Transcript of interview with Queenie (conducted by Amanda Lee), 15 August 2016, 7 pm, National Library (Toa Payoh branch).
Queenie is a 32-year old female Chinese Singaporean who works as a commercial analyst. She enjoys listening to both English and Chinese pop music, but likes Chinese pop music more. She does not have any favorite English pop artists, but mainly enjoys the top hits of today on the radio station Kiss 92 FM while commuting. She listens to music at night on Spotify and enjoys Latin music as well. She does not go to the Esplanade often to watch musicals or performances, but will often stop for a bit if she is in the area and enjoys the performances. She does not listen to Western classical music as she thinks it is boring, and thinks that it is easier for listeners to appreciate it if they play an instrument. Queenie does not have any favorite Chinese pop music artists but prefers Chinese pop over English as she thinks the Chinese lyrics are more expressive and tell a relatable story. Queenie used to watch getai [performances of songs in Chinese and dialects on makeshift stages during the Hungry Ghost Festival] with her mother when she was younger but has since stopped. She does not think she will go as she is not very interested. She also thinks that the older generation will identify more with traditional Chinese music and getai as they grew up listening to it. Queenie did not enjoy the experimental Chinese music extract because the tempo was slow and some parts were “messy.” She thinks that National Day songs are representative of Singaporean music as the songs are about Singapore.
“Um, today’s [English pop music], um, some are – some are nice because, um, the – the lyrics, ya. Um, but some I feel is just because the song is catchy, ya. So that’s why, um, people will tend to like it, ya. Mm.”
“What I feel is, um, because normally classical music is like, er, using instrument – instruments. Um, so if let’s say you – if a person don’t play any instruments, um, they won’t appreciate like classical music.”
“Er, my favorite artists, er, actually I also don’t have particular favorite artist. Er, general[ly] if the songs are – if the [Chinese pop] songs are nice, I do like it.”
“And also, because my friends, they also like, er, Chinese pop song – of course also English pop songs, um, ya. So that’s why they also influence myself, lah, ya. Because we will go for KTV [Karaoke Television] sessions, so because like, mm ... if classical music like, you can’t sing.”
“Um, maybe Chinese is more my favorite, because I feel in compare to English, um, the Chinese songs is more, er, expressive in terms of the lyrics, ya. It’s like you – there’s really a story and then you can relate [to] it.”
“Because, er, during my school days, I will – I mean I joined Chinese orchestra. So is only from there that I get to know such traditional, um, Chinese music. So after that, actually I, er, I mean, I lost touch to it.”
“Oh, last time I mean when I was young[er], I will follow my mother to watch because it’s just nearby my house. Ya, just opposite my house, ya. But nowadays – nowadays, these few years, we don’t watch anymore.”
“Because – [the experimental Chinese music extract] is just like, mm, the tempo is not fast, [and] it’s very slow. Then I think like the – the part where the flute are playing, I feel is a bit messy. Like they are not on the same, er, notes, or ya. So ... I don’t like this kind of music, ya.”
“We have a few local bands which is quite good, like 53A, er, Sam Willow[s]? Ya, these two I get to know because, er, I mean Sam Willow[s] because they have album release, so I can – I mean I listen through – I get to know through the radio station. Then for 53A is because they did have performance previously at, um, certain restaurants, so I also get to, ya.”
“Er, of course I will put it under Singaporean music, because I mean most of the songs is about our – our nation. I mean, relates to the nation. And it’s for Singapore, so I will classify them as the Singapore.”
Click on the link below for the full transcript