Singapore
Singapore (), officially the Republic of Singapore, is a sovereign island country and city-state in maritime Southeast Asia. It lies about one degree of latitude () north of the equator, off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, borde ...
has a diverse music culture that ranges from rock and pop to folk and classical. Its various communities have their own distinct musical traditions: the
Chinese
Chinese can refer to:
* Something related to China
* Chinese people, people of Chinese nationality, citizenship, and/or ethnicity
**''Zhonghua minzu'', the supra-ethnic concept of the Chinese nation
** List of ethnic groups in China, people of ...
form the largest ethnic group in Singapore, with
Malays,
Indians as well as a smaller number of other peoples of different ethnicities including
Eurasian
Eurasia (, ) is the largest continental area on Earth, comprising all of Europe and Asia. Primarily in the Northern Hemisphere, Northern and Eastern Hemispheres, it spans from the British Isles and the Iberian Peninsula in the west to the Ja ...
s.
The different people with their traditional forms of music, the various modern musical styles, and the fusion of different forms account for the musical diversity in the country.
It has an urban musical scene, and is a center for pop,
rock
Rock most often refers to:
* Rock (geology), a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals or mineraloids
* Rock music, a genre of popular music
Rock or Rocks may also refer to:
Places United Kingdom
* Rock, Caerphilly, a location in Wales ...
,
punk
Punk or punks may refer to:
Genres, subculture, and related aspects
* Punk rock, a music genre originating in the 1970s associated with various subgenres
* Punk subculture, a subculture associated with punk rock, or aspects of the subculture s ...
and other genres in the region. The country has produced in the 1960s bands like The Crescendos and The Quests, right up to the new millennium with pop singers such as
Stefanie Sun
Stefanie Sun (, born 23 July 1978) is a Singaporean singer-songwriter. In 2000, she released her debut album, '' Yan Zi'', which won her a Golden Melody Award for Best New Artist. In 2004, she released her eighth studio album, '' Stefanie'', w ...
and
JJ Lin
Wayne Lin Junjie (; born 27 March 1981), better known by his stage name JJ Lin, is a Singaporean singer, songwriter, record producer and actor. Lin launched his musical career by releasing his debut album ''Music Voyager'' (2003). GIO, Taiwa1 ...
.
Folk music
Folk music is a music genre that includes traditional folk music and the contemporary genre that evolved from the former during the 20th-century folk revival. Some types of folk music may be called world music. Traditional folk music has b ...
of Singapore includes the ethnic music traditions of the
Chinese
Chinese can refer to:
* Something related to China
* Chinese people, people of Chinese nationality, citizenship, and/or ethnicity
**''Zhonghua minzu'', the supra-ethnic concept of the Chinese nation
** List of ethnic groups in China, people of ...
,
Malay
Malay may refer to:
Languages
* Malay language or Bahasa Melayu, a major Austronesian language spoken in Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei and Singapore
** History of the Malay language, the Malay language from the 4th to the 14th century
** Indonesi ...
and
Tamil
Tamil may refer to:
* Tamils, an ethnic group native to India and some other parts of Asia
**Sri Lankan Tamils, Tamil people native to Sri Lanka also called ilankai tamils
**Tamil Malaysians, Tamil people native to Malaysia
* Tamil language, nativ ...
communities. Singapore also has a lively Western classical music scene.
Popular music
Singapore has been a regional centre of music industry for a long time. Recordings of Chinese and
Malay popular music were done at the
EMI
EMI Group Limited (originally an initialism for Electric and Musical Industries, also referred to as EMI Records Ltd. or simply EMI) was a British transnational conglomerate founded in March 1931 in London. At the time of its break-up in 201 ...
studio in Singapore in the colonial period, but until the 1960s, recordings were sent to be pressed in India and the records then sent back for sale.
It was a centre of Malay popular culture where Malay stars such as
P. Ramlee
Tan Sri Datuk Amar Teuku Zakaria bin Teuku Nyak Puteh (later Ramlee bin Puteh) (22 March 1929 – 29 May 1973), better known by his stage name P. Ramlee (Puteh Ramlee), was a Malaysian actor, filmmaker, musician, and composer famous in both m ...
were based, but after Singapore independence in 1965, the Malay music industry began to shift to
Kuala Lumpur
, anthem = '' Maju dan Sejahtera''
, image_map =
, map_caption =
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.
In the 1960s, local bands in Singapore were inspired by Western groups such as
Blue Diamonds
Blue diamond is a type of diamond which exhibits all of the same inherent properties of the mineral except with the additional element of blue color in the stone. They are colored blue by trace amounts of boron that contaminate the crystalline la ...
,
Cliff Richard & the Shadows, and
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English Rock music, rock band, formed in Liverpool in 1960, that comprised John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. They are regarded as the Cultural impact of the Beatles, most influential band of al ...
. Popular groups of the period included The Crescendos who performed in English with hit songs like "Mr Twister",
The Quests
The Quests was a Singaporean band. Some sources considered them the most successful Singapore band of the 1960s.
History
Formation and early years
In 1960, Chong Chow Pin (referred to by his nickname "Jap"), Raymond Leong, Henry Chua and L ...
who had hits like "Shanty", "Don't Play That Song", "
Jesamine
"Jesamine" is a song written by Marty Wilde (Frere Manston) and Ronnie Scott (songwriter), Ronnie Scott (Jack Gellar), and recorded by the English band The Casuals. Initially recorded by The Bystanders as "When Jezamine Goes", the version release ...
" and "Mr Rainbow", as well as other pop-rock bands including The Thunderbirds, The Trailers, The Crescendos,
The Western Union Band,
October Cherries
The October Cherries were a late 1960s group from Singapore. The group was originally known as the Surfers, but changed their name to The October Cherries in 1968. and The Silver Strings. A
Malay
Malay may refer to:
Languages
* Malay language or Bahasa Melayu, a major Austronesian language spoken in Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei and Singapore
** History of the Malay language, the Malay language from the 4th to the 14th century
** Indonesi ...
genre influenced by British rock and pop called Pop Yeh-Yeh emerged in the 1960s. The bands performed in the
Malay language
Malay (; ms, Bahasa Melayu, links=no, Jawi alphabet, Jawi: , Rejang script, Rencong: ) is an Austronesian languages, Austronesian language that is an official language of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore, and that is also spo ...
