Be Like Water (song)

"Be Like Water"
Single by Siti Nurhaliza and Firdhaus Farmizi
LanguageChinese
ReleasedJune 30, 2026 (2026-06-30)
Recorded2026
Studio
  • Cranky Music Studio
  • Little Bad Studio
GenreMandopop
Length3:08
LabelSN Legacy, Universal Music
SongwriterFirdhaus Farmizi
ProducerAubrey Suwito
Siti Nurhaliza singles chronology
"Kesuma"
(2026)		 "Be Like Water"
(2026)
Music video
"Be Like Water" on YouTube

"Be Like Water" (Chinese: 像水一樣; pinyin: Xiàng shuǐ yí yàng) is a single by Malaysian artists Siti Nurhaliza and Firdhaus Farmizi. Entirely composed by Firdhaus, "Be Like Water" was released and launched along with its music video on June 30, 2026. The single also serves as Cuckoo Malaysia's official theme song for their corporate social responsibility initiative, "Cuckoo Loves, Cares" project. Its music video, directed by Jasmine Wong, was shot and recorded at Petronas Philharmonic Hall.

Drawing inspiration from Bruce Lee's "Be Water" philosophy, the lyrics describe love as a quiet yet powerful force capable of bringing about profound change without the need for grand displays. The song was performed live for the first time during the launch of Cuckoo Malaysia's "Cuckoo Loves, Cares" project on June 30, 2026.

Background and development

"Be Like Water" marked the first time for Siti Nurhaliza and Firdhaus Farmizi (right) to record a song together.

Siti has recorded and performed Chinese songs live on multiple occasions throughout her career, despite being a Malaysian Malay.[1][2][a] She had recorded a bilingual duet with Malaysian Chinese singer Ciang Teng, "Rindu di Antara Kita",[2] for her sophomore album, Siti Nurhaliza II, released in 1997.[4] In 1999, she recorded "心愿" ("Wish") with her then-labelmate, Candy Cheah.[5] The song was included on Cheah's debut album, 襪子 (Socks).[5][6] She also recorded covers of two Chinese songs, "月亮代表我的心" ("The Moon Represents My Heart") and "征服" ("Conquer"), which were included on her special 2004 album with Samsung.[7]

She had also performed Chinese songs live at multiple major events, including "Conquer" and a duet with Wang Leehom on "The Moon Represents My Heart" at the 15th Golden Melody Awards in 2004.[8] In April 2025, she performed "The Moon Represents My Heart" during Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit to Malaysia.[9]

Firdhaus is of Malaysian Malay descent too, however, he is primarily known for his Mandopop songs.[2][b] Siti briefly met Firdhaus at Cuckoo Malaysia's Cuckootopia Music Fest in 2024.[11][c] Hoe Kian Choon (KC Hoe), founder and CEO of Cuckoo International (Malaysia),[13] had been encouraging and facilitating a collaboration between the two artists since they first met.[11][14] After returning from his volunteer work in Tanzania, Firdhaus was moved and inspired to compose "Be Like Water".[14] He commented, "For us, having access to clean water is something we take for granted, but for the local children, it is a precious gift that is difficult to obtain."[14][d] He also drew his inspiration from Bruce Lee's "Be Water" philosophy, which describes the adaptability of water to challenges without losing its identity.[15]

"Be Like Water" is composed entirely by Firdhaus.[16] He revealed that he never decided which singer would sing the song when he first composed it or whether it would be sung as a solo, duet, or given to others.[17][18] After he completed the song's demo, he shared it with his label, receiving a passable response, which made him worried.[18][19] He decided to "gift" the song to Cuckoo because he believed its concept aligned with the brand's spirit, and invited Siti to record the song with him.[14] In May 2026, Firdhaus sang the demo with a guitar to Siti and her husband at their home, and Siti agreed to record the song with him.[20][21] He recalled that he was very nervous when singing the song's demo to Siti, but was very glad that she liked it.[19]

