SINGAPORE 60's: ANDY's POP MUSIC INFLUENCE IS A PERSONAL MUSIC, MEMORY TRAIL. BLOGGER DOES NOT OWN THE RIGHTS TO VIDEOS, AUDIO TRACKS AND IMAGES. THEY ARE UPLOADED FOR FUN, EDUCATIONAL, ILLUSTRATIVE PURPOSES AND HAVE BEEN CREDITED. BLOG IS NOT SPONSORED NOR ADVERTORIAL IN ANY WAY WHATSOEVER. INFORM BLOGGER OF COPYRIGHT ISSUES AND POST WILL BE DELETED IMMEDIATELY. DO NOT COPY THE POSTS; GET PERMISSION N CREDIT ME IF YOU DO. ANDY LIM LA (NOVEMBER, 2008) -
(新加坡六十年代安迪的流行音乐影响力)
German synth-pop band Alphaville originally recorded "Forever Young" [1984 debut album] and was a huge success in Scandinavia, German-speaking European countries and Singapore; became a signature song for the band and covered by numerous singers. The late Ms Branigan covered it in 1985.
Many thanks to Phil for writing this informative and interesting Christmas Message. It's truly worth a read. Comments are always welcome.
A Christmas Reflection on Jesus’ Birthday.
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Dear Andrew,
Thank you for inviting me to write again for Christmas 2024. I think, I will share excerpts from my recent invited public lecture on the Christmas Star at the Singapore National Gallery.
What Child is This w/ Lyrics (Francesca Battistelli)
Isaiah 9: 6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Two historical passages were examined at the public talk, namely Luke 2: 8-20 (Baby Jesus, The Shepherds and Angels) and Matthew 2:1-10 Child Jesus and Magi (Wise men, Kings).
A possible clue for Jesus’s birthday comes from an unlikely historical account in Luke 1:5-25, 39-56 regarding the date of John the Baptist’s birth. This passage is not normally read during Christmas.
In the time of Herod king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. Both of them were upright in the sight of God, observing all the Lord's commandments and regulations blamelessly. But they had no children because Elizabeth was barren; and they were both well along in years.
Once when Zechariah's division was on duty; he was chosen by lot to serve as priest before God, according to the custom of the priesthood. He was to go into the temple of the Lord to burn incense. When the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshippers were praying outside. Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense.
When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and gripped with fear. But the angel said to him: Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John. When his time of service was completed, he returned home. After this, his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion.
From the Old Testament, King David organized the priests (and the Levites) into 24 courses (1Chronicles 24:1-31). Abijah was the eighth of the priestly divisions (1Chronicles 24:10). This would mean the month of Sivan would be around May-June when Elizabeth got pregnant.
The Birth of Jesus Foretold (6 months after John):
Luke 1:26 In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a Virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you. Luke 1:35 The angel answered Mary, Luke 1:36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home. The above indicates there were 6 months between the conception of John and the conception of Jesus.
When was John born ?
If it is 9-month gestation, John would have been born in the month Nisan … (Mar-April) during the Passover/Unleavened Bread/First Fruits Festivals. See Hebrew calendar below.
Jesus would have been born 6 months later, that would be in the month of Tishri (Sept-Oct) another 3 Festivals (one of them is the Feast of the Trumpets). This would be fitting as 1 Kings 1:32-34 informed us that when anointing a coming King, the ancients blow the trumpets. See Hebrew calendar above.
However, the current traditional date for Christmas was first decreed by the first Christian Roman Emperor, Constantine, to be December 25 as the official date to celebrate the birth of Jesus in 326 CE.
Now that we know when born Jesus was born, what about the year of His birth?
A 1980 Symposium at the famous Griffith Observatory (USA) discussed the historical significance of several astronomical events between 3 BC and 2 BC in an effort to establish the Christmas Star that the Magi (wise men from the East) might have noticed.
Who were the Magi from the East ?
They were likely from Babylon or Persia. One may note that in ancient times, the intellectual center of the world was Baghdad. Europe was busy persecuting heretics at that time but Baghdad was open to all thought. The Arabs invented algebra; algebra and algorithm are both Arabic words. In fact, two-third of the stars in the night sky have Arabic names.