, although some may also performed in English or were instrumental. Malay pop bands of the 1960s included Naomi & the Boys who produced a household hit song "Happy Happy Birthday Baby", D'4 Ever, Antarctics, Mike Ibrahim & the Nite Walkers, Swallows,
Ismail Haron & the Guys
Ismail Haron (full name: Ismail bin Harun) (13 May 1946 – 9 April 2012) was a Singaporean singer.
Biography
Haron was born in Killiney Road, Singapore. The first group he joined was Valiants. He was with them for only a few months. Then ...
, and Les Kafila's. In the late 1970s and early 1980s saw the rise of rock bands such as Sweet Charity fronted by the vocalist
Ramli Sarip
Datuk Ramli Sarip (born 15 October 1952), also known as "Papa Rock", is a Singaporean musician, singer, songwriter, arranger and record producer. He is also one of the pioneers of Singapore's rock scene. Ramli was the front man and lead singer o ...
. 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.
![Stefanie Sun 20100404](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c2/Stefanie_Sun_20100404.jpg)
Singapore also emerged as a centre of local Chinese recording industry in the 1960s, producing Chinese pop music in Mandarin with local singers.
From the 60s to the 80s, local stars such as Chang Siao Ying (張小英), Sakura Teng (樱花), Rita Chao (凌雲), and Lena Lim (林竹君) were popular in Singapore and Malaysia.
A few, such as Lena Lim, also had some success outside the region.
The pop music industry thrived by the 1980s, with several recording companies producing Chinese records by local as well as Taiwanese singers. Starting in the mid 1980s, a genre of Mandarin ballads called ''
xinyao
''Xinyao'' () is a genre of songs that is unique to Singapore. It is a contemporary Mandarin vocal genre that emerged and rose to fame in Singapore between the late 1970s to 1980s. ''Xinyao'' songs are composed and sung by Singaporeans and it is a ...
'' began to emerge with singers and/or songwriters such as
Liang Wern Fook
Dr Liang Wern Fook (; born 1964 in Singapore) is a Cantonese Singaporean writer, musician, singer and researcher in Chinese literature and pedagogy. He was one of the pioneer figures in ''xinyao'' (Singaporean Chinese folk songs) movement in t ...
,
Lee Shih Shiong
Peter Lee Shih Shiong (; born 24 July 1966) is a Singaporean musician, composer, and record producer. In 2001, Lee won a Golden Melody Award for Best Composition for his work, "Cloudy Day", performed by his apprentice Stefanie Sun
Stefani ...
, and Billy Koh. Local music labels such as
Ocean Butterflies International
Ocean Butterflies Music () is an independent Asian music and entertainment company specializing in Chinese-Pop (C-pop). Founded in 1986, it operates in six regions: Mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia and United States.
Hist ...
and Hype Records were established. From the 1990s onwards, many Singaporean singers such as
Kit Chan
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Stefanie Sun
Stefanie Sun (, born 23 July 1978) is a Singaporean singer-songwriter. In 2000, she released her debut album, '' Yan Zi'', which won her a Golden Melody Award for Best New Artist. In 2004, she released her eighth studio album, '' Stefanie'', w ...
,
JJ Lin
Wayne Lin Junjie (; born 27 March 1981), better known by his stage name JJ Lin, is a Singaporean singer, songwriter, record producer and actor. Lin launched his musical career by releasing his debut album ''Music Voyager'' (2003). GIO, Taiwa1 ...
,
Tanya Chua
Tanya Chua (; born 28 January 1975) is a Singaporean singer-songwriter. She launched her singing career by releasing her debut studio album ''Bored'' in 1997. Her albums, ''Amphibian'' (2005), '' Goodbye & Hello'' (2007), ''Sing It Out of Love'' (2 ...
,
Corrinne May
Corrinne May (born Corrinne Foo May Ying; 19 January 1973) is a Los Angeles-based Singaporean musician, singer, and songwriter.
Life and career
She graduated from the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston, and began her career as a sin ...
,
Fann Wong
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, and
Mavis Hee
Mavis Hee (born Xu MeiJing, , 27 September 1974) is a Singaporean singer, songwriter and actress. She was the second runner-up and also Miss Photogenic and Miss Amity for Singapore's Miss Chinatown Pageant 1992.
Career
Hee's first album ''Kno ...
had achieved wider success outside of Singapore.
There are also a number artists from Singapore who work primarily in the English language, some such as singer-songwriter
Sophie Koh
Sophie Koh is an Australian singer and songwriter.
Biography
Born in New Zealand, Sophie Koh grew up both there and in Singapore. She got her LMusA (Licentiate in Music Australia, a diploma) when she was just 16 years old and spent her early ...
are active outside of Singapore. In the 2010s, Singapore has seen a rise in home-grown acts like Charlie Lim,
The Sam Willows
The Sam Willows is a four-member Singaporean pop band formed in 2011. The group consists of siblings Narelle and Benjamin Kheng, together with their friends Sandra Riley Tang and Jonathan Chua. The quartet’s self-titled freshman EP was rel ...
,
Gentle Bones
Joel Tan (born 23 March 1994), better known by his stage name Gentle Bones, is a Singaporean singer-songwriter. His self-titled debut EP, released in 2014, as well as the singles released from it have charted on iTunes and Spotify, making him one ...
,
The Steve McQueens
The Steve McQueens is a Singapore-based band formed in 2013.
Line up
The band consists of Eugenia Yip (vocals), Joshua Wan (keyboards), Jase Sng (bass) and Anson Koh (drums).
They have been invited to international jazz festivals and perform ...
, Pleasantry, MYRNE,
HubbaBubbas
HubbaBubbas is a Singaporean post-acoustic trio, founded in June 2011, consisting of lead vocalist Stephanie Lim, guitarist/backing vocalist Ryan Chan and beatboxer/backing vocalist Mervyn Ye. They are one known for combining various genres of mus ...
,
Sam Rui,
Leon Markcus,
Scarlet Avenue and
Nathan Hartono
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, death_place =
, death_cause =
, resting_place =
, resting_place_coordinates =
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.
