Getai: Difference between revisions
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* [[GeTai Challenge]] |
* [[GeTai Challenge]] |
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==Getai members== |
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<gallery widths="150px" heights="200px"> |
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File:Evelyn Lam IMM 2016 01.jpg|Liu Ling Ling |
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File:Jiang Huan IMM 2016 01.jpg|[[Marcus Chin]] |
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File:Kristine Lim IMM 2016 01.jpg|Michelle Choo |
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File:Lin Chi Yuan IMM 2016 01.jpg|Wang Lei |
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File:Yang Zhenhua IMM 2016 01.jpg|Desmond Ng |
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Channel_8_News_IMM_2016_41.jpg|Lee Pei Fen |
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</gallery> |
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==References== |
==References== |
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Revision as of 18:31, 19 May 2022
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (December 2009) |
A getai (literally song stage) (Traditional Chinese: 歌臺; Simplified Chinese: 歌台), is a usually boisterous live stage performance held during the Ghost Festival commonly held in Singapore, Malaysia and some parts of Indonesia (mainly in Riau, Riau Islands and North Sumatra), in contrast to the generally solemn mood of the festival. However the performance is also routinely played at other Chinese festivals. The stage setup is usually composed of temporary structures and situated in the suburbs of the city in any empty field or even in parking spaces or housing estate.
In the past, live performances at festivals were usually of Chinese operas or puppet shows. The performances are meant to be for the spirits but also for people during the seventh month. With the decline of Chinese opera and traditional puppet shows as popular entertainment, these public performances evolved to become what is known today as Getai.
The backdrop of the stage is usually made of cardboard and clothes painted in bright colours, vibrantly illuminated by coloured spotlights. The performers normally don loud and glittery clothing.[1] Some getai hosts indulge in crude humour; others maintain a quick-witted dialogue, joking about local and current affairs, sometimes switching between Mandarin, local Chinese dialects, and even English and Indian languages. Younger people in Singapore may relate to Getai as kitsch, while older people enjoy dancing and singing along to familiar songs, often in Hokkien.[1] Traditional singers such as Liu Lingling tend to dress conservatively, while young performers drawn to getai may choose more revealing outfits.[2]
Getai has been increasingly accepted and celebrated by the mainstream media. Royston Tan's 2007 movie 881 is based on a pair of getai singers. The Straits Times's social networking and citizen journalism portal STOMP holds the Getai Awards annually to honour popular getai artists.[3] These artists are selected via voting by the general public.
History
Getai emerged in Singapore in the years of Japanese occupation in the 1940s.[4] An early getai was built in Weiyang Gong in the New World Amusement Park, however it was bombed by the Japanese and a new stage Gongkai Tai was built. The early getai performed mostly songs. Later dancing, drama and acrobatics were also added by performers from gewutuan (歌舞团 or song-and-dance troupes), another kind of entertainment show that had begun to decline in popularity by that time. Getai became increasing popular, and by the 1950s, there were 4 getai stages in the New World,[5] and many other getai were also set up in other amusement parks.
Getai in amusement parks declined in popularity in the late 1950s and began to be closed in the 1960s. It had however become established by the 1970s as popular entertainment on makeshift stages set-up along streets and in other public spaces during Ghost Festival.[6] In more recent years, getai has also been organized for other Chinese festivals, such as the Mid-Autumn Festival. Resorts World Sentosa's casino included getai in its 2010 Chinese New Year celebrations.[7] Loyang Tua Pek Kong Temple arranged getai for the 2010 Mid-Autumn celebrations.
A groundbreaking getai was held in 2006. This was a twelve-hour marathon getai that saw many famous performers gracing the stage and bringing the crowd to their feet. The organiser was Peter Loh, a veteran in the getai scene. The marathon was a one-of-a-kind and it really awed the whole of Singapore.[citation needed] 2011 was another milestone when getai performances were held at Orchard Road Ngee Ann City Civic Plaza for the first time, and the stage design and sound system have major changes throughout the years with including LED Panels.[citation needed]
In 2015 & 2018, Singapore Mediacorp Channel 8 held a competition for getai singers called GeTai Challenge (歌台星力量).[8] The show run for two seasons with the most recent season premiered on 20 April 2018 and ended on 10 August 2018.[9]
In a more recent attempt, in 2020, Getai performances were held digitally via YouTube and Facebook to entertain the elderly as well as providing jobs for crew and performers as getai shows were not available during the coronavirus outbreak in Singapore.[10]
See also
References
- ^ a b Foreigners invade getai, The Straits Times, 23 August 2009
- ^ Getai: Sexy, not sleazy, The New Paper, 7 July 2009.
- ^ "STOMP honours getai artists". The Straits Times. 15 July 2010.
- ^ Kwok-Bun Chan, ed. (2014). Chinese Entertainment. Routledge. p. 24. ISBN 9781317977995.
{{cite book}}: Unknown parameter|authors=ignored (help) - ^ Kwok-Bun Chan, ed. (2014). Chinese Entertainment. Routledge. p. 26. ISBN 9781317977995.
{{cite book}}: Unknown parameter|authors=ignored (help) - ^ "Getai". Singapore infopedia.
- ^ "Getai not pantang". The New Paper. AsiaOne. 1 March 2010. Archived from the original on 5 March 2010. Retrieved 10 October 2010.
- ^ "GETAI CHALLENGE 歌台星力量". Mediacorp Pte Ltd. Archived from the original on 22 July 2015.
- ^ "抗癌成功首参赛 刘心玲《歌台星力量兴旺发》决赛夺冠". zaobao.com.sg. Retrieved 5 June 2018.
- ^ "E-getai entertains the elderly at home". tnp.com.sg. 16 April 2020. Retrieved 1 May 2020.