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)
SWAY is an old hit by the late Dean Martin in 1954. Then Michael Buble revived it in 2003 followed by the Pussycat Dolls in 2005. There are about a dozen versions that include pop singers like, Cliff Richard, Rosemary Clooney, Bobby Rydell and Julie London.
The song was originally called QUIEN SERA and composed by Mexicans Luis Demetrio and Pablo Luiz. With English lyrics and recorded by Dean Martin it became an international hit at number 5five.
Now, a pretty young lady from Korea covers it [video above] in the best style ever to suit her generation. *Gyubin revitalises the song with her own charisma and a cute Korean accent but with that gentle swing of oomph, fresh subtlety and scat.
Today, if the singer doesn't make it within the thr3ee minute life-span of a young person's patience and listening endurance on the smart phone... that's it!
But GYUBIN did! One million hits within 2two years on YouTube.
Congratulations Gyubin. I hope the Seniors who read this blog will love your version as much as I do and add more viewers to your tally.
[축하해요 규빈님. 이 블로그를 읽는 선배들이 나만큼 귀하의 버전을 좋아하고 귀하의 집계에 더 많은 시청자를 추가하기를 바랍니다.]
Sway has been sung by Dean Martin [top],
Michael Buble [centre], Pussycat Dolls [last]
Gyubin
Original Songs:
Satellite - Single. Satellite - Single. 2024.
Special - Single. Special - Single. 2024.
Really Like You (Spring Version) - Single.
Really Like You (Spring Version) - Single. 2024.
Really Like You - Single. Really Like You - Single. 2024.
Start To Shine (feat. Gaeko) - Single.
Scribble - Single. Scribble - Single.
Now in more pensive mood, it's flying to the moon...
"I am a Malaysian...": A Letter From Across The Causeway.
While checking letters from readers I came across this Anonymous comment below. Thank you so much dear reader and friend for writing from across the Causeway about these four very talented musical producers and the vinyl records that resulted, which were later sold during the cassette years.
Here's the letter in full:
"I am a Malaysian 61 now in 2024 and remember as far back as in the late 1970’s when my gifted and talented school mate who came from a musically inclined family bought the Anita Sarawak and Tracy Huang cassettes [images] and shared and played them for us.
I was only about 15 or 16 at that time and the first thing I noticed was how remarkably the production sounded… it sounded very similar to the originals but sung by local divas Anita and Tracy... naturally, we read the credits. It started, 'Produced by Reggie Verghese...'
The original cassette of Tracy Huang
as specified on the label and cover.
Cassette tapes of Tracy Huang
sold well during the 1970s.
For illustration only as these
cassettes above may be pirated copies.
Two other names, and were mostly being associated in other future collaborations were Martin Pereira and Vincent Lim [father of our well-known Singapore opposition party member, Jamus Lim]… till today, and add one more, the late Iskandar Mirza Ismail; nothing remotely close has ever come from Singapore as classy and of such quality standard from these four names…
Cassette tapes of Anita Sarawak were recorded,
produced and made by the awesome foursome
mentioned by our Anonymous reader.
The illustrations above may be pirated copies.
Original cassette with EMI Label.
They were trailblazers… so many throwing around names like King of Swing, King of this and King of that but no one remotely came close with the above talented and awesome foursome…
Thank you Singapore…thank you Reggie, Martin, Vincent and Iskandar … all great musicians & great humble human beings."
NB:
Beside the original ones many of these cassettes sold were pirated copies. A lot of them were sold in the open market, legally or otherwise. Business was brisk as production was cheap and sold for merely $2.00 a piece or thereabouts.
I am just wondering how the rightful companies and music producers dealt with this issue... Comments are welcome from readers.
The people below have either appeared, contributed articles or commented on this blog. All comments are new and were received within these months in 2024.
Thanks to the folks below who did. Appreciate the recognition this blog receives.
JOHN KLASS [RADIO DJ: MEDIACORP GOLD 905]
"Andy Young! Keep up the great work on your blog
I enjoy reading it. It’s always a great trip. 😊👌🏻"
DANNY KOH [PIANIST/LRSM, FLCM]
"Thank you Andy. Wow!! I'm truly amazed at your blogs.
You jogged my memories. Yes, the photos and stories
reminded me of the good times!"
