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The Best Newcomer of the
12th Golden Melody Awards goes to...
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Stefanie Sun.
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Congratulations, Stefanie Sun!
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You've won the Best Newcomer Award!
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Congratulations, Stefanie Sun!
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Without xinyao,
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there wouldn't be Billy Koh,
there would be no Kit Chan.
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00:00:37,579 --> 00:00:40,123
Without Tan Kah Beng,
there would be no Mavis Hee.
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Without Li Wei Song and Li Si Song,
there would be no Stefanie Sun.
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{\an8}When the sky is dark, I recall that song
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{\an8}I look forward to that quiet rain
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{\an8}Granny had sung the truth for me
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{\an8}That even when it rains
we must bravely carry on
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{\an8}I was exposed to Mandarin songs only after
I started attending Li Wei Song's school.
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{\an8}I wish I were back home
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{\an8}When the Li Brothers talk about music,
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{\an8}they can picture the song in their heads.
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{\an8}it's just like a painting.
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{\an8}The dialect wasn't foreign to me,
because we lived with my granny.
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The sky is dark, the rain is coming.
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The sky is dark...
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I face the crossroads every day
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When I sang that song,
I felt the melody was very simple.
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But there was something in it
I could relate to.
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So lonesome
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The award for Top 10 hits of 2004,
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Hong Kong and Taiwan,
goes to JJ Lin for "River South"!
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The wind that blows here becomes a trap
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That captures the thoughts
of those who pass
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Sing along!
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Xinyao had a great influence on me
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through its songs, and in my
learning process as a songwriter.
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This side!
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Fate brought you to my side
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A destiny written
on the Rock of Three Incarnations
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Sing along!
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When I started learning music
and the instruments,
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it was just simple solo practice,
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playing xinyao songs
on the piano or guitar.
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Which is why xinyao brings back
memories of my childhood
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and years of growing up.
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Together now!
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As a Singaporean songwriter,
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I believe I can create
Singaporean music for the world.
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We who know not
how to express tenderness
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Believing that star-crossed lovers exist
only in ancient folklore
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The pain of separation
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The intensity of this pain
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Of dreams that are lost amidst
the misty rain of the River South
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Can only be understood
after our hearts have been broken
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Please share your umbrellas.
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-Will the sun come out soon?
-Yes!
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Will it?
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Yes!
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Will you leave?
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No!
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Let me hear you!
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What brings you here today?
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Xinyao!
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Long live xinyao!
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What a lovely evening
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With the cattle grazing freely
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On this scenic mountain
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The cows are so carefree
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Sisters and brothers
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Are you as innocent as the cows?
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The sun will set in the blink of an eye
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Come on out to the rolling hills
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In those days, Chinese songs in Singapore
came from overseas.
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Songs from mainland China were
mostly the rousing revolutionary type.
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Not our cup of tea.
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00:06:11,412 --> 00:06:18,086
Songs from Hong Kong were the mainstream,
mainly Cantopop
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and theme songs from TV drama series.
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00:06:32,058 --> 00:06:35,812
As for Taiwan, in the '70s,
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many of their songs were influenced
by Japan and movies.
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At Nanyang University, many students sang
at Yunnan Lake in the evenings.
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But they were usually foreign songs.
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What about our own songs?
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We felt that something was missing.
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I was President of the Nanyang University
Poetry Society then,
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and my good friend Ken Chang
was Head of the Music Society.
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One day, while chatting we decided
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to write our own songs!
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Inspired, I wrote a poem,
and gave it to him.
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I asked him to set it to music and said
we would sing it together after class.
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And so, our very first verse song
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was written in class.
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I thought the poem was pretty good!
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So I wrote a tune
for this poem called "Story."
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Pan Cheng Lui
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You are a shooting star
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{\an8}You are a shooting star
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{\an8}I am a ferry boat
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Ferrying beautiful stories
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Members of the
Poetry Society contributed their poems
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which were collated by Cheng Lui.
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He also invited some of the lecturers
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to contribute their poems.
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Bravo!
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In 1976, when I entered
Nanyang University, society was changing.
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Most subjects, except Chinese Studies,
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were switched to be taught in English.
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The switch to a less familiar language
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was stressful for the students.
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Everyone was busy looking up words
in the English dictionary.
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Yet, despite these stressful times
thrown into such an environment,
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studying was no longer the priority
in our university life.
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As young undergrads at Nanyang University,
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there were opportunities to participate
in all kinds of activities.
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From early in the morning
till late at night,
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we were busy with campus activities.
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Studying was just
one part of university life.
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The environment on campus was amazing.
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Two guitars, one harmonica
and the choir,
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plus, some recycled props as decor,
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and we're ready
for tonight's presentation.
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They organized their first concert
in 1978, at the Faculty of Arts.
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I attended the performance that evening.
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It was packed!
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The lecture hall was full.
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Even the corridors
were filled with people.
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At the beginning, the rise of verse songs
came from Literature.
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As undergrads,
we were passionate about creative writing.
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So the merger of poetry
and music came to us naturally.
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Secondly, it was the times we were in.
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When verse songs first appeared in 1977,
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it was then Nanyang University
was facing its imminent closure.
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00:11:42,952 --> 00:11:45,913
After four months of private discussions,
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the debate between the government
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and members of the Nanyang University
Council was brought out into the open.
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Mr. Lee Kuan Yew was in favor of merging
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the Nanyang University
with the University of Singapore
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in order to save Nantah
from an inevitable death.
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00:12:02,388 --> 00:12:06,434
He based his arguments on the overwhelming
preference of good students
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for the University of Singapore.
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00:12:09,520 --> 00:12:11,522
We were halfway through our degrees
at Nanyang University
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when we learnt that the university
was slated to be closed down.
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It was earth-shattering news.
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Frankly, we were not motivated to study.
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Our strength was
in writing and composition.
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We spent most of our energies on that.
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As long as we could graduate,
wasn't that good enough?
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Organizing activities gave us exposure
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that we, as demoralized students,
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would never have experienced
in the classroom.
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ME AND THE LITERARY ESSAY CONTEST
AWARDS CEREMONY
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The song "Outdoors"
should be familiar to many of you.
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Professor Wong Yoon Wah dedicated
this poem to the graduating class.
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One of the verses goes, "Three years...
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Spring came, yet there were no flowers."
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How do the students feel?
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Let's hear it from them.
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I am a camellia
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Budding for three years
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Spring came
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Yet, there were no flowers
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I ran for President of the Student Council
in my third year.
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CONFERENCE
THE VISION OF OUR MUSIC INDUSTRY
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I wanted to organize
an ASEAN students' festival
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to give us, Chinese-educated
Nanyang undergrads, a platform
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to showcase the leadership of
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Chinese-educated youths on a global stage,
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to gain recognition.
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The choir from the
Poetry Society was honored
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to be invited to the ASEAN festival
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to perform our own compositions.
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00:14:29,535 --> 00:14:34,456
"Nanyang and Singapore University Merged
as National University of Singapore"
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Regarding Nanyang University,
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the issue was not about
the closure of the university itself,
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but rather a cultural one.
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That was why, during that period,
as students at Nanyang University,
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we felt very strongly about the matter.
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{\an8}Look across the sky
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{\an8}Not see the wind and moon
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00:15:05,571 --> 00:15:07,031
In the verse song "Yellow River,"
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I used a lot of metaphors,
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{\an8}such as "looking up at the Big Dipper,"
"a moving superstition,"
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"I am a dragon light,"
"dancing a path of hope
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00:15:18,417 --> 00:15:20,002
to the end of the land."
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00:15:20,961 --> 00:15:24,298
I am a dragon light
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00:15:24,381 --> 00:15:30,179
Dancing a path of hope
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To the end of the land
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"Big Dipper," "Dragon light,"
these are strong cultural images.
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The key imagery is the "Yellow River,"
which is the song title.
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These images were inspired
by the cultural climate of that time...
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WHERE IS THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH?
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...in expressing conviction towards
one's ethnic language and cultural roots.
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Just like the lyrics of the poem,
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"Going towards the uninhabited east."
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00:16:01,961 --> 00:16:05,422
The east may be uninhabited,
but we, being part of the river,
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will still flow east.
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Because the river must flow eastwards.
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Hence, it was about cultural identity.
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00:16:16,183 --> 00:16:20,396
On the 7th of July, the National
University of Singapore came into being.
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00:16:24,566 --> 00:16:27,069
{\an8}There was little sentiment among graduands
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00:16:27,152 --> 00:16:30,572
at the last convocation
of the University of Singapore.
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00:16:30,656 --> 00:16:33,075
Speechmakers hardly gave any prominence
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00:16:33,158 --> 00:16:35,619
to the significance
of the historic occasion.
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00:16:37,454 --> 00:16:42,167
In contrast, the 21st convocation ceremony
of Nanyang in August
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marked its final end.
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00:16:44,336 --> 00:16:48,090
The atmosphere was emotional
as graduands spoke proudly
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00:16:48,173 --> 00:16:52,386
and with nostalgia of the years
they had spent at Nantah.
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00:16:53,178 --> 00:17:00,102
Nanyang University symbolized the highest
level of Chinese academia.
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00:17:00,519 --> 00:17:04,648
When such an institution is shut down,
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00:17:04,732 --> 00:17:09,862
to be blunt, it meant...
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00:17:09,945 --> 00:17:12,281
the destruction of Chinese education!
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00:17:12,364 --> 00:17:15,367
To put it less bluntly,
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00:17:15,451 --> 00:17:18,454
Chinese language was irrelevant.
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00:17:19,997 --> 00:17:21,248
The year I graduated,
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00:17:21,331 --> 00:17:24,293
the headline on the front page
of The Straits Times read,
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00:17:24,376 --> 00:17:27,421
"Nantah grads worth $300."
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00:17:28,422 --> 00:17:30,799
This was too much!
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00:17:32,384 --> 00:17:35,596
It was as good as telling parents
not to send their kids to Chinese schools.
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00:17:36,638 --> 00:17:38,432
The Chinese-educated
were at a disadvantage
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00:17:38,515 --> 00:17:43,145
in the corporate world, in society.
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00:17:43,228 --> 00:17:48,776
{\an8}When we had to adapt
to the mainstream language,
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00:17:48,859 --> 00:17:50,944
we were made to feel like idiots.
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00:17:51,028 --> 00:17:53,363
But we're not idiots!
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00:17:55,449 --> 00:18:00,329
It is difficult to assess
wisdom and knowledge,
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00:18:00,412 --> 00:18:03,582
while language proficiency
can be easily assessed.
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00:18:03,665 --> 00:18:07,836
So when a person is judged
by his language proficiency,
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00:18:07,920 --> 00:18:10,756
for those of us who are Chinese-educated,
very often...
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00:18:55,926 --> 00:19:01,348
The wind and rain come and go
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00:19:01,431 --> 00:19:07,020
These three years
are turned into a solitary birdsong
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00:19:07,104 --> 00:19:12,317
I exit from the painting
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00:19:12,401 --> 00:19:17,990
Leaving these trees
and hills in the clouds
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00:19:18,574 --> 00:19:23,996
The wind and rain come and go
230
00:19:24,079 --> 00:19:30,043
These three years
are turned into a solitary birdsong
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00:19:30,127 --> 00:19:35,382
I exit from the painting
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00:19:35,465 --> 00:19:41,138
Leaving these trees
and hills in the clouds
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00:19:41,221 --> 00:19:46,518
Leaving these trees
and hills in the clouds
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00:19:55,861 --> 00:19:58,322
In the university,
we had the poetry society.
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00:19:58,405 --> 00:20:00,574
After graduation,
to continue our activities,
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00:20:00,657 --> 00:20:02,367
we had to start a similar organization.
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00:20:02,576 --> 00:20:06,413
So we expanded our focus and passion
on literature and verse songs
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00:20:06,496 --> 00:20:08,624
{\an8}to society and the community,
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00:20:08,707 --> 00:20:12,085
{\an8}and we founded the Aljunied Creative
Writing and Translation Society.
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00:20:12,211 --> 00:20:14,004
COMMUNITY NEWS 1
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00:20:17,466 --> 00:20:19,259
STRATOSPHERIC
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00:20:19,343 --> 00:20:21,595
{\an8}We organized a concert called
"February Green,"
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00:20:21,678 --> 00:20:24,932
{\an8}and some young people came
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00:20:25,015 --> 00:20:26,391
{\an8}and were inspired.
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00:20:26,725 --> 00:20:28,685
Wern Fook said he was there, too.
246
00:20:29,269 --> 00:20:31,688
In 1981, we organized "April Wind."
247
00:20:31,772 --> 00:20:35,817
We had this idea to leverage on
the popularity of overseas artiste
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00:20:35,901 --> 00:20:38,737
to boost the lineup for our concert.
249
00:20:39,404 --> 00:20:42,241
{\an8}So we invited two Taiwanese folk singers,
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00:20:42,324 --> 00:20:44,534
{\an8}Wu Chu Chu and Yang Tsu Chuen
to the concert.
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00:20:44,618 --> 00:20:49,706
{\an8}WU CHU CHU
YANG TSU CHUEN
252
00:20:51,291 --> 00:20:57,965
Children, do you know
253
00:20:58,048 --> 00:21:04,596
Where do we get the rice we eat
254
00:21:04,680 --> 00:21:11,061
I know, I know
255
00:21:11,144 --> 00:21:15,732
The rice is planted by the farmers
256
00:21:15,816 --> 00:21:20,404
{\an8}After "April Wind", we organized
"A Look At Our Literary History."
257
00:21:20,487 --> 00:21:22,364
{\an8}"APRIL WIND" - POETRY AND FOLK MUSIC
CONCERTS SPECIAL COLLECTION
258
00:21:22,489 --> 00:21:25,284
AUGUST NEWS
259
00:21:27,077 --> 00:21:30,956
We had hoped to get people
to relook into our literary history.
260
00:21:31,039 --> 00:21:36,169
Whether it is Malaysian
or Singaporean literature,
261
00:21:36,253 --> 00:21:40,507
how do we re-examine our literary history
and our cultural identity?
262
00:21:41,550 --> 00:21:48,557
{\an8}It is my hope that younger Singaporeans
will come to learn about
263
00:21:48,640 --> 00:21:51,560
{\an8}Chinese literature in our region.
264
00:21:52,853 --> 00:21:54,855
Perhaps we could also expose...
265
00:21:54,938 --> 00:21:55,814
"BABA AND NYONYA
THE FIRST NOVELLA - 1934"
266
00:21:55,897 --> 00:22:00,402
{\an8}...the English-educated
to local Chinese literature.
267
00:22:00,485 --> 00:22:03,530
We must reach out to more people.
268
00:22:03,613 --> 00:22:06,241
By providing English translations,
269
00:22:06,325 --> 00:22:11,455
we hope to attract the
English-educated to attend.
270
00:22:31,558 --> 00:22:35,437
I felt that the students
who attended the event
271
00:22:35,520 --> 00:22:37,564
found new confidence.
272
00:22:37,647 --> 00:22:40,442
They realized that they could write
and compose their own songs.
273
00:22:40,525 --> 00:22:41,818
STUDENT ARTS SYMPOSIUM
274
00:22:42,110 --> 00:22:44,237
Whether it was good or bad,
it didn't matter.
275
00:22:44,321 --> 00:22:47,824
At least they now
had the confidence to create,
276
00:22:47,908 --> 00:22:49,576
and once they believed
in their ability to create,
277
00:22:49,659 --> 00:22:52,370
they would begin to experiment.
278
00:22:53,705 --> 00:22:57,626
I was exposed to Nanyang University
verse songs gradually.
279
00:22:57,709 --> 00:23:02,672
As student audiences from
secondary schools and junior colleges,
280
00:23:02,756 --> 00:23:04,841
we were filled with envy
281
00:23:04,925 --> 00:23:09,679
watching our seniors perform
their own compositions.
282
00:23:10,138 --> 00:23:11,807
With our level of proficiency back then,
283
00:23:11,890 --> 00:23:18,814
we might not have completely grasped
the meanings of those verses.
284
00:23:18,897 --> 00:23:23,151
But compared to foreign pop songs,
285
00:23:23,235 --> 00:23:26,988
we felt we could relate better
to the local verse songs.
286
00:23:36,206 --> 00:23:37,666
From what I remember,
287
00:23:37,749 --> 00:23:43,255
Chinese-educated students who were
older than us by ten years or more
288
00:23:43,338 --> 00:23:48,426
still carried a little melancholia
of their past with them.
289
00:23:51,221 --> 00:23:58,186
Brushing away the view
of trees at the window
290
00:23:58,436 --> 00:24:05,402
I welcome countless soundless mornings
291
00:24:05,777 --> 00:24:12,117
Warmed by the lights
from the many homes down the hill
292
00:24:12,200 --> 00:24:14,119
It is emotionally complex.
293
00:24:14,202 --> 00:24:16,830
So deeply passionate
yet gripped by helplessness
294
00:24:16,913 --> 00:24:19,833
and a further sense of loss.
295
00:24:20,625 --> 00:24:27,591
The wind and rain come and go
296
00:24:27,841 --> 00:24:34,806
These three years have turned
into a solitary birdsong
297
00:24:37,100 --> 00:24:39,853
For us, of the xinyao generation,
298
00:24:39,936 --> 00:24:43,690
I guess we were
in the period of transition.
