This article contains a list of Singaporean patriotic songs. The list has both traditional folk songs that have special meaning to Singaporeans, as well as modern songs composed specifically for national celebrations, particularly the National Day Parade held on 9 August each year since 1965 on Singapore's National Day.
Generally speaking, there may be said to be two types of Singaporean patriotic songs. The first type is traditional folk songs that have, over time, come to have special meaning to Singaporeans. Many of these are in mother tongue languages – Mandarin, Malay and Tamil, for instance. Examples of such songs include the Mandarin song "Xiao Ren Wu De Xin Sheng" "(小人物的心声)", Malay song "Di Tanjung Katong" and Tamil song "Munnaeru Vaalibaa".
The second type is the comparatively modern songs, mostly in English, that were composed specifically for national events – particularly the National Day Parade held annually on 9 August – and for use in schools. Each year since 1985, the National Day Parade Executive Committee has designated one such song as a National Day Parade theme song. The song is usually broadcast on radio and television starting from a month before National Day, and is given prominence during the Parade itself. Examples of such songs include "Stand Up for Singapore" (1985), "Count On Me Singapore" (1986) and "One People, One Nation, One Singapore" (1990). In 1998, there were two National Day Parade theme songs, "Home" and "City For The World". The former was reused for the 2004 ceremony. In 2007, they used two National Day Parade theme songs, "There's No Place I'd Rather Be" and "Will You?"..
As for the National Day Ceremony song, "My People My Home", it was conducted by Dr Lee Tzu Pheng, it came out in the late 1990s and was reused for National Day Parade 2012, together with "Love at First Light" which is sung by singer Olivia Ong. In 1984, the National Arts Council inaugurated the Sing Singapore Festival, with the aim of discovering and promoting home-grown music and artistes. According to the Council, it also hoped to nurture a love for music and singing and cultivate a greater sense of togetherness amongst Singaporeans. The programme led to the creation of a number of new songs by Singaporean composers, some of which were selected for National Day celebrations. These included "Home" (1998) by Dick Lee, "Where I Belong" (2001) by Tanya Chua, and "A Place in My Heart" (2003) by Kevin Quah. Local singers such as Taufik Batisah, Kit Chan and Stefanie Sun have performed songs in the Sing Singapore collection..
The National Anthem
TitleDateAuthor(s)Copyright owner(s)Majulah Singapura (Onward Singapore)1958Lyrics and music:Zubir SaidMinistry of Information, Communications and the Arts.
National Day theme songs
YearSongSingersComposerLyricistMusic directorMusic Video DirectorChinese VersionSingers1984"Stand Up for Singapore" Hugh Harrison 19851986"Count On Me, Singapore"Clement ChowHugh Harrison 1987"We Are Singapore"Jonathan Tan, Roslinda Baharudin, Anne Weerapass and Robert FernandoHugh Harrison 19881989"Five Stars Arising"Lim Su Chong" 1990"One People, One Nation, One Singapore"Faridah Ali, Jacintha Abisheganaden, Stephen Francis and Clement ChowJeremy MonteiroJim Aitchison 1991"It's the Little Things" Patrick SeetIvan Chua 1995"My People My Home"Dr Lee Tzu Pheng 1996"Count On Me Singapore"Clement Chow 1997"Singapore Town"The Sidaislers 1998"Home"Kit Chan Dick Lee 家Kit Chan陈洁仪"City for the World"1999"Together"Evelyn Tan & Dreamz FMKen Lim 心连心Evelyn Tan & Dreamz FM陈毓云、梦飞船2000"Shine on Me"Jai WahabJim Lim 星月Mavis Hee许美静2001"Where I Belong"Tanya ChuaTanya Chua 属于Tanya Chua蔡健雅2002"We Will Get There"Stefanie SunDick Lee 一起走到Stefanie Sun孙燕姿2003"One United People"Joshua Wan 全心全意2004"Home"Kit Chan and JJ Lin The MTV versions were choral renditions performed