Steven Tyler: Past Is Gone, It Goes By Like Dusk To Dawn

"Every time I look in the mirror
All these lines on my face getting clearer
The past is gone
It goes by, like dusk to dawn
Isn't that the way
Everybody's got their dues in life to pay

Yeah, I know nobody knows
where it comes and where it goes
I know it's everybody's sin
You got to lose to know how to win

Half my life
is in books' written pages
Lived and learned from fools and
from sages
You know it's true
All the things come back to you
Sing with me, sing for the year
Sing for the laughter, sing for the tears..."
(Dream On by Steven Tyler/Aerosmith)

I grew up listening to Dean Martin, Nat Cole and Cliff Richard. The King was always standing by. Middle of the road stuff like Beautiful Sunday, Killing Me Softly and Mother And Child Reunion were also my cuppa in the mid 70s (having listened to them on New Zealand radio day and night in 1973).

But I began to appreciate Badfinger's Come And Get It and Steven Tyler's Dream On after having been introduced to them by younger college mates who were around me in the 80s, especially in Canada. The grounding of course came much earlier from Deep Purple, with their heavy guitar drawl that was metal.

These songs gave me that extra edge for what I term kick music, songs with that extra under-the-jaw punch. But Tyler's composition was one that I kept in the back drawers of my mind. I never appreciated the screaming man and his harmonica although I like the song.

When I started seeing him again week after week on American Idol a few years ago, I thought I'd open the drawer again and take out the crumpled paper that had part of the lyrics, Dream On. And when I read the words once more, they made a lot of sense. "The past is gone, it goes by like dusk to dawn" but "sing with me, sing for the year, Sing for the laughter, sing for the tears." Thank you Steven Tyler and Canadian Uni mates.

Image: Google images.
Original article: Andy Lim.

Steven Tyler (Aerosmith) - DREAM ON - live on American Idol - HD      

Video by: pjanczyk - June 11th, 2012.

NB:
Lead singer Steven Tyler, 65, described local women as delicious and a great melting pot since there are a lot of different kinds. He was replying tongue-in-cheek to a female reporter who had asked his views on the subject.  The veteran Aerosmith rockers are in Singapore to attend and perform at the Social Star Awards at the Marina Bay Sands area this weekend. The Psy guy will be here too I hear. Gallop on...

This article is a rejuvenation of two earlier postings.

Top Stars Who Wanted To Perform In Singapore 70s

Can you guess who the pop stars on the left are before you read this article?

When eight international pop stars agreed to perform here in the late 1970s nobody wanted to sponsor them. According to a newspaper report these event companies in Singapore were not familiar with the western pop music world  and refused to bring them in.

Apparently none of the show promoters knew who these stars were when the list was provided as a reference. It is surprising because the singers and groups were the biggest names in show-biz and included: Elvis Costello, Linda Rondstadt, Manhatten Transfer, David Gates, Bread and imagine, even Eagles and Rod Stewart. Still don't know who's who, or do you?

These stars had concerts around the region in 1978 and were scheduled to appear in Australia, Hong Kong and Japan but some nightclubs and local promoters remarked that they had never heard of these most sought-after artistes. Others on the list were Shaun Cassidy, Bette Midler, country and western singers England Dan and John Fort Coley.

But some event companies denied the allegation explaining that they would not engage these stars because of problems with the local authorities.

According to them some of these artistes would be denied entry because of their hair length, considering past instances when top-notch super groups like the Bee Gees, Middle of the Road and Led Zeppelin were asked to leave immediately unless they had their manes cropped at Paya Lebar Airport itself.

Countering this argument a spokesman from a record company mentioned that groups like Manhatten Transfer were clean-cut, neat and wore the best suits in town.

Furthermore most of the artistes mentioned had record releases in Singapore and would charge less than S$20,000 for a show that included back-up singers, a full band and sound-system.  It was business sense to engage them. (Today it would probably cost half a million Sing dollars!)



Whatever the reason we will never know.  Perhaps these show promoters were familiar only with our local stars and those from Malaysia and Hong Kong?  Anyone with an answer?

Images: providec by Google except  the picture on the right which is from a private collection.

Information: from The Straits Times, Singapore.

If you still don't know, here are the answers: Manhatten Transfer (Pic 1), David Gates, Bread (Pic 2), Rod Stewart (Pic 3), Eagles (Pic 4) Linda Rondstadt (Pic 5), Heather and Thunderbirds (Pic 6).

If you enjoyed reading this article click to this one: http://singapore60smusic.blogspot.sg/2009/03/blog-post_24.html

A Scottish Pop Star Sang At The National Theatre

For Your Eyes Only: Sheena Easton: James Bond Opening Scene.      

by: thedarksideBJ

*W. K. Yang, chairperson of one of the largest and most established eye-wear businesses in Singapore, sponsored a show featuring a female pop star from Scotland to sing at the National Theatre at Tank Road.  It was an ideal situation since she was one of the biggest names then and the theme of the show was appropriate to the product being sold by the company.