Ethnic traditions
Chinese
![Teochew Opera in Pulau Ubin, Singapore](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/62/Teochew_Opera_in_Pulau_Ubin%2C_Singapore.jpg)
There are speakers of various dialects amongst the Chinese population, such as
Hokkien
The Hokkien () variety of Chinese is a Southern Min language native to and originating from the Minnan region, where it is widely spoken in the south-eastern part of Fujian in southeastern mainland China. It is one of the national languages in ...
,
Hakka
The Hakka (), sometimes also referred to as Hakka Han, or Hakka Chinese, or Hakkas are a Han Chinese subgroup whose ancestral homes are chiefly in the Hakka-speaking provincial areas of Guangdong, Fujian, Jiangxi, Guangxi, Sichuan, Hunan, Zhej ...
,
Cantonese
Cantonese ( zh, t=廣東話, s=广东话, first=t, cy=Gwóngdūng wá) is a language within the Chinese (Sinitic) branch of the Sino-Tibetan languages originating from the city of Guangzhou (historically known as Canton) and its surrounding are ...
, and
Teochew, and different dialect speakers may have their own
clan associations which support their respective forms of opera. Opera troupes were first formed by amateur music clubs; the earliest amateur music club in Singapore is the Er Woo Amateur Music & Dramatic Association (馀娱儒乐社) set up in 1912 by Teochew businessmen, initially to promote music of the Hakkas (
''Hanju'' opera and ''Handiao'' music), later also
Teochew opera
Teochew opera or Chaozhou opera, Chiuchow opera (especially in Hong Kong), is one of the many variants of Chinese opera, originating in southern China's Chaoshan region. It is popular in eastern Guangdong, southern Fujian, Hong Kong, Macau, Thailan ...
.
A number of recordings of ''Hanju'' opera performed by Er Woo were made in the 1920s and 1930s. Many professional and amateur opera troupes that performed in various dialects were later established. These opera troupes typically perform during festivals and national events, and may also hold regular small-scale performances, or large-scale ones annually or biannually. The professional troupes may also perform in opera theatres.
During Chinese festivities there was also a minstrel tradition called ''zouchang'' (walk-sing), which involves walking performance by members of the operatic troupes. In the past, makeshift stages often appeared during festivities along the streets where operas may be performed. However, operas have declined as popular entertainment in the latter half of the 20th century; opera theatres closed, and street opera have mostly been replaced by ''
getai
A getai (literally song stage) (Traditional Chinese: ; Simplified Chinese: 歌台) is a usually boisterous live stage performance held during the Ghost Festival commonly held in Singapore, Malaysia and some parts of Indonesia (mainly in Riau, ...
'' where modern songs and comedy routines are performed,
although street opera is still performed by professional and amateur opera troupes.
![Nanyin performance at Thian Hock Keng temple](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0f/Nanyin_performance_at_Thian_Hock_Keng_temple.jpg)
Many music organisations and ensembles devoted to Chinese music or
Huayue were established in the 1950s,
and there are now many full-sized
Chinese orchestra
The term Chinese orchestra is most commonly used to refer to the modern Chinese orchestra that is found in China and various overseas Chinese communities. This modern Chinese orchestra first developed out of Jiangnan sizhu ensemble in the 1920s ...
s in Singapore. The first Chinese orchestra was formed in 1959 by the Thau Yong Amateur Musical Association (陶融儒乐社), which was established in 1931 by former members of Er Woo.
The
Singapore Chinese Orchestra
Singapore Chinese Orchestra SCO ( zh, c=新加坡华乐团, p=Xinjiapo Huayuetuan) is Singapore's only professional Chinese orchestra. Inaugurated in 1997, the 85-musician orchestra took on the twin role of preserving traditional arts and cultu ...
is the only professional Chinese orchestra in Singapore, however amateur Chinese orchestras formed by clan associations, community centres and schools are common, with over amateur 150 Chinese orchestras formed.
There are also chamber ensembles such as those of the
Nanguan tradition from
Siong Leng Musical Association
Siong Leng Musical Association or Siong Leng is a Nanyin musical group from Singapore.[Lion Dance F
Lion dance () is a form of traditional dance in Chinese culture and other Asian countries in which performers mimic a lion's movements in a lion costume to bring good luck and fortune. The lion dance is usually performed during the Chinese New ...](_blank)
are also popular.
Malay
Music genres popular in neighbouring Malaysia and Indonesia, such as ''
Dondang Sayang'' and ''
Keroncong
Kroncong (pronounced "kronchong"; id, Keroncong, nl, Krontjong) is the name of a ukulele-like instrument and an Indonesian musical style that typically makes use of the kroncong (the sound ' comes from this instrument, so the music is called ' ...
'', were also popular among Malays in Singapore. Vocal performances accompanied by ''
kompang
''Kompang'' ( ban, ᬓᭀᬫ᭄ᬧᬂ; jv, ꦏꦺꦴꦩ꧀ꦥꦁ, ) is a traditional Balinese and Javanese musical instrument part of gamelan in the percussion family originated from the Indonesian region of Ponorogo in East Java. Kompang h ...
'' and ''hadrah'' drums are among the most popular types of Malay music in Singapore, and may be performed during weddings and official functions. Other vocal genres such as ''
dikir barat'' and ''
ghazal
The ''ghazal'' ( ar, غَزَل, bn, গজল, Hindi-Urdu: /, fa, غزل, az, qəzəl, tr, gazel, tm, gazal, uz, gʻazal, gu, ગઝલ) is a form of amatory poem or ode, originating in Arabic poetry. A ghazal may be understood as a ...
'' are also popular.
An old tradition of Malay opera called ''
Bangsawan
''Bangsawan'' ( Jawi: بڠساون) is a type of traditional Malay opera or theatre performed by a troupe, and accompanied by music and sometimes dances. The ''bangsawan'' theatrical performance encompasses music, dance and drama. It is wid ...
'' existed since the 19th century but had declined, although there are modern attempts at reviving the genre.
Indian
Hindustani and
Karnatic music are two forms of Indian classical music that may be found in Singapore. Other forms of music that are popular are ''
Bhajan
Bhajan refers to any devotional song with a religious theme or spiritual ideas, specifically among Indian religions, in any language. The term bhajanam (Sanskrit: भजनम्) means ''reverence'' and originates from the root word ''bhaj'' ...