At that time, great advances were made in fields such as Mathematics, astronomy, navigation, including engineering in the Middle East, especially in Baghdad. One may ask, “Why is that so?” The well-known Astrophysicist, Dr. deGrasse Tyson claimed “If you look at what was going on, they were open to all lines of thought. Jews, Muslims, Christians, doubters and atheists. They would all come around the table and share ideas. Through robust debates, if you have some philosophy that’s got holes in it, some one’s going find it and they’ve got to challenge you on those ideas. And what happens is that the conversation’s got ratchet up. You discard what doesn’t work and you keep what does. When you do that, you make discoveries rapidly.”
"Good philosophy must exist, if for no other reason, because bad philosophy needs to be answered." C.S. Lewis, Oxford.
Between 3 BC and 2 BC, the Magi would have taken notice of special conjunctions of Jupiter-Venus (Between Aug 3 BC and June 2 BC, both these two celestial objects “bound” together could easily be seen in the skies as they would be unusually bright) and would have alerted the Magi. One can use powerful computer sky maps programmed with the laws of physics today to confirm this observation. [See below.]
What is more interesting is that Jupiter (known as the King Star in ancient times) retrogrades (a peculiar motion of planets) in such way that “circles” around Regulus (this star is the brightest in the constellation Leo). Regulus is known as the little King star in that period and Leo being the Lion constellation is associated to the Hebrew tribe of Judah).
More details are given in a previous Christmas Star post (2022):
It is often pointed out that there is a discrepancy between Luke’s and Mathew’s accounts on Jesus’ birth. The Shepherds saw Baby Jesus in a manger near Bethlehem while the wise men met Toddler Jesus in a house in Bethlehem (where the “King star” Jupiter stopped). But a careful reading of the Holy Scriptures would elucidate that the wise men met Jesus after more than a year of travelling from the East (probably 2000 km on horses or camels) by following the path of Jupiter’s retrograde motion. Jesus by then would be about one to two years old. Another clue comes from King Herod’s wanting to kill every child of that age when they heard from the wise men that a King had been born.
Jesus was likely born in September-October during 3 BC to 2 BC. The shepherds were not likely to have brought sheep out to the Judean hills (near Bethlehem) during the winter months in December. After about more than a year, the Maggi would have met toddler Jesus in December the following year.
It is also interesting that this year’s Jewish Festival of Lights or Hanukkah (also known as the Dedication of the Temple) coincides with Christmas 2024. Hanukkah is an eight-day festival in commemoration of the re-dedication during the 2 BC of the Second Temple in Jerusalem. According to John 10:22 Jesus was at the Hanukkah celebration.
Finally, at this traditional Christmas 2024, let us still be merry, enjoy ourselves and bring good tidings of Jesus to all man. Nehemiah 8:10 said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength."
Isaiah 9: 6, For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Wishing you and your family good health, a Blessed Christmas 2024 and a Happy New Year 2025.
A HAPPY TANG YUEN DAY TO YOU. A good and longtime friend Mr. SPYeo sent me a video clip of Tang Yuan dessert, one that I had totally forgotten about. I remember as a child waiting for December months just to eat this sweet dish. We usually eat them after lunch but here's the story and song behind these white glutinous flour balls. The Winter Solstice Festival around December 22nd or Dongzhi Festival is an important celebration by the Chinese and East Asians. It originates with the Yin and Yang philosophy of balance and harmony in the cosmos and is not a religious tradition. Longer daylight hours after this period of celebration interprets an increase in positive energy flowing in. The philosophical significance of this ideal is symbolized by the I Ching Hexagramfu(復). This dessert is eaten at the end of the Chinese New Year festival too.
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21 COMMENTS, CHATS These white rice balls (later colorful ones for children) symbolize re-union. I remember getting six of these balls in my little bowl because that year I was six years old. You get one for each year of your life. But it's a custom seldom enforced for an obvious reason😊. Of course, I had a refill of another six later. Traditionally, there's one big ball and other smaller ones served in the bowl. Man, it was a dessert I relished throughout my childhood but when my parents passed away and as I grew up, family and friends forgot this tradition. I don't celebrate this season with my family now. Culturally, we should. There are many dessert shops in Singapore today that serve this dish. Anyone for a bowl of *Tang Yuan(湯圓)? Let me know. *Literally means Sugary Rounds. NB: The song that goes with Tang Yuan. Here it is taken from Jerry Yee's YouTube site and sung so beautifully by young lady singer Zoe.