One of the James Bond biggies when Roger Moore was 007.

The singer in question had made a success with two songs she recorded since she started out in 1980. Her first song Modern Girl only became a hit after the second, Morning Train nearly topped the charts. 

Singing the title song for the latest James Bond flick established her as a star since it became a world-wide hit.  She also remained the only artiste to be seen singing a theme song to this famous spy series during its opening credits.

For Your Eyes Only, an 007 original nominated for an Academy Award in 1981 in the category Best Music (Original Song), not only advertised Nanyang Optical as an already established spectacles retailer but brought Sheena Easton to our shore.



The advertisement from Straits Times Press.

The Grammy award winner and singing sensation was voted Best Female Singer of the Year and Best Female Personality of the Year. Pat D'Rose in a local newspaper article called her a veritable chilli padi, small and dynamic in more ways than one.

Another Singapore journalist, Kannan Chandran, described her as "distant and clinically competent"  but a majority of the audience who attended the concert and expected a good time were not disappointed. The gig was promoted by Johnny Young Productions. His was a familiar name and sponsored many local 60s pop music gigs. Ticket prices were inexpensive since patrons paid only $20 to see an international star. 

There is still an unanswered question. Did I witness this extravaganza at the National Theatre? Ah... More importantly, did you attend the show? Tell us.

                           Sheena Easton - Morning Train (Nine To Five) by emimusic.

*Yang Wah Kiang- From Geylang To Orchard.

He is a friend since I started wearing glasses at a very young age and visited his father's shop at Geylang Road which opened in the 50s. When Yang Junior took over after his father passed on I was already a regular so it was no co-incidence that I saw the Sheena Easton poster outside his shop one afternoon while browsing for a new pair of glasses.

Mr Yang Wah Kiang Chairman Nanyang Optical

He made the company what it is today, expanding it many-fold and which now stands as an enterprise that also produces uniquely designed spectacle frames.  His shop has expanded and he owns a sister company with a now prestigious brand called Alexis Eyewear Boutique that has outlets at Orchard Road, the most up-market environment in Singapore. Fifty years on and still going strong. Like Sheena Easton who holds fort even today Yang is just as popular with his frames and lenses as Easton is with her singing appearances.

THIS POSTING IS NOT AN ADVERTISEMENT.

Images: from Google and Straits Times Press.

Happy Mother's Day 2013 For All Who Care

       

Video by negrutiu gabriel. Connie Francis sings: Mama

 

 

(Watch the fashion parade on video.)

When the evening shadows fall
And the lovely day is through
Then with longing I recall
The years I spent with you

Mama solo per te la mia canzone vola
Mama sarai con me tu non sarai piu sola

Quanto ti voglio bene
Queste parole d'amore
Che ti sospira il mio cuore
Forse non si usano piu

Ah Mamma
Ma la canzone mia piu bella sei tu
Sei tu la vita e per la vita non ti lascio mai piu...
 

Safe in the glow of your love
Sent from the heavens above
Nothing can ever replace
The warmth of your tender embrace

Oh, Mama, until the day
That we're together once more
I'll live in these memories
Until the day that we're together once more.

Mama is first written in 1941 by Cesare Andrea Bixio with Italian lyrics by Bruno Cherubini under the title Mamma Son Tanto Felice (Mum, I Am So Happy). In 1946, the English lyrics were written by Harold Barlow and Phil Brito who had their popular recording hit the charts in May 1946.

The song was also recorded by Connie Francs in 1959 and released in February 1960. Arranged and conducted by Tony Osborne, the Connie Francis version of the song was a number two hit in the UK,and peaked at number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 chart (from Wikipedia but edited).

You Tube Video by negrutiu gabriel.

(From: nowcom.wordpress.com)

For Singapore Mother's Day is on Sunday, 12th May 2013.
From: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouRULVx4Gtw
Cartoon: http://nowcom.wordpress.com/2010/05/07/fun-friday-mothers-day-cartoon/

Gun Violence on 2013 Mother's Day:

Police reported that 19 people were hurt in a shooting at a Mother's Day parade in  the streets of the south eastern US city called New Orleans.  The mayor called for an end to "relentless" violence.

Malaysian General Election 2013: Advice Dari 1955

SONGS I LOVE:

(This posting is not a propaganda piece to ask you to vote for a Malaysian political party).

Malayan Broadcast:

Before Singapore gained its independence in 1965, radio broadcast coming from Malaya was nothing special and many Singaporeans listened to the news and entertainment provided. So when the Malayan elections were about to be held on July 27th in 1955, announcements on radio were common. It wasn't the election that attracted me but the song, composed by a humorous, radio personality called Zainal Alam.

Zainal Alam:

He had a successful career in broadcasting in Malaya and to improve himself took up a Government Management Program in the USA. According to a website, "his course-mate friend was John F. Kennedy" who later became the President. 

