NDP 2021: Singapore spirit on display as nation holds belated 56th birthday celebration

Silence stuffed the floating platform as the previous few marching contingents moved off, disappearing underneath the grandstand.
 
For a second, every little thing went darkish.
 
Then thundering beats and flashing lights erupted on stage. In the stands, a shimmering purple sea emerged as tens of 1000's of good lights, taped to the chairs, flickered to life – signalling the beginning of the parade’s present phase.
 
Opening with an animated movie, the primary act of the present launched six characters from the previous and current. They included an aspiring musician and a canoeist who goals of creating the nationwide workforce.
 
The 14-minute movie, woven all through the present’s 4 acts, advised tales of how the characters overcame adversity to attain their goals.
 
As the movie pale from the display, performers, outfitted in vibrant costumes rushed onto the stage. Pre-recorded performances by college students from the Institute of Technical Education and Republic Polytechnic and the National University of Singapore had been woven into the stay efficiency.
 
It was a burst of vibrant and kaleidoscopic scenes, as dancers put on a joyful and celebratory rhapsody, depicting the hopes and aspirations of youths from completely different generations.

The subsequent act shifted to a darker and extra contemplative tone.
 
On display, the animated characters returned to take the viewers by way of the quite a few challenges and setbacks they confronted.
 
One misplaced all her belongings and residential in a fireplace that ravaged her village, and one other noticed her goals of changing into a nationwide canoeist coming to a halt after fracturing her arm.
 
Against the backdrop of the evening sky, performers glided throughout the stage carrying white umbrellas underneath the blueish hue of stage lights.
 
Singer Aisyah Aziz carried out Spirits Anew, certainly one of three unique NDP 2021 songs, as the Singapore Symphony Orchestra at Changi Jewel joined nearly.
 
The stage was awash with a large number of colors as the performers’ umbrellas lit as much as type rainbows.
 
As the act closed, the animated movie confirmed how the characters had been supported by their household and mates.
 
It was a message acquired loud and clear: We will get by way of this collectively.
 
Celebrating Singapore’s multicultural heritage, the third act featured acquainted vernacular songs together with Xi Shui Chang Liu (Friendship Forever) and NDP classics such as We Will Get There.
 
Dancers in ethnic costumes joined singer Shabir Tabare Alam as he carried out the soulful and heartfelt Singai Naadu. They had been accompanied by a pre-recorded video of dancers from the People’s Association. 
 
The animation movie then revealed that the tales had been impressed by true tales of Singaporeans.
 
It paid tribute to Mdm Tan Geok Hak, who persevered by way of hardship and raised 4 kids after the 1961 Bukit Ho Swee hearth, as nicely as Ms Daisy Vaithilingam, who pioneered medical social work in Singapore and began the nation’s first foster care programme.
 
Another acquainted title featured within the movie was self-taught musician Zubir Said, who later composed Singapore’s nationwide anthem.

As the cameras panned to disclose Mdm Tan and her household sitting within the viewers, the group clapped and rattled their shakers for her. 

The present’s closing act opened with SEA Games athletes operating in and Singapore’s Olympians on the stage, to cheers and applause from spectators.

To cap off the present, members from earlier acts got here collectively to bounce as singer Linying carried out the parade’s theme tune The Road Ahead.