Song of the Month - Chitose Bashi (千登勢橋) - Ziana Zain

Asia's Pop Queen, Ziana Zain belted out one of the famous Japanese folks' song Chitose Bashi (千登勢橋) in an album "Asian Voices" in year 1992. the original singer of this song is Mieko Nishijima (西島三重子). The song was composed by Nishijima herself and lyrics by Kenji Kadoya (門谷憲二).

Ziana Zain Singles (2003 -2012)

Album - Setiaku Di Sini

Setiaku Di Sini lonjak nama Ziana

By Farihad Shalla Mahmud

Berita Harian

(26/ 10/ 2012)

 

Banyak sejarah yang tercipta sewaktu album ketiga Ziana Zain, Setiaku di Sini dihasilkan. Bukan sahaja mencatat rekod peribadi buat penyanyi bersuara lantang itu apabila jualannya mencatat lebih 200,000 unit, ia juga pencapaian terbaik buat penerbit album itu sendiri, Johari Teh. Album yang dihasilkan sekitar 1995 itu ialah projek pertamanya selepas bernaumg di bawah syarikat rakaman BMG. Sebelum itu, Johari bertugas di syarikat rakaman Sony Music. Memandangkan projek itu ibarat bayi sulungnya selepas bertukar tempat kerja, pastinya komposer ini ingin membuktikan sesuatu. Apabila dia ditugaskan menerbitkan album Ziana, peluang itu digunakan sepenuhnya untuk memberikan hasil terbaik buat penyanyi berkenaan dan dirinya sendiri. Kebetulan pada waktu itu, terlalu ramai artis hebat yang mewarnai industri nyanyian tanah air, sehingga membuatkan dia terpaksa bekerja keras mencari lagu yang bukan sahaja sesuai buat bintang berkenaan, malah mampu dijualsebanyak mungkin. "Album Ziana sebelum ini terjual dalam lingkungan 50,000 unit. Jadi, untuk album ketiga ini, saya cuba mencari formula terbaik supaya jualan album ini akan meningkat lagi. Bukan saja saya, Ziana juga turut tertekan kerana waktu itu ada ramai artis popular, sekaligus memberikan persaingan yang sengit. Jesteru dia kena pastikan album ini mampu menepati selera ramai. "Atas sebab itu, kami banyak berdebat sepanjang pembikinan album ini. Jika ada yang dia tak puas hati, Ziana juga akan bersuara. " Sebagai penerbit, kita dengar apa yang dikatakannya. Kalau cadangannya itu sesuai, kita ikut. Jika tidak, kita kekalkan apa yang ada," katanya kepada HIP.

 

Pilihan lagu diperketat

 

Memandangkan misi mereka cukup besar, Johari memberitahu pemilihan lagu untuk album ini dilakukan dengan sangat ketat. Hanya lagu terbaik disenarai pendek. " Kita mahu melahirkan killer album. Sebab itu tapisan ketat perlu dibuat. Ternyata usaha ini berbaloi apabila Ziana akhirnya dianugerahkan platinum berkembar empat apabila jualan album terbabit mencecah 200,000 unit. Lebih menggembirakan, kebanyakkan lagu dalam album ini disukai peminat, manakala lapan lagu Ziana layak untuk memasuki senarai pencalonan muzik-muzik pada musim itu. Bagaimanapun, Ziana terpaksa memilih 2 lagu terbaik saja, menyebabkan ada komposer berkecil hati apabila lagu mereka tidak dipilih," imbas Johari lagi. Selain berjaya menjadikan Ziana antara penyanyi hebat waktu itu, Johari juga buat kali pertama berpeluang bekerjasama dengan Datuk Ramli MS sewaktu penghasilan album itu.. Ramli ditugaskan membuat susunan muzikuntuk album Setiaku Di Sini. Antara lagu menarik yang dimuatkan dalam naskhah itu ialah Tiada Kepastian, Bersama Akhirnya, Sangkar Cinta, Kemelut Di Muara Kasih dan Setiaku Di Sini. Album bekernaan juga menampilkan komposer yang bukan calang-calang termasuk Saari Amri, Idzahar, Salman dan Zuriani.

 

Misteri Kulit Album

 

Setiaku Di Sini turut membawa tuah kepada Ziana apabila dinobatkan sebagai pemenang kategori Persembahan Vokal Terbaik di Dalam Album (Wanita) pada Anugerah Industri Muzik 1996. Bagi Ziana sendiri, merakamkan album berkenaan antara detik paling indah dalam hidupnya kerana dia perlu kembali kepada muzik yang memperkenalkan dirinya di persada seni, iaitu pop. "Album pertama saya tebal dengan nuansa pop, manakala album kedua pula mempunyai sentuhan R&B. Jadi, untuk menggembalikan semula jalur pop dalam album ketiga ini memang susah. "Jesteru, saya mengharap barisan lagu yang terbaik dan Alhamdullillah, apa yang saya mahukan termakbul. Inilah Killer Album buat diri saya," katanya mengulas projek yang menelan belanjan lebih RM50,000 ringgit itu. Berbanding sampul albumnya yang terdahulu, kali ini gambarnya sedikit unik iaitu menggambarkan Ziana dengan gaun hitam tanpa lengan, duduk santai di sebuah sofa. Mengulas perkara itu, Ziana berkata, dia sendiri terkejut selepas melihat produk akhirnya. "Bayangkan, dua kulit album sebelum ini memaparkan gambar saya yang besar. Namun kulit album ini pula gambar saya kecil, sebesar semut. Hairan juga kenapa gambar itu dibuat sekecil itu? Tapi selepas melihat satu demi satu gambar sayadalam sampul album, barulah saya teruja kerana peminat saya pasti puas dengan semua gambar yang dihasilkan," kata Ziana.

