Andy 60s Music Wishes You A Happy Lunar Horse Year 2026

HAVE A HORSPICIOUS, HEALTHY, SAFE & ENJOYABLE TIME

An AI view of MERLION meeting HORSE as 2026 suggests, with a group of musicians ushering in the year.

Scroll to the end to see what's in the CNY store for you.

 

Chinese New Medley by Angela July.

YouTube Video by Angela July.

The Chinese character HORSE 馬 [ma] looks like a horse head with a galloping body and tail. Most times, especially during CNY, red signifies good luck. The horse ranks 7th among the 12 animals in the Chinese Zodiac Cycle. 

HERE ARE SOME HORSE TAILS, ER, TALES…

 From creator FREDA HANUM, Malaysia, accomplished pianist and former girl group member/recording artistes, The TEEPEES. A beautiful GIF of galloping horses marching into Lunar New Year 2026. Thanks Freda.

In 2026, the Year of the Fire Horse will bring a year filled with energy, vitality and independence. It will begin on 17th February 2026 and will end on 3rd March 2026.  Apparently, there will be intense energy, emotional surges, and rapid shifts, encouraging individuals to take bold actions and embrace personal freedom. 

The Fire element amplifies the Horse's energetic traits, making it a time for leadership, risk-taking, and following one's instincts. But it may also lead to excessive and emotional overwhelms if not balanced with rest and patience.

It would be a year of liberation, passion, and personal transformation, urging individuals to act with intention and trust their inner fire. [As depicted by AI.]

Roy Rogers with 'A Four-Legged Friend', Trigger from movie: 'Son of Paleface'. A YouTube Video by Cowboyandthesenorita.

Cowboy Roy Rogers sings, ‘A FOUR-LEGGED FRIEND’ with his horse prancing amidst the crowd. As a child reading my favourite comic book hero, he has this wonder horse called, Trigger. The lyrics of the song appear below.

They are literally 'Horse Shoes'. 

This video above was a Good Morning gift from JIMMY PRESLEE, Singapore's answer to the late King Elvis. Thanks Jimmy.

QUICK DRAW MCGRAW

The latest CNY 2026 card from MICHAEL BANGAR and FAMILY. His own creation of a hand-made card that he sends every year. The miniature guitar is from LAWRENCE LIM and the fluffy doll-head from ALFRED NG. Thanks guys!

A Four-Legged Friend

Composed by Jack Brooks

Sung by Roy Rogers [1952]

Chorus:

A four-legged friend, a four-legged friend

He'll never let you down

He's honest and faithful right up to the end

That wonderful one-two-three-four-legged friend

[1] A woman is like cactus and cactus can hurt

'Cause she's just a tight-waisted winky-eyed flirt

She'll soon have your land and your pride and your gold

And bury you deep long before you grow old

[2] A two-legged hombre is worthless as sand

He'll smile like a saint with a gun in his hand

He'll promise to stick by your side like a pal

But he'll also promise the same to your gal

[3] Who carries your burden, who carries your load

On tumbleweed land or a long dusty road

Who asks you no questions, who tells you no lies

That four-legged friend with the two honest eyes

That wonderful one-two-three-four-legged friend.

CNY IS FAMILY ORIENTED

So as you gallop through this year, you need to keep fit. And at a certain age when frailty hits, exercise is no more an option, it’s a must! 

With RONALD and GERARD, two of the best gym instructors, who love 60s music and warm, instructive chats when they are with us. The song ‘PHYSICAL’, by OLIVER NEWTON JOHN, is a recurring theme of course but the ‘physical exercise’ way. So you can stay FIT FOLKS, like a STALLION. 😊

GERALD

Olivia Newton-John - 'Physical' (Stars, 26th Sept, 1981)

YouTube Video from: Olivia Newton-John.

And the last words come from this very famous TALKING HORSE, who advised all blog readers with sound wisdom. MR ED, who came from the TV 60’s sitcom, had since left us. Actor ALAN YOUNG portrayed his owner. 

Thanks to CHEW HEE HONG for letting us have a glimpse on video the uniquely new style of fireworks display from CHINA.

THANKING FOLKS BELOW FOR SENDING CHINESE NEW YEAR GREETINGS AND FOR KEEPING IN TOUCH THROUGH THE YEARS:

MIKE BANGAR & FAMILY

FREDA HANUM 

CLARENCE PERERA

HENRI GANN

RONALD HO

VICTOR LAM

EDDY ENG

FARRAH ENG

JIMMY PRESLEE 

JUDY LEE 

CHARLIE YAP

IRENE YAP

JAMES KWOK

RICHARD THAM

FABIAN FOO

STEVE HO

VINCENT TAN

ANNA LAW

RICHARD RAJOO

CHEW HEE HONG

OLIVER BALASINGHAM

CEDRIC COLLARS

CEDRIC CORK

JERRY FERNANDEZ 

DANNY KOH

RICKY WONG

MERLIN LIM

IVOR LESSLAR

YANG WAH KIANG

WILFRED LIM

ALFRED NG 

JOVIEN NEO

SAMMIN ANG

ESTHER ANG

JOHN LIM

TAN S. LENG

JERRY SARAM

SEE C.S.