Because of his overseas stint he composed a song called, Susu Mambo (Milk Mambo) encouraging everyone, especially children, to drink milk ("anak yang kecil hendak di-ingatkan"). Since the lyrics were funny and the mambo beat popular, the message became widespread.  Besides Malay, Zainal spoke the local languages and dialects. In fact his version of Rose, Rose I Love You has verses in Malay, Chinese and Tamil.

*Pak Lam's talent and versatility caught on.  Before singer and wife of P. Ramlee became famous as Saloma she was a.k.a. Salmah Ahmad and was Zainal's back-up singer. It finally led up to him composing a song about her and one of the lines asked, "mau-kah jadi pasangan ku?", which in translation means, "would you be my partner?"   Even P. Ramlee was unable to name any of his songs after Saloma.  Ramlee composed Azizah, Hamidah, Zubaidah but no Saloma. 

Whether it was a local singer, Malayan milk or the spiky durian he would promote them all. These songs which he peppered with colloquial catch phrases had everyone talking.  That was Zainal Alam's influence and popularity those years.

           The Voting Song in Malay by Zainal Alam, a 1955 advice. Video by wgc26

The Voting Song:

One of his songs I love is Vote, Vote, Vote. and aired before the Malayan Election on 27th July, 1955.  I searched in vain but could not find the English version. It was an attractive jingle and played like a commercial day and night, encouraging the populace to vote wisely. Psychologically as most commercials do, these tunes stick in the head. Plain brain washing... But it was good advice, and still is.

The Message:

The song tickled the rib-cage but the message was clear. Whether it was the American citizens choosing Barack Obama for his second presidential term or the Malayans selecting a candidate for Parliament, people going to the polls were encouraged to: "Vote wisely, vote with care because once you vote there is no 'lagi sa-kali' (one more time)."  In simple jargon Zainal was telling voters, "Wise up man!"

Below are part of the English lyrics which I could remember. The Malay version is on the You Tube video above. His songs about Saloma and Durians are on the right-bar of this blog.

The Voting Song (English version)

Vote vote vote
Everybody vote
Remember 27th is the day
(change to the 5th of May)
Don't forget
That you must not delay
Vote wisely vote with care
Everybody vote

When you vote
You must vote wisely
What people say
You 'jangan peduli' (don't bother)
Use your head
Think very carefully
Remember once you vote
There is no 'lagi sa-kali' (one more time)

Image: Google.

You Tube Video by wgc26.

*This edited piece of information is from You Tube contributor zainulazizan. Published on November 13th, 2012  it is a tribute, "to my late uncle Dato Zainal Alam."

This original article is the latest version of an older posting I did before Singapore's General Election.

Labour Day: Work Hard For The Money Folks!

A few songs come to mind when 1st of May appears on the calendar.  So for those still in labour, here's a personal  selection.  Starting with the ladies...

1. Nine To Five (Dolly Parton)

Yes, it's a 1980 song but it became something of an anthem for office workers in the U.S., and owe its title to an organization founded in 1973 with the aim of bringing about better treatment for women in the workplace:

Nine to five, what a way to make a living;
Barely getting by, it's all taking and no giving.
They just use your mind, and they never give you credit.

Nine to five, for service and devotion;
You would think that I would deserve a fair promotion;
Want to move ahead, but the boss won't seem to let me.

2. Chain Gang (Sam Cooke)

Inspired with an actual chain-gang of prisoners Sam Cooke saw on a highway while on tour. He felt sorry for the men and gave them cartons of cigarettes. Our chaps in Changi have a better deal:

Well don't you know
That's the sound of the men                                                 
Workin' on the chain gang
All day long they work so hard
'Till the sun is going down, down
Workin' on the highways and byways and wearing
Wearing a frown
You hear them moaning

3. She Works Hard For The Money (Donna Summer)

It was based on an actual encounter that Donna Summer had with an exhausted bathroom attendant. Yes, many of them around in Singapore:

It's a sacrifice working day to day
For little money just tips for pay
But it's worth it all
Just to hear them say that they care

She works hard for the money
So hard for it honey
She works hard for the money

4. Maggie's Farm (Bob Dylan)

This theme of capitalist exploitation came to be seen by some as the major theme of the song. Lots of interpretation this song has. Was this song banned in Singapore from way back when?

Well, he hands you a nickel
He hands you a dime
He asks you with a grin
If you're havin' a good time
Then he fines you every time you slam the door
I ain't gonna work for Maggie's brother more.

Leader from Rob O'Connor's List at Y Music Blog.

There are 21 more songs if you can be bothered to read.

The above article is my own with some information from Wikipedia and Lyrics Websites but the 4 songs listed were taken from an article by: Rob O'Connor | List Of The Day – Thu, Aug 28, 2008 8:15 PM EDT titled, The 25 Best Work Songs For Labor Day. Here's the twist at the end of his list:

"But we here at List Of The Day never stop working. We're always thinking of new lists that need to be compiled. When we saw Labour Day coming up on the calendar, we knew it was time to wheel out the work songs. Not the old, smelly work songs that musicologists once discovered in the hands of the workingman, but the ones written and performed by rich rock stars who've never done any real work. Rich rock stars, you see, complain better than anyone. So who better to give voice to than the oppressed?"