 

Pencapaian Album:

1. Menerima Platinum Berkembar Empat untuk jualan melebihi 200,000 unit
2. Lagu Bersama Akhirnya memenangi lagu terbaik di 5th Festival Music Voice of Asia, Kazakhstan
3. Lagu Bersama akhirnya juga telah dipilih sebagai persembahan terbaik di Pertandingan Pujaan Hits 10 Nescafe 1996
4. Memengani Vokal Terbaik di Dalam Album di Anugerah Industri Muzik 1996
 
 

 

Down Memory Lane - Ziana with A Musical Salute to Disney 1996

Disney hits sung by familiar voices
By R.S. Murthy
News Straits Times
(19/04/1996)

There are three familiar voices on a new Walt Disney compilation which marks the first joint venture between a Malaysian and an international music company. The three voices are those of Ning Baizura, Ziana Zain and Jatt(former member of Singaporean rock band Black Dog Bone) who were given the opportunity to render four cover songs on the Musical Salute to Disney album. Comprising 16 of Disney's greatest hits, the album is a joint effort by BMG Malaysia and the Walt Disney Co. Among the numbers are the Pocahontas theme, Colours of the Wind by Ning Baizura, Can You Feel the Love Tonight (From The Lion King) by Jatt, A Whole New World ( from Aladdin) and Beauty and The Beast by Ziana and Jatt. The other songs include Hakuna Matata by Jimmy Cliff and Lebo M,  Streets of Gold by Ruth Pointer, Whoomph! there it went by Tag team. The album also features Billy Joel, Elton John and Hellen Reddy. A music video clip for colours of the wind by Ning will also be released. The video will include footage from the original clips. According to Disney Consumer Product music and publishing manager for Malaysia, W.P Chow " The album is produced as part of long term localisation programmed." Chow hopes the album will be a step towards giving Malaysian Artistes a chance to showcase their talents on the international scene. He says there will be more such, affords, including Malay album of Disney songs to be released later this year. In conjunction with the release  of Musical Salute to Disney, BMG is organizing a karaoke contest at Kerry's supermarket in Cheras and Jaya Jusco at One Utama in Petaling Jaya. The album will also be released in Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia.    

                                               

Down Memory Lane - Ziana to Penetrate International Market 1992

Asean Projects Love with Album
By Zieman
News Straits Times
(22/09/1992)

The various "Colours" of love, symbolising aspects of love, friendship, teamwork and peace - will be the theme of a new album to be launched soon. The album, Colors of Love to be released worldwide under the BMG-International label, will be produced by BMG Pacific Records of Malaysia. It features Asean talents - from the lyrics to the arrangements - the songs to be rendered by five BMG artistes from the Asean contries. They are Ziana Zain from Malaysia, Zann (Singapore), Kanakam Abhiradee (Thailand), Jo Awayan (Philippines), and Novia Kolopaking (Indonesia). According to producer-songwriter-arranger Zuriani Khalid, who was responsible for the album's name: 'Colours of Love' is not only the album's title but is also the group's name, the album's theme and the title of one of the songs. She adds: " This theme is conceptualised because of what is going on around the world, with so much hatred and war around. Hopefully, this message of love will reach everyone around the globe. This is a love-based project which emphasises the importance of love regardless  of skin colour. The 30-year old producer feels it is not impossible for Asean artistes to get international recognition. "We have the talents here. The only area we are lacking in is discipline.

From Left: Ziana, Zann, Jo, Bee and Novia

I dont think we should take a back seat. I also feel it is high time we established a certain standard of professionalism". says Zuriani, who has composed more than 50 songs. The singers, chosen by their respective record companies, will be singing mostly pop-oriented songs. This is because Zuriani finds working on such materials much easier; the songs also have a ready market. This album will mark a first Kl-born producer who spent 13 years abroad in economics and political science studies at Northern Illinois University. "I am glad the girls have fantastic chemistry. I also find their personalities just perfect for my songs". The composer has decided to let each singer render two songs. Twenty-six year old Kanakam Abhiradee (Bee), who has one solo album to her credit, sings the pop rock ballad I Am The Only One and Just Friends. Novia Kolopaking 19, will sing the ballad Dreaming Again and mid-tempo Field of Sunshine while Awayan, a seasoned club singer, will render the pop rock Dangerous Man and mid-tempo Love in Your Heart. Twenty-four-year-old Zann who has recorded one compilation album and a Mandarin album will do the pop-uptempo Singing My Heart Away and Heaven In You, a slow ballad. Ziana sing the R&B Feel Me Out and will duet on Groove Me with Jo Awayan. All five singers will join in to sing the little track Colours of Love.