Siti admitted that the recording process was challenging due to her busy schedule, and that learning Mandarin was not easy for her.[11] During the three-hour recording of Siti's vocals, Firdhaus, KC Hoe, and his wife were present to guide her in pronouncing the Mandarin words correctly.[22] Firdhaus admitted that he was impressed by Siti's ability to pronounce Mandarin words despite never having formally learned the language.[20][23]

Music and lyrics

"Be Like Water" is a Mandopop song that lasts three minutes and eight seconds.[24] The music and the lyrics were composed by Firdhaus.[15][16] Inspired by Bruce Lee's "Be Water" philosophy, the lyrics describe how water serves as a metaphor to depict love and companionship while being both subtle and powerful.[16] It also tells the story of how love as a quiet yet powerful force capable of bringing about profound change without the need for grand displays.[15] Siti commented that she recorded the song with moderate vocals and did not need to sing with too many high notes, as it better fit the song's message.[17]

"Be Like Water" fulfilled Firdhaus' dream to record a song with accompaniment from an orchestra.[15][16] Recorded and arranged by Aubrey Suwito, the song features music performed by the Budapest Scoring Orchestra and vocals by the Dandelion Choir.[15][16] Gayah of GayahIsTyping wrote that Aubrey managed to give the song a "grander cinematic dimension".[21][e]

Release and promotion

"Be Like Water" was released via streaming services on 30 June 2026.[24] It was launched during the unveiling of Cuckoo Malaysia's "Cuckoo Loves, Cares" project at Kuala Lumpur Tower and served as Cuckoo Malaysia's official corporate social responsibility (CSR) theme song.[20][22] During the event's press conference, Siti and Firdhaus performed the song live for the first time,[14] and Firdhaus was appointed Cuckoo Malaysia's first CSR Friend and mentor for the Cuckoo Dream Fund.[25][26]

Directed by Jasmine Wong, its music video, which was recorded at Petronas Philharmonic Hall, was also previewed during the press conference before being released later that same day.[15]

Reception

In an article by the New Straits Times, Tahir Alhamzah wrote that the song "encapsulates a broader narrative about modern Malaysian identity — fluid, multilingual, and unconfined by traditional borders."[10] Aqilah Paharuzi of Xtra praised Siti's efforts, highlighting that even after 30 years in the music industry, she continues to broaden her career by transcending language and cultural barriers.[1]

Music video

Petronas Philharmonic Hall, where its music video was recorded.

The music video for "Be Like Water" was published on YouTube on 30 June 2026.[27] It was previewed for the first time during the song's press conference before its release later that same day.[15] Directed by Jasmine Wong and shot at Petronas Philharmonic Hall,[15] the music video features both Chinese and Malay subtitles.[2]

In the music video, Siti and Firdhaus were accompanied by the Selangor and Kuala Lumpur Orchestra & Choir (SKOC) and the Yoke Nam Choir.[15]

Credits and personnel

Credits have been adapted from YouTube.[27]

Recording and management

  • Recorded at Cranky Music Studio (Siti Nurhaliza, Dandelion Choir), Little Bad Studio (Firdhaus Farmizi)
  • Mixed by Peter Chong at Mixman Production
  • Mastered by Jay Franco at Sterling Sound (New York)
  • Produced by SN Legacy Sdn. Bhd.
  • Published by Loolala Music (M) Sdn Bhd (original publisher), Universal Music Publishing Sdn Bhd (sub-publisher)

Personnel

Awards

Publication Year Award Record holder Result
Asia Records 2026 Asia’s First Chinese Corporate CSR Theme Song Featuring Datuk Seri Siti Nurhaliza and Firdhaus by a Home Living Brand[25] Cuckoo Malaysia Record

Explanatory notes

  1. ↑ Siti was born in Kuala Lipis, Pahang, Malaysia.[3]
  2. ↑ Firdhaus was born in Kulai, Johor, Malaysia.[10]
  3. ↑ While the event's name is referred to as Cuckootopia in 2026, the full event name is actually "Cuckootopia Music Fest".[12]
  4. ↑ Original:"对我们来说，使用干净的水是一件很平凡的事，但对当地孩子而言，却是珍贵且得来不易的礼物。"
  5. ↑ Original:"dimensi sinematik yang lebih megah"

