“They let him in?”
Billy Bragg Plays Singapore Part 2.
“No way!” my Singaporean wife and son shouted.
I’d just announced that Billy Bragg was coming to Singapore to play a show at the NUS Arts Theatre in April 2023.
I could have guessed the next question, “They let him in?”
In this case, “They” meant the Singapore government.
If there is one artist who has worn his convictions on his sleeve and lived according to his values, it is Billy Bragg. Since his debut album, he has been a champion of the working class and was as strong voice against the government of Margaret Thatcher.
His politics is a central tenet to all his songs and he is known for being a musical frontman for the unions. His irritation with neo-conservative values and the government policies of the Thatcher years, were evident from his first album, but it wasn’t until he joined the British Miner’s Strike and sang alongside folk revolutionaries that he became an unshakable union supporter. One of his most loves songs is the pro-union anthem There is Power in a Union
Fast-forward 40 years and the man who sang “If you have a blacklist, I want to be on it” is standing on a stage in Singapore talking about the importance of supporting the unions in a country where it is illegal to strike or stage a large public gathering without the approval of the government.
During the concert, Billy admitted to exploring the option of a show date in Singapore because he often transits through Changi International Airport on his way to and from Australia. So he submitted all the necessary paperwork, which included a setlist and lyrics of all the songs he planned to play. To his surprised, his application was approved and he was welcome to play here.
It is embarrassing to me, as a proud immigrant in Singapore, that Billy would have to come under such scrutiny before he plays a concert. On the other hand, I’ve lived here long enough to understand the government’s concerns. As a former British colony, Singapore is a multi-ethnic, multicultural and multireligious society. So, the Singaporean government’s primary concern is balancing the needs and concerns of every group.
Historically, labor unrest, race riots, and religious animosities have threatened to divide and weaken the country. Sometimes these seeds of discontent were sewn by external parties looking to weaken Singapore’s resolve. So there is a great deal of effort by the PAP government to ensure that Singaporeans remain, as stated in the Singapore pledge, “One United people, regardless of race, language or religion.”
Although there are many who would disagree with me, I feel that the Singapore government supports unions. Since Singapore does not allows strikes or public protests, the government has designed a system of tripartite (three party) negotiations, where the government acts as the mediator between employers and workers. By dealing with discontent early and not demonizing workers or employers, the government is able to alleviate the need for strikes and still increase pay, improve working conditions, and ensure workplace safety.
During the show, Billy talked well of Singapore. I was pleased to hear that before the concert, he went to the National Museum to learn about Singaporean culture.
A man of conviction, he also took the time to research independently owned speciality coffee shops in order to support local small businesses over multinational coffee chains.
A good lesson for all of us.
Copyright ©2023 Paul Davidson. All rights reserved.