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), SUDI MAMPIR !
Nightclub Drinks and Dance in the 60s:
There's a well-known saying, "Something old, Something new, Something borrowed, Something blue..."
Following the trend, I am re-living comments from blog readers, friends and highlighting them. And we chat about nightclub drinks and lamsing, er dancing.
For action dancing we chose the cha-chas 'Rico Vacilon' and rock n roll hits. For the lamsing we chose slow number waltzes like Cliff Richard's, 'When the girl in your arms.'
Check them out.
Patrick Chan says:
Hi Andy,
Good reminiscent. Actually, when we go to a night spot in the 60s, it's not such much for the drinks but to see the band n 'lamsing' [dancing closely] as you said. For some, they don't really know what bar drinks to order. So following others was a safe bet without looking 'sua ku' or a country boy. [2017].
Yes, I remembered Bacardi n rum coke were top of the list. But if you want to be a bit 'sekit atas' [a little bit classy] then you order Gin Tonic to impress the girls. lol. Surely you will get one or two asking 'what drink is that'. So this drink is an ice-breaker that gets you up close with the girls for the evening.
Now you know why Gin Tonic has been my favourite pouring ever since.
Andy, next time you try order gin tonic and see what happens. For the girls, if you want to be seen as a sophisticated you order Baby Cham.
The late Ms Chong YL says:
Andy,
In those years, did many ladies take to liquor? I was no night bird - had a very strict father. It was only when I started working that I did go to West Point in Pasir Panjang a couple of times. Don't remember if I tried any hard drinks. Years later, some lady friends introduced me to Campari and Seven-Up. Even then I didn't take to that well-developed some kind of allergy.
So you can imagine a situation in New Zealand when I attended dinners with the Kiwis. When asked to drink, I declined - giving the reason that I would develop a rash. When offered coffee at the end of the meal, I said no - I won't be able to sleep. I asked for 'Adam's Ale' - warm. What a 'suaku' from Singapore.
Today I quite enjoy ice-cream with some liqueur such as Lychee Martini, Kahlua Krunch, Baileys Choc Chips from Daily Scoop. [2017]
Jane Dick [Manitoba, Canada] says:
Hi Andy,
Fun to read your memories of your youth and local nightclubs; brought back some of my own memories.
Rum and Coca Cola, is one of the favourite songs, so delightful to listen to it. Years ago, I was working for an organisation that had a booth at the annual Wedding Show in Winnipeg, and I did a shift during one weekend.
During the fashion show, with lovely models showing off bridal gowns, one piece of music they played over and over was, 'Rum and Coca Cola ...' a song about streetwalkers ...! I thought that was pretty funny. [2017].
Daisy Koh says:
Oh Yes Ambassador n Airport Nightclub. Only $5 cover charge inclusive of the Rum n Coke. So packed those days, no place for fanciful dance steps. Just “Move the refrigerator,” as they say in Hokkien or 'lamsing'. I still have an old cutout or photo of the packed Airport dance floor somewhere.
We also grew up twisting away in the 60's. We girls spent afternoons practising with talcum powder on the floor to facilitate the moves. So much fun … Twist and then Ago-Go. The Twist music is still alive today… incorporated into Line-dancing and Zumba 🤣. [2024].
Stephen Han says:
I remembered dancing at the Ambassador Hotel and the Paya Lebar Airport. Rum Coke and Baby Champagne were the drinks of choice. I also recalled the sexy and lovely stripper, Eva Kim from South Korea shedding her clothes though not totally naked. I learned she bared all in private functions.
There was also a dance venue at West Point. Another one was at the Singapore Hotel where the City Plaza now stands... 2017].
*Singapore English or Singlish:
lamsing = dancing or literal meaning 'to hug' in Chinese: 'lam' with the English Continuous Tense 'sing'.
suaku = a Chinese Hokien dialect that means: 'mountain [sua] tortoise [ku]' or a country bumpkin; someone who isn't trendy or up to date.
sikit atas = a Malay phrase that means, 'a little bit classy' or literally: 'a little up there...'
BTW, 'Adam's ale' = water 😅.
Dancing = lamsing = move the refrigerator. And 'chiau sng tu' is Hokien dialect for 'move the refrigerator'. 'Move the refrigerator' was coined to describe the awkward way in which couples without basic dancing skills moved around the dance floor.
Comments are welcome.
A Good Friday and Easter Reflection 2025.
Dear Andrew, Thank you for inviting me to write for your music blog again.
Reply: Again my appreciation to a good friend for the short time given him, two days, to write this exceptionally informative piece. He doesn't prepare much; it's all there in his memory. Thanks again Phil.
The Triumphal Entry of Jesus to Jerusalem:
John 12:12-13 : "The next day the great crowd that had come for the Feast heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting: 'Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the King of Israel!' " [above image]
Where did the waving of Palm branches originate from ?
The last Biblical prophet Malachi delivered his prophecies around 430 BC. After this, there was a period of silence (i.e. no new prophetic messages from God were given) until the time of John the Baptist who baptised Jesus. During this period, a violent Maccabean revolt against the Seleucid Empire took place around 167 BC. The Maccabees and victory eventually led to the re-dedication of the Temple in the old city of Jerusalem. It is here where palm branches were first used to celebrate this triumphant victory over the Seleucids.