Rice balls for sale, rice balls for sale. The server's rice balls are round and round. One bowl of rice balls is full and full. 30 cents for a bowl. Rice balls, rice balls, rice balls for sale. Rice balls can be used as a meal as well. Hey...yo! Rice balls, rice balls, rice balls for sale. Rice balls can be used as a meal as well.
Images: Google. YouTube Video: Jerry Yee. The birth of Tang Yuan was originated from a scholar named Zhang Zhongjing (image below) from the Han Dynasty.
One freezing winter, he saw some hungry, poverty-stricken civilians who couldn't fend for themselves. They were also suffering from frostbite; due to the extremely cold winter. Zhang Zhongjing was a kind man, sympathized the civilians and ordered his apprentices to make dumplings with lamb meat and other ingredients to warm up these poor and prevent them from further harm. Food costs were reduced by using rice-flour later on but the hot bowl of food and liquid was important. Click Comments below for interesting reads.
The hard copy newspapers that we read used to be slotted under solid main doors at our shophouse, so being the first to wake up while waiting for the school bus at twilight morn, I would be the first to receive it and flip through the pages. Literally, "first-hand news".
Sometimes if I opened the door and waited for the copy to arrive I would meet the polite Indian gentleman handing me one.
"Hello! Good morning!" he would usually announce himself in his usual polite and gentle tone. "You going to school huh? Must study hard!" in impeccable English. Checking his load on the two wheeler, he had newspapers in English, Chinese and possibly in Malay and Tamil too.
Some people, especially seniors, still read their
news from the papers; delivered to their homes:
landed-property or apartments.
"Thank you sir!" I would answer, "You have a great morning too!"
That's how we got our news delivered then.
Now for the surprise.
You think it's not happening today? Yes it is! We still get our newspapers delivered by the vendor, direct to our home. But I hardly meet him because he delivers his papers at about five or six in the morning and I was told that most of his clientele are seniors.
Then again we are living in a brave new 2024 world and many people are reading their news from media outlets on the Internet and like the term hard-copy news is being read on-line. With a touch of the fingers, news pieces appear on the smart phones that we carry.
So I have been told I am backward and out of touch. Hmm! 😊
How do you read your news? Do tell and why?
The Rolling Stones with their composition, 'Yesterday's Papers', sang:"Living a life of constant change, Every day means the turn of a page, Yesterday's papers are such bad news, Same thing applies to me and you..."
How the news is read today.
Rolling Stones: 'Yesterday's Papers'
YouTube video from: Wolfierouz
'Get Your Paper' [The Newspaper Song]
By Eddie Fisher.
YouTube Video from: Eddie Fisher - Topic
Hiroshi Deguchi Shares His Papers with Sakura.
Hiroshi Deguchi and the late Sakura
who passed away not too long ago.
Lying down on my side on the floor, I open the newspaper with my head on my arm. This is the way I read the newspaper delivered to home every morning. But before that, I had to fight over reading the paper first with my dog Sakura and won.
Andy Young
Hiroshi Deguchi, Thanks Hiroshi for your very humorous and cute experience. Apparently Sakura is still in your thoughts... and the connection is still strong. Appreciate your photograph too. Just shows how close you and family are with Sakura. You bring life to the blog too with your stories. ARIGATO GOZAIMAZU.
Newspaper Headlines From The Past: More Floods In Cities Today, Wildfire Spread Fast In Forest Area, Illegal Timber Trade, December Monsoon Rain Kills Many, Massive Landslide In Hill Resort, Poisonous Chemical In Rivers Uncontrollable, Acid Rain All Over Countryside, Polluted Beaches...
'Don't Go Near The Water': Beach Boys.
YouTube Video by: Angela de Lara.
