The Cockles Of Our Hearts: 60 Iconic Singapore Pop Culture Moments
From unforgettable NDP moments and viral memes to celebrity shoutouts and TikTok trends, pop culture is a goldmine of iconic moments that unite, amuse, and define us. Whether it's a minister's unexpected zinger or a Milo-fuelled promise gone national, these 60 standout moments capture the quirks, pride, and humour that make our island uniquely Singaporean.
👏 National pride
1. On 9 Aug 1988, Kit Chan sang "Home", one of the most iconic and patriotic SG songs, at NDP.
2. In 1989, "True Ghost Stories" by Russell Lee (a pseudonym of the real author's name) made its debut. Since then, it has become a bestselling book series filled with spooky tales, urban legends, and supernatural encounters drawn from across Southeast Asia. A cult favourite for generations, reading it is as much a rite of passage as it is a scare fest.
3. At NDP 2002, everyone got to yam seng together and taste NEWater for the first time in their NDP funpacks.
4. For SG50 in 2015, there was a surge of patriotism as we went all out for our Golden Jubilee. Recall: every Singaporean and Permanent Resident household getting a special SG50 funpack, a surprise (and much welcomed) Public Holiday on 7 Aug for a four-day break, and more.
5. Singapore's first-ever Olympic gold was won by Joseph Schooling at Rio 2016, in the Men's 100m Butterfly final, where he defeated the most decorated Olympian, 28-time medallist Michael Phelps.
6. At NDP 2022, a local man was caught on camera in his feels and tearing up while singing the National Anthem.
🌍 Global spotlight
IMAGE: A Renault F1 car ahead of a McLaren-Mercedes at the Marina Bay Street Circuit in 2008. | IMAGE: WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
7. On 26 Sep 2008, we made motorsport history by hosting the world very first Formula One night race.The Marina Bay streets lit up as F1 cars roared past iconic landmarks like the National Gallery, Singapore Flyer, and Marina Bay Sands in a thrilling, high-energy spectacle. It was not only F1's inaugural night race, but also Asia's first street circuit event—firmly putting Singapore on the global racing stage.
8. In 2014, Singapore's National Council on Problem Gambling unveiled an anti-gambling advertisement in which a child expressed regret over his father wagering all their savings on Germany winning the World Cup. However, the ad backfired when Germany's win made it appear as though the campaign was inadvertently endorsing gambling. In response, the council revised the campaign to emphasise the risks of addiction, using the incident as an opportunity to educate the public.
9. In 2016, Chan Hon Meng's humble stall, Hawker Chan, made headlines as one of the first street food vendors to earn a Michelin star—thanks to his renowned soya sauce chicken rice and noodles, hailed as the world's most affordable Michelin-starred dish. However, the stall's star was removed from the Michelin guide in 2021.
10. In 2018, Singapore hosted the historic Trump-Kim summit, marking the first-ever meeting between a sitting US president and a North Korean leader. The event thrust our Lion City into the global spotlight as a trusted diplomatic neutral ground.
11. In 2021, Indian composer Joseph Mendoza stirred controversy by insisting he had written a song titled "We Can Achieve" in 1983—one that bore a striking resemblance to beloved our National Day tune "Count On Me", which was officially composed in 1986 by Canadian Hugh Harrison and arranged by local jazz legend Jeremy Monteiro. Joseph later backtracked on his claims.
12. On 23 Mar 2023, TikTok CEO Shou Chew appeared before a US congressional committee for the first time, facing questions on data privacy, child safety, and the app’s reported ties to China. Even after introducing himself as a Singaporean who has completed his National Service, Shou Zi Chew stressed, “I’m Singaporean,” in response to pointed questions about Chinese government control—especially during a tense exchange with Congressman Dan Crenshaw, who questioned TikTok’s ties to China despite the TikTok CEO's insistence that US user data was stored securely in the US.
13. During another heated US congressional hearing in 2024, Senator Tom Cotton, a Republican from Arkansas, pressed TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew on his nationality—only for the CEO to coolly reply, "No, senator, I’m Singaporean". And just a few moments later, Shou Zi Chew had to repeat his now-iconic response—“No, senator. Again, I'm Singaporean"—after Senator Tom Cotton repeatedly questioned his ties to China's Chinese Communist Party. The exchange went viral, becoming a proud and meme-worthy moment for Singaporeans.
