THAT Fann Wong's song (Melanie C, aka Sporty Spice, "Northern Star")

    "Let us celebrate this moment, a brand new day awaits!"  I nearly laughed when they played this song at Suntec City after the clock hit 12am to signal the 'last year of the current millennium'.  What was even more amusing is that the crowd directly around me, some 200 people and possibly many more throughout Singapore, had actually memorized the above phrase.  Of course, it is no surprise since that song by Fann Wong and company has been playing non-stop in TV and at MRT stations.  This article records my reflections as I crossover to Y2K, over that song, relating it to an interesting trend in all these nationalistic songs.

    The trend in all these national songs is quite obvious once you take time to think about it.  I recall in 1984, when I was primary five, at Singapore's 25th anniversary of independence, the main song then was Stand up for Singapore.  As products of our mainstream schools, we were made to memorize that song, and if I can recall, I did feel a sense of pride singing it.  Subsequently, songs like Count on me Singapore and We are Singapore became firm favorites among Singaporeans in the years 1987 and 1988.  I remember running to the television set whenever those songs were played, to watch both Clement Chow as well as what I thought then as a fantastic video for We are Singapore.  

    Now, I have heard many criticisms directed at Singapore for being too restrictive politically.  From the trend of these national songs throughout the years, you  have to admit that the government is aware of the change in Singaporeans' mentality.  Nowadays, the current songs:  Singapore my Home by Kit Chan, The Singapore Heartbeat by Evelyn Tan and company and now Moments of Magic by Fann Wong, Tanya Chua and that maternity dress loving Elsa, are distinctly more upbeat and subtle.  The lyrics of these songs are distinctly less propaganda than all the songs I have mentioned in the previous paragraph.  It would seem that Singapore have "improved" in the sense that we are no longer fed directly about Singapore's achievements.  One thing certainly has not changed, we are still being constantly drummed with those three ladies bouncing around, to sublimely make Singaporeans proud of their country.  However, I prefer to be more sanguine and say, "At least it has improved!"  

   The above viewpoint is, obviously, not shared universally among Singaporeans.  I have spoken to Singaporeans who feels that the older generation songs are better as the current ones are too influenced by western culture.  I do agree with them because, while I could still recall most of the lyrics to the previous nationalistic songs, I have real problems even singing Singapore my Home or the Singapore Heartbeat.  Furthermore, I have heard so many negative comments on Moments of Magic, although I am really quite indifferent towards its quality.  Well, each of us are entitled to our own opinions.