As the flags in your neighbourhood might indicate, National Day is fast approaching. And if there's one thing we look forward to every year, it's the release of the annual National Day Parade (NDP) song. We're going to have a very different NDP this year as Singaporeans celebrate at home with loved ones instead of on the floating platform at Marina Bay. And thus, this year's NDP song follows the same theme. Composed by Joshua Wan and sung by local musician Nathan Hartono, this year's song highlights the notion of: Together, A Stronger Singapore.
With all the events that have happened this year (yes Covid-19, we mean you mostly), the song entitled Everything I Am is mellower and more emotional than the clap-along anthems that have rolled out in the previous years. In it, Hartono sings "Show me how I should be strong / Teach me that I can be weak" – perhaps some of the more tender lyrics we've seen in a National Day song, which usually focus on success, victories and being the very best. Still, what's an NDP song without the corny bits like referring to Singapore as a "precious jewel in my hand" – but we'll take it.
The music video also features everyday Singaporeans going through their lives during the pandemic – you can expect many heartwarming Zoom call moments. The video includes the owners of OK Chicken Rice – a food stall in Ang Mo Kio – Daniel Tan and Clara Loh who delivered hundreds of free chicken rice packets to healthcare workers. You can also spot a deaf dance crew, Redeafination busting some moves in the video and local musician and artist Ginette Chittick and her family having a meal with migrant workers as part of the local initiative, Come Makan With Me.
The people featured in the video are part of the 55 stories curated from the public and via social media. The other stories will be presented through short films as part of the stay home NDP morning and evening shows. Despite the challenging year Singaporeans have faced so far, the video is a touching reminder that we're not alone in this – and that the NDP is not always about being flashy and grandiose.
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