The Songs We Sang - Xinyao reunion at Bras Basah Complex

It was a special day on 6 July for the reunion of Xinyao singers at Bras Basah Complex.  Xinyao was a term given to the Singapore Chinese music scene in the 1980s to early 1990s, where young Singaporeans started to compose their own songs in Mandarin.  It was in response to the type of music being played on the radio stations at that time, and also the need to reflect a Singapore identity through locally-composed songs.

Although the Xinyao movement quietened down in the early 90s, the key players continued to pursue music, mostly in the popular music front.  Most of them have made it big as performers, songwriters and producers.

A documtentry would be made on the Xinyao movement and the producers wanted to re-create the vibrant scene of that time. Bras Basah Complex was a popular venue for album launch during that time, and the place was always packed with supporters during those events.




The rain earlier did not dampen the spirits of the attendees, most of whom were in the 30s - 50s age range.

I arrived late and missed a few singers.   As it was so crowded, I could only listen to singers such as Pan Ying and could not see them at all.....until I saw a few audience using ingenious way to see their idols....

Reflective panel on the second floor 

I managed to get a shot of Roy Loi Fei Huei (黎沸挥）and Eric Moo (巫启贤) when I was at the ground floor.

We can't bring back or replicate the era of Xinyao, the situation then and now were so different - the Chinese school environment, the search of the Singapore identity, the simpler social-cultural environment back then, were catalysts in creating this movement.  Let's hope that the spirits of Xinyao could be picked up by the newer generations of music makers in Singapore.