KUALA LUMPUR: For the first time, a truly Keluarga Malaysia Hari Raya Aidilfitri song will make its rounds on the airwaves.
Simply titled Raya, it is a duet involving Chinese language singers, dancers and television personalities Ash Lu and Nick Kung, as well as hip-hop singer Sophia Liana Sabri of De Fam fame.
Raya is produced by Distinct Entertainment and has a K-Pop-style melody as well as hip-hop beats, musical styles that resonate with many young Malaysians today.
In a statement today, Distinct Entertainment said: "Raya aims to show Malaysian music lovers that Hari Raya it is a truly Malaysian festival, which is not only celebrated by Muslims but also their non-Muslim friends as well."
The statement added: "Raya combines the best of pop and hip-hop to produce a fresh and contemporary anthem to mark the coming of Hari Raya Aidilfitri in true muhibbah fashion. It is a song of national unity and a song of hope, particularly in the light of the country's reopening now that the Covid-19 pandemic has been successfully beaten back."
The song's lyrics talk about how different Hari Raya is today, compared to pre-Covid-19 days. It expresses young Malaysians' nostalgia for the old days, and how unforeseen circumstances have made them move on.
"Raya also expresses our collective happiness with the lifting of interstate travel which was prohibited over the last two Rayas. Those who live outside of the Klang Valley can finally practise the balik kampung tradition, subject to social distancing."
Raya, which comes with a music video, will be released on all major music platforms such as Spotify, Joox and Apple Music on April 22.
The official lyrics video for Raya