{"id":66081,"date":"2022-07-05T12:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-07-05T04:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/glutenfreepleasure.com\/__proxy_domain\/www.wildrice.com.sg\/?p=66081"},"modified":"2022-09-02T13:30:58","modified_gmt":"2022-09-02T05:30:58","slug":"go-behind-the-scenes-of-dont-call-him-mr-mari-kita%ef%bf%bc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/glutenfreepleasure.com\/__proxy_domain\/www.wildrice.com.sg\/go-behind-the-scenes-of-dont-call-him-mr-mari-kita%ef%bf%bc\/","title":{"rendered":"Go Behind The Scenes Of Don\u2019t Call Him Mr. Mari Kita\ufffc"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Julian Wong\u2019s first involvement with Wild Rice was for the company\u2019s 2008 production of the musical Beauty World<\/em>. In 2007, Ivan Heng was looking for a pianist to play at auditions, and Pam Oei recommended the then 19-year-old Wong. When Julian\u2019s mentor, Iskandar Ismail, came on board as the music director, he roped Julian in as his assistant, rehearsal pianist and show pianist.1<\/sup> Later, in 2008, Wild Rice produced Julian\u2019s first theatrical work, the NS-themed musical Botak Boys<\/em>, for the Singapore Theatre Festival.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Jula Juli Bintang Tiga<\/em> (1959)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Multimedia designer He Shuming sourced the footage featured in the show from three different films. They are Cinta<\/em> (Love<\/em>, 1948), Tunang Pak Dukun<\/em> (Pak Dukun\u2019s Fianc\u00e9e<\/em>, 1960) and Jula Juli Bintang Tiga<\/em> (Jula Juli The Third Star<\/em>, 1959). Cinta<\/em> was produced by Shaw Brothers Malay Film Productions, while the latter two films were produced by Cathay-Keris Films. During the Golden Age of Malay Cinema, which lasted from 1947 to 1972, the two rival studios released more than 250 films, almost all of them in black and white.2<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Cinta<\/em> (1948)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Various scenes in Cinta<\/em> were shot on the beaches of Punggol.3<\/sup> Malay films made in the \u201950s and \u201960s often contain valuable archival footage of locations in Singapore, many of which have been transformed beyond recognition. Film historian Toh Hun Ping maintains a website where he has identified some of these locations at https:\/\/sgfilmlocations.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Racun Dunia<\/em> (1950)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The classic song Sayang Disayang<\/em> was first featured in the film Racun Dunia<\/em> (Poison of the World<\/em>, 1950), starring P. Ramlee as a villainous character. It was sung by playback singer Rubiah. In later years, it was recorded as a standard by singers such as Rafeah Buang, Momo Latiff and \u2018Queen of Keroncong<\/em>\u2019 Kartina Dahari. In Indonesia, it has been recorded by Tetty Kadi and Hetty Koes Endang, and is known as Angin Menderu<\/em> (or The Wind Howls<\/em>, the first two words of the song).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Frederick working on a cheongsam inspired by the iconic 1960s Mondrian collection
(Photo Credit: Frederick Lee)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Costume designer Frederick Lee was inspired by both traditional and modern design elements for the look of the show. In addition to baju kurung<\/em> and kebaya<\/em> (for women) and baju Melayu<\/em> (for men), he also included an argyle-patterned sweater vest and a cocktail dress inspired by Yves Saint Laurent\u2019s 1965 geometric Mondrian collection.4<\/sup> This eclecticism reflects Zubir Said\u2019s own mastery in composing songs that range from those using joget<\/em> rhythms to those propelled by Afro-Cuban beats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Ulang Tahun Negara Singapura<\/em>, written in 1960
(Photo Credit: Nona Asiah)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Julian had puzzled over the lyrics to the song Ulang Tahun Negara Singapura<\/em> (Singapore\u2019s Birthday<\/em>) when he first came across it in the book Zubir Said: The Composer of Majulah Singapura<\/em> by Rohana Zubir.5<\/sup> The song was composed in 1960, yet the lyrics mention that Singapore\u2019s Birthday was 9 August, a date associated with Singapore\u2019s independence in 1965!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One day, Julian was reading about Nona Asiah\u2019s 2016 Cultural Medallion win and came across a scanned page entitled \u201cSong written by Zubir Said to record for radio show, 1960\u201d, from Nona Asiah\u2019s collection.6<\/sup> Upon closer inspection, he discovered that it was the scoresheet to Ulang Tahun Negara Singapura<\/em>, with the original lyrics crossed out and written over. The mystery was solved \u2013 Zubir Said had replaced the original date of 3 June (referring to Singapore\u2019s transition to self-government in 1959) with 9 August.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Old National Theatre
(Photo Credit: National Museum of Singapore)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The vertical diamonds in the set design \u2013 echoing the repeated motifs around the interior walls of The Ngee Ann Kongsi Theatre \u2013 are inspired by the fa\u00e7ade of the National Theatre.7<\/sup> Also known as the \u201cPeople\u2019s Theatre\u201d, it was designed by Singaporean architect Alfred H.K. Wong and officially opened on 8 August 1963. The iconic frontage consisted of five vertical diamond-shaped bays, which led many members of the public to associate it with the five stars of the national flag. Incidentally, Zubir Said sat on the Board of Trustees for the National Theatre Trust.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Set designer Ivan Heng also added a little Easter egg in the form of the musical notes decorating the arch at the back of the stage. They transcribe the melody to the line \u201cdengan semangat yang baru<\/em>\u201d (\u201cwith a new spirit\u201d) from the national anthem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Minangkabau language in Arabic script on Minangkabau royal seal from the 19th century<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The Minangkabau language is spoken by around 5.5 million native speakers. While spoken mainly in Sumatra, Indonesia, there are also numerous speakers in Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. There is much similarity between the Minangkabau and Malay languages. For example, the Minangkabau lyrics \u201cjauah kito marantau pai marantau<\/em>\u201d (\u201chow far we\u2019ve journeyed\u201d) would be \u201cjauh kita merantau pergi merantau<\/em>\u201d in Malay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
The original score of Majulah Singapura<\/em> by Encik Zubir Said
(Photo Credit: National Museum of Singapore)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The word \u2018rakyat<\/em>\u2019 in the national anthem comes from the Arabic, and means the \u2018flock\u2019 (ra\u2019iyya<\/em>), in contrast to the \u2018shepherd\u2019 (al-ra\u2019i<\/em>). The original meaning of \u2018rakyat<\/em>\u2019 referred to the subjects of the raja<\/em> (or sultan), who offered their loyalty in return for the latter\u2019s protection. Over time, the word has gained a new meaning as \u2018the people\u2019 or \u2018citizens\u2019, reflecting evolving forms of government, from a monarchy to a modern democracy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a 1975 address to students, Zubir Said remarked: \u201cI wrote the song in 1958, when Singapore was not a feudal country. Throughout the lyrics of the anthem, you don\u2019t find anything about a King or Queen or Sultan and also not about a President or a Prime Minister. Because it is an anthem of the people and the State of Singapore.\u201d8<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Zubir Said at Piano
(Photo Credit – National Archives of Singapore)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

