Getting into the rhythm

Posted by Tym under Explore Singapore 2006, Explore Singapore!
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When I first saw a dikir barat performance in school, I remember thinking, “Wow, this is what Malay traditional music’s like? Cool!”

Dikir barat’s one of those things that everyone enjoys, whether you’re young or old, Malay or not, musical or not. How can anyone resist its infectious rhythms and dramatic gestures?

I hadn’t seen a dikir barat performance in several years, and it turns out that some troupes, at least, have modernised their repertoire. When Mak Yong Kedek took the stage at the Explore Singapore! Culture Clubbin’ event yesterday, there was some good old Hari Raya favourites that kept the makciks in the audience plenty happy, but there were also contemporary songs given the dikir barat treatment, like the Sha Na Na classic Goodnight, Sweetheart.

Of course, any good cultural tradition would also have updated itself to include the by-now-obligatory “custom” of tormenting tourists — which leads to the customary donning of performers’ headgear, followed by the customary clapping to a simple tune like If You’re Happy and You Know It, Clap Your Hands (to lull one into a false sense of security), followed by the customary embarrassment of having to sing loudly to one’s spouse while clapping in rhythm.

The troupe leader zeroed on in a couple from Colorado, who seemed to have a good time. They also avoided the embarrassing singing part because the husband professed not to know any of the songs the troupe leader suggested — leaving the troupe leader to sing them all himself!

Singing and clapping aside, there was also a flea market with stalls by local designers and vintage clothes collectors. I let Nico from Plushism talk me into getting a handmade stuffed toy rock guitar on a keychain, found out more about The Labelled Minority’s plans to import and design T-shirts, and watched the girls from Spoil Me whip up a brand-new jewellery creation on the spot.

When the weather got too hot, I popped into the Malay Heritage Centre, which I’ve never visited before. It’s compact, which is great for not being overwhelmed by history, and I had no idea they had entire recreations inside of a P. Ramlee movie set, kampung house and HDB living room flat. (Yes, even early HDB flats are “historical” enough to merit museum recreations.)

Funnily enough, there was a guy in the museum who was showing his American friend around — by narrating everything for him. After all, all the displays are in English (and Malay, of course). I was like, er, the guy can read it for himself, right?

See Flickr: Explore Singapore!.

Tags: explore singapore, Malay Heritage Centre, National Heritage Board, Singapore, Culture Clubbin’, dikir barat