299
00:24:45,150 --> 00:24:51,656
We still had the opportunity to gain a
strong foundation in the Chinese language.
300
00:25:17,265 --> 00:25:20,560
Back then, we felt that,
"Wow, their songs...
301
00:25:22,687 --> 00:25:27,150
sounded like they hailed
from the Qin dynasty."
302
00:25:27,234 --> 00:25:32,239
But I felt they were very intellectual.
303
00:25:32,322 --> 00:25:36,660
I was in awe of them.
304
00:25:37,202 --> 00:25:40,997
We didn't really identify
with verse songs
305
00:25:41,081 --> 00:25:45,293
which were written by the last batch
of Nanyang University graduates.
306
00:25:45,377 --> 00:25:49,214
They went on to work
in the education and media sectors
307
00:25:49,297 --> 00:25:53,218
and inspired students
to write their own songs,
308
00:25:53,301 --> 00:25:54,886
which led to the birth of xinyao.
309
00:25:55,512 --> 00:25:59,182
After Nanyang University was closed down,
310
00:26:00,725 --> 00:26:05,105
Nanyang University Poetry Society
naturally ceased to exist.
311
00:26:05,522 --> 00:26:07,232
We felt it was a pity.
312
00:26:07,315 --> 00:26:10,485
Since we could not carry
on at tertiary level,
313
00:26:10,902 --> 00:26:15,490
we would revive it at the junior colleges.
314
00:26:30,588 --> 00:26:32,674
I've not seen her since she left school.
315
00:26:32,757 --> 00:26:37,470
Back then,
we held a concert at Lecture Theatre 3,
316
00:26:37,554 --> 00:26:40,515
and that was how she shot to fame!
317
00:26:46,604 --> 00:26:47,522
Hi, Dawn!
318
00:26:51,026 --> 00:26:51,901
It's been 30 years...
319
00:26:51,985 --> 00:26:55,238
Yes! I was just speaking of you!
320
00:26:56,614 --> 00:26:57,615
Is this a surprise for me?
321
00:26:57,699 --> 00:26:59,117
I was their accomplice.
322
00:26:59,200 --> 00:27:00,368
Mr. Chew!
323
00:27:01,828 --> 00:27:05,790
I recalled you once took me
to a cultural exchange event,
324
00:27:05,874 --> 00:27:08,251
and Focus was filming there.
325
00:27:08,335 --> 00:27:14,007
The producer of Focus
was my form teacher in grade four.
326
00:27:14,090 --> 00:27:18,136
He was stunned because
I was very shy in primary school.
327
00:27:18,219 --> 00:27:20,513
I never dared to perform
in front of the class,
328
00:27:20,597 --> 00:27:22,265
and here I was singing.
329
00:27:22,766 --> 00:27:26,227
After it was broadcast on TV,
I was approached by the record company.
330
00:27:28,521 --> 00:27:30,774
-Yeah
-So--
331
00:27:30,857 --> 00:27:33,234
So you are my benefactor!
332
00:27:35,862 --> 00:27:36,738
Is that right?
333
00:27:36,821 --> 00:27:37,781
I don't deserve the honor.
334
00:27:38,365 --> 00:27:42,202
A LOOK AT OUR LITERARY HISTORY
335
00:27:42,285 --> 00:27:46,581
{\an8}I wish I could say it to you
336
00:27:46,664 --> 00:27:50,085
{\an8}I wish I could tell it to you
337
00:27:50,168 --> 00:27:57,133
No one desires a heavy heart
338
00:27:59,469 --> 00:28:03,556
{\an8}I wish I could say it to you
339
00:28:03,640 --> 00:28:06,976
{\an8}I wish I could tell it to you
340
00:28:07,060 --> 00:28:14,025
No one desires a heavy heart
341
00:28:16,027 --> 00:28:18,571
We hid our troubles,
342
00:28:18,655 --> 00:28:22,826
all that was unspeakably painful
inside us,
343
00:28:22,909 --> 00:28:27,080
and showed only
our sunny sides to the world.
344
00:28:32,419 --> 00:28:34,295
I am the eldest in my family.
345
00:28:34,379 --> 00:28:40,009
Yes, we were not well-to-do.
346
00:28:40,093 --> 00:28:42,303
We did not have a lot...
347
00:28:43,722 --> 00:28:47,851
What we had was barely enough,
for me to continue...
348
00:28:49,060 --> 00:28:56,025
Wished to open the small door
in my heart
349
00:28:56,901 --> 00:28:59,696
I was just hanging on, pressing on...
350
00:28:59,779 --> 00:29:01,239
My life at
National Junior College was hectic,
351
00:29:01,322 --> 00:29:04,659
I was in a Christian cell group.
352
00:29:04,743 --> 00:29:09,247
Every morning before class,
we met for prayers by a large drain.
353
00:29:09,873 --> 00:29:11,624
I hung out with friends.
354
00:29:11,708 --> 00:29:15,211
I was in Chinese society.
Chinese dance and brass band.
355
00:29:15,712 --> 00:29:19,132
I was involved in many activities,
but perhaps it was my way of escaping.
356
00:29:19,215 --> 00:29:21,551
So we put our emotions,
ourselves, into the song lyrics.
357
00:29:23,094 --> 00:29:29,142
Many of the lyrics expressed
my struggles at that time.
358
00:29:29,225 --> 00:29:31,519
I was facing many crossroads in my life.
359
00:29:32,103 --> 00:29:38,902
Who desires a heavy heart?
360
00:29:43,072 --> 00:29:47,410
In 1980 or 1981, a group of students
made an impression on me.
361
00:29:47,494 --> 00:29:54,459
They didn't make the mark at the exams.
362
00:29:55,293 --> 00:30:01,007
The Ministry of Education sent them to
National Junior College to repeat a year.
363
00:30:01,633 --> 00:30:04,344
They were thoroughly demoralized.
364
00:30:04,719 --> 00:30:08,473
They couldn't see a future for themselves.
365
00:30:08,556 --> 00:30:12,185
The main obstacle
was their proficiency in English.
366
00:30:12,852 --> 00:30:15,688
From using Chinese as first language,
367
00:30:15,772 --> 00:30:20,777
they had to switch to English,
which was difficult,
368
00:30:20,860 --> 00:30:23,196
especially in such a short time.
369
00:30:27,075 --> 00:30:31,454
Do you know why is it that the alcohol is
boiling but the water is not?
370
00:30:31,538 --> 00:30:35,208
Because...
371
00:30:35,291 --> 00:30:36,334
Very good!
372
00:30:37,001 --> 00:30:39,420
Look, the alcohol is burning!
373
00:30:39,504 --> 00:30:41,673
Boiling! Boiling...
374
00:30:45,635 --> 00:30:48,429
Stand!
375
00:30:48,513 --> 00:30:52,642
-Bow!
-Good afternoon, Teacher!
376
00:30:54,269 --> 00:30:56,980
We were from Chinese secondary schools.
377
00:30:57,063 --> 00:31:00,149
We had no idea that our standard
of English was that pathetic.
378
00:31:00,233 --> 00:31:04,612
{\an8}When we came to Hwa Chong Junior College,
everything was taught in English.
379
00:31:04,696 --> 00:31:07,073
{\an8}Sam said to me that he'd noticed a strange
word in the Physics textbook.
380
00:31:07,156 --> 00:31:09,534
{\an8}He had opened the book
and saw a very long word.
381
00:31:10,159 --> 00:31:12,745
{\an8}He could not recognize the word,
so he looked it up in the dictionary.
382
00:31:12,829 --> 00:31:15,748
The word was "elephant."
383
00:31:15,832 --> 00:31:18,126
He didn't even know the word "elephant!"
384
00:31:18,209 --> 00:31:20,169
How did you pass?
385
00:31:20,253 --> 00:31:23,590
This sudden change from
Chinese to English was painful.
386
00:31:23,673 --> 00:31:28,094
Inevitably, one generation would have
to be the sacrificial lamb.
387
00:31:29,345 --> 00:31:31,431
We were unfortunate
to be in that generation.
388
00:31:31,514 --> 00:31:32,640
What could we do?
389
00:31:32,724 --> 00:31:35,476
We just had to grit our teeth
and carry on.
390
00:31:38,980 --> 00:31:43,318
{\an8}After I finished high school,
I didn't go to university.
391
00:31:45,028 --> 00:31:47,530
{\an8}I felt quite lost.
392
00:31:47,614 --> 00:31:49,616
{\an8}I did not know what to do.
393
00:31:49,699 --> 00:31:54,245
{\an8}With my qualifications,
what could I do?
394
00:31:55,246 --> 00:31:58,082
I could only work as a factory worker...
395
00:32:00,960 --> 00:32:02,921
at one of the factories near my home.
396
00:32:04,589 --> 00:32:08,509
I also took on...
397
00:32:08,593 --> 00:32:11,346
a job as a packer.
398
00:32:12,931 --> 00:32:18,102
My Geography,
Literature and Chinese teachers,
399
00:32:18,186 --> 00:32:20,229
they all taught in Mandarin.
400
00:32:20,313 --> 00:32:24,442
Their teaching styles were very engaging.
401
00:32:24,525 --> 00:32:26,027
Especially my Geography teacher.
402
00:32:26,110 --> 00:32:29,530
He made the mountains,
rivers and valleys come to life.
403
00:32:29,614 --> 00:32:31,908
It felt like he was
talking about his children.
404
00:32:58,518 --> 00:33:00,979
Because there were
no more Chinese schools,
405
00:33:01,062 --> 00:33:05,525
they had to use English to teach instead.
406
00:33:05,608 --> 00:33:08,069
The switch in language
407
00:33:08,152 --> 00:33:12,615
affected them and their teaching styles.
408
00:33:13,616 --> 00:33:17,745
You might know the subject very well,
409
00:33:17,829 --> 00:33:21,082
but because of your lack
of proficiency, you are restricted.
410
00:33:21,165 --> 00:33:23,042
It's disheartening.
411
00:33:23,418 --> 00:33:25,378
Sometimes I felt quite insecure.
412
00:33:25,461 --> 00:33:29,382
Everyone was speaking English,
but mine was not good enough for me
413
00:33:29,465 --> 00:33:30,633
to express how I felt.
414
00:33:30,717 --> 00:33:33,344
I felt like...
415
00:33:33,428 --> 00:33:34,846
the odd one out.
416
00:33:34,929 --> 00:33:38,099
It also meant I had no future.
417
00:33:40,351 --> 00:33:43,855
Please concentrate
on your studies this year.
418
00:33:43,938 --> 00:33:45,732
Most parents are Chinese-educated
419
00:33:45,815 --> 00:33:47,692
and it is hard to communicate with them.
420
00:34:08,212 --> 00:34:14,427
The future of the
Chinese language at that time was bleak.
421
00:34:18,473 --> 00:34:20,767
Yet it was also at that time
422
00:34:20,850 --> 00:34:26,647
that there was a positive energy
buzzing on the cultural front.
423
00:34:28,483 --> 00:34:31,152
It was a contrast.
424
00:34:31,235 --> 00:34:36,574
Though we felt that
we had lost some things,
425
00:34:36,657 --> 00:34:42,747
that didn't stop us from
looking for ways to reclaim them.
426
00:34:49,045 --> 00:34:51,631
Pride and inferiority
are two sides of the same coin.
427
00:34:51,714 --> 00:34:53,091
If English made you insecure,
428
00:34:53,174 --> 00:34:55,551
Mandarin would become
your source of pride.
429
00:34:58,596 --> 00:35:00,807
"THE WATERCRESS TRIO"
"WHAT IS DASHING?"
430
00:35:00,890 --> 00:35:04,268
There were two camps
in the Chinese papers then.
431
00:35:04,352 --> 00:35:07,688
One was "Nanyang Siang Pau,"
and the other was "Sin Chew Jit Poh."
432
00:35:07,772 --> 00:35:10,608
They had many student reporters
433
00:35:10,691 --> 00:35:12,610
writing for "Sin Chew Youth"
and "Nanyang Students."
434
00:35:12,693 --> 00:35:18,699
Through these student papers,
we learnt that
435
00:35:18,783 --> 00:35:20,701
there was already a group of students at
National Junior College writing songs.
436
00:35:22,495 --> 00:35:23,746
There was an unspoken understanding
437
00:35:23,830 --> 00:35:27,208
that when a new singing group forms
in any of the junior colleges,
438
00:35:27,291 --> 00:35:31,629
they would have to invite the existing
groups for guest appearances.
439
00:35:32,004 --> 00:35:37,677
There were groups
in different junior colleges:
440
00:35:37,760 --> 00:35:39,345
National, Hwa Chong, Temasek, Jurong.
441
00:35:41,305 --> 00:35:46,727
There was a songwriting fervor spreading
across schools all over Singapore.
442
00:35:46,811 --> 00:35:50,773
Whenever someone composed a new song,
we were eager to listen to it.
443
00:35:50,857 --> 00:35:52,733
If we liked it, we would learn to sing it.
444
00:35:52,817 --> 00:35:56,237
I EXIST BECAUSE OF THE SONG,
BECAUSE OF LOVE
445
00:35:56,320 --> 00:36:01,659
Back then,
we all yearned to have our own voices,
446
00:36:01,742 --> 00:36:04,704
and we were influenced
by Taiwanese folk songs
447
00:36:04,787 --> 00:36:08,040
so in every school, every junior college,
448
00:36:08,124 --> 00:36:11,043
there was this cultural movement going on.
449
00:36:11,711 --> 00:36:13,796
It wasn't known as xinyao then.
450
00:36:13,880 --> 00:36:16,424
It was simply called
"original folk songs."
451
00:36:18,176 --> 00:36:23,264
{\an8}At Nanyang University, I was responsible
for reporting about this phenomenon.
452
00:36:23,347 --> 00:36:27,894
{\an8}We were never sure what to call it.
453
00:36:27,977 --> 00:36:32,982
{\an8}We used terms like "campus folk songs"
or "folk song trend" to describe it.
454
00:36:33,065 --> 00:36:35,610
When they wanted to organize a conference,
455
00:36:35,693 --> 00:36:39,322
they decided they needed a proper term.
456
00:36:39,947 --> 00:36:41,365
After much debate,
457
00:36:41,449 --> 00:36:47,455
{\an8}they still went with
"Original Songs by Singapore Youths."
458
00:36:47,538 --> 00:36:49,874
{\an8}"ORIGINAL SONGS BY SINGAPORE YOUTHS"
ABBREVIATED AS "XINYAO"
459
00:36:52,543 --> 00:36:57,173
"Let's play xinyao" and
"Let's talk xinyao" were phrases used
460
00:36:57,256 --> 00:37:01,260
and that was how the term
"xinyao" came to be.
461
00:37:01,344 --> 00:37:04,388
"LET'S TALK XINYAO"
462
00:37:11,687 --> 00:37:13,064
Hi, everyone.
463
00:37:13,147 --> 00:37:15,900
In today's
Our Singers and Songwriters program,
464
00:37:15,983 --> 00:37:21,364
we will be playing
new original xinyao songs.
465
00:37:31,540 --> 00:37:33,709
Back then, when I got acquainted
with verse songs
466
00:37:33,793 --> 00:37:36,087
by the Nanyang University Poetry Society
467
00:37:36,170 --> 00:37:39,465
and some original songs
written by students,
468
00:37:39,548 --> 00:37:41,759
I felt it was a pity
469
00:37:41,842 --> 00:37:48,224
that these youths' compositions
were known only on campus
470
00:37:48,307 --> 00:37:50,851
and not to a wider audience.
471
00:37:50,935 --> 00:37:54,563
So I decided to produce a program
472
00:37:54,647 --> 00:38:00,361
to showcase these youths' compositions.
473
00:38:00,444 --> 00:38:03,698
Back then,
it was considered a bold and risky idea.
474
00:38:03,781 --> 00:38:07,535
In the beginning,
things did not go smoothly,
475
00:38:07,618 --> 00:38:09,829
but I finally managed to convince my boss.
476
00:38:09,912 --> 00:38:12,623
And that was how
Our Singers and Songwriters began.
477
00:38:17,420 --> 00:38:18,504
In today's program,
478
00:38:18,587 --> 00:38:22,842
we will be playing
two original compositions.
479
00:38:24,010 --> 00:38:28,556
The first song, "Love of the Wind Chimes,"
is written by Sam Lee.
480
00:38:28,889 --> 00:38:33,728
I return the wind chimes to their perch
481
00:38:33,811 --> 00:38:39,483
The chimes, they sway in the breeze
482
00:38:39,567 --> 00:38:44,864
The tinkling sounds
They knock on my heart
483
00:38:44,947 --> 00:38:49,577
{\an8}Her image revisits again in my mind
484
00:39:17,688 --> 00:39:19,982
{\an8}How did you come to write songs?
485
00:39:20,066 --> 00:39:23,486
I had a group of friends in college who
later became members of Yayun Group.
486
00:39:23,569 --> 00:39:27,198
We loved to sing, so we often
got together to sing folk songs.
487
00:39:27,281 --> 00:39:29,867
But after a while, we asked ourselves,
488
00:39:29,950 --> 00:39:32,244
"Why don't we try to write our own songs?"
489
00:39:32,703 --> 00:39:37,375
Tell us more about your song
"Love of the Wind Chimes."
490
00:39:37,458 --> 00:39:40,044
The setting is a balmy evening.
