Singapore celebrated her 59th birthday on Aug. 9, 2024.
Some 27,000 spectators gathered at the Padang for the National Day Parade (NDP).
Many were decked in red and white colours to celebrate the occasion.
Rare, rainy NDP
Heavy rain poured over the Marina Bay area around an hour before the start of the parade.
@mothershipsg NDP 2024 is scheduled to kick off as planned #singapore #tiktoksg #sgnews โฌ original sound - Mothership
The rain, however, did not dampen the National Day spirit and the parade continued with a slight drizzle.
The NDP 2024 staff could be seen hard at work, sweeping water off the Padang stage for the parade.
@mothershipsg Team work makes the dream work ๐คฉ๐ธ๐ฌ #singapore #tiktoksg #sgnews โฌ original sound - Mothership
While this is the first time rain was observed during the NDP in recent times, the NDP was no stranger to the wet weather.
Rain also fell on Singapore's first NDP held in 1966 and on 1968's NDP.
Then, the military contingents continued marching in the rain. ย Many spectators were drenched, but they were undeterred by the wet weather.
The same spirit continued five decades on, as the crowd at Padang braved the rain with ponchos and umbrellas to celebrate the nation's birthday.
@kaofamily Why??#ndp2024 #funny@Runner Kao โฌ Do Wah Diddy Diddy - The Surphonics
Red Lions and their smooth landings
One of the most anticipated parts of the annual NDP celebration featured the military free-fall parachutists, the Red Lions.
The crowd at the Padang was definitely thrilled to see smooth landings from the team of eight parachutists.
@mothershipsg who else was holding their breath? ๐ฎโ๐จ #singapore #tiktoksg #sgnews โฌ original sound - Mothership
Salute to sirs and ma'ams.
First NDP appearance as SM Lee, PM Wong & President Tharman
This year marks the first NDP appearance for Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, and President Tharman Shanmugaratnam.
SM Lee was all smiles, waving the Singapore flag as he greeted the crowd.
Following SM Lee's appearance, the parade also played a short tribute video of Singaporeans thanking him for his contribution as the prime minister.
@mothershipsg Woohoo #singapore #tiktoksg #sgnews โฌ original sound - Mothership
Likewise, PM Wong received warm welcome from Singaporeans upon his arrival.
Video from Mediacorp.
And President Tharman, in his suit and tie, inspected the Guard of Honour contingents as the head of state after greeting the audiences.
Video from Mediacorp.
Video from Mediacorp.
Someone cried
In 2022, a man was caught crying on camera while singing the national anthem.
This year, yet another man was caught crying on camera while singing the national anthem.
Video screenshot from NDPeeps.
BROS CRYING AGAIN WHILE SINGING NATIONAL ANTHEM ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ#NDP2024 pic.twitter.com/9DNELQetYg
โ ๐ฉ fas ๐งโโ๏ธ ๐ช (@pixielixxie) August 9, 2024
THERE IT IS #NDP2024 pic.twitter.com/jMD1sZHoNA
โ ๐๐๐๐. ๐ป (@melancholilac) August 9, 2024
Similarity index 98 per cent.
National pledge and anthem signed by a member of the Deaf community
You may notice a small box at the bottom right corner during the national pledge and anthem segment.
That's a sign language picture-in-picture box, featuring sign language performer Shalini Gidwani who is a member of the Deaf community.
@dpootatoo Super honoured to be a part of NDP 2024! The national pledge and anthem will be signed by a member of the Deaf community, and will appear in a picture-in-picture box on the broadcast on Channel 5. โจ Itโs great to see authentic representation and Singapore Sign Language (SgSL) on our TV for our National Day. Watch us on 9 August at around 8pm! ๐คฉ Happy birthday Singapore! ๐ธ๐ฌ๐ #NDP2024 #NDP #Singapore #SgSL #SingaporeSignLanguage #SignLanguage #DeafSG #Deaf โฌ Not Alone - Instrumental - NDPeeps & Benjamin Kheng
Not alone
Singaporean singer-songwriter Benjamin Kheng sang this year's NDP theme song "Not Alone".
Kheng sang on the podium as performers paraded on the ground, forming what appeared to look like our national flower, the Papilionanthe Miss Joaquim.
Fireworks set off as Kheng sang "Not Alone".
Honored to have Muzan singing this year NDP song!@benjaminkheng #NDP2024 #NDP pic.twitter.com/AibwGoVQEp
โ SunsSG (@ov_robin) August 9, 2024
Beautiful. :')
This is home
For the final part of the parade, homegrown artists Shazza, Amni Musfirah, Joanna Dong, Kheng, and weish took to the stage to sing a medley of past National Day songs.
Shazza took the lead in singing "Tomorrow's Here Today" while Amni sang "Home".
The parade concluded as the singers, along with the audience, sang "Our Singapore".
A fireworks segment closed off the three-hour parade.
Our dreams may take us all around the world, but we'll always find our way back home ๐ธ๐ฌ โค๏ธ
Happy 59th Birthday Singapore! And cheers to the long weekend everyone ๐ฅณ
๐ต: Kit Chan - Home Piano Cover by Cres Ho
#NationalDay2024 #Singapore #ArtScienceMuseum #fireworks pic.twitter.com/T6a2nzq9aP
โ ArtScience Museum (@ArtSciMuseum) August 9, 2024
Credits roll
Last but not least, this performer successfully grabbed our attention during credits roll.
Video from Mediacorp.
Top image via Chan Seng/Mothership and NDPeeps/YouTube.
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