When the NDP celebrations moved from the National Stadium to the floating platform at Marina Bay, I was pretty hyped. Yeah, it was a unique celebration that year, and the Navy showcasing some of their stuff on the waters was a nice bonus, but I didn't feel the nail being hit. It was a disappointment if you ask me. They had a chance to nail a fantastic celebration by moving to the floating platform, but they didn't. I couldn't believe it, the NDP exco missed such a fantastic opportunity. They struggled to nail a good show. In fact, I think the 2007 show had the least memorable songs, and there was actually 2 theme songs for that year: "There's No Place I'd Rather Be" and "Will You". If you don't remember these, don't worry, you're not alone.

the following years were pretty much the same, really. Same old mediocre stuff. The NDP theme songs have been mediocre too, and it crashed hard in especially with last year's theme song, the one with Hady Mirza in it. It was called "Shine For Singapore". If you don't remember that song, don't worry, you're not alone.

They tried bringing back the old-fashioned Sing Singapore theme songs. The result was "My Island Home" by Karia Gong back in 2006, and it worked well enough. Old trick, but it saved the NDP theme song from another trainwreck. Of course, nothing has yet to beat the older Sing Singapore NDP theme songs, especially songs like "Where I Belong" and "We Will Get There", which was sung by Stefanie Sun.

But in order for the NDP show to move forward, the Sing Singapore NDP theme songs simply had to die. Yeah, we all love "Where I Belong", but it's getting old. We needed new.

The first year they killed Sing Singapore, was the year they brought Taufik Batisah in. "Reach Out For The Skies" from 2005 wasn't bad at all, and it was a nice step forward, I still remember how distinctly upbeat, and hip that song was, compared to older NDP songs. Taufik Batisah's dancing also helped add to the spice.

Here's the Sing Singapore website: http://www.singsingapore.org.sg/

they killed it after 2005.

Sing Singapore aimed "to cultivate a greater sense of togetherness amongst Singaporeans".

So enter 2009. Ever since Lee Hsein Loong took over as Prime Minister, Singapore's been focused heavily on fit-and-polish. If I were to say, I dare say, Lee Hsein Loong is Singapore's Obama (LOL). Lee Hsein Loong is Singapore's 'Hippest' PM yet, just like how Obama in the US, is their 'Hippest' President yet. For me, I think the only difference between the 2 is the Obama used new media (such as Facebook) to reach people, whereas PM Lee Hsein Loong doesn't go anywhere near such new media. Both PM Lee and Obama, are excellent speech givers also.

So Singapore has been focusing on fit-and-polish in the recent years. Basically, after 40 years of independence, Singapore's done developing. Singapore's had its eyes set on bigger things, and to name a few, Singapore's had the chance to host the Formula1 Grand Prix race, the YOG singapore 2010, Universal Studios setting up in Sentosa, Integrated Resorts at the Marina South area AND Sentosa, Casinos at Marina Bay, etc etc etc

yep, Singapore's done developing.

We're past that stage, wayy past that stage.

When PM Lee gave his first National Day Rally, I noticed a difference. PM Lee wasn't talking about racial unity, CPF, or any other policy of the likes. He was talking about beautifying HDB estates, making Singapore Barrier-free by 2010, Polytechnic students and their fantastic work in new media and green/clean energy, new MRT lines, and Infrastructure that was meant to beautify our green island. He talked Casinos, Integrated Resorts, Theme Parks, cleaning up of water ways for beautifying and water sports, blah blah blah.

Singapore's been on nothing short of a roll since then. The Singapore Flyer came up sooner then I could say "wtf?", we've had the Nicoll Highway collapse, part of the MRT Circle line stage 3, Circle Line stage 1 has already begun revenue service, Boon Lay MRT station is longer the end of the west side of the tracks, train stations have had lifts made into them, virtually every single HDB estate today have ramps and re-vamped wheelchair accessible elevators, and recently, we even have new wheelchair accessible Euro buses now, to ensure that Singapore is god damned barrier free by next year.

It's amazing how many things the government here is able to put its hands into.

So we've had all these nice things coming to us. NDP 09 has got to be the peak of whatever that's coming to Singapore right now, because not only was it a good show, but it was an accurate depiction of what Singapore really is today. The NDP, is officially modernized. Yes, we have culture, race, religion, peace, security, social cohesion, blahblahblah. But screw them values, the NDP has been highlighting, valuing, re-emphasizing, and capturing these values for the past 40 years already. We have something new. We have terrorism, health pandemics, economic downturns, new media, upcoming hospitality/retail/manufacturing/travel/lesuire sectors, and the powerful technology. Yes, Singapore has a rich history, and the NDP has been showing that for the past 40 years, but with NDP 09, it's been taken into a completely new direction.

Gone are Sing-along songs we used to know and love. Embracing the future points to the obvious: ditch the old Sing Singapore songs that promoted unity, and instead, get a local guy band to come up with a hip new Theme song. "What Do You See" by Electrico is excellent, if you ask me. It's even better if you've been following Electrico's local track record in the local charts. Electrico, love them or hate them, they are undoubtedly Singapore's best local band.

"What Do You See" asks what do we see in Singapore's future. There are already many things lined up in Singapore as it is, but after this has all been done, after the Casinos and resorts and theme parks are completed, what do you see Singapore as in the future? Surely we're not going to stop? are we still going to be seen as an island? are we going to be seen as a holiday paradise? a place to settle down and live?

This year's NDP theme song by Electrico, it is no longer about "one people, one nation", it isn't about "home" or "where we belong", and definitely not about "one united people".

It's something new altogether, and NDP has taken on a whole new meaning. It's about the future, and the challenges ahead. And as of now, the year 2009, this song by Electrico means alot more than other other song that would have been, such as "this is our home, one people blahblahblah". And thank god, the NDP comittee, this time,

they hit the nail on the head.

Ladies and Gentlemen, what we're seeing here, is a true-blue new generation. Those primary 5 kids who watched this year's show, are a blessed bunch. I'd bet my money that those primary 5 kids, they are nothing like how we were back in primary 5. It's a new generation.

Talking about the show, this year's NDP also finally has a new format. Usually, the contingents will form up, and the celebration would have 3 acts after the contingents are done. This year, however, there were 3 acts even before the contingents formed up. It was pretty darn interesting, it was a simulated chemical attack. They got the performers to run off in all directions, while the simulated chemical threat was defused. They even got Cheyrl Fox from ChannelNewsAsia to film fake news reports of a terrorist threat.

The contingents formed up after the simulated terrorist threat was over. 3 acts down, so what's next?

well, this year had 10 acts. It went on and on, but i'd like to say, my favorite act was the one where they used Music to tell the story of time. There was the traditional dance generation, the disco generation, the one after that, and so on. In between the generations, were small clips of Singapore's political leaders speaking, and for once they made LKY sound cool. All they had to do, was to remix and resample what LKY said: "Never fear".

and the music carried on, with LKY's saying being re-sampled in the background: "Never fear...never fear, never never fear...never fear"

man, that was so cool.

The other acts were all cool also, its pretty hard to put it all into words. But here the thing: if you missed out on this year's parade, it's a pity. It's that time of the year, everytime, where I get to stand up, clench my fists, put it on the table, and say that i'm proud to be a Singaporean.

NDP 09, happens, just happens to be smack in the middle of Singapore's future train of development. I doubt next year's one will be as lucky, so I enjoyed it while I could. I'm beginning to like the theme song be Electrico more as time goes by, it's fantastic in terms of value, and hell, it sounds good too. It might just be Electrico's best song yet.