References

  1. 1 2 Aqilah Paharuzi (1 July 2026). "Dari Taipei Ke 'Be Like Water', Ini Perjalanan 22 Tahun Siti Nurhaliza Menakluk Muzik Mandarin" [From Taipei to "Be Like Water", Siti Nurhaliza's 22-Year Journey into Mandarin Music]. Xtra. Archived from the original on 26 July 2026. Retrieved 26 July 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 4 叶彩云, 杨荔雯 (1 July 2026). "当茜蒂诺哈丽莎华语老师 菲道尔讲国语词穷频求救" [As Siti Nurhaliza's Mandarin teacher, Firdhaus is at a loss for words when speaking Malay and frequently asks for help]. Sin Chew Daily (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 6 July 2026. Retrieved 6 July 2026.
  3. ↑ Seneviratne, Kalinga (2012). Countering Mtv Influence in Indonesia and Malaysia. Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. p. 216. ISBN 9789814345231. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
  4. ↑ Siti Nurhaliza II (booklet). Siti Nurhaliza. Suria Records. 1997.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  5. 1 2 Tan, Ricky (21 June 1999). "Cheah hopes to emulate Siti". New Straits Times. p. 3. ProQuest 266486713.
  6. ↑ Khadijah Ibrahim (8 March 2001). "Candy Cheah...kuat berusaha untuk berjaya" [Candy Cheah...works hard to succeed]. Utusan Malaysia (in Malay). Archived from the original on 17 June 2011.
  7. ↑ Nurul Fadiah Johari (6 August 2015). "Kini, Siti Nurhaliza rakam lagu Tamil pula" [Now, Siti Nurhaliza is recording a Tamil song as well]. Mediacorp (in Malay). Archived from the original on 19 July 2026.
  8. ↑ Utusan Malaysia Staff (16 May 2004). "Siti Nurhaliza - Lagu Mandarin untuk pasaran Taiwan" [Siti Nurhaliza – Mandarin songs for the Taiwanese market]. Utusan Malaysia (in Malay). Archived from the original on 28 January 2015.
  9. ↑ Malay Mail Staff (17 April 2025). "National songstress Siti Nurhaliza calls performance at state dinner for China's President Xi a great privilege (VIDEO)". Malay Mail. Archived from the original on 12 February 2026.
  10. 1 2 Tahir Alhamzah (24 July 2026). "#SHOWBIZ: Firdhaus, Siti Nurhaliza bridge two worlds through music". New Straits Times. Archived from the original on 24 July 2026.
  11. 1 2 3 Aizam Manaf (2 July 2026). "Siti Nurhaliza Dipuji Firdhaus, Ambil Masa Hampir 3 Jam Rakam Lagu Mandarin - "Dari Segi Sebutan, Hampir Sempurna."" [Siti Nurhaliza Praised by Firdhaus, Took Almost 3 Hours to Record a Mandarin Song - "In terms of pronunciation, almost perfect."]. Media Hiburan (in Malay). Archived from the original on 3 July 2026.
  12. ↑ Milad Hassandarvish (17 November 2024). "Korean actor Kim Soo-hyun thrills thousands of Malaysian fans at Cuckoo-topia Music Fest". Malay Mail. Archived from the original on 26 July 2026. Retrieved 26 July 2026.
  13. ↑ Nicole Chew (30 August 2024). "Household name". The Star. Archived from the original on 30 August 2024.
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 See Hua Daily News Staff (1 July 2026). "携茜蒂诺哈丽莎推中文歌 菲道尔笑认马来文"半桶水" 进军马来市场一切随缘" [Partnering with Siti Nurhaliza to release a Chinese song, Firdhaus jokingly admits his Malay is only "half a bucket of water"; as for entering the Malay market, he says everything is left to fate.]. See Hua Daily News (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 6 July 2026. Retrieved 12 July 2026.
