Siti ke Shanghai lagi.

SETELAH berjaya menjadi juara di Festival Lagu dan Muzik Antarabangsa di Kazakhstan awal bulan ini,, kini Siti Nurhaliza terpilih ke Festival Lagu Asia di Shanghai, China pada 10 hingga 21 Oktober depan.

Festival kali ini menemukan artis-artis dari negara Asia yang pernah dinobatkan sebagai juara di festival itu. Siti adalah juara dua tahun lalu. Mereka akan mengadakan persembahan di empat tempat yang menjadi tumpuan ramai di Shanghai.

“Saya bersyukur kerana diundang mengadakan persembahan di Shangai Oktober depan dan ini peluang keemasan untuk saya memperkenalkan lebih dekat lagi budaya dan lagu-lagu tradisional kita.

“Difahamkan kami diberi peluang menyampaikan beberapa lagu dan berdasarkan sambutan lagu Nirmala, ciptaan Pak Ngah di Kazakhstan dulu, saya bercadang mendendangkan lagu itu di Shanghai untuk mengetahui reaksi pendengar di sana sama ada menerimanya atau tidak.

“Ini adalah salah satu cara Siti mengintai peluang ke luar negara. Antara usaha yang sedang kami jalankan ialah menghantar demo-tape kepada beberapa ejen di luar negara dengan harapan dapat membabitkan diri dalam pembikinan soundtrack filem antarabangsa.

“Mungkin perkara ini sesuatu yang mustahil, bagaimanapun terpulang pada rezeki. Sekiranya ada peluang Siti mahu mengharumkan nama negara,” katanya.

Penyanyi yang popular dengan lagu Percayalah, Cindai dan Aku Cinta Padamu ini turut menjawab pertanyaan mengenai kurang sambutan Konsert Malam Amal Suria 2002 yang dijayakannya bersama 11 artis lain di Ekspo Singapura, malam minggu lalu..

Menurutnya, salah satu puncanya mungkin ekoran kecewa peminat dengan ketiadaan Siti disalah sebuah pameran di republik itu baru-baru ini.

“Siti tidak pernah memberi persetujuan menjayakan majlis itu. Namun, nama Siti masih digunakan sewenang-wenangnya oleh mereka. Kerana berasakan hak dan reputasi Siti dicemari, Siti tidak teragak-agak membawa masalah ini ke pihak perundangan. Segala proses masih dijalankan pihak guaman Siti.

“Seperti konsert ini, Siti menyatakan persetujuan kerana waktunya bertepatan. Tapi, Siti tak pasti sama ada penonton tidak ramai kerana peminat memboikot Siti. Kalau diikutkan konsert itu membariskan ramai artis terkenal, antaranya Liza Hanim, Noraniza Idris dan New Boyz.

“Mereka juga ada pengaruh besar di sana dan Siti yakin penonton datang bukan mahu melihat persembahan Siti seorang. Kecuali, konsert solo Siti dapat sambutannya dingin barulah, Siti menerimanya dengan hati terbuka.

“Apa yang pasti semua orang sudah melakukan yang terbaik, termasuk pihak penganjur. Bagi Siti, inilah risiko yang terpaksa dihadapi sekiranya mengadakan sebuah pertunjukan besar kerana kita tidak mampu meramalkan apa yang akan terjadi,” katanya.

http://www.emedia.com.my/

Grand Prix 2002 left for Malaysia.

“by Olesya Ivanova

People who watch carefully Voice of Asia international festival are aware that this summer it was the thirteenth time when contestant from 13 countries gathered to compete for the best singer, best voice, best lyrics and music.

All four days beginning from August 2 and till August 5 Almaty city was absorbed by melodies and music news. The last day of the festival discovered best singer for 2002. Siti Nurhaliza contestant from Malaysia conquered not only members of jury, but also the whole audience, saying nothing of tremendous eminence in her motherland. The audience admitted her deserved merit and applauded when her name had been announced as the possessor of Big Golden Trophy and $10 000 Premium.
Veriko Turashvili from Georgia has outstanding vocal abilities, despite she is the youngest contestant of this year for which she was presented a unique old phonograph by one of the sponsors. And within the framework of the festival she was awarded with the First Prize and, having got Golden Trophy and $5000 Premium, burst into tears because of such a sudden surprise of fate.

Voice of Asia festival has a tradition to award two second and two third prizes. Arnee Hidalgo from Philippines was awarded with the Second Prize that is Silver Trophy and $3500 Premium, as well as Kazakhstani performer Takhmina Ashimbekova, who was also the winner of Kazakhstani song competition run alongside with “”Voice of Asia.”" Roberta from Bolgaria got the Third Prize or Bronze Trophy and $2000 Premium as well as Aldabergen Dzaksybaev (Kazakhstan).

Returning to the major winner of Voice of Asia in 2002, it should be mentioned that the The AH’s correspondent was interested in Siti Nurhaliza from the first meeting. On August 1 according to the tradition of the international festival all 15 contestants met for drawing in order to determine the order of contestants performances during three days. Siti Nurhaliza happened to be the fourth in the first day, the 13th – in the second, the 12th – in the third. If to rely on prejudices the 13th festival and the 13th number to perform – Siti Nurhaliza had a certain chance to become the winner. The Almaty Herald newspaper did not miss the opportunity to make acquaintance with the fantastically popular singer in Malaysia. Taking into consideration the fact that The AH newspaper is in good terms with the Embassy of Malaysia, so the wish to interview such a brilliant person increased.

