2007/12/13
Siti hopes her hopes for a child will be fulfilled soon. |
Pop queen Siti Nurhaliza’s off on the Haj after launching her new album. SHUIB TAIB finds out what her plans are.
SONGSTRESS Datuk Siti Nurhaliza turns 29 next month. And yesterday she left for Mecca to perform the Haj, something she has wanted to do before turning 30.
She may sport a headscarf on her return but that’s a decision she’ll take when she is back.
“I can’t really say when, though; but when I do, it will not be because of anyone else but because I want to,” said the singer at the launch of her latest album Hadiah Daripada Hati earlier this week.
“I don’t think (wearing the tudung) it will lessen my popularity because my fans accepted me because of my talent first, not my hair or my image.
“Besides, you can still create all kinds of images with the tudung,” said the singer who was once criticised for refusing to take pictures with male celebrities.
(For the record, Siti has been been photographed with male personalities but mostly at awards shows and never for a cover of a magazine).
Siti recently renewed contracts with Pantene (a haircare product) and said the company doesn’t seem to mind although she has made it known to them her intention to cover up.
Of her album, Siti said she chose the title as it is more direct, unlike the previous album Transkripsi which was “tinged with messages”.
“Hadiah Daripada Hati is really that (a gift from the heart). Hati (heart) is the most lonely organ but it is the one that whispers hopes, aspirations and dreams to you.
“I wasn’t sure if it would be on par with Transkrispi (which won Best Album at the last Anugerah Industri Muzik) but once it was mastered, I thought it sounded quite good.”
The album contains more mid-tempo than slow numbers, she said, and of the slow numbers Melawan Kesepian (composed by Pongky Barata who also wrote her hit Seindah Biasa from her 10th album, Prasasti Seni) is one of her favourites.
The album features compositions from Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore.
Siti included works by Azlan Abu Hassan (Biarkan and Sekian lama) and Sharon Paul (Hati, the theme song for Shuhami Baba’s latest film, 1957:Hati Malaya, and Cintamu).
For the first time, a composition by Singapore songwriter Dick Lee is on Siti’s album. The song, Mulanya Cinta was performed by Siti in the recently-concluded P. Ramlee, The Musical.
Then there is Ku Mahu, the theme song for drama series Spa Q composed by Audi Mok with lyrics by Rina Khan.
Siti said that if Anuar Zain has a song called Lelaki Ini, she has one called Wanita (Muhammad Fahmi Rizal/Shanty Ramadani) while Tanpa Kalian (Taufik/Siti Nurhaliza and Taufik) best describes her relationships with close friends like fans and the media.
The other two are Kerana Dirimu (Cynthia Lamusu) and Sutramaya (Aubrey Suwito/Tinta S), a song which she recorded last.
Although it was a bit of a rush, Siti managed to get it all done by the release date, three days before she left for Mecca.
“It was planned that way. I wanted this album out before I leave so that I can fully concentrate on my pilgrimage,” said the singer.
Siti also launched her latest business venture, SN Mobile Digital, through which fans can download her songs by mobile phone (just type SN and send the text message to 33777).
Since her marriage to Datuk Seri Khalid Mohamad Jiwa, local media have been vying for a scoop on her expected pregnancy.
She said she was not concerned about having put on a few pounds. “I’d rather be healthy. Since I’m trying to get pregnant, I don’t think going on a crash diet is a good idea. Yes, my husband has noticed that I’ve grown in size but he’s never asked me to shed any. In fact, he’s been very supportive of what I do,” she said.
Siti said she had cut back on 70 per cent of her singing activities and found it harder to not only stay slim, but to sing as well.
“There were a few songs which took me longer to record. The thing is, when I was still single, I used to sing almost every night, which was good practice. But now I don’t perform that much and the lack of practice has made it difficult to sing perfectly.
“When you don’t sing as often, you tend to get pitchy here and there and breathing correctly is a factor.
“However, my producer Aubrey Suwito never pressured me and told me to go home and come back when I was ready because he knew that I could sing better,” said Siti.
Siti is scheduled to be in Mecca for two weeks with Khalid, mother Siti Salmah Bachik, brother Saiful Bahri and others in an entourage comprising slightly more than 20 people.
When asked what she would pray for in Mecca, Siti flashed another smile and replied playfully in a child-like manner, “Adalah!”
“Well, of course I would ask God the best for my family and me, and for a child. Khalid will be extremely happy if we have a girl, since he already has four boys,” said Siti matter-of-factly.
She also admits to being slightly pressured for not having conceived, but said: “All I can say is, belum ada rezeki (it’s not meant to be yet).”
source: the new straits times