by Young Voices, which comprises the Choirs from the Tanjong Katong Girls' School and Tampines Primary School.Dick Lee 家Kit Chan and JJ Lin陈洁仪、林俊杰2005"Reach Out for the Skies"Taufik Batisah and Rui EnElaine ChanSelena Tan 勇敢向前飞Rui En瑞恩2006"My Island Home"Kaira GongJoshua Wan 幸福的图形Kaira Gong龚诗嘉2007"There's No Place I'd Rather Be"Kit ChanJimmy Ye "Will You"Janani Sridhar, Asha Edmund, Emma Yong, Lily Ann Rahmat, Jai Wahab, Shabir Mohammed, Sebastian Tan, Gani KarimJimmy Ye 2008"Shine for Singapore"Hady MirzaBenny Wong 晴空万里Joi Chua蔡淳佳2009"What Do You See?"ElectricoElectrico 就在这里Kelvin Tan陈伟联2010"Song for Singapore"Corrinne MayCorrine May 2011"In a Heartbeat"Sylvia RatonelGoh Keng LongHaresh Sharma Brian Gothong Tan 2012"Love At First Light"Olivia Ong and Natanya TanIskandar IsmailPaul Tan 2013"One Singapore"68-member choir "Sing A Nation"Elaine ChanSelena Tan 2014"We Will Get There"Farisha Ishak, Fauzi Laili, Tay Ke Wei and Rahimah Rahim 2015"Our Singapore"Dick Lee & JJ LinDick Lee 2016"Tomorrow's Here Today"53ADon Richmond 2017"Because it's Singapore"Jay LimLee Wei SongJay LimMiso Tan 2018"We Are Singapore" (Remake)Charlie Lim, Vanessa Fernandez, Aisyah Aziz, Shak'thiya Subramaniamm, Joanna Dong and THELIONCITYBOYCharlie Lim (Preface)Hugh Harrison (Original chorus)Dr Sydney Tan, Charlie Lim, Evan LowLi Lin Wee 2019"Our Singapore" (Remake)Rahimah Rahim, Jacintha Abisheganaden, Stefanie Sun, JJ Lin, Dick Lee, Kit ChanDick LeeDr Sydney TanRoyston Tan 2020"Everything I Am"Nathan HartonoJoshua WanDr Sydney Tan2021"The Road Ahead"Linying, Sezairi Sezali, Shabir, Shye-Anne BrownLinying, Evan LowDr Sydney TanHuang Junxiang, Jerrold Chong2022"Stronger Together"Taufik Batisah ft. The Island VoicesDon RichmondLindsay Jialin2023"Shine Your Light"53A, The Island Voices, lewloh, Olivia Ong, ShiGGa Shay, Iman Fandi, LineathDon RichmondDon Richmond, ShiGGa ShayJin Pek2024"Not Alone"Benjamin Kheng, Music & Drama CompanyBenjamin KhengBenjamin Kheng, Evan LowKoo Chia Meng, Brian Gothong Tan, Davier Yoon2025"Here We Are"Charlie Lim, Chok KerongCharlie LimDr Sydney TanHe Shuming2026"You'll Be Okay"Jasmine SokkoJasmine Sokko, Josh WeiJasmine SokkoBang WenfuJasmine Sokko, Josh Wei, JJ Lin"Giants"Iman Fandiweish"Sparkle"Gareth Fernandez, Dru ChenGareth Fernandez, Dru ChenGareth Fernandez, Dru Chen
Songs in English
TitleDateAuthor(s)Copyright owner(s)Notes"Count On Me, Singapore"1986Lyrics and music: Hugh HarrisonMinistry of Information, Communications and the Arts and the National Arts CouncilCommissioned by the Cultural Affairs Division, Ministry of Community Development"Five Stars Arising" 1969Lyrics and music: Lim Su ChongMinistry of Information, Communications and the Arts and the National Arts Council"It's the Little Things"1991Lyrics: Patrick Seet Music: Ivan ChuaMinistry of Information, Communications and the Arts and the National Arts Council"Moments of Magic"1999Lyrics and music: Ken LimMinistry of Information, Communications and the Arts and the National Arts Council"One People, One Nation, One Singapore"1990Lyrics: Jim Aitchison Music: Jeremy MonteiroMinistry of Information, Communications and the Arts and the National Arts CouncilCommissioned by the Ministry of Information and the ArtsShine for Singapore2008Lyrics and music:Benny Wong"First verse".. Who are you, my country? More than celebrations and tears. More than memories put together or the summing up of years. I see you endearing all weathers. Sunshines and storms at your heart. In your face, the lines ever changing. Tell the story where I have a part.. "Chorus".. You, my people, my home. Our lives defend and uphold. May the good we achieve as one nation. Be shared with the world. Chorus 1:. Shine for Singapore This is your song Deep inside your heart where it belongs It'll always stay, strive for your goals. You will