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The Singapore National Anthem

Singapore's national anthem, Majulah Singapura, was composed in Malay by Zubir Said in 1958. Besides the original Malay lyrics, there are translations of the Singapore national anthem in the other three official languages; English, Chinese and Tamil.

History
Majulah Singapura was played for the first time by the Singapore Chamber Ensemble as a concert item to mark the reopening of the Victoria Theatre on 6 September 1958. It was written before Zubir Said himself became a Singapore citizen and was originally intended for the City Council. However, the City Council was dissolved in 1959 when Singapore became a self-governing state. Toh Chin Chye (Dr), then the Deputy Prime Minister, chose the already popular song as an anthem to unite the new city-state. After slight amendments, the song was approved by the Legislative Assembly as Singapore's national anthem on 11 November 1959. On 3 December 1959, during Loyalty Week, the song was formally presented as Singapore's national anthem, along with the Singapore flag. Upon Singapore's independence in 1965, the song was adopted as Singapore's national anthem.

On 19 January 2001, the anthem was relaunched in the key of "F major". The original version is in the key of "G major". This version, which offers a grander expression, was rearranged by cultural award winner, Phoon Yew Tien, and recorded on 20 November 2000, played by the Singapore Symphony Orchestra at the Victoria Concert Hall. This is not the first time the anthem had been sung on a lower key. In 1983, schools were given an educational tape describing common mistakes made in singing the anthem, and they were also given the option to sing in "F major". An abridged version of the anthem has been used by official bodies since 1965 although an expanded version exists, used only in grand ceremonial functions. The version before Phoon's was by Englishman Michael Hurd and was first recorded by the Singapore Symphony Orchestra in 1989.

Majulah Singapura means "Onward Singapore" and is written in Malay. Other anthems had been sung as Singapore's national anthem prior to using Majulah Singapura.


Versions
Official Version - Majulah Singapura
Mari kita rakyat Singapura
Sama-sama menuju bahagia
Cita-cita kita yang mulia
Berjaya Singapura
Marilah kita bersatu
Dengan semangat yang baru
Semua kita berseru
Majulah Singapura
Majulah Singapura

English Translation - Onward Singapore
We, the people of Singapore
Together march towards happiness
Our noble aspiration
To make Singapore a succes

Let us all unite
In a new spirit
Together we proclaim
Onward Singapore
Onward Singapore

English Translation - Onward Singapore 
(Revised translation 2001)
Come, fellow Singaporeans
Let us progress towards happiness together
May our noble aspiration bring
Singapore success

Come, let us unite
In a new spirit
Let our voices soar as one
Onward Singapore
Onward Singapore

Guidelines
Extracted from Guidelines on the use of the National Symbols (The National Anthem). (July 1999). Ministry of Information and the Arts.

Guidelines for Use
1. Dignity and decorum must always be observed in the playing and singing of the National Anthem.

2. The singing of the National Anthem is to be encouraged whenever it is played. Emcees should request everyone present to sing and, where possible, a singer or choir should lead the mass singing.

3. Both public and private organisations are encouraged to play and sing the National Anthem on all occasions pertaining to National Day celebrations and at events of national significance (sports, community, government and corporate events), as appropriate.

4. Preferably, the full version should be sung on all occasions. The short version could be played for less formal occasions, as appropriate. 



Author
Bonny Tan 



References
Boey, Caroline. (1983, April 6). Learning to sing National Anthem again. The Sunday Monitor.

National anthem originally for City Council. (1990, March 9). The Straits Times, p. 28. 

Short version of anthem is official. (1993, May 8). The Straits Times, p. 32.

Tan, S. E. (2001, January 22). It's easier to sing now. The Straits Times, Life!, pp. 1, 6.

Ministry of Information and the Arts. (n.d.). National symbols. The national anthem. Retrieved June 12, 2003, from
www.sg/explore/symbols_anthem.htm


Further Readings
Ministry of Information and the Arts. (1999). The national symbols kit, [kit]. Singapore: Ministry of Information and the Arts.
(Call no.: YRSING 320.54095957027 NAT) 

Singapore. Legislative Assembly. (1959). State arms and flag and national anthem of Singapore. Singapore: Government Printing Office.
(Call no.: RSING 929.8 SIN) 

The information in this article is valid as at 2002 and correct as far as we are able to ascertain from our sources. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history of the subject. Please contact the Library for further reading materials on the topic.

Subject
Politics and Government>>National Symbols
National songs--Singapore
Singapore--History--1945-1963
Law and government>>National development
Arts>>Music>>Songwriting

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