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Arts & Culture
Cantonese Opera
Originating in Foshan, China, it is mainly sung in Cantonese, and later introduced to Singapore.
Cantonese opera was inscribed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List in 2009.
Craftsmanship and performance is divided into four basic categories: singing, acting, speech delivery and martial arts. These skills involved the whole spectrum of vocal and dramatic training. In fact, Singapore was once hailed as "the second hometown of Cantonese opera" and is the most active region for Cantonese opera outside of China and Hong Kong. It is a pity that the popularity of Cantonese opera culture in Singapore is getting worse and worse. At present, there are fewer Cantonese opera performances and the younger generation are less willing to learn the art of Cantonese Opera.
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Please click the picture to watch the Cantonese Opera performance
2021 "Stealing the Tiger Tallies (proof of authorisation in Ancient China) to Save Zhao", a Cantonese Opera performance on "Tiger Tallies" produced by the Singapore Chinese Opera Research Association.
The influence of TV drama and pop music
Hong Kong used to be the Dai Lou (elder brother/big brother, referring to those having the highest ranking) in the Chinese entertainment circle. Singapore is also affected by the Hong Kong style, so Singaporeans – hence, even if they are not Cantonese, they have a certain understanding of Cantonese culture and the Cantonese dialect.
Hong Kong Movies and TV Dramas:
In the early days, most of the films and TV series watched by Singaporeans came from the works of Hong Kong TVB TVB (Television Broadcasts Limited). The TVB TV Series' touch on common topics that revolve around the daily lives of others. Till this day, these unforgettable classics and scripted lines are unforgettable for majority of the Singaporeans.
Cantonese pop songs:
Cantonese pop music in Hong Kong gained popularity in the 1980s and 1990s, and these pop music also spread to Singapore and other Southeast Asian countries. During this period, almost all Singaporeans hummed Cantonese songs, which shows that Cantonese is an influential language in Singapore.
Among them, the four most popular male singers in Hong Kong, Andy Lau, Leon Lai, Aaron Kwok and Jacky Cheung, were called the "Four Heavenly Kings" by the media in the 1990s. The Four Heavenly Kings of Hong Kong are beloved by Singaporeans and a phenomenon in Hong Kong's pop culture. Due to their popularity among many Singaporeans, whether they are Cantonese or not, are attracted to Cantonese songs and Cantonese cuisines
In addition, Beyond, the most influential Hong Kong rock band in the Chinese music scene, was also popular with Singaporeans during the 1990s. Beyond sang many popular songs and lyrics that were dedicated to love, ideals and beliefs accompanying many Singaporeans to spend their youthful years. Even after many years, these classic songs can resonate with many people when they are sung.
The band's classic Cantonese songs include "Glorious Years", "Boundless Oceans, Vast Skies", "Truly Love You" and "Like You".
References
Anonymous (date unknown). The Four Heavenly Kings of Hong Kong. Wikipedia. Online date: February 21, 2022. Checked from: https://zh.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The Four Kings of Hong Kong
Anonymous (date unknown). Beyond. Wikipedia. Online date: February 21, 2022. Checked from: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/en-sg/Beyond