Childhood
Ning started singing professionally at the age of six by recording radio and television jingles and began formal studies in voice at the age of nine under the renowned Indonesian opera linguist and soprano Siti Chairani for five years. In that time, she also sang with the National Choir at the Akademi Seni Kebangsaan, and was offered a full scholarship in music at the prestigious Vienna Conservatoire, which she turned down). At the age of 16, Ning had won the 'Best Artiste Development' award at the prestigious Voice of Asia Competition.
Career
Ning crossed over into the commercial scene in 1992 and became a recording artiste under various international labels (Sony, BMG, AMS Records Japan, and currently Warner Music Group), where she recorded within the genres of pop and R&B. Her discography includes nine full studio albums (two of which are full English albums), as well as numerous compilations. Ning has also won various industry awards and prizes, and has performed in the UK, Italy, France, China, Indonesia, Korea, Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Pakistan and Monte Carlo, Monaco.
Ning is best known for her live stage performances, an extensive repertoire and her versatility especially in cross-over projects. She is also an actor and has taken roles in a musical, seven major films, a short film and several tele-movies. Most significant is her critically acclaimed performance in the short film 'Malaikat Di Jendela' (Angel by My Window), directed by Osman Ali. The short film had participated in several film festivals in Cannes, Rotterdam and Singapore. Beside singing and acting, Ning is also a violinist and played 1st violin in the National Youth Orchestra in her teens.
In 2006, Ning set up her own recording company, 'Artiste United Records (AUR)'. Her stable of artistes are her proteges, Nicolette Palikat or 'Nikki' from Malaysian Idol Season 1) and Siti Surianie Julkarim (Yanie) (from Mentor Season 1). Ning is currently in the midst of recording both her latest English and Malay studio albums.
Commercial Endorsements
She has been the brand ambassador for TIME.com, IMEDEEN, F1 Malaysia, The Singapore Tourism Board, Curlers & Trimmers, Yuzari Batik, and has had strong brand associations with Christian DIOR couture, Christian DIOR parfums, the Carat Club and REDKEN in the past. NING is currently the brand ambassador for SSANGYONG and was recently appointed the Judo Ambassador by the Judo Association of Selangor to create awareness of self-defence for women.
Personal Life
Ning was engaged to Omar Shariff Christopher Layton Dalton on 19 July 2007. Omar Shariff (His name after converting to Islam on 7th July 2007) from Nottingham, United Kingdom is a regional Consulting Director for Landmark Graphics for Asia Pacific Region. The couple has said they plan to marry by January 2008.
Controversies
In 1996, Ning's first professional manager created a stir when it was alleged that he had cheated her out of significant revenue.
In 1998, Ning performed in Singapore wearing a "tank top". Criticism in the Malaysian media was swift as her choice of clothing was deemed "inappropriate" for a Muslim woman.
In the July 2000 issue of the Malaysian version of FHM (For Him Magazine), Ning gave a tell-all interview where she mentioned, among other things, that she prefers G-string underwear, she likes sex in the morning, and that her personal fantasy was to sleep with five guys at the same time. Initially, this English-language interview was little noticed by the general Malaysian society. But within a few weeks, a translation of the interview appeared in a popular and widely-read Malay-language daily newspaper. Public outrage in predominantly Muslim Malaysia was immediate and widespread and Ning was subsequently ordered to appear at the Malaysia Ministry of Information. FHM magazine was subject to increased scrutiny by Malaysian authorities.
Useful website links:
http://www.myspace.com/ningbaizura
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ning_Baizura
***note: previous version contained links to her manager's blog, seeing it was inappropriate to be placed here, therefore was removed from this version***
In Another Life
Ning Baizura Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Could change the rivers flow
I would not let you
Drift away from me
I'd never let go
I want to be by your side
But the waters too deep and wide
In another life
In another place
I'd have held you close
I'd have known your face
In another world
In another time
You'd be mine
You'd be mine
If I touched you now
I'd only loose my mind
Ohhh in the cruel world
I've been given
One life at a time
I don't know where or when
But we will pass this way again
In another life
In another place
I'd have held you close
I'd have known your face
In another world
In another time
You'd be mine
In another life
In another place
I'd have held you close
I'd have known your face
In another world
In another time
You'd be mine
In another life
In another place
I'd have held you close
I'd have known your face
In another world
In another time
You'd be mine
Ning Baizura's song, "In Another Life" depicts a love that is unattainable in the present moment. The singer longs for a love that is so strong it could change the rivers' flow, but unfortunately, the waters are too deep and wide to cross. The singer does not want to let go of the person they love, but they acknowledge that in this life, they cannot be together. Instead, they imagine a different reality, another life and another place where they could hold each other close and know each other's face. The singer mentions how, in this "cruel world," we are given one life at a time, but they are hopeful that they will meet again someday, passing each other by.
The song seems to be about the power of love and the longing for what could have been. The singer recognizes that their love could change the world, but unfortunately, this is not the reality they live in. The lyrics are powerful and speak to the way love can transcend time and space. The song suggests that there might be a chance for their love to be realized in another life, another world, or another time, and this gives them hope for the future.
Line by Line Meaning
If my loving you
Could change the rivers flow
I would not let you
Drift away from me
I'd never let go
I want to be by your side
But the waters too deep and wide
The singer expresses her love for the listener, wishing for their love to be strong enough to withstand anything that would try to separate them. However, she acknowledges that their circumstances, represented by the deep and wide waters, prevent them from being together at the moment.
In another life
In another place
I'd have held you close
I'd have known your face
The singer imagines a different reality where she and the listener could be together, revealing her desire for a different outcome and her regret for the current situation.
In another world
In another time
You'd be mine
You'd be mine
Continuing from the previous lines, the singer repeats her wish for a different reality where she and the listener could be together, emphasizing the extent of her longing for a different outcome.
If I touched you now
I'd only loose my mind
Ohhh in the cruel world
I've been given
One life at a time
I don't know where or when
But we will pass this way again
The singer recognizes the reality that they are in, and acknowledges the consequences of acting on her emotions. She laments the unfairness of the world they live in but holds onto the hope that they will meet again in the future.
In another life
In another place
I'd have held you close
I'd have known your face
Repeating the same lines as before, the singer emphasizes the intensity of her desire for a different reality where they could be together.
In another world
In another time
You'd be mine
The singer once again expresses her longing for a different reality, with the same emphasis as before, emphasizing how much she wants the other person to be hers, even if it's only in another world, in another time.
In another life
In another place
I'd have held you close
I'd have known your face
Continuing from the previous chorus, the singer repeats her desire for a different reality, despite knowing it's not possible in the current one.
In another world
In another time
You'd be mine
The final repetition of the chorus emphasizes that the singer's desires will go unfulfilled in this life, but the hope of a future where they could be together still prevails.
Writer(s): Andrew Gold, Sam Lorber, Gregory Prestopino
Contributed by Peyton C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Aya
on Awan Yang Terpilu
I thought there'll be the explanation of the lyrics :v