Part 4/11:
In the early days, the first official National Day song, “Stand Up for Singapore,” was created to celebrate self-governance and foster unity. Over the next decade, the number of songs dedicated solely to National Day surged, each vying to capture the increasing complexity of Singapore’s identity and challenges.
By the late 1990s and early 2000s, a shift toward commissioning top local artists marked a new era. Songs like “Where I Belong,” sung by prominent artists, reflected a more personalized and introspective approach, moving away from overt nationalism towards messages of hope and self-empowerment.