The National Day Parade at The Float @ Marina Bay marked a grand return to live performances after two years of restrictions.
SINGAPORE: Emotions ran high at the National Day Parade (NDP) on Tuesday (Aug 9), marking a poignant celebration of Singapore’s spirit. This year’s parade, held for the last time at The Float @ Marina Bay before relocating to the Padang next year, poignantly captured the highs and lows of Singaporeans’ personal journeys throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
The festivities included NDP staples such as the Red Lions free-fall jump, the total defence display segments, and the marching contingents, signifying a much-anticipated return to live performances on a grand scale.
To kick off the show, emcees Rishi Budhrani, Joakim Gomez, Sonia Chew, and Siti Khalijah engaged the 25,000-strong crowd by teaching them how to use their heart drums from the NDP fun pack. The Island Voices then performed beloved Singaporean classics in various languages, including the Mandarin hit, “The Voice of the Ordinary People.”
The Tanjong Katong Secondary School band took the stage, accompanied by dancers from the music and drama company, with their rhythms complemented by the percussion ensembles of Republic Polytechnic’s Beats Encore and ZingO Festival Drum Group.
As clear skies set the stage for the Red Lions to leap from a plane 10,000 feet above, the audience held its breath, eager to capture the breathtaking moment. The last of the ten parachutists, Third Warrant Officer (3WO) Jeffrey Heng, landed but skidded on the pavement and fell. Medics swiftly attended to him, and shortly after, Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen assured the public that 3WO Heng was stable, alert, and conscious.
Following the Red Lions’ salute, the first segment of the Total Defence Display commenced, marking the return of a massive showcase of Singapore’s land, air, and water defense assets after a five-year hiatus. A highlight was the aerial display featuring two Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) F-16 pilots executing an impressive maneuver in close proximity before soaring upwards.
The parade segment followed, involving around 2,000 participants from physical and virtual marching contingents. This year included over 850 participants from youth uniformed groups and various organizations, many of whom were marching in person for the first time since 2019.
Captain Siow Jing Yi, the only female army contingent commander at NDP 2022, expressed pride in being a role model for young girls, emphasizing that a military career knows no gender.
The second portion of the Total Defence Display featured a live demonstration of a hostage rescue from a hijacked bus, showcasing the capabilities of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Special Operations Task Force.
As dusk fell, the show segment opened with lively songs and dances, enhanced by vibrant animations and an upbeat music video on the jumbo screen, which took the audience back to Singapore’s more carefree pre-pandemic days. A humorous moment featured a lively dance-off where older women joined younger females grooving to “Boombayah” by K-pop group BlackPink at a void deck.
In stark contrast, the film “Connections,” woven throughout the performance, opened with scenes of empty streets during Singapore’s “circuit breaker” period in 2020. This more somber mood transitioned into a tribute to “unsung heroes” and “unsung angels,” underscored by local singer Aisyah Aziz’s vocals.
The film provided an intimate glimpse into the lives affected by the pandemic, introducing characters like a GrabFood delivery rider turned lighting technician and a Chinese teacher conducting lessons over Zoom.
The show’s third chapter honored families, the backbone of Singapore’s fight against COVID-19. A video montage showcased families navigating various struggles, including one helping a father accept his prostate cancer diagnosis and another opting for a small home celebration instead of a grand wedding.
To emphasize the theme of familial support, singers Jacintha Abisheganaden, Rahimah Rahim, Shabir, and Liu Ling Ling performed old-school hits in English, Malay, Tamil, and Mandarin.
The fourth chapter, titled “Fight,” featured dynamic performances from Singaporean rapper Shigga Shay and musician Elaine Khoo. Their passionate rap, echoing a battle cry, was enhanced by drums from the Soka Gakkai Singapore and martial artists from Martial House. Audience members joined in, drumming along to the infectious beat.
The concluding segment of the film intertwined the characters’ lives, illustrating the interconnectedness that underpinned Singapore’s resilience throughout the pandemic.
To wrap up the festivities, Taufik Batisah and The Island Voices performed this year’s NDP theme song, “Stronger Together.” Performers from the first four chapters returned to the stage, delivering modern renditions of beloved NDP songs, from “Home” to “Stand Up For Singapore.”
While the lively energy on stage reflected the Singapore spirit presented in the opening chapter, the earlier segments of struggle and resilience deepened the audience’s appreciation of the joyful moments.
As fireworks illuminated the night sky, the crowd erupted in applause and cheers, celebrating Singapore’s 57th birthday. After two years of muted celebrations, it truly felt like home again.
