After 27 years of anticipation, the highly awaited iconic band, Coldplay, delivered an electrifying performance at the National Stadium Bukit Jalil as part of their Music Of The Spheres World Tour. Prior to their arrival in Malaysia, the British rock group had just concluded a concert in Perth, Australia, with two nights of performances on November 18 and 19.
The stadium was packed, with many fans camping at the location early in the morning. Coldplay’s record-breaking concert on November 23 broke all previous records, making it the most attended concert in the history of the stadium.
This week’s gala event highlighted concerts by both local and international artists that drew large crowds at the iconic National Stadium Bukit Jalil.
Datuk Seri Siti Nurhaliza’s Record (70,000 attendees)
Before Coldplay claimed the top spot, Datuk Seri Siti Nurhaliza held the record with an audience of 70,000 at the same venue around 19 years ago. Siti Nurhaliza’s Live In Concert in 2004 marked her fifth solo concert, coinciding with a tour of 15 destinations across Malaysia. Through the concert, the singer of the hit song “Cindai” also brought stars from the first and second seasons of Akademi Fantasia to entertain fans together. The mega performance took place four months after Siti released her 10th album, titled “Prasasti Seni.” The concert became a sweet memory for Siti and also featured a special behind-the-scenes documentary titled “Kenangan Jelajah,” showcasing the journey behind Siti’s exploration in Peninsular Malaysia.
AR Rahman’s Concert (67,000 attendees)
Oscar-winning composer AR Rahman successfully organized the concert “Secret Of Success: Live In Malaysia 2023” with an audience of approximately 67,000. The original music maestro from India celebrated 30 years of his musical journey in the country by presenting a string of his hit songs, including the soundtrack of the film “Slumdog Millionaire,” such as “Jai Ho” and “Oh Sayo.” Particularly special was the attendance of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and his wife, Datuk Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail. In addition to background singers Hariharan and Shweta Mohan and musician Drums Sivamani sharing the stage, Datuk Seri Siti Nurhaliza also appeared on stage singing the Tamil song “Munbe Vaa.”
Blackpink’s Concert (62,000 attendees)
Held in March this year, the Born Pink World Tour Blackpink concert was flooded with approximately 62,000 fans. K-Pop enthusiasts were reported to have waited as early as 10 in the morning in the stadium grounds to experience the warmth of the concert. Fans were excited to witness the pink sea of lights, the iconic color of the group, illuminating the stadium. Moreover, the audience was satisfied with the large screens provided even if they were seated far from the main stage. Previously, Blackpink had a concert in Malaysia in 2019 through the Blackpink World Tour In Your Area at Stadium Malawati Shah Alam. The famous South Korean group, consisting of Lisa, Rose, Jennie, and Jisoo, began their world tour on October 15, 2022, in Seoul, South Korea, before moving to Western countries.
Jay Chou’s Concert (45,000 attendees)
Despite facing issues before starting the concert in Kuala Lumpur, Taiwanese singer Jay Chou successfully captivated around 45,000 attendees at the Carnival Tour 2023. The concert, scheduled for January 15 this year, initially faced criticism from supporters of the Harimau Malaya football team because 21,000 tickets for the football match could not be sold due to stage preparations for the concert. Jay Chou was willing to postpone his concert to make way for the first semi-final match of the AFF Cup 2022 between Harimau Malaya and Thailand on January 7 after his Instagram was attacked by netizens.
