I have recently just heard the 2005 national day theme song. At
first, on hearing that Elaine W Chan would be composing the song, I
was personally very delighted that such a well known person is
going to do the job. I was expecting a very catchy song that the
whole of Singapore could sing along to the rhythm. However, after
listening to the song and looking at the lyics i was rather
disappointed that someone of her calibre would overlook one big
major factor. The song itself is nice, no doubt, credit given. But,
wait, I realised I could not even reach any where near the pitch of
which both Taufik and Rui En were singing. It blew me off. I
thought to myself for a momment, was this song composed just for
both Rui En and Taufik to sing or is it supposed for all
Singaporeans to sing along. Either Ms Chan overlooked it or she was
thinking that almost all Singaporeans can sing as well as Taufik or
herself can. Where are the catchy tunes that almost every
Singaporean can remember? "there was a time, where people said..."
" where i belong, where i keep my heart and soul..." I am sure that
if you sing this on the street of Singapore, people would be
thinking that you are some Singapore fanatic. In contrast, singing
"Reach out for the skies..." would get people staring at you.
Firstly, whoever singing it would be definetely or at least 95% out
of pitch. Secondly, I am sure that maybe only 50% of Singporeans
might remember the tune even after national day.
I really hope that the next year's national day theme song would be
composed for the general public instead. I may not be as musically
inclined as Ms Chan, but I am so sure that many Singaporeans would
in time forget "Reach out for the Skies" as the sky (pitch) IS
unreachable.
