{{short description|Malay song}} '''''Semoga Bahagia''''' is a Singaporean song composed by Zubir Said, who also composed ''Majulah Singapura'', the national anthem of Singapore. Sung in Malay, the song has been the official Children's Day song in Singapore since 1961, and is also performed at the Singapore Youth Festival (SYF) as its official theme song.
==History== ''Semoga Bahagia'' was composed by Zubir Said and targeted at students.<ref name="st1974">{{cite news |title=Change in his song, so Said is upset |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/newnation19740903-1.2.19.12 |access-date=25 August 2022 |work=New Nation |date=3 September 1974}}</ref> It was first published and performed on 7 July 1957 at the Victoria Memorial Hall and was eventually broadcast in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur as well.<ref name="rohaha">{{cite book |last1=Zubir |first1=Rohana |title=Zubir Said: The Composer of Majulah Singapura |date=2012 |publisher=Institute of Southeast Asian Studies |isbn=978-981-4311-81-6 |pages=212–214 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LQbtWoT7Le0C&pg=PT232 |language=en}}</ref> On 23 September 1961, the song was chosen by the Ministry of Education to commemorate Children's Day.{{efn|In his 1974 open letter, Zubir Said was unsure of the year the song was chosen and incorrectly stated 1960.<ref name="rohaha"/> ''The Straits Times'' reported on the Ministry of Education choosing the song in 1961.<ref name="st1961"/>}} All schools subsequently received a copy of the song, and music teachers were sent to Beatty Secondary School for rehearsals.<ref name="st1961">{{cite news |title=Children's Day song |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19610924-1.2.38.8 |access-date=25 August 2022 |work=The Straits Times |date=24 September 1961}}</ref> The song was sung by students on 23 October 1961, the first commemoration of Children's Day in Singapore.<ref name="st1980">{{cite news |title=A special day |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19801001-1.2.85.1 |access-date=25 August 2022 |work=The Straits Times |date=1 October 1980}}</ref>
In 1974, Zubir was informed by one of his former students that the lyrics to ''Semoga Bahagia'' had been altered. Feeling that it should not have been edited without his consent, Zubir wrote an open letter to the ''New Nation'' newspaper on 25 August protesting the change, likening the act to "damaging the prestige of the original painter". He also noted that two melodic phrases had been changed and deleted, and the refrain (chorus) was entirely removed. His name had also been left out of the credits in the new songsheet and replaced with someone else's name. In an interview with ''Berita Harian'', Zubir called for a law that would prevent such an act in the future, noting that there was no copyright for music and songs.<ref name="rohaha"/>
When contacted by ''New Nation'', Charles Lazaroo from the Extra-curricular Activities Centre replied that teachers had provided feedback that non-Malay students were having trouble singing the song due to its "intricate melody", and had requested for the song be simplified. Lazaroo also stated that they had had difficulty contacting Zubir, believing he was ill.<ref name="st1974"/><ref>{{cite news |title='Semoga Bahagia' terpaksa diubah utk mudahkan murid bukan Melayu |trans-title='Semoga Bahagia' had to be changed to make it easier for non-Malay students |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/beritaharian19740902-1.2.10 |access-date=25 August 2022 |work=Berita Harian |date=2 September 1974 |language=ms}}</ref> According to Zubir's daughter Rohana, the composer refused to accept the explanation as the song had been sung for many years by that point.<ref name="rohaha"/> A mediator assisted in reaching a compromise in which a repetitive verse was removed with Zubir's approval and the original lyrics reinstated, in time for the song to be taught to students that October.<ref name="rohaha"/>
===Legacy=== ''Semoga Bahagia'' is still sung annually on Children's Day in Singapore. It became the official theme song for the Singapore Youth Festival (SYF) and is also performed annually during the SYF.<ref name="esplanade">{{cite web |title=Zubir Said |url=https://www.esplanade.com/offstage/arts/zubir-said |website=Esplanade |access-date=25 August 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Iskandar Ismail collection - Singapore Youth Festival '92 : semoga bahagia minus one rev. I key: -F to F# |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/music/Music/Track/2ee96ede-a657-4886-a8e0-7f75fe38f659 |website=NLB MusicSG |access-date=25 August 2022}}</ref>
==Symbolism== The Malay title ''Semoga Bahagia'' has been variously translated as "Let Glory be Yours",<ref name="st1961"/> "Glory belongs to you",<ref name="st1980"/> and "May You Achieve Happiness".<ref name="esplanade"/> In the open letter published in 1974, Zubir wrote that some of the lyrics were intended to urge children to be progressive, healthy, knowledgeable, patriotic and respectful, amongst other similar themes.<ref name="rohaha"/>
== Lyrics ==
: {| class="wikitable" |+ !Malay original !English translation |- | :Sama-sama maju ke hadapan :Pandai cari pelajaran :Jaga diri dalam kesihatan :Serta sopan santun dengan kawan-kawan
:Dengan hati bersih serta suci :Sama-sama hormat dan berbudi :Jaga tingkah pemuda-pemudi :Adat dan budaya junjung tinggi
:Capailah lekas cita-cita pemudi-pemuda :Supaya kita ada harga di mata dunia
:Kalau kita lengah serta lupa :Hidup kita sia-sia :Jiwa besar sihat serta segar :Rajin dengan sabar tentu bahagia
:Lemah lembut perangai pemudi :Cergas tangkas wataknya pemuda :Sukarela selalu berbakti :Sikap yang pembela dan berjasa
:Capailah nama yang mulia pemudi-pemuda :Rajinlah supaya berjaya :'''semoga bahagia ''' | :Together we advance forward :Smart in seeking knowledge :Take care of our health :And be courteous with our friends
:With a clean and pure heart :Respect and do good with one another :Let us youths mind our manners :And uphold our traditions and customs
:Reach for our ambitions, youths :So the world will value us
:If we are lazy and forgetful :Our lives will be worthless :A good, healthy and refreshed soul :With hard work and patience brings happiness
:Soft-spoken is the lady :And energetic and tenacious is the man :Volunteer and always serve :A protective and meritorous attitude
:Attain a respectful image, oh youths :Be hardworking and succeed: :''' may you achieve happiness!''' |} :
== Notes == {{notelist}}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{YouTube|id=OLTlSVj9CmE|title="Semoga Bahagia"}} - published by the Government of Singapore
{{portalbar|Singapore|Music}} Category:Singaporean songs Category:Songs in Malay