Getai

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Getais are popular among residents in Singapore, as it is held only occasionally.

Getai is also an alternate transliteration of Getae.

A Getai (literally song stage) (Simplified Chinese: 歌台), is a usually boisterous live stage performance held during the Ghost Festival commonly held in Singapore, in contrast to the generally solemn mood of the festival. The stage setup is usually composed of temporary structures and situated in the suburbs of the city in any empty field or even in carparking spaces or housing estate.

The event is usually meant to be performed to the spirits and also the people alike during the seventh month. The backdrop of the stage is usually made of cardboard and clothes painted in bright colours. Also, spotlights, usually consisting of brighter colours, like, red, blue, pink and yellow. The performers would normally don loud and glittery clothing, and the compère would spout crude jokes all in the name of fun.

The younger folks in Singapore would normally relate to a Getai as kitsch, as the performers would sing and talk in Hokkien, which is a dialect they label as crude and passe. The older people would normally enjoy watching a Getai, dance and sing along to the staple songs.

A groundbreaking Getai was held in 2006. There was a twelve hour marathon Getai, that saw many famous performers gracing the stage and bringing the crowd to their feet.

In 2007, 881, a movie made by Royston Tan showcased the life of these performers and was in memory of Chen Jinlang, one of the most well-known song stage singers, who died on Jul 26 2006.