Since gaining independence in 1965, Singapore has conducted many nation-wide campaigns to lay the foundation of a young nation. These have covered a wide range of topics such as courtesy, workplace productivity and observing good personal hygiene. As part of these campaigns, songs and jingles were some of the ways used to get the message across more effectively.

Dive into the conversation between our arts librarian, Kong Leng Foong, and our guest, Dr William Wan. Dr Wan is presently the General Secretary of the Singapore Kindness Movement and also a Justice of the Peace. He is active in community-based work with grassroots and organisations such as Project We Care, Singapore Scout Association (SSA), SG Cares Culture Building Committee, and others. Dr Wan has received several awards, including the Active Ageing Award (2011), President's Volunteerism and Philanthropy Award (2017), and the SSA Distinguished Service Award (2018).

[09:40] Dr Wan talks about the 1980 Courtesy Song ("Make Courtesy Our Way of Life”) and the Singapore Kindness Movement's song released in 2018, "Greater Everyday”

[26:14] Dr Wan shares some of the human stories that he has encountered in Singapore that show little acts of kindness.

[39:36] Leng Foong and Thiru revisit iconic campaign songs of yesteryear.

Listen to the podcast as we take you down memory lane and explore Singapore's musical history and the development of its music scene through the National Library's collections and digital archive, MusicSG.

Credits:

1. The songs "Make Courtesy Our Way Of Life” (1980) and "Greater Everyday" (2018) appear courtesy of the Singapore Kindness Movement.

Listen on MusicSG ("Make Courtesy Our Way Of Life”) https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/music/music/track/ebdd7595-bd86-4f7c-8b4d-f7f9c47e83b0

1. "Good, Better, Best” (1982) Source: Enterprise Singapore, courtesy of the National Archives of Singapore.

View on Archives Online: https://www.nas.gov.sg/archivesonline/audiovisual_records/record-details/5ac06c24-1164-11e3-83d5-0050568939ad

1. "大家说华语” (1980) courtesy of the Speak Mandarin Campaign.

View on Archives Online: https://www.nas.gov.sg/archivesonline/audiovisual_records/record-details/59ddeec4-1164-11e3-83d5-0050568939ad

1. "There's A Part For Everyone” (1988) by Gerald Png, courtesy of MINDEF.

Listen on MusicSG: https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/music/music/track/df2681b9-f516-4304-ac3c-93a225ff675b

1. "Together” (1999) © Government of the Republic of Singapore. Permission required for reproduction.

Listen on MusicSG: https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/music/music/track/35946efc-972d-4ea5-9d7b-abe3f5c9a13e