Hey wait a minute, I thought pop singers work hard too?  Happy Labour Day holiday folks. I retired long ago...  BTW, this is not a message from NTUC :-)

Images: Google.

Info: http://music.yahoo.com/blogs/list-of-the-day/the-25-best-work-songs-for-labor-day.html

Who's The Most Googled 60s Music Celebrity Today?

Who's the most googled 60s music celebrity today?  It's someone you might have forgotten altogether because this lady is more popular than google-listed singers Madonna and Jennifer Lopez, actress Angelina Jolie and socialite Paris Hilton.

And she's from a time when Singapore had just gained her independence in August 1965.  On the same list after Lady Gaga, Justine Bieber and Rihana our sexy lady has a career spanning half a century!

Still guessing huh? Well guess again because this post stops here. One last clue. She is  the 4th most often searched celebrities on Google and gained 340,000,000 results. She's on the right, part of her anyway.

If you know who she is click Post a Comment below and send in your answer, otherwise wait for a few days. And no cheating, no googling for answer :-)

When the moon hits your eye
Like a big pizza pie, that's amore...

Images from: Google.

***********************************************************************************

OK, it was easy I guess. And the images were useful. Thanks for the game because the answers came within ten minutes that I posted the article. The first was from anonymous.

I am not much of a Cher fan but here are some of her songs that I remember. Can't forget her sexy eye-lashes, sultry caresses, long tresses  and strange dresses:

1. I Got You Babe with Sonny Bono.
2. Alfie.
3. Bang, Bang, My Baby Shot Me Down.
4. Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves.
5. Will You Love Me Tomorrow.
6. Half Breed.
7. Dark Lady.
8. Baby I Love You and after a long spell,
9. Believe in 1998 with its signature echo shrills and copied by other artistes later.

Saw Cher in her Oscar winning role in Moonstruck, with the final two-line clue from Dean Martin's That's Amore (above) and in Mask, Witches of Eastwick and Silkwood. A good actress she was. Pity Bono passed on. Great act they had. And their shows... Wow!!!


Still drawing the crowds in Vegas today.  She's a living legend.

Images: Google.



Cher Costume Changes designed by Bob Mackie.

 Sonny n Cher Comedy Hour - The Beat Goes On (live) by danielito11122.

Elvis': 'All Shook Up': What Song Means To Seniors

                       You Tube: Elvis Presley with All Shook Up by brokensteellord.

SONGS I LOVE:

Health Guide With An Elvis Song:

As  Elvis Presley fans we all love the way he interprets his rock and roll songs. His natural rhythm and the way he bounces them make us eager beavers to listen to him repeatedly and there are so many of his hits. One of these songs that struck me is, *All Shook Up and Mao Wong (Cat King, as he is called in the East) makes it so unique and personal  as he arouses the animal in us. As youths we feel instinctively hot and sensual when we gyrate to this number:

'A well I bless my soul
What's wrong with me?
I'm itching like a man on a fuzzy tree
My friends say I'm actin wild as a bug.'

But that was years ago and happened during our younger days, because now as we watch The King on You Tube, there's a different feel to the lyrics. 'I'm itchin' like a man on a fuzzy tree' is instantly recognisable because some of us, at our age, may have problem skin. The itch from certain skin ailments like eczema or hives makes it unbearable and the phrase, 'itching all over' takes on a different perspective.

'My hands are shaky and my knees are weak
I can't seem to stand on my own two feet
Who do you thank when you have such luck?

I'm in love, I'm all shook up.'

After a long walk or jog it is not unusual for seniors to complain, 'My hands are shaky and my knees are weak' giving a new meaning to the line with the resultant effect,  'I can't seem to stand on my own two feet.' The lyrics speak for themselves since arthritis, osteoporosis and weak knees are ailments we cannot run away from. The walking stick helps but, 'Who do you thank when you have such luck?' Old age definitely and not 'love' as the line, 'I'm in love, I'm all shook up', explains.

Image: Ron Leishman

'Please don't ask me what's on my mind
I'm a little mixed up, but I'm feelin' fine
When I'm near that girl that I love best
My heart beats so it scares me to death!' 

Yes, at 70 we would probably not realise what's on our mind let alone give a reason for it. The mixed up feeling could be the result of dementia or memory loss and 'feelin' fine' a personal reassurance that everything's alright.


15 caps a day for some.

'She touched my hand what a chill I got
Her lips are like a volcano that's hot
I'm proud to say she's my buttercup.' 

With atrial fibrillation and a high pulse rate so common amongst seniors, 'My heart beats so it scares me to death!' could be a sign of heart degeneration or a probable cardiac arrest. 'She touched my hand what a chill I got'  could be a dengue onset or a flu bug attack.  'Her lips are like a volcano that's hot' does not indicate that we've excited our partner but probably because she's got influenza too.

'My tongue get tied when I try to speak
My insides shake like a leaf on a tree
There's only one cure for this body of mine...'

