The Finale: National Day Parade 2009
See the moon and the stars, look how far we have come
Look around at our faces, they shine brightly in the sun
With our hopes and dreams, imagine what tomorrow it may bring
What do you see?
What do you see?- NDP 09 Theme Song, "What Do You See?"
For the past 2 months, the NDP 09 theme song has literally become the anthem of the lives of many Singaporeans involved. It is this song that reminds them of the months of rehearsals endured, of the many friendships forged, and of the common memories shared in preparing for our nation's birthday together.
From the very first Saturdays spent at Nee Soon Camp baking in the sun, to taking the Pledge and singing Majulah Singapura drenched in the rain at our 1st NE show, many unforgettable events have mould and shaped our collective journey together at the Parade.
Today, 9 August 2009, marks the end of our journey at NDP. Alas comes the day that signals the culmination of our efforts and the fruit of our labour; the day that everyone has been working towards since Day One.
Together with citizens from all over Singapore and the world, we complete the final and concluding chapters of the NDP 09 story right here, at our 44th National Day Parade.
NDP 09: Come Together – Reaching Out, Reaching Up. This is the answer of this year's EXCO to Singaporeans after a year long period of thought and discussion. Since the end of NDP last year, the 09 EXCO, helmed by Brigadier-General Tan Chuan-Jin, has been locked in intense discussion with the creative team, headed by theatre veteran Ivan Heng, to create an NDP that Singaporeans can identify and resound with.
We asked ourselves, "What is something that all Singaporeans can identify with?", and our National Pledge, which we have been reciting since primary school, became the natural choice to anchor the show and celebratory activities on. This made us wonder, "How can we involve as many Singaporeans as possible?" and it led to the establishment of NDPeeps with its niche in new media platforms.
However, at the same time, we did not forget about the marginalised in our society, so we linked up with the Yellow Ribbon Project, the Silver Ribbon Project as well as numerous charitable and social services to involve them in the Parade. Coupled with a pioneering spirit for new and refreshing concepts, tonight's Parade sees the final transition of these thoughts to reality.
Reaching the Float, one can witness first-hand the immense scale of coordinating a Parade like NDP. Before the Parade commences, outside the Float, we are greeted by a human spectacle that is formed not by our performers, but by our spectators! Singapore flags themselves will not be sufficient to colour the Float in our national colours of red and white. But it is you, our high-spirited spectators, and your never-ending sea of red shirts and white bottoms that really bring the national spirit to NDP!
Singaporeans are said to have a high threshold for queuing (As though one Hello Kitty craze wasn't enough, Singaporeans went through two!), a statement which is proven true yet again at today's NDP. Although entrances only opened at 4 pm, Singaporeans have begun arriving as early as 2 pm just to make sure they catch the best seats in the house to view the Parade.
With thrilling stunts by our Armed Forces in the Total Defence Display and stunningly choreographed mass displays by our performers in the show chapters, tonight's tightly-timed Parade kept not just the adrenaline going, but also stirred up an emotional side of Singaporeans for our country.
Best described as a combination of traditional favourites and new segments, tonight's spectators were treated to an astounding array of visual spectacles at the Parade. In addition to beloved staples like the Red Lions and MP Silent Precision Drill Squad, new additions like the floating Presidential Gun Salute, City March Pass and 9-storey performing grids were also met with much fanfare from the audience! Just the blink of an eye and one would have missed something out in this year's Parade.
“Why NDP?” – Such is a question we must ask ourselves in order to create the NDP show. When we watch the Parade, be it live on location or back in the comfort of our homes, what is it that goes through our mind? Do we look at NDP as just this yearly grand mass display, or is there more than meets the eye? Have we gotten ourselves lost in the doing but failed to see the worth of what we are labouring for?
Though important, the core and heart of NDP has never been about how many fireworks we are setting off or how stunning the mass displays are going to be, but it is a Parade held in honour of every Singaporean out there – It is a Parade held in honour of you and me! Capturing this perspective has radically changed both the artistic and musical direction of NDP 09.
