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 and newly-appointed CUCKOO CSR Friend, 菲道尔 Firdhaus, to premiere their unique and historic single, “像水一樣” (Be Like Water). This special release introduces Dato’ Sri Siti Nurhaliza’s first-ever full Chinese song, which was entirely written and composed by 菲道尔 Firdhaus. Melding their distinct vocal strengths into a gentle yet powerful anthem, the track serves as a beautiful musical bridge that carries a message of comforting resilience and deep emotional warmth.
The collaboration took root when Healthy Home Creator, CUCKOO International (MAL) Berhad (“CUCKOO Malaysia”), envisioned a theme song to support its ongoing corporate social responsibility efforts (CSR) under the CUCKOO Loves, Cares Project. Tasked with channeling the spirit of love and care, 菲道尔 Firdhaus explored various creative dimensions, ultimately drawing his core artistic inspiration from the timeless philosophy of martial arts legend Bruce Lee: “be water, my friend”. Just as Bruce Lee famously shared, water transcends form to adapt to all things; it can flow gently, yet it harbors unbreakable strength. It never fights the world, yet it can cross mountains, flow through hidden cracks, and ultimately reach every place where it is needed.
The poetic nature of the lyrics brings this philosophy of water to life with arresting sincerity. The song uses water as a metaphor for the purest form of love and companionship, depicting an understated yet profound strength. The lyrics paint this beautifully, singing: “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”)—conveying that true care does not need to be loud or grand, but thrives as a quiet guardian in daily routines and the choice to remain gentle and kind amid adversity. Even when life’s road bends, as long as the heart holds love and hope, one can move with the flow like water and never lose who they are. Reflecting the profound social message behind the track, it has been officially adopted as CUCKOO Malaysia’s official CSR Theme Song.
Marking Dato’ Sri Siti Nurhaliza’s first foray into a full Mandarin track in her illustrious career of over 30 years, this project represents a profound artistic breakthrough, produced by Dato’ Sri Siti Nurhaliza’s very own production house, SN Legacy Sdn. Bhd.. The national songstress revealed that she has long admired 菲道尔 Firdhaus’s brilliant songwriting talents, specifically handpicking him for this historic duet. Facing a living legend, the young Mandopop sensation admitted to initial nerves, which quickly gave way to a deep sense of honour and excitement. In the recording studio, their creative chemistry was palpable as 菲道尔 Firdhaus stepped into the role of a patient language guide, assisting the pop queen syllable by syllable to perfect her Mandarin diction. Rather than a standard duet, the track functions as an elegant musical torch-passing between generations, wrapping the listener in a sense of familial warmth and reassurance.
To fully elevate this emotional delivery, the project fulfills a long-held artistic dream of 菲道尔 Firdhaus to craft a grand, inspiring orchestral arrangement. The recording features the rich, global instrumentation of the Budapest Scoring Orchestra alongside the powerful vocal harmonies of the Dandelion Choir, all brought to life under the seasoned hand of producer and arranger Aubrey Suwito.
The accompanying music video, directed by Jasmine Wong, was filmed within the prestigious and acoustically supreme walls of Dewan Filharmonik PETRONAS (DFP), Malaysia’s premier classical music hall. Rather than presenting a conventional stage performance, the video beautifully frames a live performance by the Selangor and Kuala Lumpur Orchestra & Choir (SKOC) alongside the subtle visual harmonies of the Yoke Nam Choir as an intimate, shared cinematic experience. This artistic presentation positions both lead artists as the emotional anchors within a living, breathing symphony. The visual presentation employs a timeless, refined palette built around soft, controlled lighting and warm champagne gold tones. This intentional restraint allows the natural shadows to add depth and focus, step by step complementing the steady emotional swell of the music.
As an exclusive showcase, the song was sung live for the first time during the official CUCKOO Malaysia CSR event launch, offering attendees a first look at this historic artistic union. The official music video and track can be streamed via all streaming platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music, Youtube Music, JOOX, and KKBOX.
