5 days ago
I listened to every NDP Song and rated them, so you don't have to
It's that time of year again - the roar of fighter jets echoing overhead, spectacular fireworks lighting up the sky, and suddenly everyone's belting out Home like it's 2004.
National Day songs -- love them or roast them -- they show up every August like clockwork. Right on schedule alongside red and white outfits, supermarket flags, and traffic jams near Marina Bay.
From certified bangers to the more "experimental" tracks that left us scratching our heads, these songs have a strange power that makes us feel equal parts nostalgic, emotional, and awkwardly patriotic -- all at once.
But why do some of them tug at the heartstrings, while others barely make a ripple? I listened to them all and rated them - so you don't have to.
Best for karaoke singalongs
Some National Day songs are just built different.
These are the tunes where everyone knows every single word - whether they mean to or not. Like a national earworm, they live rent-free in our heads and make their annual comeback every August.
Home (2001) by Kit Chan is the gold standard. A classic. A cultural reset. Young or old, Singaporean or PR, if you don't at least hum along to this one, are you even from here?
SCREENGRAB: MIKE EDKINS/YOUTUBE
The gentle build-up to that emotional climax - "This is where I won't be alone" - was made for full-volume belting, eyes closed, hand over heart. Pure karaoke gold.
Yes, the OGs are hard to beat. But once in a while, a newer track sneaks in and surprises us - and in 2024, Not Alone did just that.
With a melody that flows effortlessly into the chorus - "If we just look to each other, then this house will feel like home" - it's the kind of song you'd actually add to your Spotify playlist, unironically.
Add a soaring key change and Benjamin Kheng's silky vocals, and you've got a track that's not just catchy - it's cathartic.
SCREENGRAB: NDPEEPS/YOUTUBE
Because in the end, it's not about how loudly you can scream-sing it. A true karaoke hit is one that hits you back - right in the feels.
Most likely to make you cry on the MRT
You know the drill - just minding your own business, staring out the MRT window on your way to work when, suddenly, a National Day song comes on.
Next thing you know, you're getting misty-eyed between Botanic Gardens and Caldecott, wondering when you turned into an emotional softie.
Who remembers My Island Home ? Released back in 2001, this oldie-but-goodie never fails to hit like a nostalgic freight train. The laid-back rhythm and its gently yearning melody are like a warm hug and a homesick sob rolled into one.
SCREENGRAB: NDPEEPS/YOUTUBE
Now picture this: You're a Singaporean living overseas, on a train that's not the MRT. You put this song on. I dare you not to cry.
And then there's the emotional landmine that is In A Heartbeat . The 2011 song may sound tender and almost fragile, but don't be fooled - it's out to wreck you.
The melody floats gently along, while the lyrics quietly destroy you with the themes of growing up, moving on and clinging on tightly to the past.
If you miss your mum, your childhood friends, or the early days when your family was still squeezed around one dinner table - brace yourself. This one doesn't just pull heartstrings, it yanks them.
SCREENGRAB: NDPEEPS/YOUTUBE
As August 9 rolls around and you're hit with all the warm fuzzies, fret not as you're not alone. Whether it's childhood memories, homesickness, or just a random wave of nostalgia mid-commute, these songs remind us that patriotism isn't always loud.
Sometimes, it's just a quiet lump in your throat.
Best for singing in the shower (secretly)
Let's be real - some songs may not top the charts or stir national pride in public, but throw in the right acoustics and the sweet, sweet privacy of your bathroom, and suddenly, you're the soloist of your personal NDP choir.
Enter: Reach out for the Skies (2005), the ultimate guilty pleasure of National Day songs.
SCREENGRAB: NDPEEPS/YOUTUBE
So corny, yet so catchy. The lyrics sound like they came straight off a motivational poster, and yet, somehow, you know every word.
Shower head in one hand, the other reaching dramatically for the skies - or, you know, the ceiling - don't worry, your secret's safe with me.
Now, Where I Belong (2001) might raise a few eyebrows. Yes, it's beloved. Sure, it's iconic. But let's face it - it's also kind of a cliché.
It wears its heart unapologetically on its sleeve, complete with the kind of lyrical earnestness that makes you roll your eyes... while secretly clutching your chest.
"Whether rain or shine, it's still beautiful," states one line. Say what you will, it's oddly comforting.
SCREENGRAB: NDPEEPS/YOUTUBE
It builds gently from soft verses to a soaring chorus made for emotional solo performances - ideally when no one else is home.
Best for baby nap time
Let's talk about this year's National Day song - Here We Are .
Look, it's not a bad song. It's soft, gentle, and easy on the ears. But maybe... a little too easy.
SCREENGRAB: NDPEEPS/YOUTUBE
Compared to past NDP tracks that were big, bold, and emotionally charged, this one feels more like a hot decaf latte - warm and soothing, but unlikely to keep you awake.
The mellow melody and choral-style vocals have a calm, almost lullaby-like energy. Before I knew it, I drifted off halfway through the second verse.
It gives bedtime story vibes - ideal if you're trying to put a baby down for a nap, soothe a sleepy cat, or catch a moment of peace after all that flag-waving and fighter jet spotting.
Not every National Day song needs to be a showstopper. And honestly, speaking as an introvert, sometimes a breather track is exactly what we need between the emotional belting sessions.
Most likely to be turned into a TikTok dance
Then, there are some National Day songs that come with choreography so intriguing, you just have to try it.
Take the 2021's The Road Ahead . With its slow, soothing melody and hopeful message, you'd expect it to soundtrack a candlelight vigil - not a living room dance session.
But then ActiveSG dropped a full-blown choreography video meant for a workout routine, and suddenly, everyone stuck at home during the pandemic was waving their hands dramatically in sync.
SCREENGRAB: NDPEEPS/YOUTUBE
It was hilarious - and oddly unifying. The power of TikTok, truly.
And let's not forget Stronger Together (2022). With its steady rhythm and motivational hook, it was practically made for wholesome, slightly cringe TikTok dances.
SCREENGRAB: NDPEEPS/YOUTUBE
Think: sweeping hand gestures and a dramatic double bicep pose the moment the line "stronger together" drops. Instant TikTok gold.
Whether intentional or not, these songs prove that a little choreography goes a long way - especially when TikTok gets its hands on it.
Best 'Majulah' energy
These are the songs with oomph. The grandeur. That unmistakable National Day zing that screams: "I'm proud to be Singaporean", fireworks or not.
Some songs don't just sing, they salute. We Are Singapore (1987) is a prime example - a full-blown power anthem made to rally the nation.
And that spoken-word bridge? Basically the National Pledge with a backing track. Majulah vibes all the way.
SCREENGRAB: NDPEEPS/YOUTUBE
One United People (2003) also earns a rightful spot in this category. It's not the loudest in the room, but it radiates quiet strength.
With its steady build and choral swell, it delivers that resolute, hand-over-heart energy fit for a grandstand moment.
SCREENGRAB: NDPEEPS/YOUTUBE
Whether it's thunderous pride or calm conviction, these songs don't just sound patriotic - they embody it.
If any songs deserve a salute, it's these.
This is home, truly
National Day songs hit each of us a little differently.
From chest-thumping anthems to guilty-pleasure bops, they've soundtracked our parades, our childhoods, and those quiet moments of Singaporean pride.
Yes, it can feel a little embarrassing knowing every word to these corny classics, but sometimes, it's worth revisiting the songs we grew up with.
To remember the thrill of waving a flag as a Primary 5 kid at your first National Day Parade.
Because at the end of the day, this is home. Truly.
