Music of Singapore

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Singapore has long had a burgeoning urban musical scene, and is a center for rock, punk and other popular genres in the region. Rock was popular in Singapore by the 1960s, and that decade produced legendary bands like The Quests, who had huge hits like "Shanty", "Don't Play That Song", "Jesamine" and "Mr Rainbow"; as well as other pop-rock bands includingThe Thunderbirds, The Trailers and October Cherries. Folk music includes the ethnic Chinese, Malay and Tamil sounds.

The launch of the nation's premier arts centre, Esplanade, Theatres on the Bay, has served to focus the island's classical music making. It is now the venue for the Singapore Symphony Orchestra's subscription and gala concerts. In addition, the arts centre has ensured a good representation of classical music from the four primary cultures in the land. In particular, the regular festivals of Hua Yi, Pesta Raya and Kalaa Utsavam ensure that world-class interpreters of these different repertories are heard on a regular basis.

Contents

[edit] Folk music

[edit] Peranakan

Peranakan folk music is noted for its fusion of English in Malay-inspired tunes, largely because the Peranakans themselves are often highly conversant in both languages. Contemporary tunes continue to be composed based on the Peranakan culture, such as "Bunga Sayang", a theme song from Dick Lee's musical "Kampung Amber". The song became an often-sung staple of the National Day Parade, and gained international exposure when it was performed for the opening ceremony of the 117th IOC Session at the Esplanade.

[edit] Pop and Rock music

Singapore's pop scene began in 1960, when the Blue Diamonds performed, and really launched after Cliff Richard & the Shadows arrived a year later, thus launching the beat boom. Like much of the world, the British Invasion began in 1963, led by The Beatles. Some bands remained instrumental, while others incorporated singers. Soon, British R&B became popular, and spawned a local Malay variety. Pop stars of the 1960s included Naomi & the Boys, D'4 Ever, Antarctics, Mike Ibrahim & the Nite Walkers, Swallows, Ismail Haron & the Guys and Les Kafila's.

In the late 1970s and early 1980s saw the rise of rock bands such as Sweet Charity fronted by the charismatic vocalist Ramli Sarip. The band had such an influence in the Singapore and Malaysia music scene that it later led to a rock explosion in the mid 1980s.

More recently, local bands include The Observatory, Astreal, Lunarin, Lilac Saints, Ronin, Electrico, Saw Loser (formerly known as Pug Jelly), TypeWriter, Psychotherapy, Foursides, Opposition Party,Ossuary, Impiety, Rudra, I Hate This Place, The Old Kings, E.P.I.C, Beloved Memory, The Ocean Band, Stompin' Ground and My Squared Circle.

[edit] National Day Songs

Of particular note to the Singaporean music scene is what are often collectively known as National Day Songs (国庆主题歌). Written as part of Singapore's nation-building efforts, they either incorporate local folk songs (such as "Chan Mali Chan"), contemporary songs ("The Magic Is You"), or are specifically composed around a particular theme for the National Day Parade which is held every year on August 9th.

In 1984, Stand Up for Singapore, was initially created for the sole purpose of celebrating Singapore's achievements in 25 years of self-government. Commissioned by the Ministry of Culture and composed by Hugh Harrison, the song struck a chord with Singaporeans, especially when they heard it performed by the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, and so the first 'official' National Day Song was born. The government, realizing just how much the public enjoyed singing as a way of celebrating, commissioned a new song for 1986. As a result, Count on me Singapore, composed by Hugh Harrison, arranged by Jeremy Monteiro and performed by Clement Chow, became the 2nd 'official' National Day Song. The trend continued the next year, 1987, with We are Singapore, again composed by Hugh Harrison and arranged by Jeremy Monteiro. Then, in 1990 with the addition of One People, One Nation, One Singapore composed by Jeremy Monteiro with lyrics by Jim Aitchison for the nation's Silver Jubilee - 25 years of independence, the list of 'official' National Day Songs topped out at four.

Since 1998, National Day Songs have become less 'grandiose' and more popular in nature being composed for and sung by selected local artists and sometimes even included in their albums to be marketed overseas.

"Reach out for the Sky", a duet by Taufik Batisah and Rui En
"Reach out for the Sky", a duet by Taufik Batisah and Rui En

Other community-building songs:

  • 2005: "Sing Our Wishes" - Also used as official song for Ministry of Education schools for Racial Harmony Day 2005
  • 2005: "We Can"

An ad-hoc offshoot of these National Day Songs are the songs specially composed for groundbreaking events. A prominent example was the song Moments of Magic, written by Hype Records CEO Ken Lim specially for Singapore's millennium celebrations towards the end of 1999. It was performed by three notable singers - Fann Wong, Tanya Chua and Elsa Lin. The music video was directed by Singapore filmmaker Eric Khoo.

[edit] External links

Southeast Asian music

Brunei - Cambodia - East Timor - Indonesia - Laos - Malaysia - Myanmar - Philippines - Singapore - Thailand - Vietnam
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