491
00:39:40,127 --> 00:39:44,131
I hear the wind chimes tinkle and think
of someone, whom I miss so much it aches.
492
00:39:44,215 --> 00:39:45,841
I take down the chimes.
493
00:39:45,925 --> 00:39:50,262
Though the chimes have been removed,
yet they continue to tinkle in my heart.
494
00:39:51,514 --> 00:39:57,686
Did you write the song
for a special girl in mind?
495
00:39:57,770 --> 00:39:58,687
No...
496
00:39:58,771 --> 00:40:00,064
Not at all.
497
00:40:02,566 --> 00:40:05,069
In the first week,
I showcased the group Yayun Group
498
00:40:05,152 --> 00:40:08,948
because their songs have catchy melodies.
499
00:40:09,031 --> 00:40:13,661
They were also
one of the first campus bands.
500
00:40:20,000 --> 00:40:25,589
An innocent South Korean passenger plane
with 269 people onboard
501
00:40:25,673 --> 00:40:30,261
was senselessly destroyed
by a Soviet Su-15 fighter jet.
502
00:40:35,724 --> 00:40:39,854
The Soviet Union had
shot down a Korean civilian plane.
503
00:40:40,771 --> 00:40:45,818
That incident spurred me
to write a song about peace.
504
00:40:46,610 --> 00:40:52,450
Under the skies, signs of life abound
505
00:40:53,159 --> 00:40:58,205
Except for the fragrance
Of flowers of peace
506
00:40:58,289 --> 00:41:03,252
{\an8}The Soviet Union had no legal right
under international law
507
00:41:03,335 --> 00:41:06,297
{\an8}to shoot down the Korean civil aircraft.
508
00:41:13,429 --> 00:41:18,642
{\an8}Hope, hope
509
00:41:18,726 --> 00:41:25,316
{\an8}May the light of peace
Banish all thoughts of war
510
00:41:25,399 --> 00:41:30,863
{\an8}Hope, hope
511
00:41:30,946 --> 00:41:36,577
{\an8}May the flowers of peace
Be fragrant once more
512
00:41:37,119 --> 00:41:38,579
In the early '80s,
513
00:41:38,662 --> 00:41:41,790
Taiwanese folk songs
began to gain popularity.
514
00:41:41,874 --> 00:41:44,460
Those songs gave me courage,
515
00:41:44,543 --> 00:41:50,299
knowing that even young people like us
can write our own songs.
516
00:41:50,382 --> 00:41:52,593
It was not as complicated as we thought.
517
00:41:52,676 --> 00:41:57,473
{\an8}May the flowers of peace
518
00:41:57,556 --> 00:42:03,812
{\an8}Be fragrant once more
519
00:42:09,902 --> 00:42:11,779
YAYUN GROUP WAS ESTABLISHED 5 YEARS AGO
SAM LEE
520
00:42:11,862 --> 00:42:15,199
Sam was already taking part
in songwriting competitions.
521
00:42:15,324 --> 00:42:16,408
He had won some awards.
522
00:42:16,492 --> 00:42:17,451
So I knew of him.
523
00:42:17,535 --> 00:42:20,579
When I met him on a bus,
I asked for his number.
524
00:42:22,957 --> 00:42:28,379
I met Colin from The Merlion on bus 170.
525
00:42:28,462 --> 00:42:32,633
He invited me to attend the concert
"Night at The Underground."
526
00:42:32,716 --> 00:42:35,594
After I went to the concert,
I felt like I had an epiphany.
527
00:42:35,678 --> 00:42:40,224
Our songwriting style changed
right after that concert.
528
00:42:40,307 --> 00:42:44,186
I realized their songwriting style
and ours was a world of difference.
529
00:42:44,270 --> 00:42:46,605
But I really liked what I heard.
530
00:42:47,898 --> 00:42:52,027
{\an8}We met other young people who were also
passionate about singing and songwriting,
531
00:42:52,111 --> 00:42:54,029
{\an8}and that was how
we forged our friendships.
532
00:42:54,113 --> 00:42:55,239
{\an8}A LOCAL RHYTHM
533
00:42:55,322 --> 00:42:57,866
The beginning of the MRT.
534
00:42:58,909 --> 00:43:05,082
It is my pleasure now to ask you to
proceed with the groundbreaking operation.
535
00:43:15,175 --> 00:43:19,888
At that time,
Singapore was preparing to build the MRT,
536
00:43:19,972 --> 00:43:21,473
our underground transport system.
537
00:43:21,557 --> 00:43:24,184
This was something of the future.
538
00:43:24,268 --> 00:43:25,894
And that was how we got our name,
The Underground.
539
00:43:30,357 --> 00:43:34,528
Eric fell in love with Shen Wanqing.
540
00:43:34,695 --> 00:43:39,033
She had published a poem
"Lake Of Dream,"
541
00:43:39,950 --> 00:43:42,620
and he decided
to set music to the poem.
542
00:43:50,961 --> 00:43:55,966
You entered my dream lake silently
543
00:43:56,675 --> 00:44:01,639
Creating ripples across the water
544
00:44:02,222 --> 00:44:07,144
Reflecting you
Reflecting me
545
00:44:07,227 --> 00:44:11,398
Thus cloudy, thus so clear
546
00:44:11,482 --> 00:44:14,234
After we listened to it,
we all thought it was pretty good!
547
00:44:14,318 --> 00:44:17,279
If he could write such a good song,
why couldn't I?
548
00:44:20,783 --> 00:44:24,244
I was in love for the first time,
I was on cloud nine.
549
00:44:25,079 --> 00:44:27,164
So the songs I wrote then were refreshing.
550
00:44:27,247 --> 00:44:30,417
Even if there was sadness,
it was not for real.
551
00:44:33,212 --> 00:44:34,922
{\an8}I was quite the rebel.
552
00:44:35,005 --> 00:44:39,468
{\an8}I was in the Commerce stream
which I found to be boring.
553
00:44:40,010 --> 00:44:43,972
{\an8}So I often sat
at the back of the classroom.
554
00:44:44,056 --> 00:44:45,933
And while the teacher
was writing on the board,
555
00:44:46,016 --> 00:44:47,851
I would sneak out.
556
00:44:50,562 --> 00:44:52,981
My most vivid memories
of Jurong Junior College
557
00:44:53,065 --> 00:44:55,651
were an empty basketball court
558
00:44:57,027 --> 00:44:58,529
and an empty canteen.
559
00:44:58,612 --> 00:45:02,699
I would often sit at the corner
strumming my guitar, singing.
560
00:45:03,450 --> 00:45:06,578
After class, many classmates
slowly gathered in the canteen.
561
00:45:06,662 --> 00:45:09,581
The first person they would see
was me in the corner.
562
00:45:09,665 --> 00:45:12,000
I became the landmark of that corner.
563
00:45:12,084 --> 00:45:13,460
I got hooked!
564
00:45:15,796 --> 00:45:18,257
I wonder how many classmates
had a crush on me.
565
00:45:18,799 --> 00:45:20,759
Who knows!
566
00:45:24,721 --> 00:45:26,390
What song are you playing?
567
00:45:26,765 --> 00:45:32,229
I always waited there
for the others to join me after class
568
00:45:32,312 --> 00:45:33,689
for practice sessions.
569
00:45:34,440 --> 00:45:38,026
Oh, brook, tarry a little while
570
00:45:38,110 --> 00:45:41,488
Tarry with the soft gentle breeze
571
00:45:41,572 --> 00:45:45,200
Resist from rousing the tiny caterpillar
So deep and sweet in sleep
572
00:45:45,284 --> 00:45:49,329
Quietly listen to the patter
Of morning's feet
573
00:45:49,413 --> 00:45:52,332
May naughty children
temper the pace of your steps
574
00:45:52,416 --> 00:45:55,377
I stroll along
Greeting the morning breeze
575
00:45:55,461 --> 00:45:58,172
Eric is a natural performer.
576
00:45:58,255 --> 00:46:02,009
He only attended Chinese class
and played truant the rest of the time.
577
00:46:04,344 --> 00:46:07,973
When he picks up the guitar,
he gets carried away.
578
00:46:08,056 --> 00:46:12,186
When he sings,
everyone starts to sing along.
579
00:46:12,269 --> 00:46:15,689
Even the English-speaking students
would join in.
580
00:46:26,408 --> 00:46:28,535
The English stream students
would say to us,
581
00:46:28,619 --> 00:46:30,871
"Sorry, I don't speak Chinese,
I speak English."
582
00:46:30,954 --> 00:46:32,998
It was a common divide back then.
583
00:46:33,332 --> 00:46:38,128
But they could tell
there was something different about us.
584
00:46:38,962 --> 00:46:40,589
What did they see in us?
585
00:46:40,672 --> 00:46:44,301
They saw passion, friendship,
586
00:46:44,384 --> 00:46:48,388
unity, music and joy.
587
00:46:48,472 --> 00:46:52,518
They didn't have any of that.
588
00:46:59,399 --> 00:47:02,361
They looked at us with envy.
589
00:47:02,444 --> 00:47:07,241
They asked, "How could you Chinese-stream
students compose such good songs?"
590
00:47:14,706 --> 00:47:16,291
Who wrote this line?
591
00:47:16,375 --> 00:47:19,211
"How many times in one's life
can one be enlightened?
592
00:47:19,294 --> 00:47:22,047
For the enlightened,
how many times can life begin?"
593
00:47:22,130 --> 00:47:24,091
So precocious, it must be Ywai Cheng!
594
00:47:24,550 --> 00:47:26,301
It must be Ywai Cheng!
595
00:47:26,385 --> 00:47:27,970
Enlightened!
596
00:47:34,768 --> 00:47:39,231
There was this day when
our music sheet was blown away.
597
00:47:39,314 --> 00:47:42,901
That often happened because of the wind.
598
00:47:42,985 --> 00:47:47,072
We ran out of the classroom,
chasing after that sheet.
599
00:47:47,155 --> 00:47:48,907
It was such a memorable scene
600
00:47:48,991 --> 00:47:51,410
that it inspired us to write
"City of Wind."
601
00:47:55,706 --> 00:47:59,209
"City of Wind" was also the first song
I sold to Taiwan
602
00:47:59,293 --> 00:48:02,296
for singer Pan Anbang's album.
603
00:48:03,630 --> 00:48:10,387
Rapt in the arms of the city of wind
Blithe and misty
604
00:48:10,637 --> 00:48:14,516
Joy that allows him
To trace his light touch
605
00:48:15,350 --> 00:48:19,396
We were merely pursuing our passions.
606
00:48:19,479 --> 00:48:20,981
That was also the spirit
607
00:48:21,064 --> 00:48:26,320
behind our first concert
"Night of The Underground."
608
00:48:27,279 --> 00:48:30,282
He jolts my once serene soul
609
00:48:30,365 --> 00:48:32,993
Sending waves crashing in my heart
610
00:48:33,076 --> 00:48:38,957
Setting dreams ablaze
Making verses eternal
611
00:48:39,041 --> 00:48:43,837
The wandering wind is my messenger
612
00:48:45,839 --> 00:48:47,507
The hall erupted in thunderous applause.
613
00:48:47,591 --> 00:48:51,053
When the audience felt
that clapping wasn't enough,
614
00:48:51,136 --> 00:48:53,639
they added these...
615
00:48:55,766 --> 00:49:02,064
to participate more fully in each song!
616
00:49:02,147 --> 00:49:03,357
It was great!
617
00:49:06,443 --> 00:49:09,529
The students at Jurong Junior College
were really high that night,
618
00:49:09,613 --> 00:49:11,323
demanding one encore after another.
619
00:49:14,242 --> 00:49:15,869
I was moved by them.
620
00:49:16,620 --> 00:49:19,581
What I heard that night was one voice.
621
00:49:19,665 --> 00:49:21,041
The voice of a group of people
622
00:49:21,124 --> 00:49:27,255
who were talented,
passionate and sincere about music.
623
00:49:29,216 --> 00:49:32,469
I remember Roy saying this to me.
624
00:49:32,719 --> 00:49:36,348
He attended our concert and was inspired.
625
00:49:36,431 --> 00:49:40,727
Previously, he only listened to
western pop, never to Chinese music.
626
00:49:40,811 --> 00:49:44,147
But after that night,
627
00:49:44,231 --> 00:49:47,609
he vowed to go back to his school
to start his own group.
628
00:49:47,693 --> 00:49:51,947
And that was how the proliferation
of xinyao groups started.
629
00:49:53,365 --> 00:49:57,202
So many of them started to appear,
630
00:49:57,285 --> 00:49:58,912
each one with its own identity.
631
00:50:01,581 --> 00:50:03,959
I was friends with Ywai Cheng.
632
00:50:04,042 --> 00:50:07,838
As a friend, I helped out
633
00:50:07,921 --> 00:50:11,133
by playing the piano at their concert.
634
00:50:11,216 --> 00:50:13,260
I realize now the significance.
635
00:50:13,343 --> 00:50:16,638
From the beginning, xinyao was about
setting differences aside,
636
00:50:16,722 --> 00:50:18,974
making friends, helping one another,
637
00:50:19,057 --> 00:50:22,018
spurring one another on.
638
00:50:52,132 --> 00:50:55,177
We would invite The Underground
to join us at our homes
639
00:50:55,260 --> 00:50:57,804
to practice together for fun.
640
00:50:57,888 --> 00:50:59,222
We just wanted to hang out together.
641
00:50:59,306 --> 00:51:02,934
We really got into the spirit of things
and even set up microphones.
642
00:51:03,018 --> 00:51:06,188
We also invited our classmates
to come and watch
643
00:51:06,271 --> 00:51:10,233
and performed the songs
we had been rehearsing.
644
00:51:10,317 --> 00:51:11,985
Our audience really grew.
645
00:51:12,068 --> 00:51:13,028
Our audience really grew.
646
00:51:14,321 --> 00:51:20,368
Do the groups perform
only their own songs?
647
00:51:20,452 --> 00:51:21,995
You'll be surprised.
648
00:51:22,078 --> 00:51:25,999
Here's Yayun Group singing
"Goodbye Homesickness."
649
00:51:26,082 --> 00:51:27,375
A song written by The Underground.
650
00:51:27,459 --> 00:51:32,506
It goes to show how the different
groups value and support one another.
651
00:51:32,589 --> 00:51:37,844
Shades of dusk melt into heaven
652
00:51:37,928 --> 00:51:42,599
Returning to the sky's other end
653
00:52:00,283 --> 00:52:03,119
{\an8}We are members of The Underground,
I'm Teo Bee Hoon.
654
00:52:03,203 --> 00:52:05,497
{\an8}And I'm Kelly Loo,
there are eight of us in total.
655
00:52:12,128 --> 00:52:14,589
{\an8}We're The Straws, I'm Billy Koh.
656
00:52:14,673 --> 00:52:16,967
{\an8}And I'm Koh Nam Seng,
and we have a third member Sunkist Ng
657
00:52:17,050 --> 00:52:18,510
{\an8}who is not here today.
658
00:52:29,646 --> 00:52:31,064
{\an8}In 1983,
659
00:52:31,147 --> 00:52:35,735
most of the guys in the xinyao groups
had to enlist for National Service.
660
00:52:35,819 --> 00:52:38,029
It marked the end of our student days.
661
00:52:38,113 --> 00:52:40,448
Since we were so hyped up,
662
00:52:40,532 --> 00:52:41,783
we decided to round things
off on a high note,
663
00:52:41,867 --> 00:52:43,910
before going separate ways.
664
00:52:43,994 --> 00:52:48,290
{\an8}We decided to organize
a first-ever public xinyao concert.
665
00:52:48,373 --> 00:52:52,127
{\an8}At that time, xinyao didn't have
an official association.
666
00:52:52,210 --> 00:52:55,839
We had to use the name
of the Telok Ayer Community Centre
667
00:52:55,922 --> 00:52:57,090
to organize the concert.
668
00:52:57,173 --> 00:53:02,762
The concert was held on the 6th of June
in 1983, at the Singapore Conference Hall.
669
00:53:03,847 --> 00:53:07,183
For the guys, it was an awkward phase
670
00:53:07,267 --> 00:53:09,311
as we were in the army.
671
00:53:09,394 --> 00:53:10,854
The song "Footprints in the Desert,"
which we sang,
672
00:53:10,937 --> 00:53:14,983
was a coming-of-age song,
from boys to men.
673
00:53:15,066 --> 00:53:19,404
We sang till we felt like
our lungs were bursting!
674
00:53:21,448 --> 00:53:27,037
Once this was a desert
675
00:53:27,120 --> 00:53:32,709
Once there was nothing here
676
00:53:32,792 --> 00:53:38,506
No song drifted in the air
677
00:53:38,590 --> 00:53:44,179
No notes could be found
678
00:53:44,262 --> 00:53:46,640
When was it
679
00:53:46,723 --> 00:53:53,104
"Footprints in the Desert"
was actually written for the concert.
680
00:53:53,188 --> 00:53:56,733
{\an8}The song spoke of
our hope for the future,
681
00:53:56,816 --> 00:54:00,487
{\an8}for a more vibrant
and progressive culture.
682
00:54:01,404 --> 00:54:06,368
Footprints endlessly go on and on
683
00:54:24,886 --> 00:54:29,933
{\an8}WHERE ARE THE TRACKS
IN THE DESERT HEADING?
684
00:54:31,059 --> 00:54:33,979
Back then, our standards were quite low.