14. Recently in 2025, the official FIFA TikTok account used a Singaporean's audio (user @cutekorkor) that fits perfectly with famed footballer Lionel Messi dribbling about on the pitch. One of the comments says it best: "#MAJULAH SINGAPURA we might not make it to the World Cup but we have an audio that made it to FIFA 😅"
🎶 Music, stage and screen
15. Aired in 1998, "VR Man" was first Singapore's superhero TV series, following a tech-enhanced hero battling evil with virtual reality powers — it gained cult status over the years for its campy charm and nostalgic value.
16. In 2002, local film director Jack Neo released "I Not Stupid", a satirical comedy that centres on the experiences of three Primary 6 boys—Terry, Kok Pin, and Boon Hock—who are streamed into the lower-tier EM3 class. The film offers a sharp critique of our education system, touching on themes like academic streaming, parental pressure, and cultural stereotypes.
17. In 2006, local host and comedian Hossan Leong's "We Live in Singapura" (a witty parody of Billy Joel's "We Didn’t Start the Fire"), packed with rapid-fire references to uniquely Singaporean events, figures, and quirks, offered a tongue-in-cheek tribute to life in our Little Red Dot.
18. In "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" (2007), Singapore made a surprising cameo as the exotic, misty lair of pirate lord Sao Feng—marking one of the rare times our city-state featured in a major Hollywood blockbuster.
19. Released in 2012, "Ah Boys to Men" became a local box office hit by blending humour with heartfelt moments to portray the trials of National Service.
20. Staged in 2015, "The LKY Musical" traced the life of founding Prime Minister, Lee Kuan Yew, from his student days to the country independence — blending historical drama with stirring original music to pay tribute to his legacy.
21. In 2016, local singer songwriter Nathan Hartono made good on his cheeky promise to treat everyone to Milo peng if he won reality singing competition "Sing! China", held in Beijing. Though he placed second, the gesture captured hearts—Nestlé deployed Milo vans at three locations, culminating in a fan meet at Bugis+ where crowds gathered to cheer the homegrown star and sip on the iconic drink.
22. In 2018, the film "Crazy Rich Asians" was launched, a glitzy romantic comedy that brought Singapore's high society, iconic skyline, and hawker food scene to the big screen. Fun fact: It also became the first major Hollywood film in 25 years with an all-Asian cast.
23. "Taylormania" swept through Singapore last March when global superstar Taylor Swift made our Lion City her only Southeast Asian stop on the Eras Tour. Our now Prime Minister, Lawrence Wong, even posted a guitar cover of "Love Story" by Taylor Swift on TikTok, and showed off his own friendship bracelet.
24. At Bruno Mars's concert in Singapore on 3 Apr 2024, the crowd broke into an impassioned singalong of the National Day favourite "Home" during a brief intermission, as keyboardist John Fossitt played a moving instrumental rendition of the beloved tune.
25. For her upcoming 2025 Mayhem tour, Lady Gaga will be performing only in Singapore the tour's leg in Asia. Get ready for millions of Little Monsters (fans of Lady Gaga) to descend upon our city-state.
🇸🇬 Uniquely Singaporean
26. A flash flood back in Dec 2011 raised some eyebrows when PUB,'s National Water Agency, stated that a flooding incident at Liat Towers along Orchard Rd was that "water [had] ponded at the open areas of Liat Towers". Then-Minister of Environment and Water Resources Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan even came out to correct PUB,'s National Water Agency's statement, commenting in Parliament that "As far as I am concerned, PUB should not have used the word ‘ponding’. I call a spade a spade. A flood is a flood."
27. In May 2013, Singa the Courtesy Lion—Singapore's beloved mascot for kindness—unexpectedly 'resigned' in an open letter, citing exhaustion from encouraging gracious behaviour in an increasingly unkind society. The move, initiated by the Kindness Movement, was designed to provoke nationwide reflection on personal responsibility for civility and sparked widespread discussion about the state of social behaviour in our country.
28. Singapore has plenty of Singlish phrases, but one of the most popular ones "Eh? Your grandfather's road ah?" always comes to mind when we see jaywalkers or aggressive motorists nearly causing accidents on the road.
