Happy Birthday Singapore! It's the 47th time Singapore is celebrating its independence. Over 2000 participants will again perform on the Marina Bay floating platform. This year's theme was
LOVING SINGAPORE OUR HOME
it encourages all Singaporeans to reflect on what it means to love their country, what they appreciate about Singapore and how each individual can express their love for the nation.
Split into a prologue, three acts themed Identity, Spirit and Love and a finale, the 45-minute Show segment featured larger-than-life props and mass displays that were integrated with multimedia projections.
Highlights of this year's show were :
- a musical dialogue in Act One between a Tabla (a pair of small hand drums attached together used in Indian music) player, a Gambus (a lute used in Malay folk music) player, a Chinese opera singer and a pianist,
- a dragon boat procession rowing towards the floating platform in Act Two. Performers on stage will complement the procession by forming a giant lion's head with brightly-lit torches, and
- a stage transformation into a Garden City in act Three with the use of large flower props and multimedia displays
- a stage transformation into a Garden City in act Three with the use of large flower props and multimedia displays
Videos, graphics and animations were displayed on nine LED mesh screens built to complement the Marina Bay skyline. Besides nine center screen in the shape of the Singapore island and eight side screens, there were eight mobile stages and an elevated stage that was reconfigured to form different shapes during the show.
Spectacular fireworks display ended the 47th National Day Parade.
Over 400 000 Singaporeans apply each year online to participate in the draw for the tickets. Almost everyone wants to be part of the celebration which are held in the Marina Bay on the floating platform which is 120 meters long and 83 meters wide, 5% larger than the soccer field at the National stadium. The platform can bear up to 1,070 tonnes, equivalent to the total weight of 9,000 people, 200 tonnes of stage props and three 30-tonne military vehicles. The seating capacity is 27,000 people.
The excited and lucky crowd who managed to get tickets
Precision landing between the stage and the grand stand
The Prime Minister arrives
Sang Nila Utama, a prince from Sumatra, set forth to found a new city. On the island of Temasek, he beheld sight of a fantastic beast which his ministers identified as a lion although these animals were not native to the region.
In another chapter a hypothetical terrorist attack was brought to thrilling live....
...as the audience was treated to an impressive display of Singapore’s total defense capability
Various air craft, sea craft and land vehicles converge at the floating platform.
Boats chasing the "terrorists"
The Parade was the centerpiece of the celebrations and while the President was inspecting the Guard of Honor...
...Singapore's flag flew past by....
... and the 21- Gun Presidential Salute was conducted on M3G floats..
For the first time it could be seen from the audience gallery.
The next chapter documented the transformation of Singapore from the little known trading port to one of the most globalized and cosmopolitan city-states in the world.
Various musical styles, fashion, trends and dance crazes were demonstrated
A medley of songs from the National Day repertoire was performed by a 600 member choir and over 400 young performers.jpg)
Every year's highlight, the fireworks, brought the National Day Celebrations to a spectacular ending
27,000 spectators are ready to leave the Gallery and the thousands that watched the show from all around Marina Bay and One Fullerton are trying to get to MRT, Buses or other means of transport. However a well organised chaos!
After 10 years I was very lucky to get an unexpected ticket from the leader of the drummer group. Thanks so much for that!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY SINGAPORE!!!
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