Written by Jerome Thomas Ng, Santa Maria Rebecca Julia, Semran Rai & De Silva Dylan Michael
August 9 is a special day for us in Singapore; it is the day we see red and white all around us! Some of us commemorate National Day by celebrating with our family, tuning into the National Day Parade (NDP) live show on television and watching our Singapore national flag fly past high in the sky. Over the years, we have also been reminded of the achievements our country has made through the yearly NDP song that is broadcasted all over in preparation for the big day.
One of the first NDP songs, Stand Up for Singapore, was composed in 1984 by Hugh Harrison, a former jazz pianist. To learn this song leading up to the National Day celebrations that year, the song sheets were handed out to school-going children. Although it has been decades since the song was written, its lyrics remain etched in our minds.
“Stand up for Singapore, do the best you can
Reach out for your fellow man
You’ve got to make a stand.”
From then, this tradition has been passed down from generation to generation of composers and artists. With many generations singing our NDP songs annually, old and new, which ones are their favourite? And what do they mean to them?
(PHOTO: Soufi Adelia, Lim Jiayi Marilyn, Josiah Kwek)
baby boomers
According to Linda Tan, 72, Count on Me, Singapore was a song that she held close to her heart. The lyrics reminded her of how Singaporeans survived the hardships of establishing themselves as a country on an international scale.
“I was born in the ‘50s, times were very hard then and we counted on our founding father Lee Kuan Yew to bring us to where we are today,” she said.
She also recalled how Lee Kuan Yew had led Singapore from a third-world to a first-world country.
“With this song’, it resonates with my thoughts about him, how hard he worked, and how much he wanted us to trust him. And when we sang this song, it was like we as a group will be standing up and counting on him and working together with him.”
On the other hand, Nicholas Seet, 63, found camaraderie amongst Singaporeans through the song, One People, One Nation, One Singapore.
“(National Day Parade songs) give you a great sense of loyalty and belonging to a country with all its cultures and the different peoples and religions and races, and we are all together on this journey, to help build our nation,” said Seet.
“One People, One Nation, One Singapore is a song that emphasises the unity of the people,” he added. “I had friends from different cultures and they would invite me over to their homes to celebrate their festival days. From young, I had classmates who were from different races..and (being Singaporean), there’s a link that binds us and the race does not matter.”
To this day, Seet will wait in eager anticipation for the new song to be unveiled. To him, every new song shows how far Singapore has progressed since her independence, “facing the challenges of the world as a tiny country but yet wanting to have a voice on the world stage”.
(PHOTO: Soufi Adelia, Lim Jiayi Marilyn, Josiah Kwek)
Generation X
Similarly, Raj Rai, 48, shared a strong connection with the song, One People, One Nation, One Singapore.
He said: “I felt very connected to the song and its lyrics because it was released during the time I was in National Service (NS) and it reminded me of why I was there.”
Rai added that the lyrics grounded him every time he felt futile while serving the nation.
“What we go through in NS is not easy, but the lyrics of the song held me up, especially when I sang it together with my cohort,” said Rai.
On the other hand, Elizabeth Chua, 52, was captivated by the 2018 remix of the oldie, We are Singapore. This song was re-released in 2018 and comprised a mashup of different NDP songs over the years, represented by the young vocalists.
“It is heartwarming to hear the songs I grew up singing, being sung by the younger generation. The roots are still present,” Chua shared. “It brought back memories from my days when those songs were released.”
(PHOTO: Soufi Adelia, Lim Jiayi Marilyn, Josiah Kwek)
millenials
To Vanessa Ong, 25, the song that had a special place in her heart was Home by Dick Lee and Kit Chan.
Said Ong: “I love how the song represents how we are all equal and should love one another for who they are, regardless of race, language or religion.”
She was especially drawn to one of the lines, “There’s a place that will stay within me, Wherever I may choose to go”, and described these lyrics as comforting.
44-year-old Lynette Ee enjoyed listening to Stand Up For Singapore. The song was released when she was just six years old, and it was the first National Day Song she could recall.
“I remember enjoying the song for its catchy tune when I was younger. I used to dance to the song everytime it was shown on TV,” she said.
She added that the lyrics were instrumental in reminding her how “blessed” Singaporeans are, and that it was important to pay it forward through “the little things we do, like greeting our neighbours or being kind to our construction workers”.
(PHOTO: Soufi Adelia, Lim Jiayi Marilyn, Josiah Kwek)
generation z
Being a longtime JJ Lin fan, it was of no surprise that Celine Yee, 18, admired the song, Our Singapore. Chosen for Singapore’s Golden Jubilee in 2015, the song was performed by the singer and written by Dick Lee.
Celine recalled singing it at the National Day Parade preview in Primary 5, saying that “she felt goosebumps when she heard the whole crowd singing the chorus together and waving our mini Singapore flags”. Additionally, the video showcases “Singaporeans from all walks of life coming together and celebrating 50 years of our independence, which is certainly something to feel proud of”.
To Hazim Malik, 18, the lyrics for Corrinne May’s Song for Singapore remained relevant to this day, even though it was released in 2010.
Hazim said: “Even though this song may not be as catchy as other newer NDP songs, I feel that I can relate to it the most, as it shows how united we are as a nation. The part of the chorus where it says, ‘You’re my brother, you’re my sister’, speaks volumes about how our multiracial society here in Singapore is able to come together and overcome any hardships we might be facing.”
your favourite song
Suffice to say, NDP songs will always have a place in the hearts of Singaporeans. No matter the genre, style or vibe of the song, they are always sure to evoke a sense of national pride. As Stefanie Sun sings in We Will Get There:
“Deep in my heart I just know
Right from the start, we will grow
Look where we are, we’ve come so far.”
What’s your favourite NDP song, and what does it mean to you?
