Tang Lanyun (23S05A)

Music Reviews, Opinion, Raffles Reviews

Alternative Rock and Its Many Faces
Reading Time: 8 minutes

By Tang Lanyun (23S05A)

Alternative rock isn’t so much a genre as it is an attitude. Emerging from the underground punk scene of the 70s, alt-rock lacks a defining sound; rather, it is characterised by its independent ethos and scepticism toward the mainstream. 

Though its acts rarely experience the whirlwind fame of their commercial contemporaries, over the years a few have managed to attain cult status, whose albums endure in music’s collective memory.

Continue reading “Alternative Rock and Its Many Faces” →
School Life

Some Dreams From Now: RI200 Anthology Launch
Reading Time: 5 minutes

By Saara Katyal (23S05A) and Tang Lanyun (23S05A)

On the 14th of January, the Yusof Ishak Atrium was unusually abuzz with activity as a crowd of distinguished guests gathered to witness the launch of the RI200 literary anthology, Some Dreams From Now: 135 Years of Rafflesian Writing. In attendance were members of RI’s Board of Governors, principals past and present, as well as contributors to the anthology.

Some Dreams From Now was conceived by alumnus Theophilus Kwek (Class of 2012) and Mrs Cheryl Yap, Head of Alumni Relations & Archives. In 2021, fourteen literature students recruited from Y4-Y6 began the arduous process of trawling through the archives of student publications such as The Rafflesian, and reading the published works of noted Rafflesian alumni to identify pieces for the anthology. 

Continue reading “Some Dreams From Now: RI200 Anthology Launch” →
CCA Events, School Life, Sports

Storming to Victory: Kiwi Cup 2023
Reading Time: 5 minutes

By Alison Tan (23S03A) and Tang Lanyun (23S05A)

The stadium was abuzz with anticipation on the afternoon of 18 January 2023, as supporters from RI and St. Andrew’s Junior College gathered in the cool shade to cheer on their respective rugby teams. With the match being on RI’s home turf, droves of students from across all 6 years filled out the stands and the area adjacent to the field. Students stationed at the front of the stands waved the Institution flag; others milled about, waiting for the action to begin.

Continue reading “Storming to Victory: Kiwi Cup 2023” →
Book Reviews, Opinion, Raffles Reviews

Raffles Reads: Daughter of the Deep
Reading Time: 3 minutes

By Tang Lanyun (23S05A)

Raffles Reads is a collaboration between Raffles Press and Times Reads which aims to promote a reading culture among Singaporean students.

Rating: 4/5

Rick Riordan’s rip-roaring sci-fi debut pays homage to one of the genre’s founding fathers, Jules Verne. Inspired by “Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea”, Daughter of the Deep imagines a world in which the fantastical events Verne envisioned in his novel were indeed historical fact. The book itself spins a riveting tale of teenage ingenuity against impossible odds, whose high school characters break the mold of typical middle-grade (and Y/A) protagonists. With a clear love for the source material, Riordan deftly reinvigorates Verne’s classics for a modern audience, while also appreciating the diversity present in our society.

Continue reading “Raffles Reads: Daughter of the Deep” →
Features, Humans of RI, Staff Features

Teachers’ Day 2022: Just Joined
Reading Time: 5 minutes

By Lim Zhi Qi Victoria (23S06B), Saara Katyal (23S05A), and Tang Lanyun (23S05A)

NAME: MS JUNIPER THANG
DEPARTMENT: CHEMISTRY

Y5 Chemistry teacher Ms Juniper Thang has more than a few tricks up her sleeve. Apart from being a proud Chemistry enthusiast, she also loves to immerse herself in the wonders of music and theatre. Apart from that, she has a passion for sport, and as the Soccer (Girls) teacher-in-charge, she will often join them in friendly matches.

Ms Thang’s passion for music began as a young child when she took part in piano lessons, a common beginning for many of us in the music world. As she got older, her love for music grew, and she started playing for her church. During university, a time of growth and exploration, she picked up the saxophone and began to pen her thoughts down to turn into song lyrics. She wound up writing about all sorts of eclectic topics—according to her, “that’s what makes music fun!”

Continue reading “Teachers’ Day 2022: Just Joined” →