Transcript of interview with Gabriel Tay (conducted by Amanda Lee), 22 October 2016, 10.30 am, Skype.
Gabriel is a 35-year old male Chinese Singaporean and is a business solutions consultant. Gabriel enjoys 80s and 90s English pop music by artistes like Madonna, Pink, Duran Duran and the Pet Shop Boys. He likes Madonna’s music as he feels that she is true to herself and does not care what others think of her. Gabriel thinks that rock music might have expressed his identity better when he was younger and rebellious. He thinks that pop music better expresses his identity now. Gabriel does not listen to any Western classical music but associates it with slow, smooth and calming music. He thinks it can be considered as global culture as Singapore is a globalized and connected country. Gabriel thinks that Western classical music should be preserved but he is not interested in putting in effort to do so as he does not listen to it. Gabriel likes Chinese pop and Cantonese pop music by artists like Aaron Kwok, Jacky Cheung and Beyond. He likes pop music as he finds that the singers can dance and put on a good performance. Gabriel thinks that Chinese pop music expresses a cultural connection between Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan and China. Gabriel thinks that Chinese rock music is more meaningful and more relatable as he grew up in a Chinese-speaking family. His friends have influenced him as they all listened to Chinese songs too. Gabriel does not listen to any traditional Chinese music. However, he used to hear Teochew opera at home as his father is a big fan of it. He thinks that this music expresses a cultural connection of Singaporeans with mainland China but it is mainly for his father, as he made friends with and kept in touch with the performers of Teochew opera. Gabriel liked Chinese crossover music and thought that it was refreshing, creative, and innovative. Gabriel did not like experimental Chinese as he found it to be old and traditional and not modern at all. He did not connect with it and it is not something he would listen to daily. Gabriel thinks that Chinese pop music and Chinese crossover music expresses him best; this is because he finds that the lyrics of Chinese pop songs resonate with him, and he appreciates the innovation behind the Chinese crossover music. Gabriel listens to Chinese Singaporean artistes like Olivia Ong, JJ Lin and Stephanie Sun. He does not think that there is a particular Singaporean style of music and thinks that it is influenced by foreign music. He thinks that Singlish comedy songs represent Singapore effectively but might not be the best choice for representing Singapore on the global stage. Gabriel thinks that National Day songs create a sense of belonging through the meaningful lyrics and exposure to Singaporeans in schools. Gabriel thinks that xinyao was too Singaporean to become popular internationally as the lyrics were very localized and resonate mainly with Singaporeans only.
“I think for me, music-wise this – sometimes [my liking for Madonna is] influence[d] by the lyrics and the songs. Sometimes influence by the rhythm, um, I mean how the song – rhythm goes. And I think a lot is influence by the artiste themselves. So the character of the artists, how they are being perceive and stuff like that. So for Madonna I – I know, I think – I kind of like the way she portray herself.”
“[Madonna] doesn’t bother about what the media write about her, and you know, what people say about her. She just wants to do things that she wants to do, and she enjoy doing it. I think that actually influence her followers or fans, er, to enjoy her music.”
“Because when I’m younger days, I’m a bit more rebellious lah. So rock really represent me. So now – I mean I still like rock, but I don’t think I will be that crazy these days, so, er, pop music will be more suitable. So – but I don’t think there’s a preference between – or any of them really represent me.”
“I work in an environment where I have, um, huge interactions or a lot of interactions with, um, people from the Europe, US, and Australia. So if I wouldn’t have listen to, er, English pop, er, rock or any English, er, song, there wouldn’t have common topics or, er, you know. Er, common things to talk about, and to discuss about, or to share about.”
“Classical music? I will associate it with those orchestra, you know. Like musics without lyrics, just pure instrument[al]. Ya. That’s my thought and very, er, slow, smooth and, um, calming type of music.”