HENRY CHUA [BASSIST/'QUESTS']
"Andy, Your blog must be the most informative on the music
scene. I check it often. Congratulations! 🙏🙏🙏 👏👏👏".
LESLIE WILSON JOSEPH [MUSICIAN/GUITARIST]
"I love your articles. It's a history lesson for me."
STEPHEN HAN [SINGAPORE/CONTRIBUTING WRITER]
"This is Andy Young aka Andy Lim who is not only a wonderful singer but also a prolific writer. Do visit his music of the 60's blog and you’ll like it immediately. It contains interesting and good information of local and international recording stars. You won’t be bored because there are quizzes for you to solve."
Danny Koh: I Wish You Luck
YouTube Video: ktjong
HIROSHI DEGUCHI [JAPAN/CONTRIBUTING WRITER]
"Hi Andy, I am always honoured to be on your blog.
I always respect your country and its achievements."
DENNIS NG [SINGER/DANCER/CONTRIBUTING WRITER]
"Hi Andy, Thank you very much for your blog. You have showcased many in the music scene in Singapore and there’s never a dull moment reading the various stories of different people. Once again, thank you for your great effort and keep up the good work!"
"Comment is from my friend, a top local lawyer
and accomplished guitarist," says HAPPY TAY
[VANCOUVER ELVIS PRESLEY, BC. CANADA].
"Andy Young is probably the only one in Singapore that is keeping Music Memorabilia in Singapore alive and fluttering, as many of our generation have reached an age who treasure precious memories of our past. Kudos to him. His site will be worth a lot in time to come. Please convey my good wishes to Andy. When you next come back to Singapore, we could get him together."
ELLA TAN [BLOG READER]. ILLUSTRATION
"I have to write you here, but I have to tell you that you always share great posts. I was fascinated by your great contributions and your wonderful pictures. God bless you.
It is a journey and I can thank my blog for it. I kept many pictures on my little iPhone 4. Today, about 10 years later, they are still as colourful, clear and intact. Mostly family photos, I found some images I have of our music friends and celebrities in Singapore during my exciting and rewarding adventure. This post is another one without too many words, just some pictures. Ignore my face, just look at the celebs:
Ms Tan Kheng Hua who scored the latest hit in
Hollywood, acting with 'Crazy Rich Asians'.
We did a documentary where she hosted oldie goodies.
Now here's a lady who's on Chinese TV
@ MediaCorp, Ms Zoey Tay while on the set at
KTPH shooting, 'You Can Be An Angel Too'.
With Tee Peng [guitarist], Henry Chua [Quests] and
Larry Lai [Rediffusion] @ Tan Soo Khoon's CNY dinner.
*'Photograph' By Ringo Starr
YouTube Video by: richbuskin
*1973 song from Starr's third studio album,
co-written by George Harrison.
Big hit in 10 countries including #1
in US, Canada, Australia.
With archeologist, Lim Chen Sian and Josh during
the opening ceremony of MediaCorp's documentary,
'Treasure Hunt' at Stamford Museum.
Former Parliamentary Speaker, Tan Soo Khoon
sings Elvis well. At OLPS, before he went on stage.
With recording artiste Barry Walker and wife from England,
on his visit in Singapore. Barry was with The Figures.
Camera crew @ Opera Estate garden during
a documentary shoot about SG music from the past.
With my first group when I started the blog and did
a few documentaries with owner director, Ms Chang Soh Kiak
of 'Shooting In Pictures'. The group includes Peter Chan [pianist], Philip Chew [Mr Joo Chiat], Dick Yip [ukulele], and Lam Choon See [author].
Always so positive, always so honest, here's a music and home maker I met at a media site a few years ago. Readers can check Hiroshi-san's other postings on this blog by clicking his name under LABELS below the article.
Hiroshi Deguchi From Japan says:
"I became interested in Singapore when I happened to visit there for the first time in 1981. So attracted by Singaporeans that I had been eager to learn anything Singaporean and national songs, too.
When I first heard the song. I thought it a little too intrusive. I would have hated it if our government had done the same. We should not have been pushed, I thought. But soon I started to think those songs were necessary for people who have different ideas and origins like Singapore to become one.
