SINGAPORE - Xinyao, the music movement popular in Singapore in the 1980s, provided an unexpected moment at the National Day Rally on Sunday.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong broke into song when he sang a line from Small Stream That Flows Forever, by xinyao pioneer Liang Wern Fook.

The line went: "Who does not dream, when they are young?"

Mr Lee spoke about xinyao, a music genre characterised by harmonising and guitar, to drive home the point that there are many opportunities for Singaporeans to fulfill their dreams.

"In Singapore, it doesn't matter if you are young or old, not only can you dream but there are many opportunities to fullfil those dreams," he said. "Even if you are just an ordinary Singaporean."

He also drew parallels between the song's title and Singapore's journey: "Over the last century, our small stream has flowed continuously - each of us doing our ordinary bit, we have achieved something extraordinary together."