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SINGAPORE: There will be no mass display acts at this year's National Day Parade (NDP).

The change has come about after a survey of 2,000 Singaporeans showed they did not like the mass display segments in previous NDPs.

The parade's entertainment will be broken up into segments based on natural elements such as earth, water and fire.

Spectators this year can expect a "Sea" segment; "People", which pays tribute to Singapore pioneers; and "Fire" to light up the grand finale.

A total of 3,500 performers will be taking part in the show.

Another main highlight is the largest orchestra ever put together for the National Day Parade.

The NDP 2007 Orchestra is made up of 240 musicians from the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, the Singapore Chinese Orchestra and the SAF Central Band.

And there will be two instead of one NDP theme song.

One will be performed by Kit Chan. The other, called "Will You", will be sung by eight local singers of different music genres, including a 17-year-old soprano.

Unlike previous years, there will not be Chinese versions of the English songs.

Organisers say the multi-ethnic element will be reflected in the NDP 2007 orchestra.

"Since we all have our own little flavour, it comes together very nicely. It may seem very different, but it blends very well. So we [are] all just being ourselves," said Janani Sridhar, a singer at this year’s NDP.

"We've moved away from direct messaging. Take for example the song "Will You". It’s full of questions, there are no answers, it is a song that inspires Singaporeans to think of their dreams and then materialise their dreams and hopes," said Colonel Alvin Kek, Chairman, NDP 2007 Show Committee.

Other new faces at this year's NDP include Yeh Tsung, Maestro of Singapore Chinese Orchestra and the man behind the music for NDP 2007.

Theatre veteran Goh Boon Teck is Creative Director of NDP 2007.

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