Ladies and Gentlemen, allow me to present the Complaints Choir of Singapore, proving that the urge to bitch and moan is truly international:
This musical interlude was inspired by a long list of complaints compiled by ordinary Singaporeans. Here's the official explanation:
THE COMPLAINTS CHOIR OF SINGAPORE
The Singapore Complaints Choir - organized by Fringe Festival / The Necessary Stage - started off like any of the other choirs. People came, complained, and enjoyed the transformation of their complaints into a cheerful choir song under the inspiring guidance of composer and choir conductor Wai Lun Chong. Choir members were actively involved shaping the song, even a rap commitee was organized trying to come up with an Acronym Rap, since the use of acronyms such as HDB, BGR, MDA etc. is very popular in Singapore. The Media Development Authority (MDA) - famed for their own senior management rap video (a must see!) - approved the lyrics and Fringe festival got permission from the locations for the planned public performances including a foodcourt at Eunos and the City Plaza Complex.
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As with all great artistic endeavors, however, conflict and controversy soon emerged. Via Reuters:
A choir that planned to sing a list of complaints about life in Singapore cancelled its performances after the city-state banned its foreign members from singing, organizers said on Saturday.
The 60-member "complaints choir", a concept that originated from two Finnish artists, was scheduled to perform at a weekend festival but authorities granted a performance license on the condition that the foreigners would not participate.
"Our conductor is Malaysian, so how could the choir go ahead without him?" said Melissa Lim, the festival organizer.
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However, Art will always find a way:
In the end Fringe festival organized private viewings for "friends" of the complaints choir at the Old Parliament House. It was the great irony of the whole story, that the choir performed in the exact same location in which many of the legislations were made that helped to effectively ban the choir from performing.
The people, when griping, will never be defeated!
The full lyric can be found here.
(Hat tip: Marginal Revolution)
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