685
00:54:34,062 --> 00:54:37,482
When I played the bass,
I think it was off-key!
686
00:54:37,565 --> 00:54:41,152
{\an8}Wu Jiaming was a storeman
in the army camp.
687
00:54:41,236 --> 00:54:43,321
When I was at the store,
688
00:54:43,405 --> 00:54:45,615
he saw me and asked,
"Are you Teo Kay Kiong?"
689
00:54:45,699 --> 00:54:47,826
I asked, "Are you Wu Jiaming?"
And he walked away.
690
00:54:47,909 --> 00:54:49,411
He told me later
691
00:54:49,494 --> 00:54:51,246
he had heard me sing
"Footprints in the Desert"
692
00:54:51,329 --> 00:54:52,455
and was very disappointed.
693
00:54:52,539 --> 00:54:55,000
He had heard my name before.
694
00:54:55,083 --> 00:54:58,336
But when he heard me live,
it was such a let-down.
695
00:54:58,420 --> 00:55:00,755
This tells you how low our standards were!
696
00:55:00,839 --> 00:55:04,759
Yet it was moving
697
00:55:04,843 --> 00:55:07,554
that many people came to support us
in spite of everything.
698
00:55:08,471 --> 00:55:10,432
Following Night of The Underground,
699
00:55:10,515 --> 00:55:13,768
we decided to hold our own concert.
700
00:55:13,852 --> 00:55:17,731
{\an8}"Tomorrow Will Still be Beautiful"
was held on 30th July, 1983.
701
00:55:17,814 --> 00:55:22,152
{\an8}TOMORROW WILL STILL BE BEAUTIFUL
702
00:55:28,658 --> 00:55:32,662
Remember that day
703
00:55:34,956 --> 00:55:39,711
When we first met
704
00:55:41,296 --> 00:55:46,051
You took a glance at me
705
00:55:47,594 --> 00:55:52,348
I took a glance at you
706
00:55:54,225 --> 00:55:58,646
Between 1983 and 1984,
I wrote over 100 songs.
707
00:55:59,105 --> 00:56:00,482
It didn't take much time.
708
00:56:00,565 --> 00:56:03,276
Once an idea came, I could finish a song
in five to ten minutes.
709
00:56:03,359 --> 00:56:06,571
There were too many songs to choose from.
710
00:56:06,654 --> 00:56:09,657
Many new songs were performed only once.
711
00:56:10,867 --> 00:56:16,081
And so we met
712
00:56:16,164 --> 00:56:21,461
In a sliver of time
713
00:56:22,295 --> 00:56:27,383
Leaving you my number
714
00:56:27,801 --> 00:56:31,304
Hoping we'll meet again
715
00:56:32,514 --> 00:56:33,973
Colin, here's another question!
716
00:56:35,141 --> 00:56:36,768
I'm nervous!
717
00:56:36,851 --> 00:56:42,649
{\an8}"Your songs strike me
as being rather commercialized,
718
00:56:42,732 --> 00:56:46,945
{\an8}especially the lyrics,
they sound contrived.
719
00:56:47,028 --> 00:56:50,240
{\an8}There's something jaded about them.
720
00:56:50,323 --> 00:56:51,950
{\an8}Please explain!"
721
00:56:52,033 --> 00:56:54,410
I didn't make the story up.
722
00:56:54,494 --> 00:56:58,164
Like the song "Remember That Day,"
it was based on a true story.
723
00:57:13,680 --> 00:57:18,810
I felt that The Merlion
was quite unconventional then.
724
00:57:19,894 --> 00:57:25,358
{\an8}But our strength was also our weakness.
725
00:57:25,442 --> 00:57:29,696
{\an8}People felt we were too modern,
too commercialized.
726
00:57:29,779 --> 00:57:32,282
{\an8}The term used then was "commercialized."
727
00:57:56,014 --> 00:58:00,310
They felt that as students we shouldn't
be taking the commercial route.
728
00:58:00,393 --> 00:58:03,688
We felt, "Why not?"
729
00:58:03,771 --> 00:58:08,526
They felt that all you need is to strum a
guitar and sing, that's how it should be.
730
00:58:08,610 --> 00:58:15,575
WHERE IS XINYAO HEADING?
731
00:58:17,452 --> 00:58:22,248
{\an8}DOES XINYAO HAVE AN IDENTITY?
732
00:58:36,221 --> 00:58:40,725
When xinyao first started,
it was pure and simple.
733
00:58:40,808 --> 00:58:46,147
The singers and songwriters were youths,
mostly under 20.
734
00:58:46,231 --> 00:58:51,819
Their lives revolved mostly around family,
friends and school.
735
00:58:53,154 --> 00:58:55,573
I wrote a song titled
"Lunatic on Campus."
736
00:58:55,657 --> 00:58:59,452
It was about a female classmate
at Nanyang Junior College.
737
00:58:59,536 --> 00:59:02,038
After the first year,
the pressure was too much.
738
00:59:02,121 --> 00:59:03,498
She had a mental breakdown.
739
00:59:04,123 --> 00:59:06,960
She took a year off and returned
to repeat her first year.
740
00:59:07,043 --> 00:59:11,756
After the exams,
741
00:59:11,839 --> 00:59:15,343
she sat on the stairs,
tore up the exam paper
742
00:59:15,426 --> 00:59:18,638
and swallowed it bit by bit.
743
00:59:18,721 --> 00:59:22,183
That song was played once
on "Our Singers and Songwriters."
744
00:59:22,267 --> 00:59:24,227
It has never been performed at concerts,
745
00:59:24,310 --> 00:59:26,563
nor has it been recorded.
746
00:59:27,522 --> 00:59:29,816
This was the common fate
of early xinyao songs.
747
00:59:29,899 --> 00:59:32,110
But don't forget,
748
00:59:32,193 --> 00:59:38,157
while many groups were formed,
many also eventually disbanded
749
00:59:38,241 --> 00:59:40,326
because people got too
emotionally invested.
750
00:59:40,410 --> 00:59:46,040
When their life experiences
became more complex,
751
00:59:46,124 --> 00:59:49,252
their songs reflected this change,
752
00:59:49,335 --> 00:59:52,630
and their styles evolved.
753
00:59:52,714 --> 00:59:56,884
Would you rather
xinyao never change?
754
00:59:56,968 --> 00:59:58,011
That is not fair.
755
01:00:05,310 --> 01:00:11,899
Let's listen to "Warrior's Farewell",
another song by Mu Zi and Lan Zhao Pang.
756
01:00:11,983 --> 01:00:14,068
Performed by Chen Zong Geng.
757
01:00:14,152 --> 01:00:17,697
"Warrior's Farewell" is about a soldier
758
01:00:17,780 --> 01:00:20,825
entrusted with the
duty of defending his country.
759
01:00:20,908 --> 01:00:23,036
Maybe he was feeling emotional.
760
01:00:23,119 --> 01:00:26,122
Just as he was to set out on a mission,
761
01:00:26,205 --> 01:00:28,416
he realized he couldn't bear
to leave the girl he loved,
762
01:00:28,499 --> 01:00:32,045
and he cried out in desperation.
763
01:00:32,128 --> 01:00:35,423
I want to cry out
764
01:00:35,506 --> 01:00:39,677
I want to cry out
765
01:00:39,761 --> 01:00:44,057
But the east wind's footsteps
are still too slow
766
01:00:46,601 --> 01:00:49,854
Our Singers and Songwriters
was broadcast once a week.
767
01:00:49,937 --> 01:00:52,607
We couldn't reach many listeners.
768
01:00:52,690 --> 01:00:58,863
So I wanted xinyao songs
to also be played at other timebelts.
769
01:00:59,280 --> 01:01:03,451
I wanted to see if listeners
would like the songs.
770
01:01:03,951 --> 01:01:06,412
So I recorded xinyao songs
in 8-track cartridges
771
01:01:06,496 --> 01:01:07,705
and left them in the studio
772
01:01:07,789 --> 01:01:12,502
so that the other radio DJs
would play them as well.
773
01:01:13,586 --> 01:01:18,132
When Cher Hui recorded xinyao
songs in 8-track cartridges
774
01:01:18,216 --> 01:01:22,345
and left them in the studio,
it made all the difference.
775
01:01:22,428 --> 01:01:23,930
Because back then,
776
01:01:24,013 --> 01:01:28,476
we all had LPs that the
record companies would send us,
777
01:01:28,559 --> 01:01:33,272
and these would be the LPs of the singers
they wished to promote.
778
01:01:33,356 --> 01:01:35,650
But because Cher Hui
had prepared the cartridges,
779
01:01:35,733 --> 01:01:40,738
during my shift, I would use them instead.
780
01:01:40,822 --> 01:01:42,031
I believe this is most evident
781
01:01:42,115 --> 01:01:45,827
with the success of Eric Moo
and Ywai Cheng's song "Encounter."
782
01:01:47,578 --> 01:01:49,747
{\an8}One evening,
783
01:01:49,831 --> 01:01:53,209
{\an8}after listening to one
of Danny Chan's albums,
784
01:01:53,292 --> 01:01:55,920
{\an8}I had a moment of inspiration.
785
01:01:56,629 --> 01:01:58,005
{\an8}I said to myself,
786
01:01:58,840 --> 01:02:00,007
{\an8}"He's only a few years older than me.
787
01:02:00,091 --> 01:02:02,385
{\an8}Why is it that
he can write such great songs?
788
01:02:02,468 --> 01:02:04,929
Let me give it a shot!"
789
01:02:05,012 --> 01:02:10,101
The melody for "Encounter"
was composed that night.
790
01:02:10,184 --> 01:02:11,853
This was the tune
from Danny Chan's song...
791
01:02:19,569 --> 01:02:20,737
Whereas my version goes like this...
792
01:02:26,325 --> 01:02:28,244
After I wrote the melody,
793
01:02:28,327 --> 01:02:33,624
everyone tried their hand
at writing the lyrics,
794
01:02:33,708 --> 01:02:35,835
but no one succeeded.
795
01:02:35,918 --> 01:02:39,714
Finally, I said, "Ywai Cheng!
796
01:02:40,298 --> 01:02:41,674
You're the last one!"
797
01:02:41,758 --> 01:02:43,259
Ywai Cheng took the score with her.
798
01:02:45,011 --> 01:02:47,930
She worked on it for a long time.
799
01:02:48,014 --> 01:02:50,266
When she finally gave me the lyrics,
I didn't know how to read the characters.
800
01:02:53,144 --> 01:02:57,648
"In the dusk on the hill I walk alone."
801
01:02:57,732 --> 01:03:01,027
I asked,
"Why did you separate this character?"
802
01:03:01,110 --> 01:03:03,362
She said,
"These are two characters, not one."
803
01:03:03,446 --> 01:03:04,864
I asked, "What two characters are these?"
804
01:03:04,947 --> 01:03:06,449
She said, "It means to walk for a while,
805
01:03:06,532 --> 01:03:08,201
and pause for a while,
before continuing to walk again."
806
01:03:08,284 --> 01:03:11,704
I had no idea what she had written.
807
01:03:12,747 --> 01:03:16,209
What do the lyrics mean?
808
01:03:17,335 --> 01:03:20,171
I think we should ask Ywai Cheng
to explain them to you?
809
01:03:20,254 --> 01:03:22,840
The song is about romantic illusions
810
01:03:22,924 --> 01:03:27,261
or rather, an idealized relationship.
811
01:03:27,345 --> 01:03:31,349
An "encounter" is a happenstance.
812
01:03:31,432 --> 01:03:36,103
But in the song I am not referring
to an actual encounter between two people.
813
01:03:36,187 --> 01:03:38,189
It's about a meeting of souls.
814
01:03:41,025 --> 01:03:43,110
Recording, five seconds from now.
815
01:03:46,739 --> 01:03:49,867
Once, when The Underground
came to the studio for a recording,
816
01:03:49,951 --> 01:03:53,412
Eric Moo said
"Cher Hui, we don't feel so good today.
817
01:03:53,496 --> 01:03:55,373
Is it okay if we don't record today?"
818
01:03:55,456 --> 01:03:59,168
I said, "What do you mean
you don't feel so good?
819
01:03:59,252 --> 01:04:01,754
I made so much effort
to get us this once-a-month slot.
820
01:04:01,838 --> 01:04:04,507
How can you waste the opportunity?
821
01:04:04,590 --> 01:04:06,551
How can you be so irresponsible?"
822
01:04:06,634 --> 01:04:11,264
I remember Cher Hui looked quite upset,
823
01:04:11,347 --> 01:04:13,599
and she reprimanded us.
824
01:04:13,683 --> 01:04:15,893
We obediently completed
the recording that day.
825
01:04:17,144 --> 01:04:19,939
I was also in charge of
the Billboard program Top of the Pops.
826
01:04:20,022 --> 01:04:23,359
In that program, I had a segment
827
01:04:23,442 --> 01:04:26,696
which was for listeners
to predict the following week's hits.
828
01:04:29,615 --> 01:04:34,787
One of the listeners I had picked
the song "Encounter."
829
01:04:34,871 --> 01:04:39,792
I asked him if he was sure
that the song would not enter the chart
830
01:04:39,876 --> 01:04:44,171
because the votes
were tallied every fortnight.
831
01:04:44,255 --> 01:04:46,215
He said he knew
it wouldn't get on the chart so quickly,
832
01:04:46,299 --> 01:04:49,135
but he wanted to use the opportunity
833
01:04:49,218 --> 01:04:52,722
to have the song played,
so that more people would get to hear it.
834
01:04:52,805 --> 01:04:55,308
Two to three weeks later,
the song made it to the chart.
835
01:04:55,391 --> 01:04:58,895
I think that listener deserves some credit
for the song's success
836
01:04:58,978 --> 01:05:01,939
because he gave up his chance to win $20.
837
01:05:17,413 --> 01:05:23,127
{\an8}Solitary and hesitant
On the trail at dusk
838
01:05:23,210 --> 01:05:28,925
{\an8}The sunset is ever so desolate
839
01:05:29,008 --> 01:05:35,097
{\an8}Humming that haunting sad song
840
01:05:35,181 --> 01:05:40,186
{\an8}Trembling, my voice so cold and bleak
841
01:05:40,561 --> 01:05:46,275
{\an8}The melody drifts like a shadow
Into the waves of my heart
842
01:05:46,359 --> 01:05:51,989
{\an8}Calling to me from the hills
843
01:05:52,073 --> 01:05:58,245
{\an8}Encountering your bright starry eyes
844
01:05:58,329 --> 01:06:03,417
{\an8}Dancing, quivering
I'm spirited away into a dream
845
01:06:04,460 --> 01:06:06,420
At that time, we were all students.
846
01:06:07,213 --> 01:06:09,298
Most of us
847
01:06:09,382 --> 01:06:13,219
did not come from families
where kids were sent for music lessons.
848
01:06:13,678 --> 01:06:18,766
Most of us taught ourselves to play
the guitar and practiced in secret.
849
01:06:18,849 --> 01:06:21,727
We were just
a bunch of kids messing around,
850
01:06:21,811 --> 01:06:23,688
and we stumbled upon something great.
851
01:06:23,771 --> 01:06:27,316
{\an8}May that moment
become a monument of grace
852
01:06:30,611 --> 01:06:32,363
Listening to the old songs now,
853
01:06:33,155 --> 01:06:36,117
even though there were
many flaws and imperfections,
854
01:06:36,200 --> 01:06:39,996
they touched us
with their simplicity and sincerity,
855
01:06:40,079 --> 01:06:43,207
and it is something
we will not be able to replicate today.
856
01:06:46,419 --> 01:06:49,088
I was only allocated
one evening slot per month.
857
01:06:49,171 --> 01:06:52,425
It took a long time to record a song.
858
01:06:52,508 --> 01:06:54,510
In comparison
to the other radio programs,
859
01:06:54,593 --> 01:06:57,263
the production of Our Singers
and Songwriters was very tedious.
860
01:06:57,346 --> 01:07:00,099
It was the media who made things possible.
861
01:07:00,891 --> 01:07:04,103
I feel that people
from the media back then
862
01:07:04,186 --> 01:07:06,856
had a deeper sense
of social responsibility.
863
01:07:11,235 --> 01:07:12,153
Here!
864
01:07:19,618 --> 01:07:22,913
This is Studio B,
which we used for our recordings.
865
01:07:22,997 --> 01:07:24,582
Now it's no longer called Studio B.
866
01:07:24,665 --> 01:07:27,168
Everything is different inside.
867
01:07:27,793 --> 01:07:31,213
This was one of the larger studios
in the old days.
868
01:07:31,297 --> 01:07:34,884
It could accommodate an entire orchestra.
869
01:07:34,967 --> 01:07:40,723
This was the only studio
with recording facilities.
870
01:07:40,806 --> 01:07:44,935
It had the best recording equipment.
871
01:07:45,019 --> 01:07:48,814
We are talking about the '80s.
872
01:07:48,898 --> 01:07:53,110
There was one time when the whole troupe
turned up for a recording.
873
01:07:53,194 --> 01:07:56,072
Cher Hui nearly fainted
when she saw such a big group.
874
01:07:56,155 --> 01:07:59,116
We did not realize
that bringing in a big band
875
01:07:59,200 --> 01:08:03,496
would be an issue for the technicians.
876
01:08:03,579 --> 01:08:06,540
They had to set up a microphone
for every instrument
877
01:08:06,624 --> 01:08:09,835
and then do the sound check
for each one as well.
