SINGAPORE – With the recent launch of 2023’s National Day Parade (NDP) theme song, Shine Your Light, The Straits Times shines the light on the five best NDP anthems out of the more than 30 that have been released in the past three decades.

Who knew these earworms could make people smile, sing along and swell with Singapore pride year after year?

1. The Road Ahead (2021)

The Road Ahead is a bittersweet tune that hits you right in the feels.

There are melancholic bits that get you emotional, yet it boasts an uplifting chorus that gives you hope, no matter how bad things get.

Released at a time when the country was coming to terms with living with the Covid-19 pandemic, it perfectly captures the zeitgeist.

Jointly composed by indie singer-songwriter Linying and music producer Evan Low, and sung by Linying, Sezairi, Shye and Shabir, the song’s electronic pop touches also sound modern and current.

The Road Ahead works not just as an NDP anthem, but it also fits perfectly as a contemporary pop tune.

2. Home (1998)

Home often takes the top spot in polls about Singaporeans’ favourite NDP song.

It is a memorable classic that has near-universal appeal – easy enough for school-going kids to remember and sing along to, but with the right amount of sophistication for adults.

The grand ballad has a timeless arrangement that still sounds fresh 25 years later.