What You Didn't Know About Singapore National Anthem, Majulah Singapura! | Singapore In 40 Objects

Key Concepts:

• Code of Arms: A unique identifier for a person, country, or organization.
• Majula Singapura: "Onward Singapore" in Malay; the national anthem of Singapore and formerly the motto of the Singapore Municipal Commission.
• Singapore Municipal Commission: The organization in charge of municipal services in Singapore during the colonial era.
• Zubir Said: Composer of the original "Majula Singapura" in 1958.
• Dr. K.M.S. Chai: Deputy Prime Minister who tasked Zubir Said with shortening the song for use as the national anthem.
• Victoria Theater (formerly Victoria Memorial Hall): Site where Zubir Said was commissioned to write the song.
• G Major & F Major: Original and revised keys of the national anthem, respectively.

1. Origins of Majula Singapura

• The video explores the history of Singapore's national anthem, "Majula Singapura," tracing its roots back to the colonial era.
• The presenter visits Mount Emily Park, the site of Singapore's first public pool, to showcase a code of arms of the municipality of Singapore.
• The code of arms features the motto "Majula Singapura," which was originally the motto of the Singapore Municipal Commission.
• The original English motto was "May Singapore Flourish," which was translated to Malay as "Biala Singapura Untong" (Let Singapore Profit).
• The phrase "Biala Singapura Untong" was deemed not aspirational enough, leading to the adoption of "Majula Singapura" (Onward Singapore).
• Zubir Said was commissioned to write a song for the reopening of the Victoria Memorial Hall (now Victoria Theater) and used the commission's motto.

2. The Original Composition and its Significance

• In 1958, Zubir Said composed "Majula Singapura" in Malay for the official reopening of the Victoria Theater.
• The video features a rare recording of the original version of the song, highlighting its historical importance.
• Gary Tan, a record shop owner, provides one of the last existing copies of the original recording.

3. Adoption as the National Anthem

• In 1959, Singapore gained self-government and sought a state anthem.
• Dr. K.M.S. Chai, the Deputy Prime Minister, was tasked with finding a suitable anthem.
• He was alerted to Zubir Said's song and found it appropriate but requested that it be shortened.
• Zubir Said shortened the verse from 16 bars to 8 bars, skillfully rewriting the lyrics to maintain coherence.
• The presenter notes that the edit is seamless, and listeners would not suspect that anything is missing.

4. Musical Revision and Accessibility

• In 2000, a major revision of the orchestration was undertaken.
• The government invited composers to re-harmonize the anthem.
• Dr. Bernard Tan proposed lowering the key from G major to F major to make it easier for the general public to sing.
• The original key of G major had a high note (E above C) that was difficult for many to reach.

5. Public Education and Appreciation

• After the official version was approved, the government ensured that the public, especially school students, learned to sing the anthem.
• A dial-in number was provided where people could listen to a recorded version of the anthem.
• The presenter reflects on how understanding the backstory of "Majula Singapura" enhances its appreciation.

6. Notable Quotes

• Young (Heritage Educator): "This actually used to be the site of Singapore's first public pool which was opened in 1931."
• Young (Heritage Educator): "You can think about it as a unique identifier for a person, country or for a organization. So in this case, this is the code of arms for the municipality of Singapore."
• Dr. Bernard Tan (Composer): "So I took the chance to propose lowering the key from G major to F major which is a lot easier to sing."
• Presenter: "It's about how 80 seconds of music can carry decades of history."

7. Conclusion

The video provides a detailed and insightful account of the history of Singapore's national anthem, "Majula Singapura." It traces the anthem's origins from a municipal motto to a symbol of national identity, highlighting the contributions of key figures like Zubir Said and Dr. K.M.S. Chai. The video also explores the musical revisions made to enhance the anthem's accessibility and underscores the importance of understanding the historical context of national symbols. The presenter's journey of discovery encourages viewers to appreciate the rich history embedded within the 80 seconds of music that comprise "Majula Singapura."