New cover of NDP song Home aims to spread message of inclusivity
Screenshots of the music video Home by Homes. Photo: DDB Group Singapore
SINGAPORE — Beneficiaries from nine voluntary welfare organisations (VWOs) are starring in a heartfelt rendition of popular National Day song Home in a bid to spread the message of inclusivity.
The cover was created by StarHub and the VWOs to celebrate Singapore’s Golden Jubilee and to remind Singaporeans of “fellow citizens who are not as privileged, but share our love for Singapore”, said StarHub in a press release.
The music video features 21 beneficiaries from the VWOs, namely, the Asian Women’s Welfare Association Senior Citizens’ Home, Boys’ Town, Breakthrough Missions, Geylang East Home for the Aged, Lee Ah Mooi Old Age Home, Muhammadiyah Welfare Home, Red Cross Home for the Disabled, Singapore Asssociation for the Deaf and Singapore Association of the Visually Handicapped.
Some participants sing in Singapore’s four official languages – English, Mandarin, Malay and Tamil — while others turned to body language to express their emotions instead.
StarHub and DDB Group Singapore, StarHub’s advertising agency, had approached the various homes in search of participants with a passion for singing and would be keen to take part in the project. The full-length music video was shot over three days on-location at the VWOs’ premises and People’s Park Complex.
“As we reflect on the progress Singapore has achieved, this song reminds us all what Home really means,” said Ms Jeannie Ong, chief strategic partnership officer of Starhub. “Home is not a place; it is made of our people and lives in our hearts. This idea of home belongs to each and every Singaporean.”
“Hence, this year, we want to inspire Singaporeans to care, share, volunteer and donate to worthy causes, and make this SG50 a truly special celebration for the nation,” she added.
Madam Seow, a resident in Geylang East Home for the Aged said, “The lyrics of Home echo how my friends and I feel towards Singapore, so when we had the chance to record our own version of the song, we were very happy to lend our voices to support this cause. We have been singing together for many years, so it was an exciting experience to actually sing on TV and do a professional recording.”
Another participant from drug rehabilitation halfway house Breakthrough Missions, Mr Kelvin Chen, called this “an opportunity beyond his imagination”.
“I feel very blessed. Having spent so much time behind bars, I never thought I would get the chance to be part of the SG50 celebrations and this meaningful message,” he said.
StarHub customers can support the nine VWOs by redeeming 50 StarHub Rewards Points for a S$5 donation, which will come from the StarHub Sparks Fund, StarHub’s corporate philanthropy vehicle.
The music video will be shown on StarHub’s YouTube and Facebook accounts, StarHub TV channels and in Golden Village cinemas.
As part of StarHub’s SG50 celebrations, StarHub TV will hold five weeks of free previews, meaning six days of all-access free viewing of over 150 channels during the National Day week. Special mobile and broadband offers will also be offered during this period.
