On a happy, polygamous note
Datin Alyah Abu Hassan and Farawahida Razali duet for the first time in a song about harmony between wives in polygamous marriages, writes Dennis Chua
POLYGAMY is often the subject of big screen comedies, as early as Tan Sri P Ramlee’s in the 1960s to Saiful Apek’s
screened seven years ago. It has also become the topic of singer Datin Alyah Abu Hassan’s newest single, which also marks the graduate’s debut collaboration with Farawahida Razali.
In this ballad composed by graduate Alfie Alwi and written by Alyah herself, the 36-year-old wife of composer Datuk Ramli MS politely declines to reveal if she is for or against polygamy, but admits it is a fact of life in Asian society. “I don’t think it’s a must for me to say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to polygamy because I’ve met wives in such marriages and a few of them are family friends,” said Alyah at the recent launch of the song at Mydin Supermarket, Subang Jaya.
The event was also attended by Farawahida and Warner Music Malaysia A&R managing director Mokhtaza Ahmad.
“Marrying more than one may have been movie material from the man’s point of view, but
focuses more on the wives, what they think and how they treat one another.”
Alyah elaborates that she and Farawahida, 32, “play” the voices of two different women in a polygamous marriage.
“One of us begins the song by stating that she is the “only woman” for her man. However, she soon becomes confused upon meeting the other woman in his life.
“As for the other singer, she asserts that he chose her and vice-versa, and she means no malice towards his first wife,” said Alyah.
The song, which Alyah penned within two weeks early this year, comes with a TV drama-styled music video starring actors Ikmal and Nadia Brian.
“It ends on a happy note, advising wives to be cordial towards each other so as to keep their children united and promote a happy family.”
CONVERSATION IN SONG
Alyah prefers to sing with a female duet partner, because she grew up enjoying collaborations between Mariah Carey and the late Whitney Houston and Celine Dion and Barbra Streisand. “Woman-to-woman duets are magical to me.
by Mariah and Whitney, in particular, is timeless!”
Alyah chose Farawahida as her duet partner because she has always been a fan of the Taipingborn singer with 12 years’ experience.
“I admit our voices are different, but we both enjoy R&B music, and hence we’ve got something in common to create on-stage chemistry,” said Alyah.
“What was then needed was an appropriate topic that made an interesting woman-to-woman conversation in song, and being a fan of P Ramlee,
popped up in my mind!”
Alyah’s last duet was with a male vocalist,
runner-up Riz Zaizizi, titled
“That song was made nine years ago, but it’s still popular as ever, and karaoke visitors love it!”
Alyah enjoys working with Alfie, who composed her award-winning song in 2014, since they are both “reality show kids” and he is full of ideas when it comes to writing songs.
“Alfie and I share lots of ideas about songwriting, and while I admit I’m not as good as him, he thinks I can excel in it.”
LEAVING EVERYTHING TO GOD
Alyah’s next single is which is written and composed by Hael Husaini Razmi,
2013’s runner-up who was also in
“It’s a romantic ballad which is what I like most,” she said, adding that she will come up with an album “when the time is right”.
When asked about family, Alyah admitted that she and Ramli were “praying hard” for children.
“I have two adopted children, aged 8 and 10, and both of them are staying in hostels now. Ramli and I are proud that they’re pretty independent,” she said.
“Both of us definitely want children, but we leave everything to God. As we always say, God decides, we can only plan.”
I don’t think it’s a must for me to say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to polygamy.
Alyah