Gardens by the Bay and Mediacorp celebrate Singapore’s 56th birthday with talented local stars in an exhilarating entertainment special

Singapore, 29 July 2021 – Join us in celebrating Singapore’s 56th birthday with the Gardens by the Bay and Mediacorp National Day Concert 2021 on 9 August, which will feature star-studded performances set against the verdant backdrop of Gardens by the Bay’s iconic attractions.

Centred on young musical talent, this collaboration between Gardens by the Bay and Mediacorp, which is into its third year, aims to bring Singaporeans together through a forward-looking showcase of rising local stars that also underscores our shared sense of belonging. The inaugural concert in 2019 saw more than 60,000 people coming together at The Meadow in the Gardens to celebrate our nation’s birthday, while last year’s virtual edition, which took place in a different climate due to the COVID-19 pandemic, garnered an even wider audience via meWATCH, Channel 5 and Mediacorp Entertainment Youtube. 

This year’s concert will be graced by Guest-of-Honour President Halimah Yacob and Mr Mohamed Abdullah Alhabshee, and anchored by exhilarating performances at the Supertree Grove, Flower Dome, Cloud Forest, Floral Fantasy and outdoor gardens. The entire show will be produced with all necessary safe management measures in place, and viewers can enjoy the performances from the comfort and safety of their homes or on the go via Mediacorp's multiple platforms on 9 August at 8pm. Please refer to Annex A for viewing details. 

President Halimah said: “In spite of challenges brought on by the pandemic, Gardens by the Bay and Mediacorp have sought to connect Singaporeans through engaging programmes such as the National Day Concert. I hope this year’s concert, with its forward-looking theme, will continue to rally our nation and encourage all of us to stay strong, united, and push ahead together towards a better future.”

Felix Loh, CEO, Gardens by the Bay, said: “This pandemic has re-engaged many of us with nature and enabled us to better appreciate our living environment. We are thankful that our Gardens has retained its popularity with our local community. We wish for this year’s digital edition, showcasing our Gardens’ physical beauty, brought to life by our home-grown Mediacorp talents, will unite everyone in believing that our best days are just ahead of us.”

Tham Loke Kheng, CEO, Mediacorp said: “Mediacorp is delighted to celebrate Singapore’s birthday for the third time with Gardens by the Bay. This collaborative effort showcasing our local creative talent and the beauty of Gardens by the Bay is our homage to Singapore, and to fellow Singaporeans. Despite the current circumstances, we hope audiences will join us to mark our National Day, keep our spirits up and look forward to brighter days ahead.”

Hosted by Class 95 DJ Jean Danker, the one-hour programme promises a spectacular showcase of local talents in the creative industry, with a focus on next-generation hotshots such as up-and-coming R&B musician Keyana; and the latest real-life ‘IT’ couple, heartthrob singer-actor Gavin Teo and second-generation rising star Chen Yixin, who will be performing Crowd Lu’s ‘幾分之幾 You Complete Me’ together at the scenic Dragonfly Lake. Not to be missed is a key segment featuring popular Mediacorp actress Rebecca Lim, who will perform a rousing rendition of Corrine May’s uplifting National Day Song, ‘Song for Singapore’. This segment will also include a special National Day greeting by President Halimah Yacob. 

Audiences can also anticipate a stellar performance by Kollywood music producer Shabir who will deliver his catchy tune, ‘Singai Naadu Redux’, and exuberant dance moves amidst the Dale Chihuly: Glass in Bloom exhibition glass sculptures in the Gardens. Joining these next-generation stars will be the legendary pop icon Rahimah Rahim, who will be belting out signature hits like ‘Pesanan Buat Gadis’ and ‘Gadis Bunga’ amongst the stunning blooms within Flower Dome. Please refer to Annex B for a list of key programme performers. 

