Singapore – Building on SGSecure’s “What’s your Role” campaign, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and creative agency VML Singapore have unveiled a new music video aimed at mobilising the community in the fight against terrorism.
Titled ‘Foiled Once More,’ the Ministry of Home Affairs’ new music video features Singaporean singer-songwriter Nathan Hartono as the antagonist planning to inflict harm on the city-state. The video delves into the mind of a terrorist, uncovering his motives as he plots to destroy the city, divide the community, and disrupt their way of life.
The music video stands out as a unique and captivating cinematic and melodic theatrical piece that bolsters Singaporeans’ fight against terrorism. It highlights their resilience, vigilance, and unity in the aftermath of an attack, showcasing how they rise from the rubble to rebuild the city together. This collective effort ultimately thwarts the terrorist’s aim of destroying the social fabric, demonstrating that the community’s strength extends beyond physical devastation.
Furthermore, MHA and VML have taken a unique approach, moving away from the usual portrayal of terrorism as all-consuming doom and gloom. Instead, through this edutainment music video, they emphasise the strength and resilience of Singaporeans, showcasing how an empowered and united community can safeguard the nation from terrorism.
Nimesh Desai, chief executive officer at VML Singapore, said, “In our continuous efforts to build and sustain awareness about terrorism, we decided to leverage the antagonist’s perspective to demonstrate the power of unity and use it to encourage Singaporeans to play their roles together to keep Singapore safe.”
Also commenting on the campaign, Wilbur Sim, director of the SGSecure Programme Office at MHA, shared, “Our societal fabric is only as strong as its weakest link. The music video is a novel approach to conveying the importance of staying united as one people and bouncing back with tenacity when a terror attack occurs. It takes a whole-of-society effort to keep Singapore, as well as our families and friends, safe from terrorist threats. Together, we make SGSecure!”
Meanwhile, Nathan Hartono said, “It was such an interesting angle to take on such an important topic. I enjoyed the creative process of figuring out how to craft a story, a song, and a character at the same time! It gave me a lot to think about, especially about the aspects of our safety we take for granted.”