SALVATION AND SUBVERSION, SHIFTING TUNES OF CHINESE MUSIC IN COLONIAL SINGAPORE 1937-1963

Abstract

Numerous academic works have been done on the political contestations and transformations during the period of 1937 -1963 Singapore. From the outbreak of the Second Sino-Japanese War to Singapore’s post-war struggle for independence, extant literature entails a heavy emphasis on the politics of Singapore. However, the domain of culture was often sidelined, glossed over, or analysed as a subject separate from politics. Specifically, the role of songs as a tool to spread political ideologies and affect change in society has been mentioned in a cursory manner. Chinese nationalist songs in the 1930s and 1940s were a powerful tool in fostering Chinese nationalism in Singapore. Likewise, Chinese anti-colonial songs in the 1950s and 1960s were utilised by the Chinese-educated community to express their dissatisfaction with the continuation of British imperialism and perceived oppression towards Chinese culture and education. This thesis seeks to examine the changes, continuities and more importantly highlight the complex entanglement between music and politics from 19371963. It attempts to complicate our understanding towards Chinese music and uncover its shifting political framings from pre-war to post-war.