Transcript of interview with Mei (conducted by Amanda Lee), 2 January 2017, 8 pm, Skype.
Mei is a 24-year old female Chinese Singaporean and is a student. Mei likes classic and contemporary English pop rock music by Queen, Bruno Mars, and Adele. She does not think that English pop rock music expresses her identity as she does not define herself by the music she listens to. Similarly, she thinks that there is a cultural connection through Western TV shows and movies rather than through English pop rock music. Mei does not listen to Western classical music, but she does not dislike it. She likes a cello piece titled Suite No. 1 in G major (c. 1720). She would listen to classical music if she had to do work as music with lyrics would distract her. Mei thinks Western classical music is global culture. She does not think that it is the responsibility of Singaporeans to preserve it as it does not form a big part of the local culture here. Mei listens to some Chinese pop rock music through her friends. She thinks that some songs are catchy but she does not really relate to the lyrics as her Mandarin is not good. Mei thinks there is a cultural connection for her Chinese Singaporean friends with Chinese pop rock music as they seem to be able to relate to the songs quite a bit. Mei does not listen to traditional Chinese music. She feels neutral about this genre of music and feels that the music reminds her of Chinese martial arts films. Mei thinks that it should be preserved for posterity, and for the minority of people who likes listening to it. She does not think that there is a cultural connection of Singaporeans with traditional Chinese music as her friends relate more to Chinese pop music. Mei liked the Chinese crossover music extract as the melody is familiar, and she found the use of Chinese instruments to play the song interesting. She thinks that people will like the music as it is a familiar sound presented in a novel way that is unique and refreshing. Mei thought that while experimental Chinese music sounded slightly discordant to her, she does not hate it. Mei has heard of Singaporean bands like The Sam Willows but does not listen to them. Mei thinks that Singaporean music is influenced by music overseas, and that there are no acts that are uniquely Singaporean. Mei does not know if Singlish comedy songs can represent Singapore as foreigners might not be able to relate to it. Mei thinks that National Day songs creates a sense of group belonging for some but not for herself. She does not think that there is any music that accurately represents Singapore.
“For Bruno Mars, I think his songs are pretty catchy. Like if – if the radio was on, I would probably listen to it. But if I wouldn’t like explicitly go seek it out to listen. And Adele also. As in – Adele is like – I think you have to be in a certain mood to listen to hers, lah.”
“I don’t really define myself by what I listen to. Ya. If I like it then I like it, you know what I mean?”
“I think it’s more through movies like – and – and TV shows. So I think that ... those shows influence us more – slightly more than [English pop] music. Unless maybe like they use slang terms in music and stuff like that, then maybe like some people would pick it up. But other than that, if cultural-wise, um, I don’t really think so.”
“I think there’s this one cello piece that I like. It’s quite well-know, they usually use it in a lot of commercials, and like movies, and stuff like that. But I kind of forgot what’s the name [Suite No. 1 in G major (1723)].”
“I don’t really have an opinion on [Western classical music]. Like I think – if you – I think you have to be in a certain mood to listen to classical also. Like – and you don’t really ... I guess like if you’re doing like – like homework you can like listen to it.”
“I think [Western classical music is] more of a global culture. I don’t think much Asians listen to classical – like classical music. Unless they are kind of into that scene. Like maybe if they know people who are musicians, or they are musicians themselves.”
“Like pop rock definitely do draw some influences from Western classical music, but I wouldn’t say it’s like the foundation. I think – ya, all genres – all music genres in general do draw influences from one another.”
“I guess S.H.E., Fahrenheit, all that. But those are the early 2000s kind of Chinese pop rock. I wouldn’t know anything about the current – current scene.”
“Mm, I would think – ya, to a certain extent because, um, I’m speaking in the perspective of a Chinese Singaporean – I wouldn’t know about the other races. But, um, ya I think for those of my friends especially who are Chinese-speaking, I think they do relate a bit to – to song – to those kind of [Chinese pop rock] songs. Ya.”
“Kind of like transported back to the past, like those olden films, ya, you know. [Be]cause my dad, um, sometimes he watches a few of those like Chinese films – like – like those wuxia pian [Chinese martial arts film] right. So – ya, like that’s the kind of feel that [traditional Chinese music] gives me.”
“[Traditional Chinese music is] part of like the culture, heritage, in a way. So I think – ya, it deserves to be preserved. You know – I mean, maybe currently you don’t have much people listening to it, or maybe there is a small sub-section of people who listen to it but, er, I think – ya, maybe next time in the future some – some new generation might want to know more about it, so – ya. I think it’s good.”
“I don’t think really like Chinese music really comes to the forefront when I think about Chinese culture, though. I think it’s more of like social norms and stuff like that. Ya, and behaviours.”
“Some people that I know, they – they watch like shows like The Voice [of China] (2012 – 2015) and stuff like that. So ... that – that’s mainland China, right? So – maybe they do feel that they can kind of relate to it in a way. But if you’re talking about traditional [Chinese music], I don’t really think so.”
“Because like – the melody [of Chinese crossover music] like – I mean it’s kind of familiar because, you know, Adele songs. But they’re using traditional Chinese instruments to play it. So I feel – I mean, it’s quite – it’s quite interesting. And it’s – it’s quite pleasant to listen to. So – it’s a very unique kind of thing.”
“[Chinese crossover music is] a familiar sound presented in a more novel way. Er, I mean novel to them because maybe they don’t really listen much to Chinese instruments. So they might find it quite unique and refreshing. Ya.”
“[Experimental Chinese music is] slightly discordant to me. Like – okay, it – it doesn’t really have a very cohesive feel. I guess in a way that’s way it’s called experimental. Okay, I can like – in the beginning I think some of it – like I can envision it in like a ... how to say – a movie soundtrack or something.”
“I guess I have heard of some bands and stuff like that, but I don’t really like listen to them. Like, er, I’ve heard of like, er, that – what’s that – The Sam Willows, and stuff like that. Ya, but I don’t really listen to them.”
“Because I don’t think there’s – our music scene isn’t that big. So we usually like listen to a lot of outside music. So I guess in a way our music is influenced by what we listen to. I don’t think we have a super original act that – you know – like – it’s uniquely Singaporean in a way.”
“Maybe because it’s of our Singaporean slang, a lot of foreigners probably won’t get [Singlish comedy songs]. So I don’t think it could be a big thing. So if someone cannot relate to your music, then I don’t think that it will be very pop, er, popular, er, you know, with other people like across the world or something like that, ya.”
“I guess if they listen to the lyrics and they feel a lot of like nationalistic pride, or if they like really feel like a sense of belonging here, then – ya, I’m pretty sure they’ll be able to relate to it in some ways. But I don’t know, for me – not really, lah. Think a lot of young Singaporeans in general don’t really have much of a – how to say – a sense of belonging to like our country.”
“I don’t really like – like – how to say – identify much with any of those [Chinese] genres. Ya, it doesn’t really shape my cultural being. Ya. Ya, I mean I – I like listening to music. But it’s not such a huge component of my life that it actually shapes who I am, or what – what my personality is.”
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