'' and ''
Bhangra'' music,
and professional Bhangra troupes may perform at festivities and special events.
Peranakan
The
Peranakan
The Peranakans () are an ethnic group defined by their genealogical descent from the first waves of Southern Chinese settlers to maritime Southeast Asia, known as Nanyang (), namely the British Colonial ruled ports in the Malay Peninsula, th ...
s are descendants of early Chinese immigrants who had intermarried with the local Malay population, and had adopted, partly or fully, Malay customs. Their folk music is noted for its fusion of English in Malay-inspired tunes, largely because the Peranakans themselves are often conversant in both languages. Contemporary tunes continue to be composed based on the Peranakan culture, such as "Bunga Sayang" composed in 1994, a theme song from
Dick Lee
Richard Lee Peng Boon (born 24 August 1956) is a Singaporean singer-songwriter, playwright and film director.
Early life
Lee was born to a Peranakan father, Lee Kip Lee, (who wrote for ''The Straits Times'') and his wife , Elizabeth Tan. He was th ...
'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
An esplanade or promenade is a long, open, level area, usually next to a river or large body of water, where people may walk. The historical definition of ''esplanade'' was a large, open, level area outside fortress or city walls to provide cle ...
.
Western classical music
![NUoSSO in Vienna01](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/44/NUoSSO_in_Vienna01.jpg)
Western classical music plays a significant role in the cultural life in Singapore, and at its center is the
Singapore Symphony Orchestra
The Singapore Symphony Orchestra (SSO) is a symphony orchestra based in Singapore. Its principal concert venue is the Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay. The orchestra also gives concerts at the Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall, and performs abou ...
(SSO) which was instituted in 1979. The main performance venue for the orchestra is the
Esplanade Concert Hall
An esplanade or promenade is a long, open, level area, usually next to a river or large body of water, where people may walk. The historical definition of ''esplanade'' was a large, open, level area outside fortress or city walls to provide cl ...
, but it also performs in
Victoria Concert Hall
The Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall is a performing arts centre in the Central Area of Singapore, situated along Empress Place. It is a complex of two buildings and a clock tower joined together by a common corridor; the oldest part of the ...
and gives the occasional free performances in parks.
Other notable orchestras in Singapore include
Singapore National Youth Orchestra
The Singapore National Youth Orchestra (SNYO) is the national youth orchestra of Singapore. It is recognised by the Ministry of Education as a National Project of Excellence and a key development programme for talented young musicians. Since 1 ...
which is funded by the Ministry of Education, the community-based
Braddell Heights Symphony Orchestra
Braddell Heights Symphony Orchestra (BHSO) is an orchestra founded in 1986 and based in Singapore.
Maestro Yan Yin Wing ran the orchestra from 1989–2012, where the BHSO gave more than 60 public concerts and national events including former P ...
,
The Philharmonic Orchestra,
Orchestra of the Music Makers, and National University of Singapore Symphony Orchestra. Many orchestras and ensembles are also found in secondary schools and junior colleges.
There are a few opera companies that present Western operas in Singapore:
Singapore Lyric Opera which was founded in 1991, and
New Opera Singapore established in 2011. There is also a lively local chamber music scene, which took off in 2007. A number of significant changes in the early 2000s boosted the development of the classical music scene in Singapore, in particular the building of the performing arts venue
Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay
An esplanade or promenade is a long, open, level area, usually next to a river or large body of water, where people may walk. The historical definition of ''esplanade'' was a large, open, level area outside fortress or city walls to provide cle ...
, and the establishment of the first conservatory of Singapore,
Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music.
Well-known classical musicians from Singapore include
Lynnette Seah
Lynnette Seah Mei Tsing () is a Singaporean violinist serving as co-leader of the Singapore Symphony Orchestra (SSO). She received the Cultural Medallion for Music in 2006.
Early life
Seah began her formal music training on the piano with her ...
,
Lim Soon Lee
Lim Soon Lee (; born 3 August 1957) is a Singaporean conductor and violist.
Education
Soon Lee began his piano and violin training at a young age, under the tutelage of Goh Soon Tioe, Tan Kah Chin, Tan Kian Seng, Moses Wang, and Vivien Goh.
In ...
,
Siow Lee Chin, and
Abigail Sin. Some, such as conductor Darrell Ang and
Vanessa-Mae
Vanessa-Mae (陈美 Chén Měi; born 27 October 1978) also called Vanessa-Mae Vanakorn Nicholson, is a Singaporean-born British violinist with album sales reaching several million, having made her the wealthiest entertainer under 30 in the Uni ...
, are expat working overseas, there are however an increasing number of local musicians who are actively involved in the classical music scene of Singapore.
Some of these classical musicians have ventured into other genres and taken their music to public places, such as the
Lorong Boys, who sometimes perform in MRT trains.
Rock music
Alternative and indie rock music influenced bands in the 1990s such as Concave Scream,
Humpback Oak, The Padres, Oddfellows, and Livionia. In the Pop/Rock genres were "KICK!", Lizard's Convention & Radio Active. According to a 1992 Straits Times report, in that year, 15 other albums were released on independent labels and around 200 local bands were writing their own music. The following year, songs by The Padres, CU1359, ESP and The Oddfellows were featured on Multitrack 3, a British Broadcasting Corporation radio programme.
Recently, alternative, metal, grindcore,
punk rock and rock acts from Singapore who gained some profile outside Singapore include Analog Girl, Amateur Takes Control, Cockpit,
John Klass
John Klass (born February 6, in Singapore) is a singer/producer/songwriter/radio presenter.
Biography
John Klass has been in the entertainment scene since 1991.
As singer-songwriter, John first got public attention as lead singer with the gro ...
, Firebrands, Stompin' Ground, Ling Kai,
Inch Chua
Inch Chua (born Chua Yun Juan; 22 December 1988), stylized as iNCH, is a Singaporean singer-songwriter, musician, producer, actress and artist previously based in Los Angeles and New York. After rising to fame in Singapore's nascent indie scene as ...
,
Ronin, Anna Judge April,
Electrico
Electrico is a pop rock and indie Singaporean band originally formed as Electric Company in Singapore in 1996. This band is still active with the present line-up which includes David Tan, Desmond Goh, William Lim Jr.