I was there every summer in August, a week or so after the National Day Parade, so those National songs infiltrated me. I learned them by heart. It is not easy for me to say which song I like the best but 'Stand Up For Singapore' is one of the best surely."
Author: Hiroshi Deguchi.
Thanks so much Hiroshi-san. Comments are welcome.
This picture of Hiroshi has just been taken today,
11 August 2024, wearing his 'Majullah Singapura' T-Shirt
The song was originally written by Pee Wee King, Chilton Price, and Redd Stewart and recorded by American singer Jo Stafford in 1952. It became a number one hit on the US and UK charts and Stafford became a pop star. Famed in the 40s and 50s she was American, involved in pops, jazz and standards.
It has also been covered by many singers like Bob Dylan, Tori Amos, the Duprees, Bette Midler and even Ringo Star. The song has appeared on nearly two dozen movie sound tracks.
I was only 12 years old when I heard this song and singing it even today, 70 years later. She came about the same time as Patti Page, Doris Day and later Connie Francis, another two of my favourite lady singers from those days of yore.
This story was featured on 23rd November, 2014 during Brian Richmond's 90.5fm radio show, Sundays With Brian during the 'Reminiscing with Andy' segment.
EXACTLY 60 YEARS AGO TODAY. 21st JULY, 1964: Mine is not a political blog but I have to address this matter because it shaped my mind for later years and because the Velvetones pop guitar band and I were together that day. We met during this holiday and spent our time till late.
The Velvetones in 1964 and morphed into The Firebyrds [Philips Records.]
Members of the pop guitar band called The Velvetones were jamming at a bungalow in Lorong 39, Geylang that day; the house was diagonally opposite the former Chief Minister's Lim Yew Hock's bungalow on Sims Avenue. This group consisted of our usual Singaporean mix. We had been practising for a few weeks and I was enjoying myself as one of their many singers. It was the first time that I had joined a band and it was extremely exciting for a 24 year old. While we were practising the leader of another Singapore pop band visited us to watch me sing. Both of us had thoughts that I could join his group as a singer since I had met him some time ago to discuss it.
The jam session lasted till late evening when we decided to call it a day. Meanwhile there were goings-on in the streets that we were not aware of. My friend only told me when he was sending me home in his car since he did not want to alarm the others during our practice. Although I was living around the corner I took his offer only after learning what had happened earlier. Quietly in the car he told me how he had to dash through a barricade at one of the roads in Geylang before coming to the bungalow. He was not sure whether it was a police barricade or otherwise. No one stopped him as he sped to where we were, fearful for his life. When he left me at my home at about 6.30 pm I experienced a strange quiet and uneasy stillness in the air. There was not a single vehicle or human being anywhere near my home or street. It was an eerie, eerie feeling as I felt my hair behind my head stood on ends.I felt as if an atomic bomb had dropped on Singapore and that the whole island had been devastated.
"Not a soul on earth..." was the thought in my mind. The whole stretch of Geylang Road, from the Paya Lebar end on one side, to the other where I could see the distance at Lorong 30, was totally empty and quiet. It was truly frightening. And the memory lives to this day! My family, who were anxiously waiting for me and huddled behind the door, told me that a racial riot had started at the Kallang Gas Works earlier that day. I realised how serious the situation was when I read about it in the newspapers the next morning. The Gas Works was not too far from my home.
We shouldn't, as Singapore citizens, let this incident happen ever again!
On the music scene, the Beatles were hot those years with so many of their songs on the Top Hits list, "I Want to Hold Your Hand", "She Loves You", "A Hard Day's Night", "Love Me Do" and "Please Please Me".
But the most ironical song those months was Dean Martin's, "Everybody Loves Somebody Somehow." I wish! Ironical it was!
[I cannot remember the details but the story is reasonably accurate.]
Dean Martin: 'Everybody Loves Somebody Somehow'.
YouTube Video from Dean Martin.
Were you aware of this 1964 Singapore riot? Comments are welcome.
The roads were empty with
a few bystanders and the police.
Racial riots affected the country as
people were in chaos and business disrupted.
Reference:
'The Singapore Story. Memoirs of Lee Kuan Yew'
Pg: 556-559. (SPH/Times Edition 1998).
Images:
Google; National Heritage Board, Personal Collection.
