Someone posts this on a class forum, regarding Singapore music. He considers ‘xinyao’ (Singapore folk-pop) to be ‘unique to Singapore, as they are composed and sung by Singaporeans, and are also said to reflect the lives of Singaporeans (年少时候，小人物的心声，我们这一班，etc.)

So I cannot resist writing a response. The topic on Singapore music has been something I have always pondered on and off, as a problem raised many times over the years by music people in Singapore. The following text contains my humble thoughts about identity in Singapore music.

From a thematic perspective I agree, yes, xinyao can be considered being ‘unique to Singapore’, because the topics reflect very much on the development of Singaporeans – growing up (细水长流 a.k.a. 年少时候, 新加坡派, 小人物的心声). The topics of these songs evoke personal memories of the ordinary Singaporean. This is partly aided by the simplicity and singability of the songs.

What else would we consider as Singapore music? Problem is, we do not have a culture that has transcended through the ages, sufficient for a characteristic style to develop, in the way such that there are recognisable idioms for listeners to be able to identify, ‘Hey, this is music from so-and-so place’, and for composers to be able to express them in their own creations such that audiences will be able to identify. Composers also insert distinct musical features of the cultures that they experience into their music, such that upon listening, we can easily identify its origins. Have you found yourself describing pieces of music, ‘This sounds Chinese…’ ‘This is a tango…’ ‘This is gamelan’ and so forth?

These are features that make the music distinct, and for music to have that Singaporean-ness to it, ideally there ought to be such traits. Unfortunately our history as a peoples is short, hence we do not have such things as folk songs and dances and particular rhythms that mark music from this part of the world. Perhaps xinyao might one day make it as Singaporean music, but then again, the musical language of xinyao is ‘everywhere’ and hence leads to ‘nowhere’ (borrowing the Geographical concept of placelessness). The lyrics of xinyao songs could be stripped and made over with another set of lyrics, say a sappy love ballad, and the tune would be lost into placelessness – it’s just another tune, there’s nothing Singaporean about it.

Instead, we should then turn to the themes in music – themes as in titles and lyrics and objects of portrayal. This is perhaps the first step in establishing an identity for the music. For instance, I write about the Singapore River. Immediately we can identify it as a piece of music from Singapore. I accentuate this theme by introducing characteristics in the music that serve to conjure an audio (and hopefully visual!) image of the Singapore River. Perhaps I might imitate the sound of bumboats?

Now you may say I am contradicting my earlier statement that we lack a musical language that is distinguishable. Yes, we do not have a distinguishable music language or timbre; hence we need a theme as a root. Let’s put this in context: let’s say there’s a piece called ABC, and while listening to it, you suddenly realise… ‘Wait a moment – this sounds like Celtic music…’ The fact that you can recognise Celtic music within a piece that does not specifically tell you it has anything to do with Ireland means: Celtic music is distinguishable!

Back to our piece of music: if you put gongs and drums and an erhu and it plays some stereotypical pentatonic-sounding thing, chances are you will not connect it to Singapore even though Singapore has a humongous Chinese population. You might think it’s from China. But, with a theme to the composition, the use of Chinese music (for instance) provides meaning to the work. Perhaps it’s a representation of the River Hong Bao Carnival? The use of musical influences is, at the same time, justified. The piece becomes a meaningful portrayal of the Singapore River as well as a representation of Singapore. A piece of Singapore music. Since we do not have an established musical language, let us identify ourselves thematically.

Please feel free to comment!