When singer Sharifah Aini agreed to attend the International College of Music's tribute concert to her, she was thinking that being in the audience for once would be 'a nice change of scenery'.  "I am determined to be entertained rather than be the entertainer," she said before the show, which was held at the college's recital hall in Kuala Lumpur recently.

Little, did she expect to hear her hits, delivered by a bunch of skilled musicians and singers-in-the-making, sounding 'greener' than evergreens.  Right from the opening number, the classic Bunga Tanjung sung by Noreen Abdul Aziz (previously of pop group Sister-Sister), to the finale Seri Dewi Malam by Suffiah Mohd Noor, the students got nods and smiles of approval and delight from kak Pah, as the singer is known in showbiz circles and fans.  Her 1981 hit Terbang Helang was given a new lease of life by vocalits/guitarist Vilmarithan (Rithan) Vijaya, who sang the number in his signature rock style, while Taheera Mohamed (whose is featured in Ilham vol 1, an album produced by the Phiz) delivered a reggae version of Semuanya Kerana Hadirmu, getting the crowd to tap their feet.

The students' showmanship was captivating but the night would not have been complete without a performance by the biduanita herself.  And so, despite having a sore throat, Sharifah sang two songs, Seribu Mawar, Nour El Ain, from her 72nd album Seribu Mawar, backed by the students.  "I am flattered at the honour these young, talented musicians have given me and I must congratulate their effort and performance tonight," said Sharifah after the show.

"I am so impressed with their improvisation of my music that I'm seriously considering re-recording some of them.  Wow ... did you hear how Terbang Helang sounded?" she said.  Meanwhile, Sharifah said she is recording a Hari Raya album and is busy performing at corporate functions.  In fact, she is fully booked until October 2001.  She added that she will host an entertainment programme in Singapore, which she says is a "good opportunity to promote her albums.  Working on the project will require me to do a bit of travelling and I can't wait to start," she said, adding that he first destination will be Istanbul, Turkey.  Since I have three Arabic songs in Seribu Mawar, it would be easier to penetrate the Middle-East market from Istanbul," she said.