The Sad Case Of The Music Scene In Singapore

I was introduced to songs sung by Olivia Ong some time back by someone and have found her voice to be quite enjoyable and very pleasant. I am not sure how well known she is in Singapore but she is a Singaporean afterall. Based in Japan, she is making a name for herself there as a respected singer. I was kind of surprised to find out that she is a local given the beautiful voice that I heard on the CD.

Such is the sad case of the music in Singapore. If a singer wishes to suceed, the singer cannot stay on in Singapore. The singer has to go to places like Taiwan or Japan to do very well. Think about it, the singers of days gone by like the Chopsticks Sisters or even Anita Sarawak, is very well known in Singapore and Malaysia. However, they never achieved the commercial success that the well-packaged artise we have now.

Singapore as a whole, have a mentality of being non-chalant. Not that it is on purpose but with the perennial failures that out supposed Team Singapore and our Artises encounter when they are nearing the pinnacle of their respective fields, it is hard to be really supportive.

Much as the government says it is supporting the arts scene, it is still baby steps. Well, at least they are taking baby steps now. However, I could never see Singapore being the arts haven it hopes to be with the mentality of the sitting government. Too pro-business, too rigid, too elite-centred, too money-centered, not people-centered. With the above flaws that is prevalent in the mindset of the powers that be, we will just end up being a "rojak" city, a mismash of everything but a master of nothing.