Singapore has always harnessed its star power. But in recent years, it has been more than a destination. It has become a muse. In music video by BTS’s Jin, Billie Eilish, Coldplay, and more, the city transforms into something cinematic: surreal, emotional, and ambitious. This guide serves not just as an itinerary for travellers. It is also for Singaporeans—those of us who’ve walked these streets our whole lifetime, but want to see them differently.
Through the lens of these five iconic music videos shot in Singapore, a familiar rooftop becomes an emotional crescendo. A garden becomes a meditative space to pause, feel, and imagine. Whether you’re visiting or re-seeing, here’s how to explore Singapore through the music videos that made the city sing.
National Gallery Singapore in BTS Jin’s Don’t Say You Love Me
The National Gallery Singapore’s (NGS) grand colonial facade and luminous interiors serve as a cinematic stage in Jin of BTS’s evocative video. To capture that same expansive feeling of art and history, start with a slow walk through the galleries. The NGS boasts a collection of historical Southeast Asian art and contemporary pieces, reflecting the blend of tradition and modernity in Jin’s music video.
Eat: Within NGS, indulge in modern Peranakan flavours at the National Kitchen by Violet Oon. Their dry laksa, buah keluak ayam, and sambal bendi are the perfect fusions of rich local history and fine dining.
See: As the city lights blur into a painting, head up to the rooftop to enjoy a panoramic view of Singapore’s landmarks like the iconic Marina Bay Sands (MBS) and Esplanade. Much like the mood of Don’t Say You Love Me, the view here is your very own music video.
Do: Nearby, stroll through the Civic District at dusk and find the Merlion Park. The iconic statue against the skyline feels like a moment stolen from the film.
Marina Bay in Coldplay’s Man In The Moon
Coldplay’s Man In The Moon is emotionally refined, shot against the surreal backdrop of Marina Bay. In the music video, the city’s skyline meets the stars here. A perfect marriage of architecture and lyrical fervour.
Eat: Dine at Ce La Vi, atop MBS, where breathtaking views and sleek interiors are sure to make you feel like you’re in a video set. Try the signature truffle pizza or a delicate lobster roll, and sip on a couple of bright cocktails.
See: Take a sunset stroll along the Helix Bridge nearby. Its architectural curves catch the fading light just right, a real-life sculpture that mirrors the dazzling aesthetics of Coldplay’s music video.
Do: End your evening with the Spectra light and water show at MBS’s Event Plaza. A dazzling performance of colour, light, and sound as cinematic as any music video.
Haw Par Villa in Grimes’s REALiTi
In REALiTi, Grimes embraces Singapore’s more fantastical edge—dancing amidst the eerie statues and dioramas at Haw Par Villa, where myths come alive in vivid, glitchy colour. It’s the perfect setting for the music video’s dream-pop vision: uncanny, unfinished, and charged with hidden meaning.
Eat: Head to Tiong Bahru nearby to discover delicate tarts at Drips Bakery Bistro. Their minimalist aesthetic—sleek and neutral—is home to their refreshing lemon meringue tart, light ondeh ondeh danish, and salty-sweet macadamia nut tart.
See: Go deeper into Haw Par Villa’s maze of mythic legends. Seek out the infamous Ten Courts of Hell dioramas, where moral tales are carved in bright hues and dark beauty. There’s a haunting spell in these cautionary scenes that mirrors the haunting visuals of REALiTi.
Do: As evening falls, take a short ride down the street to Tanjong Pagar and explore the alleys around Keong Saik Road. The moody shophouse facades, intimate bars, and ochre street lights echo the music video’s blend of raw texture and late-night solitude.
Cloud Forest in Billie Eilish’s The 30th
In her live rendition of The 30th, Billie Eilish was sat shrouded in mist and melancholy. Performing within the glass infrastructure of the Cloud Forest, the setting acts as an emotional amplifier. The waterfall crashes behind her like memory. Lush greens dissolve into fog. It was a visual scape that captured the song’s undercurrent of grief, wonder, and disorientation.
Eat: Intimate, offbeat, and a little surreal, Hopscotch is a hidden gem tucked away just outside the Cloud Forest. Known for its locally-inspired craft cocktails and playful yet artful plating, it’s the kind of place Billie fans can visit for an escape.
See: Within the Cloud Forest, take the Cloud Walk, where the same views from the video unfold: suspended bridges, hanging vines, and light catching in the mist. It’s one of the rare places where the natural and the cinematic blur.
Do: Visit the Serene Garden nearby—a minimalist, Japanese-inspired enclave within Gardens by the Bay. It offers a quiet, meditative world, enough to feel like part of the 23-year-old singer’s world.
Marina Bay Sands in B.o.B’s High Life
Where Coldplay gave us moonlight introspection, B.o.B’s High Life is pure adrenaline: all swagger, all shine. Flaunting Singapore’s most iconic skyline views, the globally acclaimed MBS’s infinity pool became the rapper’s playground in the clouds. This is the city as spectacle—top-notch, confident, larger than life.
Eat: For a true taste of luxury, skip the glitzy dining and head a short cab ride away to Jumbo Seafood at East Coast Seafood Centre. Dine like B.o.B with their signature chilli crab—rich, spicy, and succulent. It’s bold, brilliant, and just the right amount of fabulousness.
See: Walk the SkyPark Observation Deck for the cinematic views of Singapore. The panorama feels lifted straight from the music video, which is an endless sprawl of lights and ambition.
Do: Rent a bike and cruise around Marina Bay at night. The city glows, the breeze caresses, and suddenly, you’re not just biking past the wooden planks. You’re living the high life, B.o.B approved.
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