JJ Lin and Stefanie Sun are performing an English version of 'Stay With You' at the NDP show

SINGAPORE — Singapore’s pop superstars, JJ Lin and Stefanie Sun, will be putting up a duet performance of “Stay With You” during the National Day Parade (NDP) evening show this Sunday (9 August).

The two national treasures revealed on Wednesday (5 August) that they would perform the song, which was co-written by both of them as a tribute to frontline workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sun wrote the lyrics to “Stay With You”, while Lin composed the music. The song was originally sung only by Lin, but the pair will perform it together for NDP.

It will be both singers’ first time performing together for the NDP.

“Stay With You” was originally written as a Mandarin song, but Lin and Sun will perform an English version that was created specially for this year’s NDP.

Benjamin Tan, the NDP creative producer, told Yahoo Lifestyle SEA that Lin would be performing virtually because he could not travel back to Singapore from Taipei because of COVID-19 restrictions. Sun, however, will be present physically at the Star Theatre where the NDP show will be broadcast from.

“This act was planned from the start to feature JJ virtually,” said Tan. “Compared to the usual NDPs, there will be a different style of presentation for this duet due to the pandemic.”

Sun said in an Instagram post, “As we look forward to celebrate as a nation in these trying times, JJ and I would like to show our appreciation through this English rendition of ‘Stay With You’. ⁣To the people who have stayed where they are most needed and kept us safe, thank you. ⁣Together we are stronger.⁣”

Lin wrote on his Instagram, “2020 has been a difficult year for us all. I hope that this special rendition of ‘Stay With You’ can kindle a sense of togetherness no matter where we are.”

“Stay With You” was released on 28 January during the early days of the coronavirus outbreak, when most cases of the disease were still within the Chinese city of Wuhan.

Lin had asked Sun to collaborate with him on the song to encourage people affected by the virus. The pair wrote “Stay With You” and released it within days.

The lyrics include the lines: “The coldest day will pass/I’ll stay with you/Waiting for the sun to rise”.

This year’s NDP show will be broadcast from the Star Performing Arts Centre in Buona Vista at 7pm. The show has been scaled down and will be the first to be held indoors due to the pandemic. It will chart Singaporeans’ journey as the country tackled the COVID-19 outbreak.

Other artists performing include Nathan Hartono, Charlie Lim, Fauzie Laily, Rebecca Lim, Hossan Leong, and Shabir Tahere.

Celebrations surrounding NDP this year will be tailored to COVID-19 restrictions.

Some of the usual NDP highlights will be brought physically into the heartlands in an effort to bring the activities closer to people. These include the mobile column, the state flag fly-past and the Red Lions parachutist display.

The evening show at the Star Performing Arts Centre will round off the day, after which the celebrations will be topped off with fireworks displays at more than 10 sites across Singapore.

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• NDP 2020 theme song ‘Everything I Am’ performed by Nathan Hartono

• Nathan Hartono is proud to be Singaporean, clarifying citizenship after accusations online

• National Day parade will be held 'as long as there is a Singapore', says NDP Exco chair