878
01:08:09,919 --> 01:08:13,672
Everything had to be done in one take.
879
01:08:13,756 --> 01:08:16,467
Even though there were five or six
in a group, no one could make mistakes.
880
01:08:16,550 --> 01:08:17,968
Before we went on the show,
881
01:08:18,052 --> 01:08:20,846
we would have rehearsed
the song till we had perfected it.
882
01:08:27,394 --> 01:08:29,688
Our Singers and Songwriters
took a lot of effort to produce.
883
01:08:29,772 --> 01:08:31,982
We started from scratch.
884
01:08:32,066 --> 01:08:37,988
So every time I opened an envelope,
I would feel that perhaps
885
01:08:38,072 --> 01:08:41,575
it carried the aspirations of our youths.
886
01:08:41,659 --> 01:08:44,411
It was very genuine.
887
01:08:44,495 --> 01:08:47,039
I would receive the cassettes...
888
01:08:48,082 --> 01:08:50,209
with all the lyrics enclosed.
889
01:08:50,292 --> 01:08:53,963
There were no Chinese typewriters then,
nor computers.
890
01:08:54,046 --> 01:08:55,714
The lyrics were all handwritten.
891
01:08:55,798 --> 01:08:58,259
Some sent in beautifully designed cards.
892
01:08:58,342 --> 01:09:01,220
Each week...
893
01:09:01,554 --> 01:09:04,598
I usually received four or five cassettes.
894
01:09:04,807 --> 01:09:11,272
When I fail at my exams, you console me
895
01:09:11,981 --> 01:09:13,816
Some of them
were still in their school uniforms.
896
01:09:14,275 --> 01:09:18,821
They would rush to the studio
after school.
897
01:09:19,321 --> 01:09:23,576
Some girls even had to be accompanied
by their elder brothers.
898
01:09:24,118 --> 01:09:26,453
Everyone was unique.
899
01:09:26,537 --> 01:09:27,580
It was touching.
900
01:09:30,249 --> 01:09:32,751
Now that we have listened to
Qingling's first song,
901
01:09:32,835 --> 01:09:34,962
let's get to know her better.
902
01:09:35,045 --> 01:09:37,548
Are you still schooling?
903
01:09:37,631 --> 01:09:39,967
I'm in Secondary 3,
Mayflower Secondary School.
904
01:09:40,050 --> 01:09:44,722
What inspired you to write songs?
905
01:09:44,805 --> 01:09:48,976
I have always liked writing songs,
but didn't have the courage to.
906
01:09:49,059 --> 01:09:53,272
One day, a friend wrote a song for me.
907
01:09:53,606 --> 01:09:58,110
That spurred me to write my own song.
908
01:09:58,652 --> 01:10:04,700
I have always felt that
dreamers are naturally charismatic.
909
01:10:05,492 --> 01:10:07,995
Take Sam Lee for example.
910
01:10:08,078 --> 01:10:11,498
We've always joked about how he is like
Singapore's Liu Chia Chang.
911
01:10:11,582 --> 01:10:14,543
He can write,
sing and play musical instruments.
912
01:10:14,627 --> 01:10:19,381
It was always my wish then
that when the program went on air,
913
01:10:19,465 --> 01:10:22,092
people would hear the
songs and remember them.
914
01:10:24,303 --> 01:10:28,933
A listener from Malaysia
wrote in some time ago
915
01:10:29,016 --> 01:10:34,438
to give some feedback
to the local singing group Yayun.
916
01:10:34,521 --> 01:10:36,607
After listening to
the three local compositions,
917
01:10:36,690 --> 01:10:40,236
I realize that what makes most of these
compositions distinctly xinyao
918
01:10:40,319 --> 01:10:46,992
are themes of sorrowful parting
and heartfelt emotions.
919
01:10:47,701 --> 01:10:52,665
Indeed these works are inspirational.
920
01:10:53,540 --> 01:10:57,461
The future is bright for xinyao.
921
01:11:01,674 --> 01:11:07,179
When I wave goodbye with tearful eyes
922
01:11:07,263 --> 01:11:09,765
My heart is filled
With sadness and longing
923
01:11:09,848 --> 01:11:14,645
That this brilliant songwriter
is about to leave for overseas studies.
924
01:11:14,728 --> 01:11:17,398
is truly a loss
to the local music scene.
925
01:11:17,481 --> 01:11:20,943
I would like to urge him
to carry on writing songs
926
01:11:21,026 --> 01:11:23,821
so as not to let
his great talent go to waste.
927
01:11:24,071 --> 01:11:29,743
Affection and friendship
Are etched in my heart
928
01:11:29,827 --> 01:11:34,498
Our happy past drifts before my eyes
929
01:11:37,584 --> 01:11:39,545
Thank you, Grandma.
930
01:11:41,338 --> 01:11:44,425
I will visit you next year when I return.
931
01:11:44,883 --> 01:11:45,884
Take care.
932
01:11:47,594 --> 01:11:49,179
He will be all right, don't worry.
933
01:11:50,139 --> 01:11:51,682
Remember to eat more.
934
01:11:57,563 --> 01:12:02,985
Farewell
Farewell, my friend
935
01:12:03,068 --> 01:12:07,489
My anticipation has eroded
the time before our next reunion
936
01:12:09,867 --> 01:12:11,577
It's a very good discount!
937
01:12:14,788 --> 01:12:18,876
Peanuts, $1.80...
938
01:12:19,084 --> 01:12:23,005
SPEAK MORE MANDARIN, SPEAK LESS DIALECTS
939
01:12:23,339 --> 01:12:27,176
Ah Gui, it's one each...
940
01:12:31,221 --> 01:12:36,143
{\an8}If a blind person asks you for directions,
how would you help him?
941
01:12:42,232 --> 01:12:46,737
Oh, friend
Oh, friend, I wonder
942
01:12:47,780 --> 01:12:52,284
Oh, when will we meet like this again
943
01:12:53,243 --> 01:12:57,873
For there are so many miles between us
944
01:12:58,749 --> 01:13:01,001
Yet the hills
cannot sever our friendship
945
01:13:01,085 --> 01:13:06,048
Here's the Minister of Culture
and Foreign Affairs, Mr. Dhanabalan,
946
01:13:06,131 --> 01:13:07,257
officiating at
the Singapore Press Holdings'
947
01:13:07,341 --> 01:13:09,009
inauguration ceremony for Lianhe Zaobao
948
01:13:09,093 --> 01:13:13,180
heralding the start of a new era
for the Chinese press in Singapore.
949
01:13:16,767 --> 01:13:18,727
IN 1923, NANYANG SIANG PAU WAS ESTABLISHED
950
01:13:18,811 --> 01:13:21,355
IN 1929, SIN CHEW JIT POH WAS ESTABLISHED
951
01:13:21,438 --> 01:13:28,362
IN 1983, BOTH PAPERS WERE MERGED
952
01:13:28,445 --> 01:13:35,411
TO FORM LIANHE ZAOBAO
953
01:13:52,261 --> 01:13:54,721
Nam Seng and I joined the Singapore
Armed Forces Music and Drama Company.
954
01:13:54,805 --> 01:13:58,809
One day, we were reminiscing
about the 6th June concert
955
01:13:58,892 --> 01:14:04,731
wishing we could produce a commemorative
album for the concert.
956
01:14:12,573 --> 01:14:14,158
Then someone approached us.
957
01:14:14,241 --> 01:14:18,704
He said that he liked our songs,
958
01:14:18,787 --> 01:14:22,040
and he could play the piano.
959
01:14:22,124 --> 01:14:23,709
He told us that his schoolmate was
960
01:14:23,792 --> 01:14:27,713
the President of Hwa Chong
Junior College's student council
961
01:14:27,796 --> 01:14:29,047
Liang Wern Fook...
962
01:14:29,840 --> 01:14:32,509
and he himself was Samuel Tan.
963
01:14:44,438 --> 01:14:47,483
{\an8}He asked if I was interested
in music arrangement.
964
01:14:47,566 --> 01:14:51,153
{\an8}I had no experience then.
965
01:14:51,236 --> 01:14:52,946
{\an8}We hit it off.
966
01:14:53,030 --> 01:14:58,785
{\an8}We were both passionate about music
and decided that we would collaborate.
967
01:15:03,457 --> 01:15:07,377
The whole album was arranged
by Samuel Tan.
968
01:15:07,461 --> 01:15:10,088
He was my idol.
969
01:15:13,926 --> 01:15:16,970
I needed money so I approached Ken Chang
970
01:15:17,054 --> 01:15:20,557
who was a manager at Yamaha Music School.
971
01:15:20,641 --> 01:15:23,101
We were quite democratic.
972
01:15:23,185 --> 01:15:25,437
We gathered the singers
who had performed at the concert
973
01:15:25,521 --> 01:15:31,026
to vote for 12 songs,
from the 20 from the concert
974
01:15:31,151 --> 01:15:33,237
to be compiled in the album.
975
01:15:33,320 --> 01:15:39,535
Eric Moo, Liang Wern Fook,
Sam Lee were better songwriters.
976
01:15:39,618 --> 01:15:44,081
So I decided I would take care
of the other miscellaneous things
977
01:15:44,164 --> 01:15:47,793
like a coordinator.
978
01:15:47,876 --> 01:15:52,589
That was how I became the producer
of the first xinyao album.
979
01:15:52,673 --> 01:15:55,968
We were all 20 that year,
980
01:15:56,051 --> 01:15:59,555
so we named the album
Tomorrow We'll be 21.
981
01:16:04,017 --> 01:16:09,940
Little breeze, please don't hurry
982
01:16:10,023 --> 01:16:15,237
Stop a while for us to speak
983
01:16:15,946 --> 01:16:21,660
Let me ride on your wings
984
01:16:21,743 --> 01:16:26,915
Let me follow you to distant places
985
01:16:27,583 --> 01:16:32,671
Xinyao, to me,
986
01:16:32,754 --> 01:16:36,925
was like tiny sparks of fire.
987
01:16:37,759 --> 01:16:41,096
How we were going to pass it on
988
01:16:41,179 --> 01:16:45,601
would have to depend on subculture,
989
01:16:45,684 --> 01:16:50,981
popular culture
and through songs enjoyed by young people,
990
01:16:51,064 --> 01:16:55,485
to expose them to the Chinese language.
991
01:16:55,569 --> 01:16:59,781
I would do anything to encourage it.
992
01:17:01,783 --> 01:17:06,413
Once the master tape was recorded,
I had to figure out
993
01:17:06,496 --> 01:17:10,626
how we were going to
market and promote the album.
994
01:17:10,709 --> 01:17:16,048
Ken Chang used about $4,000
of his own money to pay the musicians.
995
01:17:16,131 --> 01:17:20,802
We also organized a promotional event
with a slideshow presentation.
996
01:17:20,886 --> 01:17:24,139
The slides were taken by Nam Seng.
997
01:17:24,222 --> 01:17:28,018
You can call it the earliest version
of a music video.
998
01:17:28,310 --> 01:17:32,230
Through Ken's connections, we rented
the auditorium at Goethe Institute.
999
01:17:32,314 --> 01:17:36,276
We invited the record companies
like PolyGram, Tony Records,
1000
01:17:36,360 --> 01:17:40,864
as well as senior management
from other record companies.
1001
01:17:41,239 --> 01:17:45,369
Two things happened after this event.
1002
01:17:45,452 --> 01:17:50,415
Firstly, PolyGram engaged Samuel Tan
1003
01:17:50,499 --> 01:17:52,542
for the music arrangement
for Tracy Huang's album.
1004
01:17:52,626 --> 01:17:56,338
Secondly, Tony Records signed on Dawn Gan
as their artiste.
1005
01:17:56,922 --> 01:18:00,008
Still, no one was interested in our album.
1006
01:18:00,092 --> 01:18:01,927
Nobody came...
1007
01:18:03,387 --> 01:18:06,181
I could tell Billy Koh
and the rest were very disappointed.
1008
01:18:06,264 --> 01:18:07,849
What do we do?
1009
01:18:08,975 --> 01:18:11,186
There was someone I knew back then
who played a vital role.
1010
01:18:11,269 --> 01:18:14,981
Without her support,
1011
01:18:15,065 --> 01:18:19,277
{\an8}xinyao would not have reached the masses.
1012
01:18:19,361 --> 01:18:24,741
{\an8}She was a TV variety show producer then.
Her name is Irene Lim.
1013
01:18:25,075 --> 01:18:31,832
{\an8}They passed their recordings
in a cassette to me.
1014
01:18:38,630 --> 01:18:41,967
Disappearing into the crowd
1015
01:18:42,050 --> 01:18:45,095
Heavy with helplessness
1016
01:18:45,804 --> 01:18:50,934
A babbling throng without yearning
1017
01:18:53,103 --> 01:18:57,399
After I listened to it,
I was so moved beyond words.
1018
01:18:57,482 --> 01:19:02,070
I could feel their passion and sincerity.
1019
01:19:02,154 --> 01:19:05,115
I knew I had to invite them
on TV shows quickly.
1020
01:19:06,491 --> 01:19:10,245
We were filming in Studio 1.
1021
01:19:10,328 --> 01:19:15,250
Even the crew was impressed with them.
1022
01:19:15,333 --> 01:19:17,043
I remember telling them how rare it was
1023
01:19:17,127 --> 01:19:21,882
to hear such good songs
from campus songwriters.
1024
01:19:21,965 --> 01:19:25,260
The first ones we invited were
Ywai Cheng and Eric.
1025
01:19:26,720 --> 01:19:31,683
I remember them being innocent and modest.
1026
01:19:34,394 --> 01:19:37,314
{\an8}In every tuft of grass
1027
01:19:37,397 --> 01:19:40,734
{\an8}Comes the sound of life
1028
01:19:40,817 --> 01:19:46,782
{\an8}Brief days of youth are no more
1029
01:19:47,157 --> 01:19:49,868
Later, we had many other
xinyao singers on the show,
1030
01:19:49,951 --> 01:19:52,162
like The Straws.
1031
01:20:01,797 --> 01:20:02,798
Thomas Teo.
1032
01:20:06,301 --> 01:20:07,177
Pan Ying.
1033
01:20:07,260 --> 01:20:11,389
Seeing each other
My thoughts are in a whirl
1034
01:20:11,556 --> 01:20:12,516
Liang Wern Fook.
1035
01:20:12,599 --> 01:20:18,063
{\an8}I do not believe that beauty repeated
Is found only in the ephemeral
1036
01:20:18,438 --> 01:20:23,652
{\an8}I do not believe that truth is told
Only by the loudest voice
1037
01:20:23,735 --> 01:20:29,658
{\an8}Thereafter, they started to make
frequent appearances on TV.
1038
01:20:30,200 --> 01:20:31,993
{\an8}I do not believe that history
1039
01:20:32,077 --> 01:20:36,248
{\an8}Is a melancholy sigh
1040
01:20:37,290 --> 01:20:40,585
{\an8}Where are our songs?
1041
01:20:40,669 --> 01:20:45,715
{\an8}Where are our songs?
1042
01:20:45,799 --> 01:20:48,343
The lyrics repeatedly go,
"Where are our songs?"
1043
01:20:48,426 --> 01:20:50,595
What are you trying to express?
1044
01:20:51,304 --> 01:20:53,598
To me, songs are a beautiful way
1045
01:20:53,682 --> 01:20:56,893
of expressing what's in your heart.
1046
01:20:56,977 --> 01:20:58,186
This is my way of saying,
1047
01:20:58,270 --> 01:21:03,149
let's not write shallow songs.
1048
01:21:03,233 --> 01:21:05,485
Instead, let's write songs from the heart.
1049
01:21:05,569 --> 01:21:07,028
I totally agree with you.
1050
01:21:07,112 --> 01:21:09,531
TOMORROW WE'LL BE 21
1051
01:21:09,614 --> 01:21:14,244
After overcoming many hurdles
in April 1984,
1052
01:21:14,327 --> 01:21:16,162
the album was finally released.
1053
01:21:16,246 --> 01:21:20,750
It was a hit from the start,
selling more than 10,000 copies.
1054
01:21:20,834 --> 01:21:22,335
We were all very ecstatic.
1055
01:21:22,419 --> 01:21:28,008
We had always believed in it,
and now we were proven right.
1056
01:21:28,091 --> 01:21:31,177
{\an8}"XINYAO ALBUM, 'TOMORROW WE'LL BE 21'
NOW ON SALE"
1057
01:21:31,261 --> 01:21:34,472
{\an8}How well do xinyao cassettes sell here?
1058
01:21:35,140 --> 01:21:36,391
Quite a lot.
1059
01:21:36,766 --> 01:21:39,227
Who are the people
who come and buy xinyao cassettes?
1060
01:21:39,311 --> 01:21:41,563
More often, students.
1061
01:21:47,652 --> 01:21:51,406
{\an8}The songwriters are about my age.
1062
01:21:53,992 --> 01:21:59,122
Later we found out that
the record company went bankrupt,
1063
01:21:59,205 --> 01:22:00,624
and the boss had fled,
1064
01:22:00,707 --> 01:22:02,918
so we didn't even get a single cent.
1065
01:22:03,001 --> 01:22:04,544
Subsequently, we received another offer
1066
01:22:04,628 --> 01:22:08,632
from another record company, Tony Records.
