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SINGAPORE: Expect chaotic music and brilliant fireworks to usher in the New Year at the countdown party at Marina Bay on Wednesday, with celebrations choreographed to match the current uncertain economic times.
According to the organiser Esplanade, a special music score has been composed to go with the fireworks. Chants will build up towards the stroke of midnight before being replaced by high energy music to reflect the anxieties of the economic climate.
Benson Puah, CEO of Esplanade, said: "This year, we're going to hold you back after the fireworks because the chant tails off and lets you pause and reflect again."
Some ex-offenders from the Yellow Ribbon Project are also reflecting and penning down their hopes on wishing spheres – a tradition that started three years ago as part of the Marina Bay Countdown.
One of them, Sunny, said: "I want to be a better person... to change, reach my goals and watch my son grow up."
Ten thousand of these wishing spheres will be lit up in multiple colours on New Year's Eve. The idea has also caught on with corporate sponsors like Carlsberg which has created 60 wishing spheres of their own.
Grace Lee, senior marketing manager, Carlsberg, said: "Generally, we feel that the market sentiments are pretty poor and public morale is pretty low at this point in time. It's a very meaningful cause for us to engage in a much bigger scale or campaign to help spread cheers and good wishes to our partners and our supportive consumers."
Besides penning down their wishes on the spheres which will be set afloat on the water, hundreds of visitors have also been writing their hopes and dreams for 2009 on bell charms.
On a separate note, MediaCorp Channel 5 will hold a 90-minute concert on the floating platform for the first time and Channel NewsAsia will beam the countdown 'live' to the region.
Tickets to the countdown concert on the floating platform are priced from S$18.
- CNA/so
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