Unisonance in singing Malaysian popular patriotic songs: bridging collective integration through music
The line between popular and nationalist music is hazy because any musical style or repertoire has the potential to express nationalism given the right environment and circumstances. Yet, singing and listening to it never misses its aim because the language of song is the most widespread way...
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| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Penerbit Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
2020
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| Online Access: | http://journalarticle.ukm.my/17108/1/44786-144115-1-SM.pdf http://journalarticle.ukm.my/17108/ https://ejournal.ukm.my/jebat/issue/view/1361 |
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| Institution: | Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia |
| Language: | English |
| Summary: | The line between popular and nationalist music is hazy because any
musical style or repertoire has the potential to express nationalism
given the right environment and circumstances. Yet, singing and
listening to it never misses its aim because the language of song is the
most widespread way in which music signifies the nation.1
The unified
singing of anthems and patriotic songs done together by a group
of people usually not known to each other is called ‘unisonance’2
and can result in an emotionally overwhelming feeling of collective
cohesion. Focus group discussions on local popular music listening
were conducted in 2019 throughout Kota Kinabalu, Kuching and
Klang Valley. This paper discusses findings surrounding data drawn
from this research focusing on respondent’s reactions towards
patriotic songs. Findings suggest that Malaysians enjoy listening
to and singing patriotic songs individually and more importantly, in
concert, as they are a verbal way of manifesting love for the country.
Of paramount point here is it creates a moment of unisonance for
them, a simultaneous and unanimous acknowledgment of the common
symbol, that is the song – over and above any racial or cultural trait –
that signifies belonging and begets collective emotional commitment. |
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