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Umirah Halim (30 June 2026). "Siti Nurhaliza Cipta Sejarah, Tampil Dengan Single Lagu Mandarin Penuh Pertama Bersama Firdhaus" [Siti Nurhaliza Makes History, Performing Her First Full Mandarin Single with Firdhaus]. Gempak (in Malay). Archived from the original on 2 July 2026.
  16. 1 2 3 4 5 China Press Staff (1 July 2026). "CUCKOO品牌代言人茜蒂诺哈丽莎 推中文合唱单曲《像水一样》" [CUCKOO brand ambassador Siti Nurhaliza releases the Chinese duet single "Like Water"]. China Press (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 5 July 2026. Retrieved 5 July 2026.
  17. 1 2 Affan Rostam (2 July 2026). "Siti pecah tradisi rakam lagu Mandarin" [Siti breaks tradition by recording a Mandarin song]. Berita Harian (in Malay). Archived from the original on 3 July 2026. Retrieved 5 July 2026.
  18. 1 2 Siti Athirah Dzulkifly (19 July 2026). "Lagu Mandarin buka pintu rezeki Firdhaus" [Mandarin songs open doors of opportunity for Firdhaus]. Utusan Malaysia (in Malay). Archived from the original on 19 July 2026. Retrieved 19 July 2026.
  19. 1 2 Umirah Halim (6 July 2026). ""Sebutan Sudah Hampir Sempurna" – Kolaborasi Bersama Dalam Single Bahasa Mandarin, Firdhaus Puji Penguasaan Bahasa Mandarin Siti Nurhaliza" ["The Pronunciation Is Almost Perfect" – Collaborating on a Mandarin Single, Firdhaus Praises Siti Nurhaliza's Mastery of Mandarin]. Gempak (in Malay). Archived from the original on 6 July 2026.
  20. 1 2 3 Norhayati Nordin (2 July 2026). "Firdhaus puji Siti Nurhaliza cepat 'tangkap' sebutan Mandarin" [Firdhaus praises Siti Nurhaliza for quickly picking up Mandarin pronunciation]. Harian Metro (in Malay). Archived from the original on 3 July 2026. Retrieved 5 July 2026.
  21. 1 2 Gayah (6 July 2026). "Be Like Water Lagu Mandarin Penuh Pertama Siti Nurhaliza – Firdhaus Akui Teruja Berduet Dengan Biduanita Negara" [Be Like Water Siti Nurhaliza's First Full Mandarin Song - Firdhaus Admits Excited to Duet with National Biduanita]. GayahIsTyping.com (in Malay). Archived from the original on 12 July 2026. Retrieved 13 July 2026.
  22. 1 2 Nur Emira Saizali (14 July 2026). ""Tunjukkan dunia betapa hebatnya irama tradisional kita"" ["Show the world how great our traditional music is."]. Kosmo! (in Malay). Archived from the original on 14 July 2026. Retrieved 14 July 2026.
  23. ↑ Heidi Hsia (2 July 2026). "Siti Nurhaliza releases first Mandarin song "Be Like Water" with Firdhaus Farmizi". Yahoo! Life (SG). Archived from the original on 19 July 2026.
  24. 1 2 "像水一樣 - Single". Apple Music (MY). Apple. 30 June 2026. Archived from the original on 12 July 2026. Retrieved 12 July 2026.
  25. 1 2 The Star Staff (1 July 2026). "Cuckoo Malaysia unifies CSR efforts under one blueprint". The Star. Archived from the original on 12 July 2026. Retrieved 13 July 2026.
  26. ↑ Guan Ming Daily Staff (1 July 2026). "大马CUCKOO整合公益资源 推动企业社会责任迈向新阶段" [Malaysia's CUCKOO integrates public welfare resources, propelling corporate social responsibility into a new phase.]. Guang Ming Daily (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 16 July 2026. Retrieved 5 July 2026.
  27. 1 2 "Dato' Sri Siti Nurhaliza & Firdhaus - Be Like Water (Official Music Video)". YouTube. 30 June 2026. Archived from the original on 7 July 2026. Retrieved 12 July 2026.
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