforgettable value to the night.
Tamparan Wanita served as a bold reminder to every Malaysian woman in the crowd of just how powerful we are.
Elite’s duet with KRU on Di Pintu Syurga stunned the audience with its emotional intensity and catchy melody — an earworm that lingered long after the lights came back on.
But it was Feminin’s performance of Untukmu that truly felt like stepping back in time.
As the first haunting notes played, the whole stadium sang along.
Voices rose together, some breaking with emotion — as if pulled back to a simpler time.
Mohd Aizam Mat Saman better known as Adam AF, made a guest appearance that bridged generations, injecting a modern pulse into the nostalgic heartbeat.
A Malaysian singer and actor who rose to fame as the runner-up of Akademi Fantasia (AF) Season 2, Adam is known for his soulful vocals and charismatic stage presence.
When Adam joined KRU to perform the chart-topping Terhangat Di Pasaran, the crowd erupted. The energy surged as nostalgia met star power, turning the arena into a frenzy of cheers, singing, and pure adrenaline.
Adam AF (second from right) makes a guest appearance that connects generations, adding fresh energy to the nostalgic vibe
Datuk AC Mizal’s turn was equally thrilling. A veteran entertainer and media personality, he was also the lead rapper of 90s hip-hop group 4U2C—ironically, the very band this writer once pledged allegiance to before switching loyalties to KRU.
His surprise appearance on Day 4 triggered a chorus of roars from the crowd.
Ever the showman, he cracked a joke onstage about forming a new band with the KRU brothers called “KRU-C” — a witty nod not just to their initials, but also a play on the Malay word kerusi (chair), which sent the audience into fits of laughter.
For fans, it was a full-circle moment — 90s icons sharing the same stage, years later, as if no time had passed.
When Mengerti played near the end, it was more than just a song. People cried. Couples held hands. Old friends hugged. Strangers sang together in harmony.
To this writer, what KRU gave us was not just music. The trio gave us memories — birthday parties, mixtapes and minibus rides home from school.
KRU did not just perform; it brought something inside us back to life.
Records Broken, History Made
Beyond the emotional highs and nostalgic significance, GenKRU also marked a series of tangible milestones.
The concert series was formally recognised by the Malaysia Book of Records for two remarkable achievements.
The first was for having the Most Shows in a Single Concert Series, as KRU performed across four separate nights — on May 3, 4, 10 and 11 — at Axiata Arena.
Originally planned as a one-night-only event, the show was expanded in response to overwhelming demand from fans, underscoring the group’s enduring popularity.
The second record was for achieving the Most Concert Tickets Sold Out in an Hour, with more than 8,000 tickets purchased within just 60 minutes of sales opening.
This exceptional response reflected not only the anticipation surrounding KRU’s return but also the strength of their multi-generational fanbase.
More than 30,000 people attended the concert over four nights, making it the biggest runs by a Malaysian act in recent years.
It wasn’t just a win for KRU — it showed that local music can still draw crowds and fill stadiums, even after all these years.
“This achievement is not a personal accolade for KRU, but a tribute to the fans who turned the original one-night plan for the GenKRU 2025 Concert into two, three, and eventually four nights,” said Norman.
Youth, Legacy and Future on Stage
What added even more emotional weight was seeing a new generation of performers on the same stage.
Dance crews Team Shoba and Team Farouk provided slick, high-energy choreography. But it was the youngest dancers from Psychosix — some barely in their tweens — who captured hearts.
Their precision, stage presence and clear joy in performing pointed to a bright future for Malaysian performing arts. In a concert dedicated to legacy, it was the youth who ensured that legacy would endure.
A Masterclass in Production
Everything about GenKRU was deliberate, thoughtful and larger than life.
From Reza Ramsey’s musical arrangements to Farid’s sax solos, and Jad Lobo and Beby’s rich backing vocals, every sound served a purpose.
Azim & The Gang’s string section provided cinematic texture, elevating songs like Bidadari to near-religious experiences.
Lighting, stage effects and choreography moved with clockwork precision — an effort not just to impress, but to honour the audience’s devotion.
Next Up, Singapore
The GenKRU journey isn’t over yet. On June 28, KRU will bring their record-breaking show to The Star Theatre, Singapore, marking their first overseas stop for the concert series.
With demand still running high, tickets are expected to sell out rapidly. Judging by the Malaysian leg, Singaporean fans are in for a generational treat.
For this writer, GenKRU was more than a concert. It was a reunion with a father who once stood in line at Speedy Video.
A reconnection with siblings long moved out. A reminder that the people we once were still live within us, somewhere between the bassline of Awas and the final note of Negatif.
Day 1 was pure nostalgia. Day 4 was a raw release.
To KRU, thank you for the music, memories, and the reminder that some things — great hooks, honest lyrics, and unbreakable bonds — never go out of style.
To those who missed it: Make your way to Singapore. Please.
- This article first appeared in The Malaysian Reserve weekly print edition
The post KRU returns with stadium-filling nostalgia appeared first on The Malaysian Reserve.