History
1996–1997: For ...
, Force Vomit,
The Observatory, 4-Sides, Vermillion, West Grand Boulevard, Plainsunset, Etc., sub:shaman, Caracal,
Popland, The Great Spy Experiment, Sky In Euphoria, Rancour, Saw Loser (formerly known as Pug Jelly), Gorbachev, Helga, Malex,
A Vacant Affair
A Vacant Affair (Also known as AVA) is a 5-piece Singaporean post-hardcore band that was formed in 2004. The band is one of the first few groups to bring heavier music to the mainstream audience and reach the local charts in Singapore.
The ban ...
, For Better Endings, Death Metal and
Rudra
Rudra (; sa, रुद्र) is a Rigvedic deity associated with Shiva, the wind or storms, Vayu, medicine, and the hunt. One translation of the name is 'the roarer'. In the Rigveda, Rudra is praised as the 'mightiest of the mighty'. Rud ...
, who are significant for creating the genre "Vedic Metal".
Metal
Metal has a small but not insignificant presence in Singapore's music scene. Many metal bands such as
Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden are an English heavy metal band formed in Leyton, East London, in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. While fluid in the early years of the band, the lineup for most of the band's history has consisted of Harri ...
,
Exodus
Exodus or the Exodus may refer to:
Religion
* Book of Exodus, second book of the Hebrew Torah and the Christian Bible
* The Exodus, the biblical story of the migration of the ancient Israelites from Egypt into Canaan
Historical events
* Ex ...
,
Morbid Angel
Morbid Angel is an American death metal
Death metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. It typically employs heavily distorted and low-tuned guitars, played with techniques such as palm muting and tremolo picking; deep growling ...
,
Slayer
Slayer was an American thrash metal band from Huntington Park, California. The band was formed in 1981 by guitarists Kerry King and Jeff Hanneman, drummer Dave Lombardo and bassist/vocalist Tom Araya. Slayer's fast and aggressive musical style ...
,
Dream Theater
Dream Theater is an American progressive metal band formed in 1985 under the name Majesty by John Petrucci, John Myung and Mike Portnoy while they attended Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. They subsequently dropped out of the ...
and
Helloween
Helloween is a German power metal band founded in 1984 in Hamburg by members of bands Iron Fist, Gentry, Second Hell and Powerfool. Its first lineup consisted of singer and guitarist Kai Hansen, bassist Markus Grosskopf, guitarist Michael Weik ...
made Singapore a stop in their tour, at venues such as
Fort Canning
Fort Canning Hill, formerly Government Hill, Singapore Hill and Bukit Larangan (''Forbidden Hill'' in Malay), is a small hill, about high, in the southeast portion of the island city-state of Singapore, within the Central Area that forms Sin ...
Park and
Singapore Indoor Stadium
The Singapore Indoor Stadium, known exonymously as the Indoor Stadium, is an indoor arena located in Kallang, Singapore. It is within walking distance of the Singapore National Stadium, and collectively form a part of the wider Singapore Spor ...
. Small to medium scale gigs are held almost weekly at locations such as BlackHole212 or
The Substation
The Substation (Chinese: 电力站) is Singapore's first independent contemporary arts centre. It was founded in 1990 by Kuo Pao Kun. The Substation is centrally located in the city's civic district and was the first building under the Natio ...
. Most recently, on 15 February 2011,
Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden are an English heavy metal band formed in Leyton, East London, in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. While fluid in the early years of the band, the lineup for most of the band's history has consisted of Harri ...
played to a crowd of 12,000 at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.
There have also been many notable local metal bands from many varying subgenres in the growing underground scene. Special mention includes:
*
Black metal
Black metal is an extreme metal, extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. Common traits include Tempo#Beats per minute, fast tempos, a Screaming (music)#Black metal, shrieking vocal style, heavily distorted Electric guitar, guitars played with t ...
stalwarts
Impiety
Impiety is a perceived lack of proper respect for something considered sacred. Impiety is often closely associated with sacrilege, though it is not necessarily a physical action. Impiety cannot be associated with a cult, as it implies a larger b ...
,
* Extreme Metal veterans
Rudra
Rudra (; sa, रुद्र) is a Rigvedic deity associated with Shiva, the wind or storms, Vayu, medicine, and the hunt. One translation of the name is 'the roarer'. In the Rigveda, Rudra is praised as the 'mightiest of the mighty'. Rud ...
who created a new metal genre called Vedic Metal and a cult following worldwide. The band has also attracted the attention of Musicologists. Several papers have been published about Vedic Metal and the band.
*Bastardized: Pioneer Doom Melodic Death metal band existing since 1993. "With Love, With Hate, With Grief, With Pain." EP released under Valentine Sound Productions 1994. Poetry styled album "The Over Burdened" expected release in 2016.
*Funeral Hearse signed by prominent American Metal Label Redefining Darkness Records, owned by Thomas Haywood of Aborted and Abigail Williams fame.
*
Wormrot
Wormrot is a Singaporean grindcore band that formed in 2007, immediately after the founding members had completed their mandatory two years of national service. The band have released four studio albums to date, as well as a number of EPs and sp ...
has recently been signed by UK record label,
Earache Records
Earache Records is a British independent record label, music publisher and management company founded by Digby Pearson in 1985, based in Nottingham, England, with offices in London and New York. The label helped to pioneer extreme metal by rel ...
.
*Local Death Metal "Assault" band new album "The Fallen Reich" features current Taiwan member of Parliament & "ChthoniC" Frontman Freddy Lim and Maldive metal band "Nothnegal" Guitarist Fufu.
There is however little support for metal in Singapore's mainstream media. The heavy metal scene in Singapore therefore has established its own ways of disseminating information by utilizing popular internet based social mediums such as
Facebook
Facebook is an online social media and social networking service owned by American company Meta Platforms. Founded in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg with fellow Harvard College students and roommates Eduardo Saverin, Andrew McCollum, Dustin M ...
,
Twitter
Twitter is an online social media and social networking service owned and operated by American company Twitter, Inc., on which users post and interact with 280-character-long messages known as "tweets". Registered users can post, like, and ...
and
blog
A blog (a truncation of "weblog") is a discussion or informational website published on the World Wide Web consisting of discrete, often informal diary-style text entries (posts). Posts are typically displayed in reverse chronological order ...
s.
