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Wednesday, June 01, 2005

J-Pop Style 'Negaraku'?

I read with interest Silencers’ funny entry about playing our national anthem in cinemas, which was followed by 5xmom’s take on the subject. It seems to me the people in charge are not really tackling the root of the problem, which is the declining respect for the ‘Negaraku’ among the younger generation.

When I was in school, I had to sing 3 songs at assembly every week: ‘Negaraku’, our school song and ‘Setia’ (OK, don’t ask me about that last one).

All my friends from different schools had the same opinion – “The song is BO-ORRING!!”

So the big boys in charge introduce a marching beat version. Slight improvement, but kids were still not respecting the national anthem.

If this doesn’t work, what next? Let’s see what some other countries do or did (in the past) regarding national anthems (which I suspect HAVE been considered):


  • Put your right hand on your heart when you sing, like those communist countries.

  • Or better yet, lift your right arm in a Nazi salute (like Paulo Di Canio…)

  • Lift your right fist up high, like the Black Panthers (must be wearing black glove)

  • When the anthem is played in public places, get soldiers to arrest anyone fooling around or disrespecting the song (like in North Korea or some fourth world dictatorship)

  • Have (many) different versions to appeal to everyone – hip-hop (as suggested by a Malaysian rap group), black metal, Canto-pop, J-pop, rave, techno, Love Me Butch-style, Kylie Minogue style….


Anyway, bottom line is : However or whatever you make people sing or listen to it, it won’t make a difference if people still don’t respect it…




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14 Comments:

  • I say an alternative rock version.

    Have it in English. If its THAT good, many foreigners will buy the CD single. It will become popular. It will hit the charts (Billboard man!). Foreigners will respect it. Seeing this, our Malaysian youth will respect it even more. Every band will want to play at any any gig. It will become the Internet's most downloaded mp3. Heck, it will become mobile phones no.1 dowloaded ringtone.

    Ah.....dreams are great aren't they? ;-)

    By Blogger Din, at 6/01/2005 10:51:00 am  

  • Hey... I actually like "Negaraku very much, you know... 8-P
    I personally feel it's one of the nicest national anthems in the world! :)

    (And they didn't even have to send me for National Service to instill that kind of patriotism in me! *nyek nyek*)

    By Blogger Margaret Alexandria Yoong, at 6/01/2005 01:49:00 pm  

  • fahruddin - wow, then it will be on top of the pops!!!

    wildcharm - i left a comment on your blog. thanks for stopping by...

    maggie - i think its OK, definitely better than Singapore's... :)

    By Blogger Yoong Family, at 6/01/2005 02:49:00 pm  

  • I never heard Negaraku properly. Last time I heard it all these people were singing along off tune and off tempo. Guess Merdeka eve at Sri Hartamas is not the best time to enjoy your national anthem, huh? But I think the anthem sounds pretty ok.

    Indonesia Raya is still the best for me :)

    By Blogger coppersnare, at 6/01/2005 03:16:00 pm  

  • merdeka eve at sri hartamas... i'm guessing there'd be many half-drunk expats arguing about rugby...

    How does Indonesia Raya go again? Sing-lah a bit for us, man!

    By Blogger Yoong Family, at 6/01/2005 03:56:00 pm  

  • Lyrics can be found here http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/1823/national/wajib/indoraya.htm

    Wanna hear it? Just wait the next time we beat u guys in some badminton competition again la. Sorry can't help it heh..

    By Blogger coppersnare, at 6/01/2005 04:31:00 pm  

  • ok, i got the lyrics... so long one aa? got guitar solo in between or not?

    but when we get beaten in badminton (ouch!) they just play the music and no solo singing. If the whole crowd is singing, can't hear much properly, somthing like "Waaa Weeee Hoooo...."

    By Blogger Yoong Family, at 6/01/2005 04:44:00 pm  

  • and i thought singing "Negaraku" was fun....*sigh*

    either times have changed, or I've grown really old....

    By Blogger mudslinger, at 6/01/2005 05:00:00 pm  

  • mudslinger - i like to song too... but i don't like the idea of changing it all the time...

    By Blogger Yoong Family, at 6/01/2005 05:04:00 pm  

  • I hate the awkward minutes having to stand in attention outside my sons' school when they are singing Negaraku. So, I usually avoid being near the school fence. You know lah, old habit die hard. Last time in school, whenever we hear Negaraku, must stand straight, head look up to the flag and no movement. How to do that if you have a fidgeting toddler?

    By Blogger 5xmom.com, at 6/01/2005 05:08:00 pm  

  • You can get the midi file here http://david.national-anthems.net/id.htm

    Darn, I just realised the lyrics on the URL I gave u are all wrong! I can't believe someone tampered the anthem. No wonder you said it's long.

    Here's the actual one http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indonesia_Raya

    By Blogger coppersnare, at 6/01/2005 05:55:00 pm  

  • 5xmom - maybe next time you can pretend to be a rich China businessman's wife, then can take care of toddler while song is going on...

    "Dui bu chi, wo she cong zhong guo lai de...!"

    coppersnare - no wonder! the lyrics were a bit funny!

    By Blogger Yoong Family, at 6/01/2005 08:22:00 pm  

  • i say man, where u get la? kazaa? by who aa? Silent Death? Suffercation? Cromok? i must hear this man...

    By Blogger Yoong Family, at 6/01/2005 10:22:00 pm  

  • Hello, just want to throw out an idea - everyone have an idea of how Negaraku _should_ sound like - but do you guys know of anyone who can actually play the music and record it? I'm trying to get this project going of collecting all different ways of expressing our national anthem, in the hope to increase awareness and interest as well as cut out the "boring" part :)

    Let me (contact here www.jiinjoo.com) know if you have some idea. I plan to post everything here (if I get any) www.negaraku.org

    Cheers!

    By Blogger jiinjoo, at 7/01/2005 12:18:00 am  

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