You cannot run away or hide from it. Every August (beginning in July), every radio stations and every malls in Singapore will be blasting out these songs at every possible opportunity. Yes, we are talking about the National Day Parade (NDP) theme songs. You either love them or hate them. Without fail, these songs draw strong reactions, and robust debate between their supporters and detractors every year.
Unexpectedly, online reaction to this year’s NDP theme song, The Road Ahead, have been overwhelmingly positive and may have even surprised the song’s singer-songwriter Linying who “was so prepared for the hate“. The video has been viewed more than 1.7 million times and liked by more than 27 thousand viewers on YouTube since it was uploaded on 2 July 2021. The song’s heartwarming tune and relatable lyrics amid the Covid-19 pandemic easily makes it on to our favourite playlist!
There were a number of polls conducted in recent years, such as The Straits Times in 2013, Yahoo Lifestyles in 2018 and 2019, trying to identify ‘that’ favourite NDP song. The results aren’t always what we expected! Home (家), sung by Kit Chan and composed by Dick Lee in 1998 was top of the poll for The Straits Times in 2013 edition and Yahoo Lifestyles in 2018, but Stand Up For Singapore received the most votes in Yahoo Lifestyles’ 2019 poll.
Home is (and always has been) our number one. It may not have that chest-thumping national pride oomph ‘thing’ but it was a moving tribute to Singapore and gave an introspective look into what it meant to call the island home.
Fun fact of the day: the song wasn’t originally written as a NDP theme song (that honour goes to City For The World), it was meant for the Sing Singapore Festival.
Little Red Dot Data 