Fun fact: Tiong Bahru estate even had a campaign back in 2014 (in the video shown above) titled "Is It Your Grandfather's Road?" to deter motorists from illegally parking in the area.
29. In Aug 2016, Pokémon GO fever swept across Singapore, with Block 401 at Hougang Avenue 10 becoming a major gathering point. Crowds flocked there around the clock in hopes of catching rare Pokémon like Gyarados, leading to worries over noise, littering, and safety, which in turn prompted stepped-up police patrols and public reminders to play responsibly.
30. In 2020, Singapore was swept up in "Ottermania" as smooth-coated otters, taking advantage of emptier streets due to COVID-19 measures, charmed the public by roaming through city spots like outside of Mustafa Centre, Marina Bay and the outside of Tan Tock Seng Hospital.
31. During a live interview at NDP 2022, local TikTok content creator Nicole Liel charmed viewers by enthusiastically thanking HDB for her BTO queue number—a candid moment that quickly went viral and struck a chord with many Singaporeans.
32. In 2024, during Taylor Swift's ERAS tour with being her only stop in Southeast Asia, her backup dancer Kameron Saunders got the local crowd screaming with his apt use of Singlish phrases, such as "wahlao eh", "alamak", and more, in the middle of Taylor's performance of "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together".
33. On 26 Apr 2025, Milo fans rushed to supermarkets across to get their hands on the brand viral limited-edition plushies, featuring adorable Milo cans and local breakfast staples like kaya toast.
😂 Memes
34. A dramatic scene from a 1998 episode of Singapore’s Crimewatch—where a narrator remarked, “The woman was too stunned to speak” during a necklace snatching—resurfaced in 2021 and quickly went viral. Thanks to its over-the-top delivery and memorable line, the clip became a widely used meme on TikTok to express moments of utter disbelief.
35. Steven Lim’s 2004 Singapore Idol audition became instantly unforgettable when he performed Ricky Martin’s “She Bangs” while dramatically stripping down to bright yellow trunks. His performance quickly went viral, earning him lasting notoriety as one of the show's most iconic contestants.
36. In a 2013 episode of Crimewatch, actress Jernelle Oh delivered the now-iconic line, “You’re nothing but a prostitute”, during a tense scene between two young women. The clip resurfaced in 2021 and quickly went viral on TikTok, with users enthusiastically recreating and parodying the dramatic exchange.
37. In 2014, a rare hailstorm in led to a viral moment when a local woman amusingly described the falling ice as "drop, drop, drop like grapes". Her spontaneous remark quickly became a widely shared and much-loved meme in online culture.
38. Policeman Ryan Koh rose to internet fame as the face of "Shop Theft Is A Crime" standee which launched in April 2014, catching public attention with his good looks and ubiquitous presence in stores.
39. In 2015, Singaporean actor Chen Tianwen starred in the music video "Unbelievable", created for the sitcom "Spouse For House". Its absurd yet catchy line, "I so stunned like vegetable", quickly became a viral catchphrase.
40. In a 2016 interview with the Straits Times, then-Senior Minister of State Josephine Teo drew criticism after remarking that "you need a very small space to have sex", while addressing concerns about young couples postponing starting families due to housing constraints.
41. During NDP 2017, a student from Henry Park Primary School unintentionally went viral after being filmed on live television making a rude hand gesture 🖕
42. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, then-Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's regular addresses stood out not only for their reassuring tone, but also for his signature pink shirts and a now-iconic blue porcelain cup. It was dubbed the "magic cup" by netizens as he took a sip each time before he switched languages, from English to Malay, to Mandarin, and back to English.
43. On 6 May 2021, Press Holdings CEO Ng Yat Chung caused a stir at a press conference on the company restructuring when he sharply said he "took umbrage" at a reporter question about editorial independence. The phrase quickly caught on, becoming a viral catchphrase that sparked memes, jokes, and even merchandise.
44. In 2021, Phoon Chiu Yoke, later dubbed "Badge Lady", went viral in after she was filmed at Marina Bay Sands on 15 May refusing to wear a mask and questioning a safe distancing ambassador with the now-infamous line, "Where is your badge?"
45. In June 2021, American teen Shaun Fontenot amused the internet by posting a photo of Marina Bay Sands on Facebook, labelling it as “Downtown Chattanooga, Tennessee”. The post went viral, sparking a wave of playful replies from Singaporeans who responded with their own satirical captions of familiar landmarks. We even compiled a few of our favourites here.