When you reach this stage don't wait for more symptoms; go see a private doctor quickly or check into the nearest AE Unit at one of our hospitals before it's too late. And when you check into the ward, 'That's When Your Heartache Begins'



Not in our hospitals, no way!

*All Shook Up is a song recorded by Elvis Presley in 1957 and published by Elvis Presley Music and composed by Otis Blackwell and Elvis Presley. That's When Your Heartache Begins is on Side B (Wikipedia).

*All Shook Up is also a 2004 American jukebox musical with Elvis Presley music and with a book by Joe DiPietro. The story is based on William Shakespeare's 1602 play Twelfth Night (Wikipedia).

Images: Google.
Original article: Written in jest but the truth persists.

(Poor paragraphing due to blog template inconsistencies)

Changi Point 1965: At The Mercy Of The Lonely Sea

THIS POSTING IS THE BLOG'S 1000th:

As much as we appreciate the positivity of Andy William's Moon River in my last posting, we must realise there's the other extreme as *The Beach Boys' The Lonely Sea suggests and it was definitely the tidal movement as orchestrated by Mr. Moon that resulted in the drowning girl's predicament. It is a true story and here is his letter. If you or anyone else remember this incident please write in. The experience still haunts Allan to this day:



Dear Andy,

Mid 1965: Changi Point, Singapore.

We usually worked on Saturday mornings at Changi but my section, with only four members of staff, had a local arrangement whereby we took it in turn to have Saturday morning off. On that particular, fateful day, it was my turn. It was warm and sunny so I put my towel, cigarettes and a paperback book into my duffle-bag and walked down to Changi Point.

The tide was about half-way in so I had a quick dip and then sat on the sand to read my book. There was no one else around except a small Malay boy pottering about near the water's edge, and some Chinese teenage boys in two stationary canoes over the submerged sand-spit where the creek meets the sea. My reading was disturbed by someone calling out and I looked up to see the Chinese boys waving to me and shouting.

Thinking they were just being friendly, I waved back and returned to my book. A couple of minutes later they called out again.

"What are they saying?" I asked the little Malay boy.

"Someone has drowned," he replied nonchalantly.

Writer Allan Thompson at a sarabat stall in Changi Point 1965.

"Jesus Christ!" I cried and leapt to my feet. Looking across the water, I could see something floating beside one of the canoes. It looked like a piece of a tree branch. I asked the Malay boy to look after my bag and clothes and then I plunged into the sea and swam out to the canoes. My heart sank as I saw that the 'tree branch' was actually the shoulder of a Chinese girl who was floating, head-down, in the water. I raised her head but she was completely lifeless. A long stream of white bile extended from her mouth across the surface of the water, and the pupils of her open eyes had somehow disappeared behind her upper eyelids, and only the white area was visible.

One of the boys told me that she had fallen overboard, panicked, and had been under water for more than ten minutes. I had to act quickly if there was any chance of saving her life. I turned on to my back, put my arms under her armpits, and tried to swim backwards with her towards the shore. It was impossible because the undercurrent was too strong and I made no progress at all.

There was one Chinese boy in one canoe, and two boys in the other.  I told the two boys to help me lift the girl up into their canoe but they were trembling with shock and were unable to move so I had to shout at them to jolt them into action. When they had lifted her aboard, I told one of them to climb into the second canoe while his friend followed my instructions.



 "Lay her face down," I said, so he immediately laid her on her back.

"Face down!" I yelled, aware that precious time was being lost by his understandably

nervous responses. He was weeping as he struggled to turn her over. When she was lying on her front, I told him to raise her backside so that the water could run out of her lungs. He did so and then gently lowered her down again on my instructions.

Leaving his belongings behind.

Just at that moment, a young Malay man came swimming up to the canoe. He was a caddy at the RAF golf club on the other side of the creek and, seeing what had happened, he had climbed down the bank and swum across the creek to help me. I asked him to get into the canoe and help the Chinese boy to paddle as fast as they could to the shore while I swam ahead ready to administer artificial respiration when they brought her ashore.

My mind was racing as I sped through the water against the current. I was trying to remember what I had been taught during my basic training about the Holger-Neilson method of artificial respiration. I knew I had to lay her face down, raise her middle to let water out of her lungs, press down firmly on the diaphragm with both hands at regular intervals, and... hope for the best! I prayed that I could succeed.

As I stumbled ashore, I noticed a dark-green tent amidst some bushes a short distance along from the Point. It was an RAF Regiment anti-aircraft unit, one of several situated along the coast of the island in readiness for possible attacks by Indonesian forces. I ran towards it, shouting to attract the attention of the gunners. 

Two of them came out and I asked them if they were trained in life-saving because I wanted the poor girl to have the best possible chance of survival and if these men were properly trained, it would be much better than my hit-or-miss efforts. 



Thankfully, they had been fully trained and they came running along the sand with me to meet the canoe as it reached the shore. They lifted the girl gently on to the sand and, following the procedure which I had been running through my mind earlier, took it in turn to try and resuscitate her. 