The Maccabean victory celebration also commemorates the eight-day Jewish festival of Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights. Interestingly, during this first celebration, the people who served in the temple found only enough oil to light the menorah for one day, but it miraculously burned for eight days. This is a well-known account. Originally, menorahs only had seven branches. After the miraculous incident, Jewish menorahs [image] are now made with nine branches, instead of seven.
Jesus on a colt entering into Jerusalem:
But Jesus did not come as a mighty warrior to overthrow the Romans. Jesus rode on a donkey’s colt into Jerusalem instead of a horse (for a warrior). A colt is a male donkey under four years old. Donkeys are equestrian animals like horses. One needs to train the young donkey first before putting a saddle on its back and letting anyone ride on it safely. It seems the initial training involves using a blanket like a covering for the back of the colt so that eventually, the colt will get used to the saddle.
Luke 19:29-31: As he approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, "Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, 'Why are you untying it?' tell him, 'The Lord needs it.' "
Amazingly, Jesus rode on colt that no one had ever ridden before in the midst of a hysterical crowd as He entered Jerusalem. Somehow the colt was not startled. Perhaps this in itself is a miracle! Jesus came to bring peace and save, giving mankind a means to enter the Kingdom of God.
This episode was prophesied in Zechariah 9:9, "Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey."
In the Old Testaments, Moses, King David, King Solomon, Abraham (though not explicitly) and prophets rode on donkeys too.
Special Provision for Donkeys:
Deuteronomy 5:13-14 :
"Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your ox, your donkey or any of your animals, nor the alien within your gates, so that your manservant and maidservant may rest, as you do."
Donkeys may be stubborn but are dependable. The colt is given this honorable duty to carry our Lord Jesus Christ Himself. Interestingly, sheep is not suitable for this heavy work and it is not mentioned above that sheep need Sabbath rest. More details about the donkey’s role in the story of the Good Samaritan can be found in a previous 2021 Easter Reflection:
Reflections On Easter - 2021 - Phil Chan:
https://singapore60smusic.blogspot.com/2021/12/christmas-message-away-in-manger-jesus.html
Some spiritual thoughts for this Easter meditation:
Issachar was the fifth son of Jacob born to the unloved wife Leah. It is interesting to note how Jacob blessed Issachar and his sons as quiet dependable donkeys with understanding.
Perhaps we could meditate on the following verses this season.
Gen 49:11, "He ties his foal to the vine, And his donkey's colt to the choice vine; He washes his garments in wine, And his robes in the blood of grapes."
Gen 49:14-15, "Issachar is a strong donkey, Lying down between the sheepfolds. When he saw that a resting place was good. And that the land was pleasant, He bowed his shoulder to bear burdens, And became a slave at forced labor."
1 Chronicles 12:32 : "Of the sons of Issachar, men who understood the times, with knowledge of what Israel should do, their chiefs were two hundred; and all their kinsmen were at their command."
Though Issachar did not emerge as a leader with high ambitions like some of the other illustrious brothers such as Joseph or Judah, he did receive positive blessings from his father Jacob. Issachar’s tribe is hardworking, diligent and contented workers who enjoy taking take time off to appreciate the land allocated to them. Issachar’s sons are known to be wise men.
Author: Associate Prof., Phil Chan [Dr.]
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Always a great friend and always so sincere in everything he did. He was honoured with a Cultural Medallion too and wrote 250 Malay songs for Singapore.
Goodbye Yusnor.
Yusnor Ef has passed away on 16th April, 2025. Condolences to his wife and family.
https://singapore60smusic.blogspot.com/2010/08/carlito-meets-kassim-selamat-and-yusnor.html
https://singapore60smusic.blogspot.com/2013/12/yusnor-250-songs-prolific-talent.html
https://singapore60smusic.blogspot.com/2011/10/muzik-melayu-sejak-1940-oleh-yusnor-ef.html
https://singapore60smusic.blogspot.com/2019/06/yusnor-ef-lyricist-50th-wedding.html
https://singapore60smusic.blogspot.com/2011/08/aku-dia-dan-lagu-lagu2-nostalgia-lirik_29.html
There are at least 5 more articles about Yusnor on this blog.
Check content page below.
R.I.P my 60s music friend.
Selamat tinggal, Che'gu.
Comments are welcome.
Images: Copyrights Reserved.
When I wrote an article earlier on the 1st April 2025 regarding the passing away of Johnny Tillotson, good friend and blog reader Chew HH sent me the above picture and mentioned that he met the pop singer at a dinner in the hotel.
When I asked him for details he provided them as always; a quiet and pleasant friend, he is. As the handshakes were going round the table and cameras were popping flash bulbs [we had no smart phones then], the little girl started crying. So there you have the photograph above, frozen in time since its appearance about 40 plus years ago.
Our famous singer could have sung many hits for the baby: Earth Angel, Send Me The Pillow, Dreamy Eyes, Heartaches By The Number, Princess Princess, Cling To Me... but I thought the one below could be an appropriate one.
Thank you HH and Rest In Peace Johnny Tillotson...
"Princess, Princess, Princess, my love, Princess, Princess, you're a dream, Cutest girl I've ever seen, You were sent from up above, To hold my hand and give me love. Princess, Princess, when you kiss, You're so sweet, I can't resist, You make all my dreams come true, Princess, I'm in love with you..."
The little baby is now a lovely, lovely lady. You should know how old she is now.
A big thank you again to HH.
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