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A section in Songs

National Songs' Roles In Nation Building
National songs are taught in schools and are also broadcast on national television. The communal singing of songs was used by the government of the time to unite the country. A National Folks Song Committee was launched in 1980 to achieve this aim. National Day theme songs are a subset of national songs.

National Day theme songs have been used by the government to define what it means to be Singaporean. The Singaporean work ethic is described as the key factor for the country's success with calls for Singaporeans to emulate the hard work of past generations in "Stand Up For Singapore"(1984) and "Count On Me Singapore"(1986). The unity of Singaporeans, in spite of their race and religion, is also highlighted by imagery that seeks to bring the country together ,such as through the collective 'lion's roar' in the lyrics of "We Are Singapore"(1987).

National Day theme songs reflect Singapore's progress over time and retell the story of Singapore's rapid economic progress from "third-world" to "first-world". Songs from 1959 to 1983 reflect an attempt by the government to define a national identity. Between 1984 to 1996, the government sought to fully define and propagate the country's national identity. We Are Singapore(1987) included the lyrics "There was a time when people said that Singapore won't make it, but we did. There was a time when troubles seemed to much to take, but we did. We built a nation strong and free..." to increase pride in Singaporeans and reinforce the story of Singapore's economic progress. Songs from the 1990s to the 2010s reflect the increased educational status and cultural capital of Singaporeans by relying on lyrics that are less overtly patriotic. "Love At First Light" (2012) had no mention of the word "Singapore" in its lyrics.

National Day theme songs seek to define Singapore's future and serve as a call to action. "Home" (1998) reinforced the image of Singapore's place in an increasingly globalized world. It sought to reach out to Singaporeans living overseas to return home because Singapore is 'where my dreams wait for me, where the river always flows." The 1999 theme song Together, was named as a reference to the title of the country's Vision Statement of that period . The music video of Stand Up For Singapore (2000) paints the picture of a progressive Singapore as the four lead singers — all under the age of thirty — danced in Mass Rapid Transit stations and the rooptop of a skyscraper. The 2009 theme song "What Do You See?" was the first song performed by an indie rock band.

A survey conducted by the Lee Kuan Yew Centre For Innovative Cities in 2021 found songs released prior to 2000 to be more popular with Singaporeans. These songs focused on the themes of dreams, home and nation building.