Songs About Malaysia

I'm quite the music enthusiast.

I appreciate all kinds of music. Don't believe me? refer here.

Lately, the Masjid Jamek Putra LRT station has been playing loads of Malaysian patriotic songs. Frankly, I don't really listen to it because I'm too busy listening to my chiPod. And frankly, the sound is so faint I can hardly hear what they're singing. I mean, it's a patriotic song, we're not exactly supposed to appreciate the music. We should be listening to the patriotic lyrics right?

Of course a good melody does help one like and remember the song.

But still, I can't hear the lyrics so I'd rather listen to my chiPod.

But that doesn't mean I don't have some favourites! Hehe.

I went on a google rampage in search for the list of all (or most) of the patriotic songs about Malaysia.

I listened to most of them(over 60 songs - talk about semangat!) and picked out which ones I like. After hearing that many songs I felt like they all sounded the same. But of course some were more significant than others. Some.

Believe it or not you can listen to most of these songs online in a government website. Pretty cool huh?

So here are the winners in no particular order:

• 31 Ogos- Ah, who doesn't know this song sung by Sudirman? Man, that dude was an icon in the 80s. Shame he died. You know you mean something to Malaysia if the government asked you to sing some Malaysian patriotic song. And this song, well, it does make me all excited about Merdeka.

• Rukun Negara - I only like this song because its a song that will help me remember the Rukun Negara. And I evidently need that and perhaps you do too. Refer here to find out if you need to learn this song.
  

• Gemilang Malaysia - Okay first and foremost, this is probably one of the few patriotic songs that starts with a less marching band type music intro. Thats probably the only reason I like this song. Love the kompang sound. Hehe.

• Wawasan 2020 - Favourite quote from song "bukan impian malah kenyataan". Yeah, we'll see about that. I mean it's 2007 and we still have a long way to go to that wawasan 2020 dream. Heh.

• Keranamu Malaysia - I just learnt the lyrics to this song with my little cousins. Yeah, public schools are making the kids learn this song. So cute. Hehe. I love how they say the buruh, nelayan and petani's lives have changed now and how "Pakar IT, pakar ekonomi Jaguh sukan dan juga jutawan Berkereta jenama negara" because we all know most of them DON'T drive Malaysian cars. Nyahaha. Okay, there are those who do but it's probably their spare car. Nice try though.
  

• Bahtera Merdeka - It's got a sad tone to it but its basically a song about how people sacrifice for their country. Like, go to war. A lot of us take this situation for granted because we've been at peace for so many years and the need to call for a soldier is not needed. But I can guarantee you this song would be a huge hit if we were suddenly at war.
  

• Sejarah Pertiwiku - I really like this song first and foremost cos it's keroncong and damn, i love keroncong. It's a song about Malaysia's history. Love it. I don't know why it makes me want to dress in a tight kebaya and like hold one of those old skool umbrellas and my hair is tied loose with a red flower on my left lobe. Haha. I know, what?
  

• Perwira - Its a song you sing to your husband if you go to war. But I swear its got quite a cha cha beat to it which is totally contrasting with what the husband is about to face. He's about to go to war and she's going to do the cha cha. Yay! Party on!

• Putra Putri - This song is another one of those songs that tell all Malaysians they're the ones who can make the country a better place with unity, strength, courage, determination and stuff. It's got a dreamy tone to it. I don't know if people are even listening to the lyrics with the song sounding so melodic.
  

• Malaysia Berjaya - Okay this song sounds exactly like the "Genovia" song from Princess Diaries. No really, it does. It's very marching band worthy type. I like it. Upbeat, happy and short.

• Fikirkan Boleh - I think of my childhood when I hear this song. It's actually a good song to make you think twice before you say "I can't do it".
  

• One Golden Celebration - Well first of all, it's an English song which is quite rare. Secondly, this isn't really a patriotic song is it? But who cares? It's Malaysia related. So I love how they say in the lyrics that there are a million smiles here in Malaysia. Total bullshit. I mean, the government had to put up billboards and write it in the newspaper to remind us to smile damn it! I guess they did that to fill up the one million smiles quota huh? Hehe. But I do like this song. If I were foreigner I would totally want to visit Malaysia cos it's got an authentic and exotic sound to it (note: the flute and the men singing "mari adik-adik, mari abang-abang, mari ramai-ramai, mari bergembira" in the background). Makes Malaysia sound pretty quaint and colorful.

• Malaysia Truly Asia - I really love the intro to this song (again note : the flute?seruling? whatever. it just sounds cool). This song is really again meant for the foreigners. But still, as a Malaysian, I like it. I like how they try to entice the foreigners with the sounds of our traditional music instruments through just one song. On top of that this song is available in 16 other languages. Clever and cunning fusion indeed. On a side note, IS THAT SITI NURHALIZA SINGING? I wish I was her English speech coach. Sigh.
  

• Proud To Be Malaysian - I looked high and low for this song online. Somehow it is unavailable anywhere! boohoo. But I love this song. I mean I was sitting in the loo thinking about it the other day specifically the line "there will always be peace and prosperity and respect for the world community" and my reply to that is as long as we're tolerant people, yes.
  

After my hardcore research on these songs, I STILL am not entirely sure if it helped my quest to find out if I am proud to be Malaysian. I mean, the music did have some effect on me. I like how we blend musical instruments from other cultures into one community. And the lyrics do make me feel kind of feel like I want to get into the proud-to-be-Malaysian spirit.

But then again, I am not about to go and buy myself a flag yet.

Maybe that should be my next task? Buy a Malaysian flag and hang it in my room?

After all, I know Canadians who do that. They are so proud to be Canadian they hang a big giant Canadian flag on their bedroom wall.

Maybe I should try that.

*Still Pondering*