For every phase of our life, there is surely a song or track that envelops the memories of those phases. Recognising this role of music has compelled Dr Sydney Tan, Music Director of NDP 09, to take a diametrically different approach to music for this year's NDP. Rather than compose new mood-fitting tracks, the music used in NDP 09 has to be melodies Singaporeans can immediately and instinctively identify with.
This guiding philosophy has allowed decade-distinctive hits such as Saturday Night Fever and Macarena to make their debut in Chapter 5: Fast Forward, a 8-minute crystallisation of Singapore's 44-year-long transformation; while many endearing National Day songs composed over the years were given a new lease of life in Chapter 8: Heart Land. The efforts to connect Singaporeans with the Parade's music have certainly paid off, with numerous raving reviews lauding this year's NDP soundtrack.
Since NDP is a Parade about us, it is first and foremost, a celebration of our Singaporean identity; a celebration of who we are. Reflecting our society's unique multi-cultural and multi-ethnic composition, Chapter 4: The First Wave features our Malay, Chinese, Indian and Peranakan communities coming together in a vibrant song and dance display.
NDP also celebrates the achievements we have made as a nation. For this, we tell the Singapore Story: the story of how a geographically small country managed unparalleled progress within a short span of 44 years.
Despite having recently been hit with challenging times like the economic downturn and the H1N1 influenza, Chapter 6: Against All Odds reminded Singaporeans of the resilience and fighting spirit we have shown in the past when faced with difficult situations. Size obviously does not matter, as Chapter 9: Little Red Dot demonstrates that even a little red dot on the map is capable of making big splashes internationally.
Mass displays were not the only items awaiting spectators at NDP. Interspersing the 10 show chapters were voices of Singaporeans from different communities.
Other than birthday wishes from overseas Singaporeans and iconic speeches from our Minister Mentor, Senior Minister and Prime Minister, we had an opportunity to hear from our children their dreams and aspirations in Chapter 7: When I Grow Up; where Singaporeans got acquainted with “PSP helper” as a new profession. Similarly, our marching contingents shared with us their thoughts in a segment entitled What Will You Defend?, while residents from the last kampong in Buangkok reminded us how much Singapore has changed and evolved over the years.
At last, we arrive at 8:22 pm – the much awaited Pledge Moment. This is the moment everything in NDP 09 has been gravitating towards; the renewal of our oath and allegiance to Singapore. As we hit the Parade's finale, Singaporeans all over the island and around the world joined together in our biggest national Pledge taking yet.
Having recited the Pledge in our primary school days, many of us might not have fully understood nor grasped the meaning of the Pledge then. (And recent media reports show that many of us don't even remember the words!) But at tonight's NDP, we believe many Singaporeans have rediscovered for themselves the meaning and intentionality of the Pledge.
It is albeit one of conviction, when we stop going through the motion and mean what we say; that indeed, “We, the citizens of Singapore, pledge ourselves as one united people”. Although it may have only been a short 30 seconds, but it was definitely one overwhelmed with joy and pride for our city-state.
"This is Home, truly, where I know I must be,
Where my dreams wait for me, where that river always flows.
This is Home, surely, as my senses tell me.
This is where I won't be alone.
For this is where I know, I'm Home."- NDP 98 Theme Song, "Home"
Strangers when we first began, now we're Singaporean. (One People, One Nation, One Singapore, 1985) Amidst the dazzling fireworks comes the realisation that these past 44 years of nation building have not been easy. But we realise it is the drive and excellence within Singaporeans that has allowed Singapore to overcome the difficulties and build a place we are proud to call home.
Tonight, we stand tall and proud to say, WE ARE SINGAPORE!
Here's wishing Singapore a very Happy 44th Birthday!
Of course, nothing beats watching the Parade again! Relive NDP 09 with repeat telecasts on mobtv.sg (courtesy of Mediacorp till August 31) or Youtube.
Here are some moments captured from tonight's NDP.
