In a milestone moment for the Malaysian entertainment industry, Biduanita Negara and CUCKOO Brand Ambassador, Dato’ Sri Siti Nurhaliza, has collaborated with trilingual singer-songwriter 菲道尔 Firdhaus, to premiere their unique single, “像水一樣” (Be Like Water). This marks Dato’ Sri Siti Nurhaliza’s first full Chinese song, entirely written and composed by 菲道尔 Firdhaus.
The collaboration was inspired by CUCKOO International’s CSR efforts under the CUCKOO Loves, Cares Project. 菲道尔 drew inspiration from Bruce Lee’s philosophy: “be water, my friend,” symbolizing adaptability and strength in a gentle yet powerful anthem conveying a message of emotional warmth.
The poetic nature of the lyrics embodies the philosophy of water with sincerity, using it as a metaphor for love and companionship that showcases profound strength. The lyrics beautifully express, “we are not flames, yet we can still warm the heart” (“我们不是火焰，却能温暖心田”) and “flowing through every crack, quietly bringing change” **(“在裂缝里流动，无声地改变”)—**implying that true care thrives as a quiet guardian amid adversity. Even when life’s road bends, with love and hope, one can flow like water and remain true to oneself. Reflecting its social message, the track has been adopted as CUCKOO Malaysia’s official CSR Theme Song.
Marking Dato’ Sri Siti Nurhaliza’s first Mandarin track in her 30-year career, this project symbolizes a significant artistic step, produced by Dato’ Sri Siti Nurhaliza’s own SN Legacy Sdn. Bhd. The national songstress, who has long admired 菲道尔 Firdhaus’s songwriting, selected him for this historic duet. Despite initial nerves facing a legend, the young Mandopop star felt honoured and excited. In the studio, their creative chemistry was evident as 菲道尔 Firdhaus guided her patiently in perfecting her Mandarin. Rather than a standard duet, the track serves as a musical torch-passing between generations, enveloping the listener in warmth and reassurance.
To elevate this emotional delivery, the project fulfills the artistic dream of 菲道尔 Firdhaus to create a grand orchestral arrangement. The recording features the Budapest Scoring Orchestra and the Dandelion Choir, produced by Aubrey Suwito.
The music video, directed by Jasmine Wong, was filmed at Dewan Filharmonik PETRONAS, showcasing a live performance by the Selangor and Kuala Lumpur Orchestra & Choir. This presentation frames the lead artists as emotional anchors within a living symphony, utilizing soft lighting and warm gold tones to enhance the music’s emotional swell.
The song was first performed live at the CUCKOO Malaysia CSR event, giving attendees a glimpse of this unique collaboration. The official music video and track are available on all streaming platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, JOOX, and KKBOX.