Xinyao
Encyclopedia
Xinyao is a Chinese
noun comprising two words: Xin (新) which literally means new and Yao (谣) for song. The extended form is actually "Xin jia po ge yao" (新加坡歌谣), which simply means Singapore songs. It is a genre of songs that is unique to Singapore
, where the songs are composed and sung by Singaporeans and are usually about life in this small island country. Xinyao can be clearly identified by its distinctive style of clean acoustics, with a group of people singing and harmonizing together, usually accompanied solely by the guitar. As the movement grew and became semi-commercialized in the early 90s, more sophisticated accompaniments with drums, castanets etc. were adopted.
, who has since become a prolific local songwriter, Billy Koh
who discovered & groomed many successful singapore artistes into the Asia Chinese-Pop music scene (including Kit Chan
, A-Do
and JJ Lin
), Li Wei-Song, Li Si-Song, Eric Moo
.
Songs written and sung by xinyao artistes such as "A step at a time" ("一步一步来") were popular with those born in the mid 1960s to 1970s. In 1983, the song "Encounter"("邂逅"), a duet by Eric Moo and Liang Hui-zhen, became the first xinyao song to make it to the mandarin pop song ranking chart "Pick of Pops" ("新加坡龙虎榜") on Singapore's radio station.
Chinese language
The Chinese language is a language or language family consisting of varieties which are mutually intelligible to varying degrees. Originally the indigenous languages spoken by the Han Chinese in China, it forms one of the branches of Sino-Tibetan family of languages...
noun comprising two words: Xin (新) which literally means new and Yao (谣) for song. The extended form is actually "Xin jia po ge yao" (新加坡歌谣), which simply means Singapore songs. It is a genre of songs that is unique to Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
, where the songs are composed and sung by Singaporeans and are usually about life in this small island country. Xinyao can be clearly identified by its distinctive style of clean acoustics, with a group of people singing and harmonizing together, usually accompanied solely by the guitar. As the movement grew and became semi-commercialized in the early 90s, more sophisticated accompaniments with drums, castanets etc. were adopted.
History
In the Chinese music scene, the local xinyao movement started in mid-1980s and was the source of a number of success stories in today's regional Chinese pop music industry. This genre also had its roots in the 1990s within local schools. Early pioneers of this style of music include Liang Wern FookLiang Wern Fook
Dr Liang Wern Fook is a Singaporean writer, musician, and researcher in Chinese literature and pedagogy. He was one of the pioneer figures in the xinyao movement in the 1980s and 1990s.-Early life:...
, who has since become a prolific local songwriter, Billy Koh
Billy Koh
Billy Koh is a music producer, best known for producing Singaporean singers, such as Kit Chan, A-Do, JJ Lin and BY2. He is one of the founders of record label, Ocean Butterflies Music and co-founder of the Composers and Authors Society of Singapore, COMPASS....
who discovered & groomed many successful singapore artistes into the Asia Chinese-Pop music scene (including Kit Chan
Kit Chan
Kit Chan is a Singaporean singer.-Music:She was a member of the pioneer generation of Singaporean singers to successfully break into the international market, marked in particular by her breakthrough into the competitive and highly critical Taiwanese market with her hit Mandarin album Heartache ...
, A-Do
A-do
Do Cheng Yi , popularly known as A-Do , is a singer from Singapore.The ex-construction foreman was spotted by Singaporean producer Billy Koh in his company's talent search. He has since been signed to Ocean Butterflies Music....
and JJ Lin
JJ Lin
JJ Lin is a Singaporean Mandopop Singer-songwriter, Composer and Actor based in Taiwan. JJ Lin is managed by Ocean Butterflies. Lin won Best New Artist for his work on his debut album Music Voyager at the 15th Golden Melody Awards in 2004....
), Li Wei-Song, Li Si-Song, Eric Moo
Eric Moo
Eric Moo Kai-yin is a Malaysian Chinese award-winning singer-songwriter and record producer.-Biography:Moo's mother died when he was 8 and he was raised by his older sister. He was educated at Seh Chuan High School and The Chinese High School in Singapore. He became a permanent resident of...
.
Songs written and sung by xinyao artistes such as "A step at a time" ("一步一步来") were popular with those born in the mid 1960s to 1970s. In 1983, the song "Encounter"("邂逅"), a duet by Eric Moo and Liang Hui-zhen, became the first xinyao song to make it to the mandarin pop song ranking chart "Pick of Pops" ("新加坡龙虎榜") on Singapore's radio station.