“I think [Western classical music] can be considered as a global culture. Er, and especially in Singapore context, we are a global economy, right. We also work with a lot of people, we have, um, a lot of different Western culture – all those working in Singapore as well. So I think in Singapore context, yes, it can be considered as a global culture type of music that can connect people together.”
“What so great about this kind of like classical, musical show. Um, but, er, I went to watch [The] Phantom of the Opera (2013), and that totally changed my opinion. Er, I – I thought it was really a very, very good show because of the very combination of the music and the performance.”
“I really enjoy [Aaron Kwok’s] concert because it’s not just, er, in terms of listening, but it’s also very visual. In terms of the whole stage set-up. Er, he – he put a lot of effort into his concert show, er, not – so for me, music is an entertainment. So – and I feel that he did music because he love it and he want to be a performer.”
“The lyrics for Mandarin rock are more meaningful. Er, I can relate more to it. And I – I don’t grow up in an English-speaking family, so I’m more exposed to the Chinese culture, so that’s why I’m more familiar with the Chinese songs as well.”
“I think more importantly is the social of friends. Your social group of friends. Ya. So because all of us when we were young – my group of friends, we all like, er, Mandarin rock. So, er, we all listen to the same band and group, er, so that actually – I think that actually influence, er, a lot.”
“Because Cantonese I don’t think Taiwanese listen much to Cantonese [pop songs]. Ya. I think so. I think Chinese will be a more natural language and connection between Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan and China.”
“I listen to Cantonese song but I don’t speak Cantonese. So sometimes I don’t actually understand the lyrics of the song, it’s just because I like the rhythm.”
“My dad is a big fan of, er, Teochew opera, so of course I do listen because my dad listen at home and stuff like that. But I’m not a big fan of it. Ya. But I do appreciate it in some sense lah, because my dad is a big fan of it.”
“I think so in the case of my – my dad. So – because that actually connects him to a lot of his friends or these people that he – he knew from the opera, the Teochew opera. They actually perform in Singapore – he actually made friends with them. He actually, er, you know, really, er, speak to them and really connect with them after they went back and stuff like that.”
“I think, er, that the rhythm [of the Chinese crossover music extract] is very nice. Er, so all these classical musical, er, instrument should – should also produce very modern and – and – and very pop or rock type of, um, music as well. So there’s a very good mix. I always like to East meet West type of, er, er, ideas. So I quite like it.”
“I always feel that we are living in a – a digital age where everything is evolving so fast. Technology, um, and all the – you know – things are moving so fast. And I think music should also be, um, innovative as well – at the same time.”
“I don’t really like this kind of [experimental Chinese] music. Not because ... just that it doesn’t resonate with me. But I do think that it’s nice music, probably not something I will listen on a regular basis.”
“Er, like I mentioned there’s a few. Actually most of the Singaporeans like Kit Chan, Sun Yanzi, JJ [Lin], er, and Olivia Ong. I like – actually I like Olivia Ong a lot.”
“I don’t think it’s a particular Singaporean style. Ya. Because when you talk about Singapore style, then you will be talking about a different group of people. It will be people like Jack Neo, right? He – he does compose music, and he does some music but it’s not exactly the – the type of music I would say is music. But it reflects a lot – a lot about Singaporean culture, context.”
“[Singlish comedy songs] definitely represent Singapore. Because that’s really how – how we are, who we are. But is this something that – if you ask me – is this something that you want to show the world who we are? Then I think, er, if you think – if you say yes, then yes, it definitely 100 percent represent – you know – Singapore.”
“One thing is that – one thing is definitely the lyrics because it really speaks our – our voice. Er, and we – every Singaporean can really resonate with the lyrics as well. Second is how – how they actually promote the music. So the way how actually they promote these National Day song, community song right, er, I mean – as usual the Singapore government, they did it in a way that they ensure that we get a good enough exposure to it. To – to keep reminding Singaporean[s] what it is.”
“[Xinyao is] more localized also. So it probably wouldn’t resonate much with the – the rest of the world unless you know about Singapore.”
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