1067
01:22:09,841 --> 01:22:11,801
Soon after that,
our second album was released.
1068
01:22:11,885 --> 01:22:15,764
Ocean Butterflies Chasing After the Sun
was launched in August 1984.
1069
01:22:16,181 --> 01:22:17,766
Singapore is a garden city.
1070
01:22:17,849 --> 01:22:19,935
The butterflies do not wish
to remain in the garden,
1071
01:22:20,018 --> 01:22:22,062
so they fly towards the ocean,
in pursuit of their dreams.
1072
01:22:22,145 --> 01:22:24,397
Hence the name,
Ocean Butterflies Chasing After the Sun.
1073
01:22:25,982 --> 01:22:29,819
That year was also Singapore's
25th year of nation-building.
1074
01:22:31,488 --> 01:22:35,867
We held a large-scale concert
at Hong Lim Park.
1075
01:22:35,951 --> 01:22:39,496
This was to be the beginning
of many future xinyao festivals.
1076
01:22:43,667 --> 01:22:47,796
Maybe because we were
a bunch of rebellious youths
1077
01:22:47,879 --> 01:22:51,257
going against tradition and convention.
1078
01:22:51,341 --> 01:22:54,219
Since everyone did not think we could
do it, we had to prove that we could.
1079
01:22:57,138 --> 01:23:00,100
Days and nights shrouded in dreams
1080
01:23:00,183 --> 01:23:07,148
{\an8}From day to night
No longer any peace
1081
01:23:09,567 --> 01:23:15,156
{\an8}Look at the waves
That have turned snowy white
1082
01:23:15,240 --> 01:23:22,038
I wanted to rebel
against the circumstances I was in.
1083
01:23:22,122 --> 01:23:26,376
I was dissatisfied
1084
01:23:26,459 --> 01:23:30,463
and frustrated with the situation then.
1085
01:23:30,547 --> 01:23:36,094
In the cultural desert, that was
the arts and music scene of Singapore.
1086
01:23:36,177 --> 01:23:38,847
I was determined to have a music career.
1087
01:23:38,930 --> 01:23:39,806
The waves, the waves
1088
01:23:39,889 --> 01:23:44,185
{\an8}An old friend's chalice
1089
01:23:45,979 --> 01:23:47,564
When Ocean Butterflies Chasing
After The Sun was launched,
1090
01:23:47,647 --> 01:23:48,982
we were all in the army.
1091
01:23:49,065 --> 01:23:52,527
But there was someone who had a lot
of time on his hands, Eric Moo.
1092
01:23:52,610 --> 01:23:55,780
He was often our representative
on TV programs
1093
01:23:55,864 --> 01:23:57,574
because we couldn't book out of camp.
1094
01:23:57,657 --> 01:23:59,492
What song will you be singing today?
1095
01:23:59,576 --> 01:24:00,869
"A Hint of A Smile."
1096
01:24:00,952 --> 01:24:03,038
-This is a love song, isn't it?
-Yes.
1097
01:24:03,121 --> 01:24:05,040
Why do you always sing love songs?
1098
01:24:06,291 --> 01:24:08,418
I like songs about love.
1099
01:24:08,501 --> 01:24:13,423
Love songs allow me
to express my feelings fully.
1100
01:24:13,506 --> 01:24:16,342
Let's hear it now from Eric Moo.
1101
01:24:17,010 --> 01:24:21,181
I became famous very quickly
1102
01:24:21,264 --> 01:24:24,976
because my rivals were all in the army.
1103
01:24:26,186 --> 01:24:29,481
{\an8}You have gone away
1104
01:24:29,564 --> 01:24:34,402
{\an8}Our dreams have stopped
A shadow of neon
1105
01:24:34,486 --> 01:24:39,449
{\an8}Misty flashes of a light rhythm
1106
01:24:39,532 --> 01:24:44,579
It was Eric Moo at the TV station
every other day, singing those songs.
1107
01:24:44,662 --> 01:24:49,751
This was how I started my career
as a professional singer.
1108
01:24:53,213 --> 01:24:56,591
There was a TV producer called Lim Sek
1109
01:24:56,674 --> 01:24:58,718
who later became Tanya Chua's manager.
1110
01:24:58,802 --> 01:25:04,349
He was an unconventional producer
and very supportive of xinyao.
1111
01:25:10,980 --> 01:25:14,609
When things go wrong
1112
01:25:14,692 --> 01:25:17,904
As they sometimes will
1113
01:25:17,987 --> 01:25:22,158
When the road you're trudging
1114
01:25:22,242 --> 01:25:25,870
Seems all uphill
1115
01:25:26,329 --> 01:25:31,626
I was fortunate to work on both
English and Chinese variety shows.
1116
01:25:41,678 --> 01:25:44,848
There was a variety show on weeknights.
1117
01:25:44,931 --> 01:25:47,725
I was in charge of the Thursday show.
1118
01:25:47,809 --> 01:25:51,563
Game segments were very popular,
but I was not for them.
1119
01:25:51,646 --> 01:25:53,565
I felt that game segments were uninspiring
1120
01:25:53,648 --> 01:25:58,403
because they were dictated
by the sponsors.
1121
01:25:58,486 --> 01:26:02,615
Look at all these National Panasonic
and Technics products.
1122
01:26:03,324 --> 01:26:06,161
Handy gadgets for the housewife.
1123
01:26:06,244 --> 01:26:09,330
Wow! So many prizes!
1124
01:26:09,414 --> 01:26:11,583
Even if the darts land outside the target,
1125
01:26:11,666 --> 01:26:16,337
you will still walk away
with a dozen cans of insecticides.
1126
01:26:16,421 --> 01:26:19,549
Do you use Mortein insecticides at home?
1127
01:26:19,632 --> 01:26:22,093
-Yes, a lot.
-A lot?
1128
01:26:23,178 --> 01:26:25,054
There were no game segments
on the Thursday show,
1129
01:26:25,138 --> 01:26:27,223
so the ratings were not as high.
1130
01:26:27,974 --> 01:26:32,645
I preferred the set
not to be lit too brightly.
1131
01:26:32,729 --> 01:26:34,439
It wouldn't feel right.
1132
01:26:34,522 --> 01:26:39,736
Before filming, I would ask the
lighting technician to dim the lights.
1133
01:26:39,819 --> 01:26:43,072
Once he got mad
and turned off all the lights
1134
01:26:43,156 --> 01:26:44,908
and said, "Okay, you can film now!"
1135
01:26:55,543 --> 01:26:58,254
The Executive Producer once told me
1136
01:26:58,338 --> 01:27:00,715
my Thursday show had the lowest ratings
1137
01:27:00,798 --> 01:27:03,176
but the best reviews.
1138
01:27:03,259 --> 01:27:06,471
People would talk
about the celebrities on the show,
1139
01:27:06,554 --> 01:27:09,933
so it did reach out
to the appropriate audience.
1140
01:27:16,814 --> 01:27:17,857
{\an8}I had quite a free hand.
1141
01:27:17,941 --> 01:27:21,402
{\an8}I could invite any artiste.
1142
01:27:21,486 --> 01:27:24,405
And if your guest couldn't
come for the "live" show,
1143
01:27:24,489 --> 01:27:26,157
you could shoot a music video for them.
1144
01:27:26,741 --> 01:27:29,577
It was pretty gratifying.
1145
01:27:44,342 --> 01:27:47,553
{\an8}You enjoy the rays of a peaceful dawn
1146
01:27:47,637 --> 01:27:50,974
{\an8}Shining on your tears from yesterday
1147
01:27:51,057 --> 01:27:54,185
{\an8}Growing up in the harmony of music
1148
01:27:54,269 --> 01:27:57,355
{\an8}Let us sing together
1149
01:27:57,438 --> 01:28:00,525
{\an8}Perhaps today we might be burdened
1150
01:28:00,608 --> 01:28:03,987
{\an8}Perhaps tomorrow nothing will change
1151
01:28:04,070 --> 01:28:07,282
{\an8}But let's not be disheartened
1152
01:28:07,365 --> 01:28:10,326
{\an8}Let time dispel these dark clouds
1153
01:28:10,410 --> 01:28:13,538
{\an8}Even if we were stuck in ruins
1154
01:28:13,621 --> 01:28:16,874
{\an8}We have the courage to survive
1155
01:28:16,958 --> 01:28:19,961
{\an8}Let's hold on tight to our confidence
1156
01:28:20,044 --> 01:28:24,340
{\an8}Our fate is in our hands
1157
01:28:25,425 --> 01:28:31,723
{\an8}Give me a youthful heart
Give me your passion
1158
01:28:31,806 --> 01:28:34,642
{\an8}Let the sun shine for you
1159
01:28:34,726 --> 01:28:38,396
{\an8}You and I are entrusted with a mission
1160
01:28:38,479 --> 01:28:41,691
{\an8}Give me a youthful heart
1161
01:28:41,774 --> 01:28:44,652
{\an8}Give me your life
1162
01:28:44,736 --> 01:28:47,572
{\an8}Appease the crashing waves
1163
01:28:47,655 --> 01:28:52,368
{\an8}Smile at the months and years to come
1164
01:28:53,494 --> 01:28:58,374
When the singers came on set,
they were very cooperative.
1165
01:28:58,458 --> 01:29:00,460
They were happy to be on the show.
1166
01:29:00,543 --> 01:29:06,132
They enjoyed what they were doing
and were enthusiastic.
1167
01:29:06,215 --> 01:29:07,383
That was the most important,
1168
01:29:07,467 --> 01:29:12,597
because if they had been competitive,
1169
01:29:12,680 --> 01:29:14,390
it would have been meaningless.
1170
01:29:14,474 --> 01:29:18,019
If we cared only about ratings,
1171
01:29:18,102 --> 01:29:20,104
we wouldn't have been able to do the show.
1172
01:29:20,188 --> 01:29:23,232
The person in charge of the drama unit
then was open to ideas.
1173
01:29:24,442 --> 01:29:29,655
My husband was also involved
in the filming of Flying Fish.
1174
01:29:29,739 --> 01:29:35,244
{\an8}He recommended
a xinyao song to the producer,
1175
01:29:35,328 --> 01:29:40,416
who agreed to use it as an interlude song
for a local TV drama serial Flying Fish,
1176
01:29:40,500 --> 01:29:43,753
and it was sung
by the lead actress Maggie Teng.
1177
01:29:43,836 --> 01:29:47,256
I wish I could say it to you
1178
01:29:47,340 --> 01:29:50,343
I wish I could tell it to you
1179
01:29:50,426 --> 01:29:56,724
Just that our encounter is too hurried
1180
01:30:00,603 --> 01:30:06,442
In the '80s, there were some exemplary
producers at the TV station.
1181
01:30:06,526 --> 01:30:08,444
They were from Hong Kong and Singapore,
1182
01:30:08,528 --> 01:30:12,031
such as George Wu, Michael Woo, Chua Swan.
1183
01:30:12,115 --> 01:30:16,369
They would commission
original theme songs based on the scripts
1184
01:30:16,452 --> 01:30:19,122
instead of using a ready-made song.
1185
01:30:24,794 --> 01:30:30,550
{\an8}Life is filled with goodbyes and sorrow
1186
01:30:30,633 --> 01:30:37,598
{\an8}Life is filled with hapless wounds
1187
01:30:38,307 --> 01:30:44,147
{\an8}The mist rises in the south
The mist descends in the south
1188
01:30:44,230 --> 01:30:50,486
{\an8}The rising sun is hiding a wounded heart
1189
01:30:50,653 --> 01:30:53,406
The Awakening is a 30-episode drama.
1190
01:30:53,489 --> 01:30:55,908
It took three years to complete.
1191
01:30:55,992 --> 01:30:58,327
Today, it probably has a turnaround time
1192
01:30:58,411 --> 01:31:00,538
of two months
for the same number of episodes.
1193
01:31:00,621 --> 01:31:02,707
The Awakening had a huge budget.
1194
01:31:02,790 --> 01:31:09,255
There was even a songwriting competition
for the theme song
1195
01:31:09,338 --> 01:31:13,843
with cash prizes
to attract talented songwriters.
1196
01:31:19,432 --> 01:31:23,060
It was the one and only time.
1197
01:31:23,144 --> 01:31:27,857
There were no more drama theme song
songwriting competitions following it.
1198
01:31:36,991 --> 01:31:42,663
{\an8}I was in camp, with a Walkman
1199
01:31:42,747 --> 01:31:46,542
{\an8}when I heard Lan Zhao Pang humming
as he was strumming the tune.
1200
01:31:47,585 --> 01:31:50,671
It took me ten minutes or so
to write the lyrics.
1201
01:31:50,755 --> 01:31:52,048
On the last day of the contest,
1202
01:31:52,173 --> 01:31:54,967
at the very last minute,
we submitted the song.
1203
01:31:55,301 --> 01:31:59,055
As long as you believe in the future
1204
01:31:59,138 --> 01:32:01,557
You won't be lost
1205
01:32:01,641 --> 01:32:08,606
At the end of darkness, dawn will come
1206
01:32:09,857 --> 01:32:16,155
The mist rises in the south
The mist descends in the south
1207
01:32:16,239 --> 01:32:21,786
The mist dissipates with the rising sun
1208
01:32:21,869 --> 01:32:24,580
The winning entry of the The Awakening
Theme Song Songwriting Competition
1209
01:32:24,664 --> 01:32:30,086
goes to the song written by
Lan Zhao Pang and Mu Zi.
1210
01:32:30,169 --> 01:32:32,713
My first thought was,
what a good way to make money.
1211
01:32:32,797 --> 01:32:37,760
The winner will receive
$800 cash prize and a souvenir.
1212
01:32:37,843 --> 01:32:43,933
A poem published in Nanyang Siang Pau then
would pay between $5 to $7.
1213
01:32:44,016 --> 01:32:49,105
But for a song like "The Awakening,"
which was about the same length,
1214
01:32:49,188 --> 01:32:50,940
the prize money was $800.
1215
01:32:52,692 --> 01:32:56,946
{\an8}Around the time "The Awakening"
became known,
1216
01:32:57,029 --> 01:33:00,658
{\an8}you had another song, "Hometown Wine,"
1217
01:33:00,741 --> 01:33:04,704
{\an8}that Taiwanese singer Pan Anbang
recorded on his new album.
1218
01:33:04,787 --> 01:33:07,373
{\an8}It was a big deal then.
1219
01:33:08,040 --> 01:33:12,169
{\an8}Xinyao was not popular yet,
1220
01:33:12,253 --> 01:33:14,463
{\an8}but an overseas artiste
had picked up your song.
1221
01:33:14,547 --> 01:33:18,718
{\an8}How did you feel about that?
1222
01:33:18,801 --> 01:33:20,428
I don't know if I should say this
1223
01:33:20,511 --> 01:33:23,806
because it had to do
with intellectual property rights.
1224
01:33:23,889 --> 01:33:28,060
We didn't know the Taiwanese company
had used the song.
1225
01:33:28,144 --> 01:33:32,690
A friend had gone to Taiwan
as part of army training
1226
01:33:32,773 --> 01:33:36,027
and came back with a cassette
which had my song on it.
1227
01:33:36,110 --> 01:33:40,448
It was only a month later that the album
was released in Singapore.
1228
01:33:41,365 --> 01:33:43,993
The record company then apologized to us
1229
01:33:44,076 --> 01:33:46,370
for not getting our consent.
1230
01:33:46,954 --> 01:33:51,459
{\an8}I have had this wish before
1231
01:33:51,542 --> 01:33:56,213
{\an8}Today it has been forgotten
1232
01:33:56,297 --> 01:34:00,718
{\an8}A sailor had told me
1233
01:34:00,801 --> 01:34:05,348
{\an8}He'd made his way around the world
1234
01:34:05,431 --> 01:34:09,101
{\an8}In every forlorn corner
1235
01:34:09,185 --> 01:34:14,190
{\an8}Blessings never called out to me
1236
01:34:14,273 --> 01:34:16,233
In the '70s and '80s,
1237
01:34:16,317 --> 01:34:21,947
songs were mostly imported, not exported.
1238
01:34:22,156 --> 01:34:26,535
{\an8}We were paying for songs.
1239
01:34:26,619 --> 01:34:30,873
{\an8}Of course we resorted to the
cheapest means, which was piracy.
1240
01:34:35,795 --> 01:34:41,801
The newspapers reported that Singapore
was the number one piracy hub.
1241
01:34:42,385 --> 01:34:45,471
Singapore had
no intellectual property laws.
1242
01:34:45,554 --> 01:34:49,350
We only had a set of outdated
IP laws drawn up in 1911,
1243
01:34:49,433 --> 01:34:51,685
from the colonial days.
1244
01:34:51,769 --> 01:34:54,772
When I went to the office,
it was an empty shell.
1245
01:34:54,855 --> 01:34:58,943
There were no composers in the society.
1246
01:34:59,026 --> 01:35:02,196
How on earth do we even get started?
1247
01:35:03,114 --> 01:35:07,118
And then I told myself we would
have to start from scratch,
1248
01:35:07,201 --> 01:35:09,787
and the first thing to do was to round up
all the composers and songwriters.
1249
01:35:09,870 --> 01:35:16,836
She asked us to join her society,
as there were only five members.
1250
01:35:16,961 --> 01:35:19,338
She explained to us about music rights.
1251
01:35:19,422 --> 01:35:23,759
I was wondering,
what kind of society was this?
