#SHOWBIZ: Khadijah Ibrahim ends 20-year hiatus with 'Ibu Doa'

KUALA LUMPUR: After a lengthy absence from the music industry spanning over 20 years, veteran singer Datuk Khadijah Ibrahim has made a triumphant return. The 67-year-old icon, known for her 18 albums and more than 180 songs since the 1970s, has released a deeply personal single titled "Ibu Doa." This emotional ballad, co-written by Baizura Tazri and produced by Jasmine Raj Production, encapsulates the unyielding love, sacrifices, and prayers a mother offers to her children.

Composer Baizura has known Khadijah since childhood and considers her a dear friend, which added an extra layer of meaning to the song. The emotional impact of the track was profound for Khadijah, who was moved to tears upon first hearing it. However, the recording process faced a setback when she fell ill with dengue. Despite feeling fatigued and suffering from persistent coughing even after recovering, Khadijah decided not to rush the release of "Ibu Doa."

She ultimately decided to refine and finalize the track following a trip to Singapore. Khadijah emphasizes that emotional authenticity is more important than vocal prowess, stating that while a good voice is crucial, true connection with the audience comes from heartfelt delivery. To make the message universally accessible, the music video for "Ibu Doa" will feature sign language integration for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community.

Moreover, Khadijah has plans to collaborate with Datuk Ramli Sarip on four new duet tracks ahead of their appearance at the "Legends Karyawan" concert in Sabah in November.