His cool compositions for NDP 2022 and NS55 are music to our ears

Don Richmond, NDP 2022’s Music Director and the man behind this year’s NDP and NS55 theme songs, has struck a chord with us.When it comes to National Day Parade theme songs, everyone's a critic. I should know. I became one earlier this week.

Not only that, the 46-year-old - who composed music and lyrics for 2014's Ah Boys To Men The Musical as well as scored numerous TV series - was tasked to write a theme song to celebrate 55 years of national service this year. I think the most challenging part is to always make it a point to not fall back on typical familiar scenarios. The songs need to be familiar for the crowd to get behind, but as I've spoken to friends and people of different races, the sentiment is always: "Eh! NDP got no other cultural songs ah? Always the same… you think our race only got this song is it?"

Similarly, when I delved further into Chinese culture, I was almost shocked that a national treasure like Liu Ling Ling has never been invited to perform at NDP, so I knew I had to try to feature her in some form - and the gamble paid off. She gets the loudest cheers each public rehearsal! Coming out of the pandemic, the last thing you want is a theme song that is trying to tell people what to do. If you look at theme songs from the past, "recognise you can play a part, let it come right from your heart, be prepared to give a little more" - I grew up with songs like that, but I think we are in an era, especially coming out of these two years, where you want to celebrate the people - your friends, your family, your community.

Not many people have the chance to use their passion and their talents for national events on such a big scale. How does it feel being able to contribute your talent as the Music Director of NDP to celebrate the nation's birthday?

Same old“culprits” year after year!🤷🏾‍♂️

Singapore Latest News, Singapore Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

NDP 2022: Putting The Heart In Heartland CelebrationsNDP celebrations are coming back to the heartlands after two years, with carnivals, the Red Lions, fireworks, as well as State Flag and Fighter Island Flypast happening from this weekend (6 August).
Source: YahooSG - 🏆 3. / 71 Read more »

NDP 2022 micrositeNDP 2022: Follow our coverage Why so many articles about such a small thing? Wth is there to celebrate after coercing the entire nation to get useless jabs?
Source: straits_times - 🏆 5. / 69 Read more »

Let's hear it for Singapore: Our honest thoughts on NDP songs through the yearsWith National Day just around the corner, I've been looking up old National Day songs and listening to my favourites for the 500th time. In the process, I discovered there are a whole bunch of NDP songs that I've never heard of until now. Being a self-proclaimed amateur music critic (or rather, a critic of everything), I found myself listening...
Source: asiaonecom - 🏆 10. / 59 Read more »

NDP returning to Sports Hub a possibility after takeover, with costs less prohibitive: Edwin TongSINGAPORE — The Government would “certainly be open” to holding the National Day Parade (NDP) at the Singapore Sports Hub again, with costs being less of a prohibitive factor after the takeover of the venue at the end of this year by national sports agency Sport Singapore. So wow Good not this year Singapore cannot fill its national stadium with ANY of its sport team in ANY sport. So why not organising there their cute sweet high school parade :)
Source: TODAYonline - 🏆 1. / 99 Read more »

3 female Red Lions parachutists to perform in NDP for the first timeFor the first time, three women Red Lions parachutists will perform freefall jumps as part of the National Day Parade (NDP) this year. First-timers Third Warrant Officer (3WO) Shirley Wong and 3WO Sandy Wong will make heartland jumps at Bishan and Ghim Moh on Aug 7, as...
Source: thenewpaper - 🏆 7. / 63 Read more »

Netizens poke fun at Red Berets marching out of sync at NDP rehearsal - The Independent Singapore NewsThe videos of the “best combat unit but can’t march in step' were posted late last weekend and have been viewed hundreds of thousands of times.
Source: IndependentSG - 🏆 2. / 72 Read more »