46. In 2022, Uncle Raymond became a TikTok favourite in for his cheerful public dance routines, often encouraging strangers to join in. Drawing inspiration from the Great Workout, his signature moves came to represent joy, inclusiveness, and community spirit.
47. At last year's NDP rehearsals, Republic of Airforce Captain Lam Hong Xiang filled in for President Tharman and quickly turned heads with his sharp looks and poised presence. His dashing appearance drew comparisons to K-pop idols, with netizens cheekily calling him "more handsome than all K-pop dudes".
🔥 Local politics
48. In his 2006 National Day Rally speech, then-Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong unintentionally amused the public by saying “mee siam mai hum” while referencing a satirical podcast—despite the fact that cockles aren’t usually found in mee siam. The slip-up quickly went viral, with the phrase becoming a light-hearted meme symbolising a moment of being out of touch.
49. Yam Ah Mee, a former brigadier-general and senior civil servant, shot to internet fame during the 2011 General Election while serving as the Returning Officer. His flat tone and deadpan expression during result announcements amused the public, turning him into a beloved local meme.
50. In the 2020 General Election, then-Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat unintentionally went viral after stumbling over his Nomination Day speech for East Coast GRC, coining the now-iconic phrase “East Coast Plan.” The slip-up sparked a flood of memes and became a light-hearted highlight of the campaign—one that Minister Heng later gamely acknowledged in public.
51. At the 2015 General Election, National Solidarity Party's candidate Choong Hon Heng delivered a fiery rally speech in Tampines GRC, ending with the now-iconic shout of “Boo to PAP!” His energetic performance and bold catchphrase quickly went viral, earning him the nickname “Thumbs Up Man” and a lasting place in Singapore’s political meme scene.
52. During a televised debate in the 2020 General Election, Workers’ Party candidate Jamus Lim won over audiences with his use of the phrase “warms the cockles of my heart” while discussing education. The endearing expression quickly went viral, inspiring a wave of memes and merchandise.
53. In a video posted in 2020, former Presidential candidate Tan Cheng Bock, affectionately termed Singapore's "hypebeast ah gong" revealed that he wore glasses without any lenses.
54. At a COVID-19 press conference on 31 May 2021, a reporter’s question led then-Health Minister Ong Ye Kung and then-Trade and Industry Minister Gan Kim Yong to turn and look at Finance Minister Lawrence Wong, who then answered on their behalf. The amusing moment—seen as Wong being “arrowed” into responding—quickly went viral, sparking memes about the trio’s unspoken teamwork.
55. At the recent 2025 General Election, former Chief of Army David Neo who ran in Tampines GRC gave an impassioned speech at a lunchtime rally near Fullerton. Netizens later joked that his speech sounded like that of an officer commanding recruits.
56. During the 2025 General Election, People's Power Party candidate Samuel Lee went viral for his off-key performance of “Look Left, Look Right,” a self-written song adapted from the 1990 Taiwanese hit "A Tiny Bird". With lyrics about the struggles of finding one’s path in life, the quirky tune struck a chord online, sparking memes and parodies across social media.
57. For the 2025 General Election, People's Power Party leader Goh Meng Seng unintentionally went viral after repeatedly declaring “I’m straight” in a rally speech—meant to emphasise his directness. The unusual phrasing and delivery quickly caught on, fuelling a wave of memes and online parodies.
58. At the 2025 General Election, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong playfully referred to Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong as his “Taskforce Man,” in recognition of the latter's key roles during the COVID-19 pandemic and economic recovery. Gan embraced the nickname at a rally with the line, “I have many tasks, but none more important than looking after you!”—a phrase that quickly caught on with the public.
59. During the 2025 General Election, People's Alliance for Reform candidate Han Hui Hui promoted her campaign around the three Hs—“Housing, Healthcare, and Human Rights.” Though meant to spotlight serious issues, her repetitive delivery sparked a wave of internet memes and light-hearted teasing online.
60. When the PAP unveiled their first-time candidates at the recent 2025 General Election, one of them was newcomer Charlene Chen, who spoke about how her 'baby face' was her 'superpower', implying that her youthful looks do not reflect her wealth of experience at 43.
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