It’s National Day in Singapore tomorrow. As is customary, the organising committee will release a patriotic song that will be overplayed every year so as to hype up the celebratory vibes. Here is this year’s song on YouTube

I didn’t like the song this year. I strongly feel that National Day should be an opportunity for us to rehash old favourites so that we build upon our traditions - rather than reinvent the wheel every year. So, for a new National Day to be an earworm for me, it has got to be exceptional. And this one was too slow for me.

Until I was asked to lead the community singing in my school. (Yes, most things in Singapore are engineered, even patriotic vibes, and nope, don’t snigger.)

After being forced to familiarise myself with the lyrics so that I could look somewhat credible while belting the tune, I have come to like the song. I think witnessing how the children sang their hearts out adds a favourable overtone to it.

Might go to show that if we spend enough time on things we don’t like, they may grow on us.