MediaCorp Launches Song Competition for Singapore’s 50th Anniversary

SINGAPORE: To commemorate Singapore's upcoming 50th birthday, MediaCorp has kicked off The Gift of Song, a nationwide search for a song that will resonate with the nation.

The Gift of Song asks Singaporeans and permanent residents to write an English-language song for the country's 50th anniversary in 2015. The competition's judging panel will be led by such local musicians as Dick Lee, Jeremy Monteiro and Sydney Tan. The submission period begins today and ends on October 19.

The three best submissions will be shortlisted in November for Singaporeans to vote on in January. The winner will receive a cash prize of $10,000. MediaCorp will produce a grand-scale music video of the song, which will be released in the run-up to next year's National Day.

Chang Long Jong, deputy CEO of MediaCorp, remarked: "The celebratory song will be a special gift from MediaCorp to every Singaporean. This song will celebrate who we are—our shared ideals, our achievements and how we embrace progress and change as a society. As Singapore's leading media company, our very existence is intrinsically linked with the nation, which is why we are proud to present this as a gift to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of our nation building."

Lee, a celebrity, composer, songwriter and playwright, said: "I applaud MediaCorp for organizing The Gift of Song and am delighted to be a judge in this meaningful project. As a composer myself, I revel in playing a part in the search for a truly iconic song to celebrate Singapore's 50th birthday. I am also excited by the prospect of mentoring the finalists who will emerge, and share my vision and learnings on what makes a great song, while discovering the next generation of song composers in Singapore!"

Other celebratory programs and events are scheduled to take place throughout the year.

Chang added: "SG50 is a momentous milestone and a rare moment to reflect on who we are as a nation. At MediaCorp, we are excited about doing our part to galvanize Singaporeans around a celebration of our past and more importantly, a shared vision of our future."