It's National Day in Singapore !!

Daphne called me around 9.30am in the morning. Daph! It's the second time in 2 public holidays that you've woke me up in the morning!! The last time was Vesak Day, remember? And this time was worse 'cos my voice was totally hoarse. So sorry Daph if I sounded really bad. =p

For the rest of the day, I focussed on updating this blog on my US travel, even through the National Day Parade on TV. It's the first time the Parade was held on the world's largest floating platform, the show was very much the same. For me, i almost always only look forward to the end where the fireworks (yes, i could catch a little of it from my balcony) and good old familiar national day songs are sung.

In the middle of the parade, Kit Chan appeared. She's one singer whom I really respect her for her voice (or should i say singing prowess?). So when I realised that she was about to sing one of the new national day songs this year, I stopped working on my laptop to listen. And I was touched. The song spoke to me.



Below are the lyrics.

There's no place I'd rather be
Singer: Kit Chan
Song and Lyrics : Jimmy Ye

I’ve walked the streets of Cairo and Bombay
I’ve seen the neon signs on old Broadway
I’ve climbed the Eiffel Tower,
The Great Wall in one hour,
Experienced sweet and sour but that’s okay.

Seen Hollywood, the sunsets in LA.
The London Bridge, Big Ben, the Thames, UK
I’ve crossed the River Kwai
Yet still I don’t know why
I think of you each night and every day.

I’ve braved the rain in Spain, danced in Taipei
I’ve queued in the West End to catch the plays
Discovered I love snow
All nights in San Francisco
But it’s still you I miss when I’m away

There’s no place I’d rather be
You’ll always be a part of me
And even though I’ve roamed the world
It’s still my home I long to see.

This is where my family
And my friends grew up with me
So I’ll cross the skies and sail the seas
To be where I wanna be.

Cos there’s no place I’d rather be!

A clearer MP3 version is available here. http://media.ndp.org.sg/mp3/2007%20-%20There_sNoPlaceI_dRatherBe.mp3

When the parade ended, I came online to search for the song. I know most of Singapore would have heard the song being aired on TV or radio constantly prior to national day. But I was away for 3 weeks. And I haven't turned on the TV since I'm back. So this is the first time I'm listening to it! While on MSN, saw 2 other sisters online and feeling so sentimental, I msned them "love you sisters!" =)

Truly, having just came back from the US after 3 weeks, the song really touched my heart. I’ve seen Hollywood (it's a letdown =p) and the beautiful sunsets in LA. I've seen the neon signs of the fake Broadway and a smaller replica of the Eiffel Tower in Las Vegas. I've also saw a pathetic Great Wall during last year's lantern festival. I haven't been to most of the verses that Kit sang, but I just visited Grand Canyon, seen River Colorado and Hoover Dam. I've been to Yosemite and even experienced Venice in Vegas. Those closer to me will know that the whole episode of being able to come on this trip was a series of sweet and sour experiences. At the end of the trip, I realised how high the standard of living in Singapore is. People ask, "So now, have you begun to consider working and staying in the US?" My answer had always been and still has the same firm reply with a smile. =)

When Kit sang "Yet still I don’t know why I think of you each night and every day." I couldn't helped but walk to my mom to give her a kiss. Yes, I missed mom while I was away. =)

Truly, much as I enjoyed travelling and seeing the world -- California's great: The people, the sights, the weather. Yet, there’s no place I’d rather be because home is where my heart is. And how true, it's all because this is where my family and my friends grew up with me. Yes, especially to mom and mom's family, and yes especially to all my dear friends and close sisters who have more than made up for me being an only child at home. You've made this place so dear to me. So I’ll cross the skies and sail the seas, because I still wanna to see the whole world. But at the end of the day, home is where I wanna be. =)


As I searched online for the full song (still can't find the 3rd verse where Spain, Taipei, Snow and San Francisco were mentioned), I came across the "spoofed" version of the song by our local chinese DJs. To all my Singaporean friends, whether you are in LA or France, may this bring a smile to your face. =)

There's been positive and negative comments about the song. My personal take is to add one more verse to include Asia and other major cities or continents. Then in a reversed manner, even though Singapore is not mentioned, it'll still be able to be a Singapore song cos no other nation can use it. Well, gone are the days of songs like "Stand up for Singapore", "Count on me Singapore" and "One People, One Nation, One Singapore". Which younger generation is going to sing such 'straight-in-your-face' patriotic songs? =P (ok, most still do lah, but only on national day when everyone else is singing)

As for me, it's still more important to love God and His people. To seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. =)