In addition to Arabic, Malay is also influenced by Sanskrit. In Malay, Sanskrit-derived words are often associated with literary and mystical prestige. In the national anthem, these include words like \u2018bahagia<\/em>\u2019 (happiness or blessedness), \u2018cita-cita<\/em>\u2019 (dreams), \u2018mulia<\/em>\u2019 (noble) and \u2018berjaya<\/em>\u2019 (success). They imbue the anthem with a sense of the sacred. According to his daughter Rohana, Zubir Said once described the anthem in this way \u2013 \u201cTo me, it is a prayer.\u201d9<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Written By: Alfian Sa’at<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

1<\/sup> \u201cThe Music Man.\u201d Wild Times Issue 029, Wild Rice, Oct. 2015, https:\/\/glutenfreepleasure.com\/__proxy_domain\/www.wildrice.com.sg\/the-music-man\/<\/a>.
2<\/sup> Heng, Michelle, and Nor Afidah Abdul Rahman. \u201cThe Golden Age of Malay Cinema: 1947\u20131972.\u201d Biblioasia, 2015, pp. 12\u201314.
3<\/sup> \u201cChinta \/ Love (1948).\u201d Singapore Film Locations Archive, 24 Oct. 2014, https:\/\/sgfilmlocations.com\/2014\/08\/20\/chinta-1948\/<\/a>.
4<\/sup> \u201cThe Mondrian Revolution.\u201d Mus\u00e9e Yves Saint Laurent Paris, https:\/\/museeyslparis.com\/en\/stories\/la-revolution-mondrian<\/a>.
5<\/sup> Zubir, Rohana. Zubir Said: The Composer of Majulah Singapura, ISEAS Pub., 2012, pp. 115\u2013116.
6<\/sup> \u201c2016: Asiah Aman (Nona Asiah).\u201d Cultural Medallion, National Arts Council, https:\/\/www.nac.gov.sg\/singaporeartsscene\/culturalMedallion\/overview.html<\/a>.
7<\/sup><\/sub> Saparudin, Kartini, and Wei Zhi. \u201cNational Theatre.\u201d Infopedia, National Library Board Singapore, 25 July 2014, https:\/\/eresources.nlb.gov.sg\/infopedia\/articles\/SIP_800_2005-01-18.html<\/a>.
8<\/sup> Zubir. 2012, pp. 11-12.
9<\/sup> Zubir. 2012, p. 6.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

What did it take to bring Don\u2019t Call Him Mr. Mari Kita from the page to the stage? Read on to find out how writer Julian Wong and the show\u2019s creative team sought out original music scores and cinematic references to provide context for the history and linguistic nuances in Zubir Said\u2019s lyrics.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":66082,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"default","ast-site-content-layout":"","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"default","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"default","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[350],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/glutenfreepleasure.com\/__proxy_domain\/www.wildrice.com.sg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/66081"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/glutenfreepleasure.com\/__proxy_domain\/www.wildrice.com.sg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/glutenfreepleasure.com\/__proxy_domain\/www.wildrice.com.sg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/glutenfreepleasure.com\/__proxy_domain\/www.wildrice.com.sg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/glutenfreepleasure.com\/__proxy_domain\/www.wildrice.com.sg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=66081"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/glutenfreepleasure.com\/__proxy_domain\/www.wildrice.com.sg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/66081\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/glutenfreepleasure.com\/__proxy_domain\/www.wildrice.com.sg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/66082"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/glutenfreepleasure.com\/__proxy_domain\/www.wildrice.com.sg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=66081"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/glutenfreepleasure.com\/__proxy_domain\/www.wildrice.com.sg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=66081"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/glutenfreepleasure.com\/__proxy_domain\/www.wildrice.com.sg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=66081"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}