Some Metal music of this generation may be featured occasionally on Brader Bo's show, Vicious Volume of RIA 89.7fm.
Experimental/Improvised
Two Singapore rock bands of the 1970s and 1980s, Heritage and
Zircon Lounge, showed tendencies to create music beyond conventional rock idioms. In the late 1980s, Corporate Toil baited audiences with noisy electronic performances influenced by industrial/new wave bands like Suicide or Einstürzende Neubauten. In the 1990s, Kelvin Tan produced literally dozens of albums of avant folk and improvised guitar, as well as assembling the short-lived Stigmata featuring bassist Ian Woo and saxophonist Kelvin Guoh. Zai Kuning, largely known as a visual artist and dancer, lived for a period in Japan and collaborated musically with Tetsu Saitoh, a famed Japanese cellist. Zai also created his own form of Malay folk and gypsy blues music, singing incantations in his deep tenor while playing a loose form of open tuning guitar.
By the late 1990s and into the 2000s, a group of experimental laptop artists appeared: George Chua, Yuen Chee Wai, Evan Tan, Ang Song Ming, and Chong Li-Chuan, the last having received the bachelor's and master's degrees in music at Goldsmiths College, University of London. Straddling the world of digital effects and acoustic instruments was the duo
aspidistrafly, who eventually gained an enormous following in Japan, producing their own music and running their
Kitchen. Label.
The Observatory, a supergroup formed from the ashes of Leslie Low's folk rock
Humpback Oak trio, have been widely regarded as one of the best bands in Singapore, with Yeow Kai Chai of ''
The Straits Times
''The Straits Times'' is an English-language daily broadsheet newspaper based in Singapore and currently owned by SPH Media Trust (previously Singapore Press Holdings). ''The Sunday Times'' is its Sunday edition. The newspaper was established ...
'' writing, "No other Singapore band, past or present, has captured the imagination quite like The Observatory." With every album, The Observatory have pushed at the limits of the song form, incorporating prog rock, jazz, avant garde guitar, drones, black metal, and more.
Musical outsiders Engineered Beautiful Blood (Shark Fung and Wei Nan) blazed a hot trail of no wave improvised rock, then stopped playing in 2009. However, their members eventually formed a larger improvised rock ensemble, I\D, which itself would splinter off into smaller groups and configurations. Shark Fung himself has been a key figure in the musical margins, with his idiosyncratic solo drums-and-electronics noise outfit Awk Wah, and forming the collective structured improv group BALBALAB with Wu Jun Han, Dennis Tan and Zai Tang in late 2014. Around the middle of the 2000s, another grouping calling themselves Under the Velvet Sky wowed audiences with their performances that evoked prog rock, free jazz, traditional Malay and Chinese music, and more. Again, the loose nature of the collective enabled them to create other projects such as Gulayu Arkestra, Five Leaves Left and Cactus - not to mention the solo efforts of members Jordan Johari Rais and Imran Abdul Rashid.
The influence of an expatriate community cannot be ignored. Lindsay Vickery (Aus), Tim O'Dwyer (Aus), Darren Moore (Aus), Brian O'Reilly (US) and Dirk Johan Stromberg (US) all at some point associated with the music programmes at
LASALLE College of the Arts
LASALLE College of the Arts (informally LASALLE) is a publicly-funded post-secondary arts institution, planned to be a constituent college of the University of the Arts Singapore (UAS) by 2024 along with the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts in Sing ...
, were involved in organising showcases and festivals of experimental and improvised music. Their interaction and collaboration with local players energised the local experimental music community.
Since 2010,
Ujikaji was established as a do-it-yourself experimental music label, distro and event organiser. It has released albums by Magus, Dream State Vision, and Awk Wah. It has been a partner of
The Observatory in the innovative Playfreely series of improvised music events.
Music venues
![The Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fa/The_Esplanade_%E2%80%93_Theatres_on_the_Bay.jpg)
The most important venue for concert is the
Esplanade
An esplanade or promenade is a long, open, level area, usually next to a river or large body of water, where people may walk. The historical definition of ''esplanade'' was a large, open, level area outside fortress or city walls to provide cle ...
, which replaced
Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall
The Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall is a performing arts centre in the Central Area of Singapore, situated along Empress Place. It is a complex of two buildings and a clock tower joined together by a common corridor; the oldest part of the ...
as the primary concert hall of Singapore. The
Singapore Conference Hall
The Singapore Conference Hall is a multipurpose building located in the heart of the financial district of Shenton Way in Downtown Core of Singapore. The first building to be constructed along Shenton Way, it was a place for conferences and exh ...
is used as a base for the Singapore Chinese Orchestra. There are also many clubs and music bars that offer live music in the city, particularly in the
Clarke Quay
Clarke Quay is a historical riverside quay in Singapore, located within the Singapore River Planning Area. The quay is situated upstream from the mouth of the Singapore River and Boat Quay.
Etymology
''Clarke Quay'' was named after Sir Andre ...
area.
The Esplanade
In 2002,
Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay
An esplanade or promenade is a long, open, level area, usually next to a river or large body of water, where people may walk. The historical definition of ''esplanade'' was a large, open, level area outside fortress or city walls to provide cle ...
, which is the ''de facto'' national performing arts centre of Singapore, was launched. It focuses on the island's multi-genre music making, and is now the venue for the
Singapore Symphony Orchestra
The Singapore Symphony Orchestra (SSO) is a symphony orchestra based in Singapore. Its principal concert venue is the Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay. The orchestra also gives concerts at the Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall, and performs abou ...
's subscription and gala concerts. In addition, the arts centre has ensured a representation of classical and traditional music from the four primary cultures in the land. In particular, the regular festivals of Hua Yi, Pesta Raya and Kalaa Utsavam ensure that interpreters of these different repertories are heard on a regular basis.
