TheJakartaPost
Please Update your browser
Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.
Mother-daughter duo Ana & Fia look to career with Cowell
The emotional performance by mother-daughter duo Ana and Fia on Britain’s Got Talent, broadcast last weekend, ignited a wave of support and praise.
Change Size
Indonesian mother and daughter duo, Ana (43) and Fia (18) performing at the British Got Talent audition show on May 14. (Syco/Thames/Dymond/Mirror.co.uk/-)
T
he emotional performance by mother-daughter duo Ana and Fia on Britain’s Got Talent, broadcast last weekend, ignited a wave of support and praise. There was a standing ovation from the four-member jury and the 3,000-strong audience at the Dominion Theater for the Indonesian women’s rendition of “Tell Him”, with millions more catching them on TV at home or on YouTube ( more than 1.6 million views and counting ).
(Read also: Indonesian mother-daughter duet give Britain's Got Talent judges chills)
They admitted to nerves before taking the stage for the UK reality show, especially in facing notoriously hard-to-please judge Simon Cowell.
“Before us [there] was a lot of buzzing [the sound of contestants being rejected] so we were so afraid, really nervous — we thought we would be buzzed by Simon and would not be liked because of our song choice, or the way we sang it,” Fia told The Jakarta Post during an interview on Wednesday.
“We never thought that we would get a standing innovation from the four judges and the audience went crazy! So we were overwhelmed and as emotional as the audience,” Ana added.
The performance, and Ana’s story of her marriage troubles, touched viewers. They have done the rounds on TV talk shows since their appearance, perhaps the first on the show by Indonesian contestants.
“I don’t know, but I’ve never seen [an Indonesian] pass the judges’ stage of the audition, so [I believe] we are the first,” said Ana, who worked as a flight attendant for Air Atlanta Icelandic and studied law at YARSI University Jakarta.
Ana and Fia sang as a hobby at Indonesian community events, including at the Indonesian Embassy, and also for charity organizations.
Friends were the first to encourage them to try out for Britain’s Got Talent.
“One of our friends kept showing us newspaper articles and internet links for the open audition ... she kept encouraging us until she finally convinced us, and the rest is … that we are here now,” said Ana as both of them laughed.
Many have commented on the bond between the two women.
“It is kind of hard if you in my age group, you know, being in a harmonious relationship with family at all times, but one kind of has to do it, right?” said Fia, a straight-A student who is studying economics, finance and mathematics at a college in London and also working part-time at a fast-food restaurant.
(Read also: 'American Idol' crowns 15th and final winner as TV show ends)
“To overcome hardship in life, you should stick with your family, especially your mom [when] you still have your mom.”
Fia also credits her family’s homeland for her academic and singing success.
“I have my talent and numbers and singing because I am from Indonesia — [the country] has 17,000 islands so there are a lot of numbers to count,” she said with a laugh.
The women asked for prayers from Indonesians back home to help them secure a place in the semifinals. “And then we will be a step closer to our dreams,” they said.
Whatever happens when the results are announced, the pair said they would welcome being signed by Cowell, but regardless, would “for sure make singing a career” after the experience.
Ana also says she is moving forward and does not want to bring up the past.
However, her daughter revealed that she had had a crush on Englishman Cowell for a long time.
“Simon is scary, and handsome too,” her mother conceded.