1252
01:35:23,843 --> 01:35:26,220
We did not have to pay any fees,
yet we could get paid?
1253
01:35:26,303 --> 01:35:27,930
Are you a con artist?
1254
01:35:28,013 --> 01:35:29,265
{\an8}LOCAL SONGWRITING SYMPOSIUM
1255
01:35:29,348 --> 01:35:32,476
{\an8}There was a music fund in the society.
1256
01:35:32,560 --> 01:35:38,441
Two percent of the fees
could be used as sponsorship.
1257
01:35:38,524 --> 01:35:41,360
I had to use the money wisely of course.
1258
01:35:41,902 --> 01:35:43,487
On the one hand,
I was playing the nice guy,
1259
01:35:43,571 --> 01:35:47,074
helping the local songwriters,
1260
01:35:47,158 --> 01:35:48,742
encouraging them to write,
1261
01:35:48,826 --> 01:35:53,789
but on the other hand, I had to be
aggressive about collecting the dues.
1262
01:35:53,873 --> 01:35:57,042
If you don't pay up,
expect my lawyer's letter.
1263
01:35:59,545 --> 01:36:04,133
We were fortunate we were aware of the
copyrights for our music from the start.
1264
01:36:04,675 --> 01:36:09,221
All the people involved in xinyao were
members of the society.
1265
01:36:09,680 --> 01:36:10,764
In 1985,
1266
01:36:10,848 --> 01:36:14,643
we released an album called Eric Moo and
The Underground - The Starry Sky.
1267
01:36:15,144 --> 01:36:20,107
{\an8}Starry Sky...
1268
01:36:20,191 --> 01:36:25,321
{\an8}Under the starry sky, a half-lit fire
1269
01:36:25,404 --> 01:36:28,824
{\an8}The album was in preparation
for Eric Moo's solo career.
1270
01:36:28,908 --> 01:36:32,620
{\an8}In the same year,
a Taiwanese singer-songwriter, Lo Ta-yu,
1271
01:36:32,703 --> 01:36:34,246
wrote a song called
"Tomorrow Will Be Better."
1272
01:36:34,788 --> 01:36:36,165
It was similar to the song
"We Are The World,"
1273
01:36:36,248 --> 01:36:39,043
written by Michael Jackson
and Lionel Richie.
1274
01:36:39,251 --> 01:36:41,670
Overseas Chinese communities were invited
1275
01:36:41,754 --> 01:36:43,255
to send representatives to Taiwan
for the recording of the song.
1276
01:36:43,339 --> 01:36:46,675
{\an8}Rousing gently the soul that is asleep
1277
01:36:46,759 --> 01:36:50,054
{\an8}Slowly opening your eyes
1278
01:36:50,137 --> 01:36:53,849
{\an8}Take a look at the bustling world
1279
01:36:53,933 --> 01:36:57,144
{\an8}Is it spinning as lonesome as before
1280
01:36:57,228 --> 01:37:00,481
{\an8}The winds of spring
1281
01:37:00,564 --> 01:37:03,692
{\an8}Have moved the hearts of the young
1282
01:37:03,776 --> 01:37:07,029
{\an8}Let yesterday's tears be dried
1283
01:37:07,112 --> 01:37:12,785
{\an8}By gusts of memory
1284
01:37:12,868 --> 01:37:17,331
Mr. Loke Tai Tay at Shin Min
Daily News coordinated the trip.
1285
01:37:17,414 --> 01:37:20,251
The five representatives
from Singapore were
1286
01:37:20,334 --> 01:37:22,878
Yueh Lei,
1287
01:37:23,087 --> 01:37:24,672
Eric Moo,
1288
01:37:24,755 --> 01:37:27,341
and The Straws.
1289
01:37:27,424 --> 01:37:28,926
It was my first time in Taiwan.
1290
01:37:29,009 --> 01:37:34,640
We didn't have solo parts.
We were just a part of the chorus.
1291
01:37:34,723 --> 01:37:36,392
Some of the singers with solo parts were
1292
01:37:36,475 --> 01:37:41,855
{\an8}Su Rui, Yvonne Jeng, Chyi Chin,
Chyi Yu and Tracy Huang.
1293
01:37:44,316 --> 01:37:47,403
{\an8}Let me embrace your dreams
1294
01:37:47,486 --> 01:37:52,491
{\an8}Let me hold your true countenance
1295
01:37:54,076 --> 01:37:56,579
It was an important trip.
1296
01:37:56,662 --> 01:38:01,333
We met the famous
music producer Tan Chien-Chang
1297
01:38:01,417 --> 01:38:05,713
and a veteran of Taiwanese
folk songs, Yao Housheng.
1298
01:38:05,796 --> 01:38:09,425
We also met the boss
of Rock Records Duan Chung-Tan
1299
01:38:09,508 --> 01:38:15,222
and the general manager
of Forward Music Barry Lee.
1300
01:38:15,306 --> 01:38:18,475
We listened to all their stories
1301
01:38:18,559 --> 01:38:20,811
and were very much in awe.
1302
01:38:20,894 --> 01:38:23,689
We were overwhelmed.
1303
01:38:24,189 --> 01:38:27,192
Back at the hotel, Mr. Loke said to us,
1304
01:38:27,276 --> 01:38:29,320
"This is nothing...
1305
01:38:29,403 --> 01:38:32,448
Twenty years on,
it'll be your turn to tell the story."
1306
01:38:34,199 --> 01:38:37,411
{\an8}Sing with all your might
Hold out your hand
1307
01:38:37,494 --> 01:38:40,831
{\an8}Let me embrace your dreams
1308
01:38:40,914 --> 01:38:47,463
{\an8}Let me hold your true countenance
1309
01:38:47,546 --> 01:38:53,802
{\an8}Let our smiles be radiant
with the pride of youth
1310
01:38:53,886 --> 01:38:58,432
{\an8}Let us hope for a better tomorrow
1311
01:39:00,726 --> 01:39:04,355
When we returned to Singapore,
1312
01:39:04,438 --> 01:39:07,191
we were thinking about
1313
01:39:07,274 --> 01:39:09,318
how much we wished for xinyao to be run
1314
01:39:09,401 --> 01:39:12,613
professionally
so that it would have a future.
1315
01:39:12,696 --> 01:39:18,494
If we didn't do something,
it would mean the end of xinyao.
1316
01:39:18,577 --> 01:39:22,581
If we did something,
xinyao would have a chance.
1317
01:39:23,123 --> 01:39:27,294
Besides the three of us,
we roped in Teo Kay Kiong as well.
1318
01:39:27,378 --> 01:39:31,590
But we needed someone
to manage the finances.
1319
01:39:31,674 --> 01:39:36,220
So we got an old secondary school
classmate, Colin Goh, to join us as well.
1320
01:39:38,138 --> 01:39:40,766
In 1986, after we
completed National Service,
1321
01:39:40,849 --> 01:39:43,727
we decided to set up our own company
1322
01:39:43,811 --> 01:39:46,730
called Ocean Butterflies.
1323
01:39:49,525 --> 01:39:53,195
Five shareholders, one employee,
we had more bosses than staff.
1324
01:39:54,488 --> 01:39:57,282
We were all relying
on our other part-time jobs
1325
01:39:57,366 --> 01:39:59,535
to support this full-time business.
1326
01:39:59,618 --> 01:40:02,496
Billy Koh was a guitar
instructor at Yamaha.
1327
01:40:02,579 --> 01:40:05,916
I did voice acting for advertisements.
1328
01:40:05,999 --> 01:40:07,584
What did Sunkist Ng do?
1329
01:40:07,668 --> 01:40:09,962
He was selling insurance.
1330
01:40:10,045 --> 01:40:13,382
Back then, Sunkist Ng
would carry a case packed with cassettes.
1331
01:40:13,465 --> 01:40:15,801
They were demo recordings.
1332
01:40:15,884 --> 01:40:19,054
We went round knocking on doors of
record companies trying to sell our songs.
1333
01:40:28,063 --> 01:40:32,192
Singapore's market
was too small for us to sustain.
1334
01:40:32,276 --> 01:40:34,778
The only other option was to head overseas
1335
01:40:34,862 --> 01:40:36,280
to "sell our songs."
1336
01:40:37,030 --> 01:40:39,825
Tomorrow will see results
1337
01:40:41,952 --> 01:40:45,456
Wonderful life, happy times
1338
01:40:45,539 --> 01:40:48,959
We are filled with joy
1339
01:40:49,042 --> 01:40:52,504
Beautiful scenery, blissful place
1340
01:40:52,588 --> 01:40:56,258
For you to enjoy
1341
01:40:56,341 --> 01:41:02,389
I felt that Ocean Butterflies
needed to have idols.
1342
01:41:02,473 --> 01:41:05,476
Only idols could break sales records.
1343
01:41:05,559 --> 01:41:08,437
Only idols could give us the breakthrough.
1344
01:41:08,520 --> 01:41:12,399
I suggested that we launch my solo album
as soon as possible.
1345
01:41:12,483 --> 01:41:16,236
The others didn't agree with me.
1346
01:41:16,320 --> 01:41:19,323
Eric was a little disgruntled,
1347
01:41:19,406 --> 01:41:21,200
so he came to me.
1348
01:41:21,283 --> 01:41:25,496
I approached the TV station on his behalf.
1349
01:41:25,579 --> 01:41:27,831
At that time, they were filming a series
called The Coffee Shop.
1350
01:41:27,915 --> 01:41:30,667
Eric said,
"The song should just be called 'Kopi-O'."
1351
01:41:30,751 --> 01:41:33,003
Chua Swan said, "Dialect was not allowed."
1352
01:41:33,086 --> 01:41:35,923
I was worried Eric would offend
the TV producers.
1353
01:41:36,006 --> 01:41:37,341
He should be grateful for the opportunity
1354
01:41:37,424 --> 01:41:41,595
instead of quibbling about the song title.
1355
01:41:41,678 --> 01:41:45,057
Later, Chua Swan rang me and said,
"Okay, we'll go with 'Kopi-O'."
1356
01:41:46,391 --> 01:41:48,727
{\an8}Kopi-O, Kopi-O
1357
01:41:49,102 --> 01:41:52,773
{\an8}Drink a cup of strong Kopi-O
1358
01:41:52,856 --> 01:41:55,400
{\an8}Kopi-O, Kopi-O
1359
01:41:55,484 --> 01:41:58,695
{\an8}Forget all your unhappiness
1360
01:41:58,779 --> 01:42:01,907
{\an8}In this place where you and I live
1361
01:42:01,990 --> 01:42:05,118
{\an8}We have our dreams
1362
01:42:05,202 --> 01:42:07,329
{\an8}Let's carry on each day
1363
01:42:07,412 --> 01:42:11,959
{\an8}To make tomorrow a better day
1364
01:42:13,085 --> 01:42:16,296
{\an8}We didn't expect the song to catch on.
1365
01:42:16,380 --> 01:42:20,175
We released an album,
and it sold very well.
1366
01:42:20,259 --> 01:42:24,763
The second album, Youthful Hearts,
also flew off the shelves.
1367
01:42:24,972 --> 01:42:28,892
I was one of the biggest culprits
for getting xinyao commercialized.
1368
01:42:29,268 --> 01:42:30,352
{\an8}Young girl, oh, young girl
1369
01:42:30,435 --> 01:42:31,728
{\an8}You know the floating clouds
1370
01:42:31,812 --> 01:42:35,399
{\an8}Deserve not your care
1371
01:42:35,482 --> 01:42:37,609
{\an8}They carry raindrops
1372
01:42:37,693 --> 01:42:39,611
{\an8}Which are stained with dust
1373
01:42:39,695 --> 01:42:43,740
{\an8}Xinyao didn't have to be
restricted to the campus.
1374
01:42:43,824 --> 01:42:46,702
Becoming commercialized
wasn't a bad thing.
1375
01:42:49,079 --> 01:42:53,041
The first generation of xinyao was made up
of The Straws and Wern Fook,
1376
01:42:53,125 --> 01:42:55,335
who were academics.
1377
01:42:55,419 --> 01:42:59,006
Their lyrics were profound.
1378
01:42:59,673 --> 01:43:00,716
I'm from the English stream,
1379
01:43:00,799 --> 01:43:04,011
sometimes I had no idea
what they were talking about.
1380
01:43:04,303 --> 01:43:10,100
{\an8}As if a shadow like this
1381
01:43:10,183 --> 01:43:15,314
{\an8}Drifted past in the hazy memories
1382
01:43:17,774 --> 01:43:21,069
Then you had singers
like Eric, who was more commercialized.
1383
01:43:21,153 --> 01:43:24,114
His music resembled Hong Kong pop music.
1384
01:43:24,197 --> 01:43:28,785
It was fantastic,
so many different styles of xinyao.
1385
01:43:28,869 --> 01:43:30,412
It meant we had choices.
1386
01:43:30,495 --> 01:43:35,042
{\an8}Destiny's warrior on the back of dawn
1387
01:43:35,709 --> 01:43:40,255
{\an8}Grasping tightly his own ruthless hands
1388
01:43:41,006 --> 01:43:45,385
We wrote our songs in Mandarin
1389
01:43:45,469 --> 01:43:46,637
because if we had used English,
1390
01:43:46,720 --> 01:43:49,389
we would be up against competition
from Europe and America.
1391
01:43:49,473 --> 01:43:51,141
That would be too ambitious.
1392
01:43:51,224 --> 01:43:52,517
Whereas with Mandarin,
1393
01:43:52,601 --> 01:43:55,228
we were only competing against Taiwan.
1394
01:43:55,312 --> 01:43:57,230
So it made more sense.
1395
01:44:01,526 --> 01:44:08,492
{\an8}A moment's carelessness
And my heart was stranded
1396
01:44:09,493 --> 01:44:16,458
{\an8}In your eyes a limpid watery realm
1397
01:44:17,417 --> 01:44:21,630
Taiwanese campus folksongs
had simple yet profound lyrics.
1398
01:44:21,713 --> 01:44:24,883
Xinyao lyrics were either
too simple or too profound.
1399
01:44:24,967 --> 01:44:27,135
But its music had a special quality.
1400
01:44:27,219 --> 01:44:30,597
It was accommodating of the differences
between eastern and western cultures.
1401
01:44:30,681 --> 01:44:33,350
The quality of xinyao compositions
1402
01:44:33,433 --> 01:44:35,227
was already at a very high standard
from the start.
1403
01:44:35,769 --> 01:44:40,065
What does the title of this song mean?
1404
01:44:40,148 --> 01:44:45,112
It has a double meaning,
wading through water,
1405
01:44:45,195 --> 01:44:48,740
and the lyrics describe
the feelings of a young man
1406
01:44:48,824 --> 01:44:53,370
who meets a girl as gentle as calm waters.
1407
01:44:54,413 --> 01:44:57,708
The first album released by Ocean
Butterflies was The Initial Dream.
1408
01:44:57,791 --> 01:45:00,168
There was a songwriter whose
work was gaining maturity.
1409
01:45:00,252 --> 01:45:04,172
So we released the very first
singer-songwriter xinyao album.
1410
01:45:04,256 --> 01:45:06,341
And that was Liang Wern Fook's Door.
1411
01:45:07,759 --> 01:45:13,849
New cotton, New clothes
1412
01:45:13,932 --> 01:45:19,521
Sewn by Mum
1413
01:45:19,604 --> 01:45:25,068
New clothes on me
1414
01:45:25,152 --> 01:45:30,073
Mum is smiling
1415
01:45:30,157 --> 01:45:36,496
Many new clothes have I worn with pride
1416
01:45:36,872 --> 01:45:40,083
Year after year, one piece after the next
1417
01:45:40,167 --> 01:45:43,378
Worn with happiness, worn with time
1418
01:45:43,462 --> 01:45:49,801
I used to think new clothes were the best
Sewn with pride by Mum
1419
01:45:50,135 --> 01:45:53,472
Time and again, without meaning to
1420
01:45:53,555 --> 01:45:56,516
Tearing apart Mum's hard toil
1421
01:45:58,894 --> 01:46:02,731
My life is made up of two key things,
1422
01:46:02,814 --> 01:46:05,067
literature and music.
1423
01:46:05,150 --> 01:46:08,987
In my songs, literature and music
come to me at the same time.
1424
01:46:09,321 --> 01:46:12,365
It's hard to separate them.
1425
01:46:13,617 --> 01:46:14,951
Back then,
1426
01:46:15,035 --> 01:46:16,203
most people felt that
1427
01:46:16,286 --> 01:46:17,329
if your results were good,
1428
01:46:17,412 --> 01:46:18,997
you would opt for the Science stream
at junior college.
1429
01:46:19,081 --> 01:46:20,957
When I entered junior college,
1430
01:46:21,041 --> 01:46:25,045
I told myself that this was
an opportunity to make a change,
1431
01:46:25,128 --> 01:46:28,548
since I was more suited
for the humanities.