achieve with visions so bold."Singapore Town"1967Lyrics and music: The Sidaislers"Singapura, Sunny Island"1962MediaCorp Pte. Ltd.Translated from Indonesian version"Song for Singapore"2010Lyrics and music: Corrinne May."Stand Up for Singapore"1984Lyrics and music: Hugh HarrisonMinistry of Information, Communications and the Arts and the National Arts CouncilCommissioned by the Ministry of CultureThere's No Place I'd Rather Be2007Lyrics and music: Jimmy YeThese Are The Days2015Lyrics and music: Lee Chin Sin"We Are Singapore"1987Lyrics and music: Hugh HarrisonOrchestration: Jeremy MonteiroMinistry of Information, Communications and the Arts and the National Arts CouncilCommissioned by the Cultural Affairs Division, Ministry of Community Development"What Do You See?"2009Lyrics and music: Electrico"Will You"2007Lyrics and music: Jimmy Ye"Not Alone"2024Lyrics and music: Benjamin Kheng"Here We Are"2025
Notes The song highlighted in blue was designated as the "millennium song" by the National Arts Council. The four songs highlighted in pink were designated as "national songs" by the National Arts Council. Songs highlighted in red are National Day Parade theme songs. Songs highlighted in yellow were designated as "community songs" by the National Arts Council. The song highlighted in green is the winner of SG50: The Gift of Song.
Songs in Malay
TitleDateAuthor(s)Copyright owner(s)Chan Mali Chan2010 - from Nusa Tenggara -Traditional, not copyrightedDi Tanjung KatongComposer Osman Ahmad, musician in 1930s. Reference found in MUSIKA: Arena Muzik Silam di Malaya. NLB.Copyright controlled.Semoga BahagiaLyrics and music:Zubir Said
Notes Songs highlighted in yellow were designated as "community songs" by the National Arts Council. Semoga Bahagia was designated as the official Children's Day song.
Songs in Mandarin
TitleDateAuthor(s)Copyright owner(s) (Xiao Ren Wu De Xin Sheng) (Voices from the Heart)1986Lyrics: Bok Sek Yieng Music: Tan Kian Chin, Wen XueyingTouch Music Publishing Pte. Ltd. (Xiāngxìn wǒ ba, Xīnjiāpō!) (Believe in me, Singapore!)1980sLyrics and music: Raymond Liam, Koh Joo AnnNot copyrighted
Songs in Tamil
TitleDateAuthor(s)Copyright owner(s)Munnaeru Vaalibaa1966S. JesudassanNot copyrightedEngkal Singapore1966Lyrics: Peri Nela Palanivelan Music: L Krishna SamyNot copyrightedSingai Naadu2012Composed & Performed by: Shabir Tabare Alam Lyrics: Shabir Tabare AlamCopyright: Shabir Tabare Alam
Notes Songs highlighted in yellow were designated as "community songs" by the National Arts Council.
Songs in Kristang TitleDateAuthor(s)Copyright owner(s)Jinkli NonaUnknownUnknownNot copyrighted
Reception A minor controversy also erupted over "There's No Place I'd Rather Be" (2007). Some people queried why the song does not mention Singapore by name,. while others commented that the song was "touching" and that they related to it immediately, and that "[t]he spirit of patriotism is woven so well in the song".. One correspondent to the Straits Times asked: "How did such a dreadful song become the National Day song?", lambasting the melody as "uninspiring" and the lyrics as "insipid" – "it is quite obvious what the brief to [the composer] was: Write a song to persuade Singaporeans who have sought greener pastures to come home." The song's composer Jimmy Ye defended it, saying, "There's no need for it to be so in-your-face just because it's a National Day song". He noted that he had submitted the first draft of the song to the National Day Parade song committee, which had returned it with several changes. There was no mention of why "Singapore" got left out: "I guess the committee wanted to have a soft-sell approach too"..
See also Music of Singapore – National Day songs National Day Parade – Theme songs
Notes
Further reading
. , 3 vols. . . .
External links www.sg music page Sing Singapore