The
Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay
An esplanade or promenade is a long, open, level area, usually next to a river or large body of water, where people may walk. The historical definition of ''esplanade'' was a large, open, level area outside fortress or city walls to provide cle ...
also presents 3 music festivals, including
Baybeats
Baybeats is an annual 3-day alternative music festival organized by Esplanade, and held in Singapore. It showcases various local acts such as regional and international artists. The festival is located at Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay and is 1 ...
which aims to groom the local alternative music scene and youth culture, providing opportunities for youths and the music community to participate and enjoy their own music at low cost. Many ticketed as well as non-ticketed performances at the Esplanade feature local musicians from Singapore.
Music education
In Singapore, music as a subject in education was first introduced in 1935,
and today General Music Programme is offered to all students in primary and secondary schools. The Enhanced Music Programme, started in 2011, is offered as an upper secondary programme in selected schools. Tertiary music education is also available in Singapore – the
Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music, which received its first student intake in 2003, is the first to offer a four-year full-time Bachelor of Music degree programme.
The conservatory is part of the
National University of Singapore
The National University of Singapore (NUS) is a national public research university in Singapore. Founded in 1905 as the Straits Settlements and Federated Malay States Government Medical School, NUS is the oldest autonomous university in the c ...
founded in partnership with the
Peabody Conservatory
The Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University is a private conservatory and preparatory school in Baltimore, Maryland. It was founded in 1857 and opened in 1866 by merchant/financier and philanthropist George Peabody (1795–1869) ...
, and it serves as a centre of training for young musicians in the Asia Pacific region with full scholarship provided.
Music education is also offered at other institutions such as
Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts
Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA); (Standard Chinese: 南洋艺术学院; ms, Akademi Seni Halus Nanyang; ta, நன்யாங் அகாடமி ஆஃப் ஃபைன் ஆர்ட்ஸ்) is a publicly-funded post-secondary ar ...
,
LASALLE College of the Arts
LASALLE College of the Arts (informally LASALLE) is a publicly-funded post-secondary arts institution, planned to be a constituent college of the University of the Arts Singapore (UAS) by 2024 along with the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts in Sing ...
,
Raffles Music College and the School of the Arts.
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
"Chan Mali Chan" is a folk song popular in Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. The song is believed to have its origin in East Nusa Tenggara in Indonesia. A popular Indonesian version titled "Anak Kambing Saya" ("My Lamb" or "My Baby Goat") has ...
"), 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 9. The tradition of a National Day Song started in the 1980s, although there may not be a song every year, for example in 2014 when older songs were reprised.
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", also 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. "We Are Singapore" was used again in 2018 with some changes.
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.
*1998: "
Home
A home, or domicile, is a space used as a permanent or semi-permanent residence for one or many humans, and sometimes various companion animals. It is a fully or semi sheltered space and can have both interior and exterior aspects to it. H ...
" (家), by
Kit Chan
use both this parameter and , birth_date to display the person's date of birth, date of death, and age at death) -->
, death_place =
, death_cause =
, body_discovered =
, resting_place =
, resting_place_coordinates ...
*1999: "Together" (心连心), by
Evelyn Tan
Evelyn Tan () is a Singaporean actress and former singer. She was prominently a full-time Mediacorp artiste from 1997 to 2005.
Career
Tan joined Star Search Singapore in 1997 after university and was offered a contract by Television Corporation ...
and Dreamz FM
*2000: "Shine on Me" (星月), by Jai (English version) and
Mavis Hee
Mavis Hee (born Xu MeiJing, , 27 September 1974) is a Singaporean singer, songwriter and actress. She was the second runner-up and also Miss Photogenic and Miss Amity for Singapore's Miss Chinatown Pageant 1992.
Career
Hee's first album ''Kno ...
(Mandarin version)
*2001: "
Where I Belong" (属于), by
Tanya Chua
Tanya Chua (; born 28 January 1975) is a Singaporean singer-songwriter. She launched her singing career by releasing her debut studio album ''Bored'' in 1997. Her albums, ''Amphibian'' (2005), '' Goodbye & Hello'' (2007), ''Sing It Out of Love'' (2 ...
*2002: "We Will Get There" (一起走到), by
Stefanie Sun
Stefanie Sun (, born 23 July 1978) is a Singaporean singer-songwriter. In 2000, she released her debut album, '' Yan Zi'', which won her a Golden Melody Award for Best New Artist. In 2004, she released her eighth studio album, '' Stefanie'', w ...
*2003: "One United People" (全心全意), by
Stefanie Sun
Stefanie Sun (, born 23 July 1978) is a Singaporean singer-songwriter. In 2000, she released her debut album, '' Yan Zi'', which won her a Golden Melody Award for Best New Artist. In 2004, she released her eighth studio album, '' Stefanie'', w ...
*2004: "Home" (家), remixed version by
JJ Lin
Wayne Lin Junjie (; born 27 March 1981), better known by his stage name JJ Lin, is a Singaporean singer, songwriter, record producer and actor. Lin launched his musical career by releasing his debut album ''Music Voyager'' (2003). GIO, Taiwa1 ...
,
Kit Chan
use both this parameter and , birth_date to display the person's date of birth, date of death, and age at death) -->
, death_place =
, death_cause =
, body_discovered =
, resting_place =
, resting_place_coordinates ...
*2005: "Reach Out For The Skies" (勇敢向前飞), a duet by
Taufik Batisah
Muhammad Taufik bin Batisah ( Jawi: محمد تيوفيك بن بتيسه; born 10 December 1981) is a Singaporean singer-songwriter best known for winning the first season of the reality TV series ''Singapore Idol''.
Early life and education ...
and
Rui En
Loh Rui En (born 29 January 1981), better known by her stage name Rui En (瑞恩), is a Singaporean actress and was named as one of the Seven Princesses of Mediacorp in 2006. She was under contract of MediaCorp and managed under Hype Records. ...
, composed by Elaine Chan. (The Chinese version is sung by Rui En only).
*2006: "
My Island Home" (幸福的图形), by
Kaira Gong
Kaira Gong (, born 25 July 1981) is a Singaporean singer. She sang the theme song for Singapore's National Day Parade in 2006, titled " My Island Home".
She was previously signed with HIM International Music, and is best known as the protég ...
*2007: "
There's No Place I'd Rather Be
"There's No Place I'd Rather Be" is a song sung by Singaporean artiste, Kit Chan. Along with Will you, it serves as the official theme to the National Day Parade in 2007. The single is one of the few National Day Parade themes that doesn't ment ...
