For an expert's view on these matters of high cultural importance, check out Agagooga's review of the latest National Day Parade videos.
Personally I think the white long-sleeved top and black pants worn by the kids in the music video look like they were designed by committee.
"We'd like a uniform for the children to wear, something like will capture the ethnic diversity of our country, while not emphasising one race over the others. And it has to make the children look disciplined and well-behaved examples of upright young citizens, while showing their cute and spontaneous sides."
So the kids end up looking like a cross between a Chinese Amah (maidservant) and something out of The Ring. Either that, or there some new school called "Amah Primary School" and the kids all hail from there.
Singapore: Where your kids grow up as national maidservants.
But don't mind me and my cynical ranting, the song is really quite pleasant, and the kids look very cute running across the fields and along the rivers of Singapore. I even downloaded the MP3 for my iTunes (it was free, and I am a True Singaporean).
On the NDP 2004 page, there is also a link to a video called "Into the NDP Matrix". The still shows a boy shielding his eyes from the computer screen. How original. So, we've gotten so transparent that we are now acknowledging that Singaporeans are living in The Matrix?
Cypher: All I do is what he tells me to do. If I had to choose between that and the Matrix, I'd choose the Matrix.
Trinity: The Matrix isn't real.
Cypher: I disagree, Trinity. I think that the Matrix can be more real than this world. All I do is pull a plug here, but there... you have to watch Apoc die.
Cypher: You know, I know this steak doesn't exist. I know that when I put it in my mouth, the Matrix is telling my brain that it is juicy and delicious. After nine years, you know what I realize?
[Takes a bite of steak]
Cypher: Ignorance is bliss.
