Semoga Bahagia was composed by Zubir Said and targeted at students.[1] 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.[2] On 23 September 1961, the song was chosen by the Ministry of Education to commemorate Children's Day.[a] All schools subsequently received a copy of the song and music teachers were sent to Beatty Secondary School for rehearsals.[3] The song was sung by students on 23 October 1961, the first commemoration of Children's Day in Singapore.[4]
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) 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 future, noting that there was no copyright for music and songs.[2]
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.[1][5] 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.[2] 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.[2]
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.[6][7]
The Malay title Semoga Bahagia has been variously translated as "Let Glory be Yours",[3] "Glory belongs to you",[4] and "May You Achieve Happiness".[6] 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.[2]
^In his 1974 open letter, Zubir Said was unsure of the year the song was chosen and incorrectly stated 1960.[2]The Straits Times reported on the Ministry of Education choosing the song in 1961.[3]
Music