1432
01:46:29,424 --> 01:46:33,887
In the old days, we sat side by side
1433
01:46:33,970 --> 01:46:38,600
We fought over sweets
1434
01:46:38,809 --> 01:46:43,355
We climbed trees
1435
01:46:43,897 --> 01:46:47,943
Whoever climbed higher, whoever got more
1436
01:46:48,026 --> 01:46:52,489
{\an8}We don't eat sweets anymore
1437
01:46:52,572 --> 01:46:57,119
{\an8}There are too many honeyed words
1438
01:46:57,327 --> 01:47:01,873
{\an8}We are running the rat race
1439
01:47:01,998 --> 01:47:06,545
{\an8}Whoever climbs higher, whoever gets more
1440
01:47:07,170 --> 01:47:10,298
In Singapore,
1441
01:47:10,382 --> 01:47:14,803
there are much fewer opportunities
to connect with Mandarin
1442
01:47:14,886 --> 01:47:19,307
through reading or expressing oneself.
1443
01:47:20,767 --> 01:47:21,768
That's how it is.
1444
01:47:21,852 --> 01:47:25,063
My friends from English schools tell me
1445
01:47:25,147 --> 01:47:29,442
that listening to xinyao helped them
increase their exposure to Mandarin.
1446
01:47:29,651 --> 01:47:34,072
{\an8}Whose pockets have the most name cards
We wonder
1447
01:47:34,156 --> 01:47:38,743
{\an8}You and I have hidden our tears
1448
01:47:38,827 --> 01:47:41,746
The interest in xinyao,
1449
01:47:41,830 --> 01:47:44,082
the popularity of xinyao,
1450
01:47:44,166 --> 01:47:48,295
has given new life
to the language in society.
1451
01:47:48,378 --> 01:47:55,260
The stars in the skies are weary
1452
01:47:58,096 --> 01:48:05,061
In the old days, we sat side by side...
1453
01:48:09,441 --> 01:48:13,987
In the '90s, I realized that
our Chinese language education
1454
01:48:14,070 --> 01:48:18,033
had deteriorated to a deplorable degree,
1455
01:48:18,116 --> 01:48:20,952
and so I wrote
"The Soliloquy of A Stupid Bird"
1456
01:48:31,379 --> 01:48:36,384
Is my flight going crazy?
1457
01:48:37,010 --> 01:48:41,556
Does it conceal my confusion?
1458
01:48:42,390 --> 01:48:47,520
In the shreds of tradition
1459
01:48:48,313 --> 01:48:52,859
I can only fly like this
1460
01:48:53,818 --> 01:48:59,032
It was a helpless situation.
1461
01:48:59,115 --> 01:49:02,702
We could only write about how we felt.
1462
01:49:03,286 --> 01:49:08,250
As to what responses it would generate,
I had no control.
1463
01:49:08,333 --> 01:49:15,298
I only wanted to put down
my thoughts into a song.
1464
01:49:16,424 --> 01:49:20,971
When all the tired birds have returned
1465
01:49:22,180 --> 01:49:26,726
{\an8}I am still in a foolish stupor
1466
01:49:26,851 --> 01:49:32,399
{\an8}How xinyao came about
was a blessed coincidence.
1467
01:49:32,482 --> 01:49:35,026
{\an8}Many talented people just came together
at the same time,
1468
01:49:35,110 --> 01:49:37,279
{\an8}and xinyao was born.
1469
01:49:42,200 --> 01:49:46,413
Do you think there are young people
writing songs today?
1470
01:49:46,496 --> 01:49:51,835
Perhaps, but not in the numbers we had in
those days that formed a collective force.
1471
01:49:53,712 --> 01:49:55,755
Initially, xinyao was spontaneous.
1472
01:49:55,839 --> 01:49:58,925
Then it became more organized
with the Xinyao Festival.
1473
01:50:04,931 --> 01:50:07,642
Every year,
we received 800 to 1,000 songs.
1474
01:50:07,726 --> 01:50:10,895
We would select 20 to 30 songs
for the concert.
1475
01:50:14,107 --> 01:50:15,567
NEW CONTACT CENTER
A XINYAO CONCERT WILL BE HELD ON 21ST
1476
01:50:15,650 --> 01:50:17,569
Almost every community center
had a xinyao group.
1477
01:50:17,652 --> 01:50:20,280
It really caught on.
Everyone was writing songs.
1478
01:50:21,239 --> 01:50:24,659
Xinyao Festival was open
to all Singaporeans.
1479
01:50:24,743 --> 01:50:27,120
We even accepted English songs,
1480
01:50:27,203 --> 01:50:32,459
and we had a Malay participant
at the concert.
1481
01:50:32,542 --> 01:50:37,088
Let's welcome Nuradee,
who will be singing "Ah Ben Ah Ben"!
1482
01:50:50,143 --> 01:50:53,897
The Xinyao Festival saw many non-Chinese
participants such as Muslims and Indians
1483
01:50:53,980 --> 01:50:58,443
who joined in our performances
with their musical instruments.
1484
01:50:58,526 --> 01:51:02,697
It was a reflection of our multi-lingual
and multi-cultural society
1485
01:51:02,781 --> 01:51:05,408
that is uniquely Singapore.
1486
01:51:05,492 --> 01:51:11,915
The boy with a Walkman on Orchard Road
1487
01:51:11,998 --> 01:51:15,627
Where is he going?
1488
01:51:15,710 --> 01:51:21,424
To the disco, he says
1489
01:51:21,508 --> 01:51:28,473
"Oh, Ah Ben, Ah Ben
You're still young, don't waste your time
1490
01:51:28,556 --> 01:51:35,522
Oh, Ah Ben, Ah Ben, you have to remember
In life, always look ahead"
1491
01:51:43,238 --> 01:51:47,700
The festival pulled us closer together.
1492
01:51:47,784 --> 01:51:50,495
We spent time together
organizing concerts,
1493
01:51:50,578 --> 01:51:52,831
supporting each other through
the highs and lows.
1494
01:51:52,914 --> 01:51:55,083
From 1985 through to the '90s,
1495
01:51:55,166 --> 01:51:59,712
our ties grew from strength to strength.
1496
01:52:03,049 --> 01:52:05,802
The Sing Music Awards
would not have come through
1497
01:52:05,885 --> 01:52:07,846
without the support of former
President Mr. Ong Teng Cheong.
1498
01:52:09,764 --> 01:52:13,351
Tina Chng, who was the manager
at the Performing Right Society,
1499
01:52:13,435 --> 01:52:17,939
helped us contact the relevant ministry
and spoke to Mrs. Yu-Foo Yee Shun,
1500
01:52:18,022 --> 01:52:22,068
who relayed our message
to former President Mr. Ong.
1501
01:52:23,194 --> 01:52:25,738
The Prime Minister's
Secretary Mr. Ng Pock Too
1502
01:52:25,822 --> 01:52:28,450
helped former President Mr. Ong
to organize a luncheon
1503
01:52:28,533 --> 01:52:33,496
and invited the CEOs of McDonald's
and Metro.
1504
01:52:33,580 --> 01:52:36,040
Mr. Ng turned to us and said,
1505
01:52:36,124 --> 01:52:39,961
"Tell the two bosses here
what you need?"
1506
01:52:40,044 --> 01:52:43,798
So we explained what xinyao was about
and what we wanted to do.
1507
01:52:43,882 --> 01:52:46,885
Mr. Ng asked, "How much do you guys need?"
1508
01:52:46,968 --> 01:52:48,136
And we said, "$300,000."
1509
01:52:48,219 --> 01:52:51,431
He then turned to the CEOs and said,
1510
01:52:51,514 --> 01:52:54,142
"How about $150,000 from McDonald's
and $150,000 from Metro?
1511
01:52:54,225 --> 01:52:56,144
Case closed! Let's have lunch!"
1512
01:52:56,227 --> 01:52:57,562
We were like, "That's it?"
1513
01:52:57,645 --> 01:52:59,689
In less than five minutes,
we had $300,000.
1514
01:53:01,524 --> 01:53:05,904
That was how xinyao began to blossom
1515
01:53:05,987 --> 01:53:10,033
and was introduced to the masses.
1516
01:53:12,327 --> 01:53:14,329
...from the heart.
1517
01:53:14,412 --> 01:53:18,208
Sing-alongs have become a popular
part of big celebrations.
1518
01:53:18,291 --> 01:53:19,584
Come on, sing it with me.
1519
01:53:19,667 --> 01:53:20,877
Come on, join me!
1520
01:53:21,127 --> 01:53:23,796
{\an8}We are voices from the heart
1521
01:53:23,880 --> 01:53:27,217
{\an8}Singing loud, we'll do out part
1522
01:53:27,300 --> 01:53:31,846
{\an8}Working for ourselves and for our family
1523
01:53:32,931 --> 01:53:35,808
{\an8}Do our best whenever we can
1524
01:53:35,892 --> 01:53:39,145
{\an8}We will help our fellow men
1525
01:53:39,229 --> 01:53:44,359
We are happy people living hand in hand
1526
01:53:44,442 --> 01:53:48,112
Life is simple, life is free
1527
01:53:48,196 --> 01:53:51,866
Life is joy and harmony
1528
01:53:51,950 --> 01:53:56,704
We will strive each day
Be the best that we can be
1529
01:53:58,081 --> 01:54:02,544
Growing stronger every day
We'll make it you and me
1530
01:54:02,627 --> 01:54:05,922
We'll work together
1531
01:54:06,005 --> 01:54:10,552
Hand in hand, in joy and harmony
1532
01:54:15,974 --> 01:54:17,809
What is most special about xinyao
1533
01:54:17,892 --> 01:54:21,521
is that it is songs written
by ordinary people for ordinary people.
1534
01:54:23,022 --> 01:54:28,111
When you compare xinyao songs
1535
01:54:28,194 --> 01:54:33,491
with sing-along songs officially
commissioned for National Day,
1536
01:54:33,575 --> 01:54:35,368
the biggest difference is that
1537
01:54:35,451 --> 01:54:40,915
xinyao songs are not a top-down directive,
1538
01:54:40,999 --> 01:54:45,295
but rather, they originate
from the inspiration of daily life.
1539
01:54:47,422 --> 01:54:51,050
For instance, the formerly banned song
"Sparrow With A Bamboo Twig".
1540
01:54:51,134 --> 01:54:53,970
It is a patriotic song.
1541
01:54:54,053 --> 01:54:57,181
It didn't conform to
the bureaucrats' idea of patriotism,
1542
01:54:57,265 --> 01:54:59,851
yet it was down-to-earth.
1543
01:55:00,727 --> 01:55:04,647
The emotions that are tied to our memories
of country and childhood
1544
01:55:04,731 --> 01:55:08,067
are deeply rooted and unchanging.
1545
01:55:08,610 --> 01:55:12,655
I insisted on preserving
the Cantonese lines
1546
01:55:12,739 --> 01:55:17,285
because the song was about kinship
and treasured memories of home.
1547
01:55:17,368 --> 01:55:22,749
I remember inviting my father
to the studio to sing the song.
1548
01:55:24,334 --> 01:55:26,210
Can we go a little slower?
1549
01:55:26,294 --> 01:55:28,296
Sure, no problem.
1550
01:55:29,005 --> 01:55:32,550
Baby sparrow picks up a bamboo twig
1551
01:55:32,634 --> 01:55:36,596
Visits auntie on the street
1552
01:55:36,679 --> 01:55:40,141
Auntie has a red flower
1553
01:55:40,224 --> 01:55:43,603
Tucked in her intricate hair bun
1554
01:55:44,270 --> 01:55:47,565
Which dragon boat is it amongst the three?
1555
01:55:47,899 --> 01:55:50,777
The one in the middle
1556
01:55:50,860 --> 01:55:56,324
Strike the cymbal
Strike the drum, let's send auntie home
1557
01:56:12,632 --> 01:56:16,052
This is Singapore
1558
01:56:16,135 --> 01:56:20,598
"Sparrow With A Bamboo Twig" is about
a baby sparrow who made a roundabout
1559
01:56:20,682 --> 01:56:22,725
and finally finds her way back home,
1560
01:56:22,809 --> 01:56:24,686
which is our home, Singapore.
1561
01:56:25,561 --> 01:56:29,232
Baby sparrow picks up a bamboo twig
1562
01:56:29,315 --> 01:56:33,027
Visits auntie on the street
1563
01:56:33,111 --> 01:56:40,034
Auntie has a red flower tucked
In her intricate hair bun
1564
01:56:40,118 --> 01:56:43,997
This is Singapore
1565
01:56:44,080 --> 01:56:47,542
My elder cousin returns from overseas
1566
01:56:47,625 --> 01:56:51,254
Baby sparrow picks up a bamboo twig
1567
01:56:51,337 --> 01:56:55,508
'Tis better to take it back to your home
1568
01:56:55,591 --> 01:56:58,845
Baby sparrow with a bamboo twig
1569
01:56:58,928 --> 01:57:03,474
'Tis better to take it back to your home
1570
01:57:05,852 --> 01:57:07,186
Thank you!
1571
01:57:12,692 --> 01:57:17,155
Bras Basah Complex is known
to many as the City of Books.
1572
01:57:17,238 --> 01:57:18,740
Filled with bookshops,
1573
01:57:18,823 --> 01:57:21,993
Bras Basah Complex used to be
the mecca for young book lovers.
1574
01:57:22,076 --> 01:57:29,042
In the '80s, it was the launchpad of many
xinyao albums and performances.
1575
01:57:29,250 --> 01:57:32,837
On 6th July, 2014,
1576
01:57:32,920 --> 01:57:36,215
the making of The Songs We Sang
1577
01:57:36,299 --> 01:57:40,094
brought xinyao singers and fans
back to the City of Books.
1578
01:57:40,178 --> 01:57:44,015
The first reunion in 30 years,
rain or shine.
1579
01:57:44,098 --> 01:57:50,354
Solitary and hesitant
On the trail at dusk
1580
01:57:50,438 --> 01:57:57,070
The sunset is ever so desolate
1581
01:57:57,153 --> 01:58:04,118
Humming that haunting sad song
1582
01:58:04,368 --> 01:58:10,541
Trembling, my voice so cold and bleak
1583
01:59:07,098 --> 01:59:09,392
Thank you, everyone.
1584
01:59:13,855 --> 01:59:15,565
This song,
1585
01:59:15,648 --> 01:59:21,654
had it not been for the efforts of
1586
01:59:21,737 --> 01:59:26,826
a special mentor
who put this song on radio,
1587
01:59:26,909 --> 01:59:29,537
you would not have come to know this song.
1588
01:59:29,620 --> 01:59:34,000
Today, I would like to
give special thanks to her.
1589
01:59:34,083 --> 01:59:37,086
She is none other than
the DJ of Top of the Pops
1590
01:59:37,170 --> 01:59:39,630
and the DJ of
Our Singers and Songwriters,
1591
01:59:39,714 --> 01:59:41,340
Lim Cher Hui!
1592
01:59:42,133 --> 01:59:43,467
Let's invite her to join us on the stage.
1593
01:59:43,551 --> 01:59:48,097
Let us now invite all our singers
1594
01:59:48,264 --> 01:59:52,810
to sing your favorite
xinyao songs onstage.
1595
01:59:53,102 --> 01:59:54,061
Come on!
1596
01:59:54,145 --> 01:59:55,354
Swee Chen!
1597
01:59:55,438 --> 01:59:58,649
Brenda Tang is here too!
1598
01:59:58,733 --> 02:00:00,693
Peter Ang!
1599
02:00:00,776 --> 02:00:04,655
Ken Tay!
1600
02:00:06,240 --> 02:00:09,076
Eric, you won't be lonely now.
1601
02:00:09,493 --> 02:00:12,371
Everyone is here!
1602
02:00:12,455 --> 02:00:15,541
Pan Ying, Siew Leng,
1603
02:00:15,625 --> 02:00:17,001
Kay Kiong.
1604
02:00:17,084 --> 02:00:19,170
Anyone else?
1605
02:00:19,253 --> 02:00:20,880
Anyone else?
1606
02:00:20,963 --> 02:00:25,509
Everyone is up here.
1607
02:00:35,186 --> 02:00:41,734
Solitary and hesitant
On the trail at dusk
1608
02:00:41,817 --> 02:00:47,907
The sunset is ever so desolate
1609
02:00:48,324 --> 02:00:54,914
Humming that sad song
1610
02:00:55,289 --> 02:01:00,670
Trembling, my voice so cold and bleak
1611
02:01:01,462 --> 02:01:07,885
The melody drifts like a shadow
Into the waves of my heart
1612
02:01:08,094 --> 02:01:13,391
Calling to me from the hills
1613
02:01:13,516 --> 02:01:15,559
Cher Hui's singing voice
is also very nice.
1614
02:01:15,643 --> 02:01:21,065
Encountering your bright starry eyes
1615
02:01:21,482 --> 02:01:27,863
Dancing, quivering
I'm spirited away into a dream
1616
02:01:28,364 --> 02:01:34,203
Beautiful and everlasting legend
1617
02:01:34,537 --> 02:01:39,709
Was it your visitation in that moment
1618
02:01:40,668 --> 02:01:47,466
Silently I pray to the skies
1619
02:01:47,675 --> 02:01:51,262
May
1620
02:01:51,345 --> 02:01:56,892
That moment
1621
02:01:56,976 --> 02:02:03,941
Become a monument of grace
1622
02:02:09,488 --> 02:02:11,824
We were always looking for breakthroughs.
1623
02:02:11,907 --> 02:02:17,079
The key thing is,
did we find what touched us,
1624
02:02:17,163 --> 02:02:18,998
the sincerity at our core?
1625
02:02:19,081 --> 02:02:20,916
The sincerity in our hearts, what is it?
1626
02:02:21,000 --> 02:02:23,127
It's a question for everyone.