Transcript of interview with Joan Phee (conducted by Amanda Lee), 30 December 2016, 3 pm, Skype.
Joan is a 24-year old female Chinese Singaporean and is a HR executive. Joan likes English pop music by Katy Perry and Bruno Mars as their music is catchy and sounds nice. She does not think that English pop music expresses her identity as the lyrics do not make sense. Joan thinks that there is a cultural connection of English-speaking countries expresses through English pop music as they all share the common language of English. While Joan does not listen to or find that she can appreciate Western classical music, she thinks that it is still good music. She thinks that Western classical music is global culture as not many Singaporeans tune into the local radio stations playing Western classical music. Joan likes Chinese and Cantonese pop rock music by artistes and bands like Jay Chou, JJ Lin, and Beyond. She likes that they make meaningful music and that their music reflects them as artistes. Joan thinks that Chinese and Cantonese pop rock music are culturally connected to Singapore as Chinese-speaking countries anticipate the release of new Chinese pop music together. Joan thinks that she can relate most to this genre of music as a Chinese person. Joan does not listen to traditional Chinese music. She does not like it as she was not exposed to it when she was younger, so she could not grow to appreciate it. Joan thinks that older Chinese Singaporeans are culturally connected to this music. Joan found Chinese crossover music interesting and relatable as the musicians were playing Adele songs. However, she does not think that she will listen to it again as she does not really like instrumental music. Joan did not like the extract of experimental Chinese music and she thought it sounded similar to traditional Chinese music. Joan knows and listens to some songs by Nathan Hartono and the Sam Willows. She thinks that the Singaporean musical style consists of songs that are easy to understand and expresses exactly what they mean. Joan thinks that cultural songs create a feeling of group belonging as Singaporeans know songs from ethnic groups that are not their own. Joan thinks that Singaporean music is most important to her, followed by English and Chinese pop rock music. She thinks that Chinese crossover music best represents the Singaporean Chinese community but not Singapore as a whole.
“Not so much on the [English pop music] lyrics, I think more on how it actually like, um, has an impact. Like you can remember the music like – I don’t know like – I think it’s the tune, or everything. The tune ... ya, the music, ya. The tune and everything.”
“Ya, like ... because like nowadays the – the [English pop music] lyrics don’t really make sense, it’s just catchy. So there’s nothing much that can like – cannot really represent my identity or anything.”
“Ya, like those countries that’s like English-speaking, they’ll be able to understand the [English pop] songs, so somehow it like connects the world as well – so it – ya, I think, mm.”
“I think [Western classical music is] good music even though I don’t like it. But ... I don’t – I don’t really know how you define bad music. Because to me, bad music could be like songs without lyrics, er, without meaningful lyrics because I still like those. So I think it’s also good music, just that I don’t appreciate it.”
“Global, I think not so much of Singaporean. I mean we do have like a local [Western classical music] station, er, I think it’s a classical music station. But I think it’s not as popular as other stations with like, um, the local – the – the pop music, and all that. So ... I think not so much for Singaporeans.”
“So when you listen to [Jay Chou and JJ Lin’s] songs, they’re more meaningful. And usually their songs like in the Chinese music industry, it’s actually quite, um, popular. Like it’s always in the chart like the top ... ya, the top few.”
“I like the beat, the tune of the music itself. Like it’s really nice – this like Canto music. I think it actually sets like – it’s really the foundation for our Canto music. It’s really – it’s really very nice. It’s just like how – I don’t know – the Beatles all that, they actually build like the foundation of music as well.”
“Because, er, we understand Chinese, so when, er, whenever there’s like a release of a Chinese music, it’ll be like all over the – all over the world. Ya, it’ll be released, so there’s some sort of connection. Ya.”
“I don’t know – maybe since young, we’re not exposed to like [traditional Chinese music] so often, so you wouldn’t want to – you wouldn’t like it.”
“I think somehow it does because, er, more – more for the older – older crowds, lah. It actually connects because I’m – I’m not sure how this music came about. I – I think it’s probably from like China, or like the olden days, so – ya, it somehow connects the Singaporeans.”
“I think [Chinese crossover music] not too bad. It’s more, er, I can relate to it more because, er, they have the Adele songs. Ya.”
“[Experimental Chinese music] so – it’s too traditional. Er, um, I’ve never – I’m not really exposed to this kind of music, so ... and I don’t like it.”
“Very direct, like what the [Singaporean] songs expresses – like you can just understand. Ya, it’s very direct. Like – like other countries the music is, um, slightly more complicated. Then sometimes you don’t really get the lyrics. Sometimes, ya the – the tune is very – ya, it’s very – it’s very different as well.”
“Ya, I think it does, like those cultural songs right? It connects like different culture groups, different race and everything. Because we do – even though like I’m – I’m Chinese, but we will know like some Malay songs as well.”
“Okay, I think most important would be – I think the ... the National [Day] songs, they will definitely have a place in my heart, because – ya. Then followed by English and Chinese pop.”
“Mm, [Chinese crossover music] doesn’t – actually it doesn’t represent Singapore. I think ... although – although we do have Chinese in Singapore, so – but I don’t think it represents Singapore. Like more of like – ya, maybe – okay, maybe – maybe for the Chinese community. Ya.”
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