I picked up my belongings and lit a cigarette to calm my nerves while they worked on her. For a while it seemed as if all our efforts had been in vain because there was no response, only a deathly silence each time they paused to check for a pulse.



A small crowd of people, mainly Chinese teenagers, had gathered, and one or two called out things like "Hey! John! Give her kiss of life-lah!" which caused some laughter among their friends. I am sure it was nervous laughter but to those of us who had tried so hard to save her, it was very upsetting and one of the gunners stood up and waved a warning finger at the comedians who immediately quietened down.



Changi Point where the incident occurred.  Submerged sandbank continuing from the tip of the Point where writer was seated up above the high tide mark near the Point when the youngsters called out to him.

Just when I thought it was hopeless and that the poor girl must be dead, there came a hideous retching sound and her body shook as she coughed up a quantity of salt water and bile. There was a loud cheer from the crowd and one of the gunners bathed her face with a towel while the other ran back to their tent to radio for an ambulance.  I suddenly felt very weak and faint so I walked away from the scene and sat down at the water's edge as tears of relief cascaded down my cheeks.  I washed my face with sea water to hide the tears, then I stood up and put my shirt and shorts on over my swimming-trunks.   

Then a young Chinese boy, one of those who had been in the canoes, came up to me and took my arm. 

"Oh thank you, sir," he said tearfully. "Thank you sir for saving my cousin." 

This was too much for me and I could feel myself trembling, presumably from the shock and emotion of the occasion.  I muttered something in reply and turned away as an RAF ambulance, closely followed by an RAF Police Land Rover, came along the sand towards the Point.  I had only gone a few yards when one of the policemen came running after me.

  

"I've been told you were involved in this rescue," he said, and I nodded.  "If you hang on, we'll drive you back to the guardroom so that you can make a statement." 

I waited by the Land Rover while he and his colleague, both corporals, took details from the two gunners, then we drove to the guardroom.  As we went, one of the corporals said: "I should think her family will hold a big celebration in your honour for saving their daughter's life. They'll probably give you a big meal and make you an honorary family member." 

  

A vision of dozens of brightly-dressed Chinese people of several generations smiling and laughing crossed my mind, and for a fleeting second I wondered if this poor girl had a beautiful older sister!  I quickly put this impure thought aside and felt a sudden panic. I didn't want to be given profuse thanks for what I had done. Fate had decreed that I should be at Changi Point at that precise moment and I had only done my moral duty as a human being. I tried not to think what the outcome would have been if I had not been given that particular morning off and had decided to spend it at the beach.



Writer's personal possessions on the burning shore.

I wrote out a full statement at the guardroom, sipping a mug of coffee as I did so. They offered to drive me either back to the beach or along to my billet but I thanked them and said I'd be fine walking as the billet wasn't far away.  When I reached my room which, thankfully was empty, I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling and listening to the overhead fan as it creaked slowly, hardly stirring the air.  Then the tears came back and I turned over and buried my face in my pillow.  I didn't hear Mike come into the room and when he spoke I looked up with a start.

  

"Are you okay, Allan?" he asked, obviously concerned by my red eyes.

  

"Yes, I'm fine, thanks," I sniffed, wiping my face with a handkerchief.

  

"No you're bloody not!" he said. "What's up?"

  

 So I told him what had happened, just to get it off my chest, and I was  trembling as I spoke.

   

"You're a hero, Allan!  Wait until I tell the lads. We'll have a big party tonight to celebrate."

  

"No." I shook my head.

  

"What do you mean?"

  

"I don't want a party, Mike.  I just want to keep quiet about this because it's too upsetting.  I feel as if I'm in shock or something and I'd be really grateful if you don't mention it to anyone"

  

"Not even Geordie or Jay?"  He looked puzzled and a little hurt by my attitude.

  

"No, not even them. I don't mean to be awkward or anything but I don't think I could handle it if people came up to me and said nice things about what happened.  I'm sorry, Mike, but I hope you understand.  Will you promise to keep it to yourself?"

  

"Okay, Allan," he sighed. "I promise."

  

"Thanks a lot, Mike."

Mike was true to his word and the only people who knew about it other than those who had been involved, were the RAF Police and Mike. I never mentioned the incident to any of my friends or family until, in the early 1980s, I finally came to terms with what had happened on that sunny day back in 1965, and felt I could talk about it at last.  Oddly enough, I never met either of the gunners, the two corporals, or the Malay caddy again.  Nor did I ever hear from the Police after I had made my statement, and I never found out what became of the Chinese girl.  Did she recover from her experience or did she suffer brain damage from being under water for so long?

Good wishes,

Allan.

Original article and images by Allan Thompson (Copyrights Reserved).

*The Lonely Sea by The Beach Boys. Video by julianpetsounds.