This article has been re-posted from 10th August 2012, twelve years ago. Comments my dear readers? One Observation At Shopping Malls: I have no quarrel with people who are paid by others to distribute flyers to pedestrians and passers-by. But if we are trulygoing green this distribution of paper advertisements has to be curbed because the practice is growing worse by the day. People who accept these flyers, possibly out of curiosity or otherwise, throw them away at the next bin they pass. Some even do so without reading the flyers. And in our letter-box? It's filled with the same junk. Tons of paper rammed down the throats of mail-boxes. Meantime trees are destroyed. Statistics:
"Paper is the most common type of waste in Singapore and about 1.26 million tonnes of paper waste was generated in 2008. The recycling rate of paper is 48% in 2008, and most of this paper waste is sorted, baled and exported overseas for recycling as there are no paper recycling mills in Singapore (zerowastesg.com)." And paper wastage is only one problem...
Sixties Song Lyrics:
[1] In the final verse of his song, Tapestry (1970), 60s music composer and singer Don McLean (American Pie, Starry, Starry Night) reminds his listeners about the destructive nature of man:
And every fish that swims silent, every bird that fly freely Every doe that steps softly, Every crisp leaf that falls, all the flowers that grow, On this colorful tapestry, somehow they know That if man is allowed to destroy all we need He will soon have to pay with his life for his greed. [2] The Beach Boys have the same message with Don't Go Near The Water (1970) warns the public: Don't go near the water Don't you think it's sad What's happened to the water Our water's going bad Oceans, rivers, lakes and streams Have all been touched by man The poison floating out to sea Now threatens life on land Toothpaste and soap will make our oceans a bubble bath So let's avoid an ecological aftermath Beginning with me Beginning with you... [3] And one by Cat Stevens (Yusof Islam) asks his audience Where Do The Children Play (1970)? Well I think it's fine, building jumbo planes Or taking a ride on a cosmic train Switch on summer from a slot machine Yes, get what you want to if you want, 'cause you can get anything
I know we've come a long way We're changing day to day But tell me, where do the children play?
Well you've cracked the sky, scrapers fill the air But will you keep on building higher till there's no more room up there Will you make us laugh, will you make us cry? Will you tell us when to live, will you tell us when to die? Wastage: I have noticed a slight change now. Tissue paper is not offered free in fast food restaurants and coffee houses. You gotta ask for it! And that's good. But we got a long way to go. Paper, water, electricity, food. What else are we wasting everyday? There are other songwriters who write about warning green. Remember any?
Just a reminder. Have we improved much since 2012. If we have, it's really great, so do write in... [4/12/2024] Lyrics: from Lyrics Websites. Images: from Google.
Shanghai, an exotic city reflecting both its colonial past and its role as a modern metropolis tackling the climate crisis, felt to me like a society striving towards the same freedoms as the rest of the world. From the moment I stepped onto the Maglev train, which whisked me from the airport to the city in a mere eight minutes, I felt the contrast of old and new. We sped past lines of cars on the highway, while electric cars, motorcycles, and bicycles purred quietly through the streets, the only sound being the shrill whistles of policemen, which cut through the air like screeching birds.
In the early morning, I wandered through parks where older adults danced and sang joyfully, or played instruments like the flute, saxophone, and clarinet. The street food vendors in their small shops sold $1 meals to loyal regulars, creating a warm, communal atmosphere. I walked through the old city streets at the Bund, Huang Pu Road, and the French Concession, savoring each step.
Every day, I indulged in the incredible street food—the delicate xiao long bao became a staple for me. I discovered the unique flavors of Shanghai’s lo mien, the stringy noodles, sesame buns, scallion pastry bread, egg and scallion buns, pickled vegetables with braised pork, crab soup buns, and an array of rice cakes. Best of all was a burrito-like wrap of youtiao (fried dough) and scallions, dipped in mint sauce.
This, I realized, is the inner soul of Shanghai—where tradition and progress blend effortlessly, and the flavors, sights, and sounds linger long after you leave.
ILYA SEROV - 'C'est Si Bon'.
(featuring: The Swing Kittens)
YouTube Video by: Ilya Serov.
Author, images, videos by
Henri Gann [sunglasses].
Beautiful Shanghai
[Strains of 'Red River Valley'.]
YouTube Video from Henri Gann.
Disclaimer:
This blog post is non-promotional, receives no financial
gains and written only in fun; with songs to dance to.
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