POPULAR-MUSIC IN SINGAPORE - EXPLORING LOCAL CULTURES, GLOBAL RESOURCES, AND REGIONAL IDENTITIES

As an area of geographical inquiry, popular music has not been explore d to any large extent. Where writings exist, they are somewhat divorce d from the recent theoretical and methodological questions which have rejuvenated social and cultural geography. In this paper one arena whi ch geographers can develop in their analysis of popular music, namely, the exploration of local influences and global forces in the producti on of music, is focused upon. In analysing the music of Dick Lee, a Si ngaporean artiste, I illustrate how music is an expression of local/na tional influences. At the same time I discuss how Lee's music is also reflective of the power of globalising forces, illustrating the ways i n which local resources intersect with global resources in a process o f transculturation. Then I discuss the ways in which musical analysis offers a handle on larger political, economic, and sociocultural devel opments in Asia. Lee's search for a regional sound parallels the shift in many other spheres of Asian existence whereby a new cultural asser tiveness has emerged, founded on the notion of Asian values and an 'As ian Way'.