Interspersed among the performances will be inspiring stories of individuals and organisations who are making a positive impact in the community and contributing to a green and sustainable living environment. Set in the lush surroundings of the Gardens, the stories will feature the team from social enterprise, The Social Kitchen, seniors from social service agency, Brahm Centre, horticulturists and staff from Gardens by the Bay, and even a special cameo appearance by a family of otters at Marina Bay.

That’s not all. To amplify audience engagement, viewers can also look forward to immersing themselves in the Gardens by the Bay and Mediacorp National Day Concert Virtual Experience from their homes. Viewers can explore the whimsical, futuristic digital twin of Gardens by the Bay, where they can learn more about the National Day Concert performers and enjoy a special performance of ‘再度起航’ (‘Take Flight’) by local artiste Jake (吴家慷). The Gardens by the Bay and Mediacorp National Day Concert Virtual Experience will be available via meWATCH on Windows desktop devices from 9 August. 

For more information, please visit mewatch.sg/ndc2021.

Annex A – Viewing details

Annex B – Performers at Gardens by the Bay & Mediacorp National Day Concert 2021 (in alphabetical order)

1.       Chen Yi Xin

2.       Gavin Teo

3.       Jack and Rai

4.       Keyana

5.       Kitty Purrnaz

6.       Rahimah Rahim

7.       Rebecca Lim

8.       Shabir

9.       Tyen Rasif

-  ends -

For media queries, please contact:

Alixues Chua
Gardens by the Bay
HP: (65) 9748 2252
Email: alixues.chua@gardensbythebay.com.sg  

Natasya Ismail
Mediacorp
HP: (65) 8777 1928
Email: Natasya.Ismail@mediacorp.com.sg

About Gardens by the Bay

An integral part of Singapore’s “City in Nature” vision, Gardens by the Bay is a national garden and premier horticultural attraction that showcases the best of garden and floral artistry for all to enjoy. Spanning 101 hectares in the heart of Singapore’s downtown Marina Bay, it comprises three waterfront gardens – Bay South, Bay East, and Bay Central. Bay South, the largest at 54 hectares, officially opened on 29 June 2012.

Guided by the vision to be a world of gardens for all to own, enjoy and cherish, the Gardens’ extensive plant collection, ever-changing floral displays, and myriad of engaging programmes have captured the imagination of many, while its Gift of Gardens community initiative, with President of the Republic of Singapore Madam Halimah Yacob as Patron, reaches out to people from all walks of life.

Since opening, Gardens by the Bay has welcomed more than 50 million visitors and garnered numerous international awards including Best Attraction Experience in the Singapore Tourism Awards 2019 and ASEAN Sustainable Tourism Award presented by ASEAN Tourism in 2018. The Gardens continues to refresh and refine its offerings, to be a place that everyone can enjoy – a garden where wonder blooms.

For more information, visit www.gardensbythebay.com.sg. 

About Mediacorp

Mediacorp is Singapore’s national media network and largest content creator. Its purpose is to create engaging and trusted content, as well as to connect communities and inspire people. Mediacorp engages over three million people in Singapore daily across four languages on its digital platforms including meWATCH, meLISTEN and CNA.asia, six TV channels and 11 radio stations. Beyond Singapore, Mediacorp also has a growing international audience through CNA and content distributed across markets.

With a focus on nurturing talent and growing the sector, the company is committed to investing in nation-wide initiatives like Star Search, Anugerah, Yaar Antha Star and SPOP, commissioning a wide variety of work from local content creators, and collaborating with institutes of higher learning. As Singapore’s first local Multi-Channel Network in partnership with YouTube, Mediacorp is also committed to developing a network of digital content creators.

For advertisers, Mediacorp has partnered industry-leading brands like ESPN, Mothership, Popcorn, theAsianparent, VICE, YouTube and 99.co to form the Mediacorp Digital Network in offering more effective content-driven solutions.

Mediacorp is the recipient of industry accolades including New York Festivals, World Media Festivals, PromaxBDA (World and Asia) and Asian Academy Creative Awards.

For more information, please visit mediacorp.sg.