The lonely sea
The lonely sea
It never stops
For you or me
It moves along
From day to day

That's why my love
That's why my love
You'll never stay
You'll never stay
This pain in my heart
These tears in my eyes
Please tell the truth
You're like the lonely sea (sea)
Sea (sea)

You Tube video The Lonely Sea is a melancholic ballad Brian Wilson wrote with Gary Usher.  It was first recorded on the 19th of April 1962 and was included on the demo track that resulted in the band getting signed to Capitol Records.

The Thatcher Trail: End 1979 And The UK Pop Scene

The Iron Lady on the cover of Time.

Thatcher's England:

*Margaret Thatcher (1925-2013) is gone at 87.  May she rest in peace.  I remember following news about her from our local media, talking about her when she became PM at the end of the 70s as I chatted with people on the streets of London. Then her visits to Singapore in 1985, 1988, 1993 and a  Dendrobium orchid in her name.

She was an icon but a controversial figure. After the famous, Labour Isn't Working call and during the Winter of Discontent  (1978 to 1979) when the government was facing criticism because of public service collapse and spiralling unemployment, Iron Lady came to the rescue and in May, 1979 had the doors of 10 Downing Street opened for her when she became the first female prime minister. 

I am writing not to discuss this lady but her death two days ago ignited a spark within to write about the UK and its pop scene in 1979 and my time spent in that country.  To me those were memorable years and an experience I need to write about.

Movies and VHS:

First, on the film trail, classic Apocalypse Now by Francis Coppola was the talk of movie buffs and Ridley Scott's Alien recognised as a masterpiece of cinema. In the same period home entertainment took a turn and Sony's Betamax recording format introduced in 1975 had to go to war with JVC when the latter came out with challenger VHS in 1977. 

I was confused, not knowing which to choose but finally decided on the more popular VHS. The VCR or video cassette recorder was the device that transformed the video entertainment market and we got to watch Brando, Martin Sheen, Sigourney Weaver, Rocky and Kramer vs. Kramer at home.

Pop Songs:

Still following?  Well Cliff Richard fans may remember that with good friend Bruce Welch (Shadows' rhythmist) he produced a single released in late 1979 that was huge. It reached number one in UK and the top ten in the US.  It made Sir Cliff the first artiste to chart on the Billboard Hot 100 in the 80s while also having scored Hot 100 hits in all of the previous three decades.  And the song? We Don't Talk Anymore.

By the end of that year another new star hit the headlines and rock group Pink Floyd released The Wall, an album which went to the peak of Billboard and stayed for 15 weeks.

The list went on with Bright Eyes by Art Garfunkel. This theme song for movie Watership Down was the biggest selling single of 1979 in the UK. 

Then came When You're In Love With A Beautiful Woman by Dr. Hook, YMCA with the Village People, Ring My Bell with Anita Ward, Crazy Little Thing Called Love by Queen, Chiqitita by Abba and the ever haunting instrumental, Cavatina (Theme from The Deer Hunter) by John Williams.

Afterthought:

I came back again in 1981 but this time to Aberdeen, Scotland and read three of many great books provided free by a university. I absorbed the books as I did the country. The books included: 1)  Changing Places by funny man David Lodge; 2) Three Plays: Five Finger Exercise, Shrivings, Equus by serious Shaffer and 3) Worlds: Seven Modern Poets that included Charles Causley, Seamus Heaney, Thom Gunn, Ted Hughes, etc., edited by Geoffrey Summerfield.

 

Penguin Books: David Lodge: Changing Places, Peter Shaffer: Three Plays, Worlds: Seven Modern Poets.

My meandering is what I call my Thatcher Trail around the late 70s and early 80s when I used to frequent  England and Scotland.  The countries, mode of government, books and songs made me understand the UK psyche better. These places you just don't want to talk about. London especially. You just want to visit, read about and experience them again and again and again...

Pink Floyd:
"We don't need no education.
We don't need no thought control.
No dark sarcasm in the classroom.
Teacher, leave those kids alone.
Hey, Teacher, leave those kids alone
All in all it's just another brick in the wall..."

Conclusion:

Can you believe the lyrics?  A truly wonderful lady lecturer in her 60s gave me a free ride in her tiny Ford Focus all the way from Aberdeen to the Underground in London when I was coming home. It was a near 12-hour ride.  I shall never forget Ms Levi.

*(West End musicals and plays in London will be discussed in another posting.)



Elvis Costello, Morrissey, The English Beat

NB:

 

During her eleven years in office Thatcher was not well received by British  and some non-British musicians. The English Beat's Stand Down Margaret, the Larks' Maggie Maggie Maggie (Out Out Out), Morrissey's Margaret on the Guillotine, and Elvis Costello's Tramp the Dirt Down were only a few of these vitriolic songs. 

Latest: Margaret Thatcher's funeral on Wednesday 15th April, 2013.

Information from:
1) Internet, Wikipedia and 2) Decades of Our Lives 70s, Classic, Rare and Unseen: From the Archives of the Daily Mail Transatlantic Press: 2010.
Images: Google.

