Siti to give new frontiers a try<\/p>\n
Novan Iman Santosa, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Artists, like singers or painters, are blessed with sensitive
\nfeelings regarding humanity and values of life. And the cute,
\nlovely Malaysian singer Siti Nurhaliza is one of them.<\/p>\n
Following in the footsteps of many of the world's singers, who
\nhave released anti-war songs in their latest albums, Siti
\nincludes a peace-themed song in her latest album titled E.M.A.S.,
\nwhich means "gold" in both Malay as well as Indonesian. E.M.A.S
\nitself stands for Edaran Muzik Aliran Semasa (Releasing the Flow
\nof Contemporary Music).<\/p>\n
The song, Oda Bumi Anbia, or Ode of the Anbia Land, which was
\ncomposed by Mat SW with lyrics written by Ad Samad, tells about
\nwar in a land called Anbia, which Siti said was somewhere in the
\nMiddle East.<\/p>\n
"War will only cause destruction and can only be waged by
\narrogant people," Siti told reporters at the Mulia Hotel last
\nTuesday when promoting her latest album as well as performing at
\nseveral local TV stations here.<\/p>\n
The 10-song album was released in Malaysia on March 3 and
\nthere is no way that Siti or her label record company Suria could
\nreally have predicted the start of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq,
\nthough we all knew that by then, U.S. President George W. Bush
\nreally wanted to topple Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.<\/p>\n
"I believe all human beings do not like war except those who
\nwant to show off their power and influence like Bush."<\/p>\n
Despite her age, the 24-year-old Siti is not only capable of
\nshowing her concern against war through her song, but she also
\nproves that she is already mature enough in the business.<\/p>\n
After being in the business for about eight years, the singer
\nnow has five pop albums and another four traditional Malay albums
\nunder her belt.<\/p>\n
In the newly launched album, Siti even co-wrote lyrics for six
\nof the 10 songs on the album. One of the six, Bukan Cinta Biasa
\n(No Ordinary Love), was co-written with Indonesian singer-cum-
\nsongwriter Dewiq, while the song's music video was made by
\nIndonesian director Rizal Mantovani here in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
"Actually this song has been ready for about a year but it was
\nkept on the shelf because I was working on a traditional Malay
\nalbum called Sanggar Mestika (House of Precious Stones) last
\nyear," Siti said.<\/p>\n
Siti, who is trying to release two albums every year -- one
\npop and one traditional, emphasized she had not wanted to write
\nso much on the album but sometimes the composers or song writers
\ncame to her asking for her opinion.<\/p>\n
"I just wanted to co-write lyrics for one or two songs but the
\ncomposers kept coming back to ask for my opinion on the lyrics.
\nSometimes they asked me to change some words here and there to
\nmake it sound better. I had to do it quickly as they asked me in
\nthe studio during recording sessions."<\/p>\n
The Malaysian singer is also open to cooperating with any
\nIndonesian song writers and composers.<\/p>\n
"Dewiq is under Universal Music management just like me. So I
\nthink that's one of the reasons why she was chosen. But if I am
\nallowed to choose, I would like to work together with Melly
\nGoeslaw. But I do not have the chance yet.<\/p>\n
"Melly's Menghitung Hari (Counting the Days) is one of my
\nfavorites. Her work on the Ada Apa Dengan Cinta? (What's up with
\nCinta?) soundtrack album is very marvelous."<\/p>\n
Despite her stunning singing career, Siti is now looking for
\nnew challenges, like taking part in theatrical performances,
\nespecially musical ones. But she still wants to improve her
\nsinging career before jumping to other professions like acting.<\/p>\n
"Despite my achievements, I still need to learn more. But I
\nreally want to act on stage, especially in musical plays. I can
\nstill sing a lot of songs in musical plays," she said with a
\nsmile.<\/p>\n
In her prime, Siti surely still has a long way ahead of her
\nbut she has already thought of other possible careers.<\/p>\n
"I have thought of trying my luck in trade and commerce as
\nwell as running my own beauty parlor and boutique," she said.
\n"But I do not have the skills yet to manage such a business. I
\nhave to wait."<\/p>\n
Her younger sister was taking a beauty course and once she had
\nenough experiences, she could open the beauty parlor, she said.<\/p>\n
"But I still have a long way to go. Those plans can wait. At
\nthe moment, I am focusing on my concert tour back home in
\nMalaysia as well as planning a solo concert here in Indonesia.
\nThen I can take a break for a moment and think of my future
\nplans," she said.<\/p>\n
Despite her "diva" position, Siti relies on simple methods to
\nmaintain her voice, as well as her beauty and physical fitness.<\/p>\n
"I avoid iced drinks to keep my voice from becoming hoarse. I
\nused to like cold drinks and have to live with the consequences.
\nOn the other hand, I can eat anything, even hot and spicy food --
\nthe hotter the better," she said.<\/p>\n
Exercising is now a luxury for her, considering her busy
\nschedule, forcing her to take vitamins to stay fit.<\/p>\n
And although she wishes to own a beauty parlor of her own, it
\nturns out Siti takes care of her beauty in a simply way: Washing
\nher face before going to bed in order to allow her skin to
\nbreathe.<\/p>\n
As a celebrity, she has another tip, to keep smiling. And
\nwhenever she is under pressure she acts just like many other
\nwomen do: "Usually I go window-shopping with my friends or
\nmembers of my family".<\/p>",
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