", by
Kit Chan
use both this parameter and , birth_date to display the person's date of birth, date of death, and age at death) -->
, death_place =
, death_cause =
, body_discovered =
, resting_place =
, resting_place_coordinates ...
(陈洁仪) and
Will you - Various Local Artiste
*2008: "
Shine for Singapore" (晴空万里), by
Hady Mirza
Muhammad Mirzahady Bin Amir, also known as Hady Mirza ( ms, حدي ميرزا; born 28 January 1980) is a Singaporean singer.
He was the winner of the second season of the reality TV show '' Singapore Idol''. He was crowned the winner on 25 Sep ...
(English version) and
Joi Chua
Joi Chua (, born 3 August 1978) is a Singaporean female pop singer. Her most famous songs are "Waiting for a Sunny Day" (《等一个晴天》), "Watching the Sunrise With Me" (《陪我看日出》), the Chinese version of "Nada Soso" and "Win ...
(Mandarin version)
*2009: "
What Do You See
"What Do You See?" ( in Mandarin Chinese, Mandarin) is a song by Singaporean band Electrico. It was commissioned as the official theme song for the 2009 Singapore National Day parade, National Day Parade. The song is one of the few National Day P ...
" (就在这里), by
Electrico
Electrico is a pop rock and indie Singaporean band originally formed as Electric Company in Singapore in 1996. This band is still active with the present line-up which includes David Tan, Desmond Goh, William Lim Jr.
History
1996–1997: For ...
(English version) and
Kelvin Tan
Kelvin Tan Wei Lian (陈伟联, born 5 October 1981) is a Singaporean former Mandopop singer who earned a living as a busker before he won the first edition of Project SuperStar in 2005. He has released three albums, All I Want Is... (200 ...
(Mandarin version)
*2010: "
Song for Singapore
Song for Singapore is a song composed and sung by Singaporean ( American-based) singer, Corrinne May.
It was officially commissioned as the official theme for the 2010 National Day Parade. The single is the first NDP theme song to be available for ...
", by
Corrinne May
Corrinne May (born Corrinne Foo May Ying; 19 January 1973) is a Los Angeles-based Singaporean musician, singer, and songwriter.
Life and career
She graduated from the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston, and began her career as a sin ...
*2011: "
In a Heartbeat", by
Sylvia Ratonel
Sylvia Anne Ratonel (born 14 June 1988) is a Singaporean singer and spokesmodel. She is most popularly known as the first female finalist in ''Singapore Idol'' history as well as being the runner-up of the third season. The show launched her ca ...
*2012: "
Love At First Light", by
Olivia Ong
Olivia Ong (; born ) is a Singaporean singer and actress. The majority of her works are in Mandarin Chinese, but she has also recorded songs in English, Cantonese and Japanese. In her early days, her entertainment career focused on singing ja ...
& Natanya Tan
*2013: "One Singapore", by Sing A Nation Choir
*2014: Reprise of older songs, such as the 2002 song "We Will Get There" by Farisha Ishak and Tay Ke Wei
*2015: "Our Singapore", by
JJ Lin
Wayne Lin Junjie (; born 27 March 1981), better known by his stage name JJ Lin, is a Singaporean singer, songwriter, record producer and actor. Lin launched his musical career by releasing his debut album ''Music Voyager'' (2003). GIO, Taiwa1 ...
*2016: "Tomorrow's Here Today" by
53A
*2017: "Because It's Singapore" by Jay Lim
*2018: "We Are Singapore" (revamp of the 1987's NDP song)
*2019: "Our Singapore", by various artists
*2020: "Everything I Am" by
Nathan Hartono
use both this parameter and , birth_date to display the person's date of birth, date of death, and age at death) -->
, death_place =
, death_cause =
, resting_place =
, resting_place_coordinates =
, burial_place ...
*2021: "The Road Ahead" by various artists
Other community-building songs:
*1984: "There's a Part for Everyone" - Official theme of the Total Defence program
*2005: "Sing Our Wishes" - Also used as official song for Ministry of Education schools for
Racial Harmony Day
Racial Harmony Day is a day in Singapore to celebrate its success as a racially harmonious nation. It is observed on the 21st of July every year, with most activities organised by schools and grassroots organisations, including religious groups.
H ...
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
Ken Lim (born 1964) is a Singaporean concept & campaign manager, concerts & event promoter, established artiste manager, composer, music producer & publisher. He is the executive director of Hype Records.
Early life and career
Ken Lim runs on ...
specially for Singapore's millennium celebrations towards the end of 1999. It was performed by three notable singers -
Fann Wong
use both this parameter and , birth_date to display the person's date of birth, date of death, and age at death) -->
, death_place =
, death_cause =
, body_discovered =
, resting_place =
, resting_place_coordinat ...
,
Tanya Chua
Tanya Chua (; born 28 January 1975) is a Singaporean singer-songwriter. She launched her singing career by releasing her debut studio album ''Bored'' in 1997. Her albums, ''Amphibian'' (2005), '' Goodbye & Hello'' (2007), ''Sing It Out of Love'' (2 ...
and
Elsa Lin. The music video was directed by Singapore filmmaker
Eric Khoo
use both this parameter and , birth_date to display the person's date of birth, date of death, and age at death) -->
, death_place =
, death_cause =
, resting_place =
, nationality = Singaporean
, alma_mater = Uni ...
.
* 1999: "
Moments of Magic", by
Fann Wong
use both this parameter and , birth_date to display the person's date of birth, date of death, and age at death) -->
, death_place =
, death_cause =
, body_discovered =
, resting_place =
, resting_place_coordinat ...
,
Tanya Chua
Tanya Chua (; born 28 January 1975) is a Singaporean singer-songwriter. She launched her singing career by releasing her debut studio album ''Bored'' in 1997. Her albums, ''Amphibian'' (2005), '' Goodbye & Hello'' (2007), ''Sing It Out of Love'' (2 ...
and
Elsa Lin
References
External links
MusicSG - digital archive of Singapore musicSOFT - It's Music in SingaporeSingaporeGigs - Live Music Guide to SingaporeEsplanade - Singapore’s National Performing Arts CentreSingapore Night FestivalNational Day Parade website
{{Music of Asia