The hypnotic Dayang Nurfaizah

The year was 2001 and the venue was Planet Hollywood in Kuala Lumpur.

I could vividly recall being grateful that the house music was loud enough to mask the squidgy sound that made by my shoes as I descended the stairs to the main dining and dancing floor.

As I made my way down, patrons slowly trickled into the venue and in no time, it was crammed with Dayang Nurfaizah's fans who came to watch her in what was then known as 'The Sunday Night Live' showcase at the club.

Even the staff at the premises acknowledged to have never seen a crowd like this for a performer.

Dayang is a darling among Malaysian celebrities. It came as no surprise to see Datuk Sheila Majid in the crowd. The great Sheila Majid was here, in the same room as 20-year-old me to watch Dayang Nurfaizah’s showcase.

Many albums and showcases later, Dayang was about to resurfaced, yet again. And tonight was set to be something special.

The venue was the swanky Petronas Symphony Hall and the audience was dressed to the nines, though some things never change, like the fact that the ambience was reminiscent of the show at Planet Hollywood in 2001.

The place was packed to the brim. And again, Sheila Majid was in the crowd to watch Dayang. When the chanteuse sauntered in wearing a glittering sequined dress by Michael Ong, the crowd instantaneously erupted, giddy with excitement at the sonic treat that was about to unfold.

The curtain raiser was ridiculously apt. The deep and refined notes of Erti Hidup reverberated through the almost acoustically perfect hall like a rumbling in the ground.

As the rhythm builds, you can see heads swaying, as if entranced. And as though it was 2001 again, you knew that it was going to be special.

At the end of the first song, Dayang greeted the audience and thanked them for their presence.

It was here that we learned that this concert was Dayang’s very first full solo concert. She has performed at the DFP before in the sold-out ‘Anuar & Dayang – Live at Dewan Filharmonik Petronas last year, but this was to be her very first solo endeavour where the crowd was there to watch HER.

I was not alone in this gobsmacked state of semi-consciousness, as other journos on either side of me quickly exchanged ‘really? No… really?’ remarks.

And since this was her first solo gig, she was dedicating tonight to the fans. All songs, Dayang said, were carefully picked based on what her fans conveyed to her on social media. And Dayang, obliged.

At this, the hall erupted with cheers. Evidently the audience adored her.

As the crowd finally settled, we got to our first of six medleys. The petite lass from Kuching, belted out Bahagia and Rindu from her second and first album respectively followed by favourites Hakikat Cinta and Perlukan Cinta.

In between songs, Dayang bantered with the audience, putting all those 15 years of getting to know her fans to good use.

You knew that Dayang spoke from her heart. She would occasionally joke with members of the audience from her native Sarawak with pockets of ‘Kamek sayang kitak juak’, much to their delight

As the crowd eased, Dayang launched into a medley of her old hits -- Berserah Kasih, Sekali Lagi and Coretan Cinta. It was a walk down memory lane.

Dayang then sang her 2002 hit, Pintaku Yang Terakhir to rousing applause.

Then Dayang sang ‘Tiba-Tiba, her personal favourite. The richness to the music brought by the horn section truly gave the song a departure in style from her best-known power ballads.

To round up the set, Dayang belted a medley comprising Kembalilah Sayang, Kasih Maafkan and Hilang ensuring that the fans were kept on tenterhooks before elegantly sashaying off stage.

When Dayang re-emerged, donning a white lace and chiffon dress by Rizalman Ibrahim, she opened the set with Sedingin Mana Cintamu.

At his juncture, Dayang launched into a string of hits in a segment dedicated to some of the country's legendary artistes who have passed on and those she attributed to have been responsible in shaping her music.

She sang Dari Hati Ke Hati by Kartina Dahari, Kau Pergi Jua by Adam Ahmad and Kau Tinggi Di Awan Biru by Sharifah Aini. These songs sealed the deal. Dayang sings the classics smashingly!

Right from the word ‘go’, Dayang urged the audience to get on their feet and dance along with her. You could see that there were a couple of fans that were sitting at the edge of their seats. But when Dayang got to her next medley, it was obvious that the restraint was out of the window.

Popular numbers including Daft Punk's Get Lucky, Michael Jackson’s Love Never Felt So Good and Pharrell’s Happy really got the crowd cooing, clapping to the beat and shaking their shoulders.

In fact, there were some guys sitting at the upper boxes that were just nonchalantly on their feet and dancing away. Good on you guys!

The night was not going to end without a bang and to ensure that, out came Dayang’s best-known fast paced numbers, Ingin Ku Miliki and Dayang Sayang Kamu.

The crowd jived along before everyone realised that the inevitable was nearing us and Dayang was making her way to her final song.

For this, she chose a recent hit, Di Pintu Syurga, soundtrack from the TV series, Ariana Rose. A swift bow follows and Dayang gracefully exits, stage left.

After chants and applause, Dayang returned for an encore and this time in her final outfit, a full, floral flowy silk skirt paired with a white top by Rizalman. She cautioned that this was truly going to be her last song and it was indeed the number every single person in the hall had been waiting for, Seandainya Masih Ada Cinta.

This was the song that etched the name of Dayang Nurfaizah into the upper echelons of the Malaysian art scene as one of the best singers the country has ever seen. With vocals so rich and pure, yet husky, deep and alluring, it is undeniable that Dayang’s brilliance is blinding.

Simple and never overly-embellished, Dayang has been and will always be, starkly magnetic in all sense of the word.

With her constant presence in the industry for the last 15 years, Dayang has managed to reinvent herself at the DFP.

And in turn, we cannot wait to see to what heights Dayang Nurfaizah will soar.

Just as I said earlier, this was going to be something special. And indeed, it was.