First came the golden age of the ’60s, where our music scene thrived, giving rise to a steady slew of local bands such as The Crescendos and The Quests. With many being formed by students, these bands gained popularity for covers of British and American songs, as well as original compositions that featured a unique blend of Asian and Western styles. A distinct subgenre of Malay popular music known as pop yeh yeh surfaced, influenced by British pop and rock, while incorporating Malay melodies and lyricism.
Yet, sentiments against rock n’ roll, as well as the withdrawal of British and American troops in the country—a significant audience for live music—led to a steady decline of the music scene in the ’70s. Still, certain bands stood strong, including rock pioneer Sweet Charity, who went on to inspire a new generation of rock acts in the mid-1980s.
By the time the ’80s rolled around, Singapore was in the middle of what could perhaps be considered its most transformative stage in music yet. Led by groups such as The Oddfellows, the independent and alternative scene slowly flourished—opening the door for the local bands that we know of today to blossom. Below, we round up seven albums from across the years to showcase the Singapore sound in its many diverse facets
1 / 7
The Boy Next Door by The Crescendos (1965)
Formed in 1961 by schoolmates looking to participate in a talent contest, The Crescendos was the first Singaporean act to be signed by an international record label. Their first single, a cover of ‘Mr Twister’, became an instant hit and sold over 10,000 copies—with the band’s next two singles, a cover of ‘In The Good Old Summertime’ and original composition ‘The Boy Next Door’ following suit. At the height of their popularity in 1966, the band decided to take a break to focus on their education and careers. However, an unfortunate accident in 1970 led to the death of then-22-year-old lead singer Susan Lim, and the band never regrouped.
2 / 7
Happy Happy Birthday, Baby! by Naomi & The Boys (1965)
In the ’60s, a subgenre of Malay popular music known as pop yeh yeh surfaced. It was influenced by British pop and rock, while incorporating Malay melodies and lyricism. Among the bands that emerged was Naomi & The Boys, whose cover of ‘Happy Happy Birthday, Baby!’ became a household hit—topping the radio charts in Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia, and becoming the song of the year in Singapore and Malaysia in 1965.
3 / 7
Questing by The Quests (1966)
One of the most popular local bands of the 1960s, whose success extended to Malaysia and Hong Kong, The Quests achieved a long list of firsts for a Singaporean band. Among which, their first release ‘Shanty’ displaced The Beatles’ ‘I Should Have Known Better’ to become the first song by a local band to top the local charts—where it stayed for 12 weeks. Their LP, Questing, was also the first album by a Singapore band to be recorded in stereo.
4 / 7
Pelarian by Sweet Charity (1980)
Fronted by legendary singer-songwriter Ramli Sarip, rock pioneer Sweet Charity made such a big impact on the music scene in Singapore and Malaysia that it inspired a new generation of rock acts in both countries in the mid-1980s. The band went from playing gigs at weddings and small bars to headlining shows at the now-demolished National Theatre—before releasing hit songs like ‘Kamelia’, ‘Pelarian’ and ‘Musibah’ that turned them into a household name. In October 2023, the group reunited for a tour to celebrate their fifth decade together.
5 / 7
Teenage Head by The Oddfellows (1991)
Leading the alternative and indie wave that would shape the music scene through the ’90s was The Oddfellows— who had independently financed and produced their debut album Teenage Head before record label BMG picked it up for distribution in 1991. Their single ‘So Happy’ became the first local song to top the charts of Perfect 10 98.7FM, the radio station of choice among the youth back then. When UK punk legends Buzzcocks performed in Singapore in 1992, The Oddfellows opened the show.
6 / 7
Hiss by Wormrot (2022)
For the uninitiated, grindcore is an extreme subgenre that fuses heavy metal with hardcore punk. It’s a niche space, but iconic Singaporean group Wormrot has certainly made their name known within the scene. Recognised for their innovative, vicious sound, they are one of the top grindcore bands in the world and the first Singaporean act to play at the Glastonbury Festival.
7 / 7
Get In Losers, We’re Going to Eternal Damnation by Forests (2022)
Emo band Forests’ success reaches far beyond Singapore, with a global cult following that has seen them touring countries like the US and Japan. Their music, a unique, distinct blend of ’90s emo and math pop, has been hailed by fans and critics alike—earning them a spot as the only Asian band highlighted on Vulture’s list of 100 Greatest Emo Songs of All Time.
Vogue Singapore’s July/August ‘Home’ issue will be out on newsstands from 13 July and available to preorder online.