Corr.: Do you remember your childhood?

Siti Nurhaliza: My childhood is like one of normal person. I went to school and finished the secondary school and since 16 years old I participated in city competition, which was broadcasted. I won the first prize, after that I became recording artist. By this moment I have 9 solo albums and my music is traditional and pop at the same time.

Corr.: How did you manage to combine such different styles?

Siti Nurhaliza: Traditional music is our cultural music. My parents are also singers but they do not record their songs. My mother in particular always sings traditional songs. She gave me an advice to sing and record traditional songs in order to bring to people and to teenagers traditional songs. You know that traditional songs as a rule do not enjoy popularity. So I added to it a bit popular trends and my songs became very popular. Concerning the pop music I can say that I love pop music and will seek for good balance of traditional and pop in the future.

Corr.: Your songs resemble some Indian notes?

Siti Nurhaliza: I have to correct you. My melodies resembles not Indian but Arabic sounds. It is because of in Malaysia Arabic singers are very popular now. So I decided to put some Arabic elements in my songs and my famous song “”Nimala,”" which I performed at the festival bears some Arabic culture.

Corr.: How many children are in your family?

Siti Nurhaliza: Actually there are eight children but, unfortunately, one passed away. Now we are seven and I am in the middle.

Corr.: I know that your parents now are very proud of you?

Siti Nurhaliza: My parents always support me. Despite my strict father, who is policeman. They always believed in me.

Corr.: After achieving so many awards will you have a wish to give up your singing career?

Siti Nurhaliza: If I am a singer in 10 years I still will be in music industry because even now I have my own business a recording company – Sitri Nurhaliza production (M) SDN BHD.

Siti is a vivid representative of her Malaysian culture, she is quite shy and smiling person who is ready to familiarize with her culture everybody who is interested in it.

http://www.herald.kz/”

Voice of Asia….Tiada Apa Yang Perlu Dipertikaikan.

“Semuanya sudah terbukti dan tiada siapa yang boleh mempertikaikan matlamat penganjuran pertandingan nyanyian Voice of Asia 2002 yang berlangsung di Almaty, Kazakhstan baru-baru ini.

Penganjuran pertandingan nyanyian yang menghimpunkan 15 peserta mewakili 14 buah negara di seluruh dunia merupakan platform terbaik untuk penyanyi membuktikan kemampuan mereka.

Pancaindera yang membuat liputan eksklusif pertandingan itu mendapati, penganjur pertandingan tersebut yang dinaungi oleh Datuk Bandar Almaty, Viktor Khrapunov menjadikan Voice of Asia sebagai platform untuk penggiat seni dari seluruh dunia berhimpun dan berbincang mengenai perkembangan seni di negara masing-masing.

Lebih daripada itu, matlamat utama penganjur ialah memberikan pengiktirafan tertinggi kepada pemenang. Kerana itu juga, tawaran wang tunai berjumlah RM38,000 (AS$10,000) kepada juara Grand Prix membuktikan Voice of Asia bukan calang-calang pertandingan nyanyian.

Peraturan Voice of Asia menetapkan setiap peserta perlu membuat persembahan selama tiga malam berturut-turut dengan menampilkan imej dan identiti negara masing-masing.

Sejumlah 15 peserta yang mewakili 14 buah negara ialah Singapura, Armenia, Malta, Latvia, Indonesia, Mongolia, Bulgaria, Georgia, China, Filipina, Republik Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, Malaysia dan tuan rumah, Kazakhstan.

Kesemua peserta mempunyai reputasi dan rekod pencapaian tersendiri dalam perkembangan kerjaya seni mereka di negara masing-masing. Malah sebilangan besar peserta mempunyai latar belakang pendidikan yang tinggi.

Menyentuh penyertaan kali kelapan negara dalam pertandingan ini, Voice of Asia 2002 menyaksikan kecemerlangan bintang muda berbakat besar, Siti Nurhaliza melakar satu lagi sejarah dalam hidupnya.

Selepas lapan kali, Siti akhirnya berjaya memecahkan tembok yang selama ini lebih didominasi oleh negara-negara yang kurang popular pada pandangan kita.

Selama ini, negara terlalu dahagakan pengiktirafan tertinggi iaitu juara Grand Prix di Voice of Asia.

Pencapaian tertinggi Malaysia pada pertandingan Voice of Asia selama ini bagaimanapun tidak pernah mengecewakan.

Penyanyi terkenal, Ziana Zain, Anis Suraya dan kumpulan Slam pernah membawa pulang hadiah tempat pertama pada pertandingan yang serupa beberapa tahun dahulu.

Berbeza dengan tahun ini, penghibur muda berusia 23 tahun itu bagaimanapun berjaya merealisasikan cita-cita rakyat Malaysia.

“”Siti percaya kejayaan Siti ini juga hasil daripada doa seluruh rakyat Malaysia. Bukan mudah untuk Siti mencapai kejayaan ini kerana saingan terlalu sengit kerana semua peserta hebat belaka.

“”Apa pun, Siti harus berkongsi kemenangan ini dengan semua dan Siti percaya kejayaan ini juga membuktikan Siti bukanlah jaguh kampung seperti yang sering dianggap oleh sesetengah pihak,”" katanya kepada Pancaindera.

Mingguan Malaysia
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