Shadows' "Apache" Also Sung By Sonny James

SONGS I LOVE:

The solid guitar instrumental version of *Apache meant fame and fortune for British group The Shadows when the song topped the UK Singles Chart for weeks in mid 1960.  Composed by Jerry Lordan it is in the list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Tracks. The public raved and the song became a worldwide hit. Even until today it is still being played, revived, mixed and re-mixed by many different bands and artistes.

Many groups like The Ventures, Xavier Cugat and his Orchestra, Surfaris, Aces Combo, artistes like Duane Eddy, Jorgen Ingmann, Bert Weedon and Chet Atkins covered it. In Singapore guitar groups that aspired to be 'famous' were able to play the twanging version and nearly every Singapop group used it as their opening act on stage.  From 1960 Singapore was invaded by Apache with The Quests, Checkmates, The Trailers and others.

3) Singapore 60s Bands Always Play Apache. Copyright Mun Chor Seng.

In 1973, when the original Shadows' version was still a hot favourite, a hip-hop version by the Incredible Bongo Band emerged  with a great following and in 1981 there was even a rap version by Sugarhill called, Gang Apache (Jump On It) with fascinating bongo play.  Check out Wikipedia's long list of Apache covers and versions which come right up to 2011.  But if  we turn the clock back to the beginning when it was first composed there is a flip side to this interesting tale.

For some readers who may not be familiar with Apache there is a less known non-instrumental version of this song. This outshadowed version with lyrics was recorded in 1961 and was said to have been written by living legend and singer/songwriter Sonny James (83 years now) of Young Love fame.  Evidently, from the information on the RCA Single (101046), the lyrics were written by one Johnny Flamingo and James was the singer.

Without further ado, and thanking You Tube and Maureen712, here's the real love story of an Apache brave (Golden Hawk) and the American Indian maiden (Silver Dove) who is still haunted by her love for him.

                              Sonny James' Apache. Video by Maureen 712

Lonely Silver Dove
Sweet Apache maid
Lonely Silver Dove
Sweet Apache maid

Alone, all alone by the campfire
She dreamed of her love, her delight
Away, far away on the prairie
Her love Golden Hawk shared the night

Sometimes at night with the moon he would come
Sweet were the moments they shared
But with the dawn he was gone with the sun

A smoke sign arose from the prairie
A breeze sighed a sad mournful song
The brave Golden Hawk had departed
Had gone to that great, great beyond

Sometimes at night when there's rain in the sky
She hears her love high above
He and his pony go thundering by...

Except #3, All Images by Maureen712.
http://www.youtube.com/user/Maureen712?feature=watch

*Johnny Preston's Running Bear (1959) has a similar theme. Also sung by Sonny James this song was a big hit by J. P. Richardson (The Big Bopper).
"With a love big as the sky
Running Bear loved Little White Dove
With a love that couldn't die."

Kugiran Les Jolly Jets, The Dreamers: Johore.

1) From You Tube video by miha 622

 

It has been a while since I posted articles about kugirans (Malay pop guitar groups) from the 60s so when an email and a photograph came from friend Jimmy, Decibels' former guitarist, I decided to publish the information he provided. He wrote:

2) Jimmy's photograph taken at site.

Hi Andy,

 

I was enjoying my nasi padang at an eatery in Nusajaya Johor Bahru recently when I looked across where I was seated and saw a few old cameras and an old vinyl record displayed on a shelf against the wall. I learnt from the owner of the eatery, Mr Fadli that his wife's uncle was a member of Les Jolly Jets. The band only lasted for a couple of years though. He obliged when I asked if I could take a picture of the displayed record (pls see attached). I also told him to check out your singapore60smusic blogspot. Btw, do you know of this band?

Best regards,

Jimmy.

1.04.2013.

Dear Jimmy,

Thank you for the email and photograph. There were bands mushrooming all over Malaysia those years and I am not familiar with many.  So I checked You Tube and found this group featured. Les Jolly Jets might have had a good following in Johore Bahru in the 60s as these bands played at home parties, weddings, cinemas and night clubs in the area. Like any business opportunities, Malaysian record producers would contract these more popular bands to cut a vinyl. 

The Dreamers from Muar Johor.

Some time ago I bought an EP of a band called, The Dreamers and from the information on the cover they came from Muar, Johore (image 2). I am just wondering if any reader is familiar with these two groups from the same State.  The songs, if they are of any help, include: Tetap Setia, Kemana Menghilang, Gadis Impian Ku and Kenangan Menjelma. Very roughly they mean, Always Faithful, Where Have You Disappeared To, My Dream Girl and Girl Reincarnate.

 

I guess Zaino Mum is the lead singer for Les Jolly Jets and from the information on the back cover, Zainal Omara and Shahrin Shah are the singers for The Dreamers.  Apparently Zainal Omara was also popular with two hits, Dodoi Anak and Sapu Tangan (is this the pop folk classic from Indonesia?)

Regards,
Andy.

If group members are still around in J.B. and reading this posting, give me a write.

 

Image 1: You Tube miha 622.
Images 2. Jimmy Ch'ng.

Image: 3. Andy Lim Collection.