If none of you ever experience doing work at the very last minute, you are not human. Alright, maybe some of you don't, and I'll show you what will "Last Minute Work" results into. Come August 9th 2011, Singapore's National Day, you'll view one of the worst show in the history book.
(Picture credit: MinDef.gov.sg ;Funpack)
First, the thing that everyone wants to get at the event, the Fun Pack. Are we seriously in an economic crisis? I've been live at NDPs on countless occasions and they'll give us sling bags or back packs as part of their "Fun Pack". This year, its a Tote Bag, are you kidding me? They are scrimping on the cost of the bag for this tote bag and claimed that it can be reused at supermarkets as a convenient excuse. Fair enough, National Day its about patriotism, I admit I'm a patriot and the parade should count only right?
Next, the stage setting.The audience and television camera have such a wonderful and fantastic backdrop of the Singapore skyline, MBS, Marina Bay Sands Art & Science Museum and the Double Helix Bridge. And instead of placing the humongous set on the right side which is the tall skyscrapers, the ExCo decided to place it on the left, obstructing the view of the Museum and the Bridge to some of the audience. And don't you notice the whole platform is empty
They didn't put it into consideration on how it'll be like at all angles of the spectators seat? Even the 2009 one was much better and showed that time and effort was spent on planning whereas for this year's one was such a mess. Do note that the set is just made up of LED or even worst some projection behind the screen and even the scaffolding skeleton.
Into the contents of the show, they had the parade show kicked off with the "Fun Pack Song", a rip off the Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance". If you think Bad Romance was a crappy song, the Fun Pack version revolutionized the song into a song you want to put earplugs on. And they started singing Abba's "Dancing Queen" and Wonder Girls' "Nobody". How in the world does this fits or link with the show?! Never in 46 years will you see those "motivators" singing original songs in a solo stage.
(Picture credit: NDP'11)
In one of the Acts, as NDP usually has different acts or section to categorise each item performed, there was an emphasis on the MRT. They dance and sang to a customised song with inferior lyrics quality in my honest opinion. I can't remember the song's title however, but I think they may be plagiarizing a song.At the end, the "singer" sang "Singapore is a home to the world". Damn right its sure a home for foreigners to seek refuge in? Its overcrowded in Singapore, much less trains, and do "they" get the message?
(Picture credit: NDP'11)
In addition to the "economic crisis" the ExCo is facing, the pyrotechnics has been drastically reduced. During the National Anthem, less than 10 seconds of pyrotechnics going off. Is this some kind of joke? The National Anthem usually have a prolonged pyrotechnics display to bring out the patriotism in all of the Singaporeans.Not sure for the rest of the items but its already a sign to what it will be for the other items.
Don't get me wrong, I'm an extremely patriotic and proud Singaporean. The show don't portray what the parade should be. And sometimes, its just that the family don't accept you and don't make concessions and privileges for their own flesh and blood.