PATRICK TENG

TAN SOO KHOON

BRIAN RICHMOND

SU RICHMOND

TONY GOH

VERNON CORNELIUS

MARK QUEK

MOHD. JAILANI

PAUL IBRAHM

BORHANUDIN [HANS SOLO]

TRACY NG

VICTOR LAM

GEORGE CHEW

LAWRENCE LIM

JAN CHEONG

CHEN JEN TOCK

DAVID WONG

ALVIN TAN [MP]

JIMMY YAP

XUAN YEN

DANNY BOY

JOHN CHER

BETSY CHER

TREVOR NERVA

JIMMY CHNG

DAISY KOH

THE NAMES ADD ON AS THE LUNAR DAYS GO BY.

BUT NOT IN ANY PARTICULAR ORDER.

AND IF I'VE MISSED YOURS, I APOLOGISE🙏

18 YEARS IS A LONG TIME…

Andy’s 60s Music Reviews Author Eddy Eng’s New Book, ‘An Enchanting Potpourri’

The book cover, with illustrations by KM Encila.

UP TO 300 VIEWS IN 3 DAYS👍

Enchanting it is! Here's Eddy Eng, with a potpourri of tales ranging from ghost stories, [and these are real ones, experienced by the writer himself, in his home at Emerald Hill], to stories from Singapore's corporate world with pages of his own "divergent views", and as he puts it, "musings". And surprise, surprise, he is also an artist besides being an author. He does oil paintings with framed interpretations of Venice in Italy, Zhangjiajie in China and other scenic adventures he went through during his years as a family man and as a business executive. He dedicates his book specially to his children and brother and lovingly acknowledges his wife Farrah, helping him with countless revisions.

Breezy at one end of the book; seriously different at the other, this author is like a chameleon, changing his writing style from an easy breather to that of a serious corporate lawyer facing the trial judge.

Our author is a ‘south paw’ or left~handed guitarist.

He designs all his chapters with lines from the great ones! Introducing his book, he quotes Janvier Chouteu-Chando, "The vicissitude of life teaches us about our limitations in a world with no guarantees and permanence." He says he's a die-hard believer that form and substance are both equally important and compares a good book to good food, so he fills the pages with colourful illustrations by designer Krystle Mae Encila. And they make up a great menu. The cover illustration [above] is one.

Eddy sings Elvis on board a cruise liner and wows the crowd with his performance.

Now, the reason why he's on this blog. He does not only have a flair for writing and art; Eddy is also a bass guitarist using left-handed guitars. He says that his "passion for music went back to his childhood days" and if it wasn't for his mother, "he would have been a musician or artist". He even went to music school to hone his skill. 

And to top it all, Eddy is also a pop singer. The image shows him rendering an Elvis hit  with, ‘Crying In The Chapel.’ Wow Eddy! What can’t you do?

Eddy has the last words. "This book," he spouts, " is meant to entertain, inform and provoke." So, guys, here's a book that's enchanting and absorbing, written in cheek! Delicious indeed.

Check out Eddy’s book. Read it and make your comments! 

Andy.

EDDYWRITES: 

Where words come alive.

email: EddyWrites 

Mobile:  +65 9117 5551

Sonny & Cher - 'Sing C'est La Vie' (Stereo Remix) YouTube Video by: jacob 6657

According to the author, this oldie has served a purpose in later life when things did not turn out as expected.

Eddy's left-handed guitars, one of which is a bass. He should be on stage soon with such talent and artistry.

He had to serve his army days in Singapore like other citizens do. Eddy [left] puts it, "With the boss inspecting unit parade."

Author, artist, musician, soldier and a corporate executive; Eddy Eng. Thanks, Eddy, for the chat and book. It's really been great meeting you after all these years.

[Eddy has included in the book two of his own two articles from this blog. Do you know which ones?]

Click below to read:

.: A Happy Lunar New 2024: Facing Dragons @ The Gates: 龍門遭遇 By Eddy Eng

.: Beatlemania Becomes Beat Le Mania: By Eddie Eng

Shopping for a ukulele for Farrah. Chosen one with a solid mahagony sound board. Tonal quality is better than my acoustic guitar.

Copyrights Reserved: Most illustrations are from the book.

Andy 60s Music Lyrics: Lonely Hearts, Lonely Days, Lonely Boy, Solitary Man, Eleanor Rigby, Are You Lonesome?

Discussing Loneliness:

The lyrics that go with many of these songs about loneliness could make the happiest person very depressed. So, let's look at the topic, within limited borders, and some of the pop songs that go with it. I'm no psychiatrist but writing only through the experiences of pop song lyrics.

Loneliness And Lost Love:

This one is, I think, the most common experience of loneliness any person could go through. So, when Singaporeans Fitzgerald and Pascal composed their huge local hit, 'My Lonely Heart' and expressed, ‘Please return my heart so I may cry... Every night I pray... to meet you someday,' lovers connect with the song immediately. But in this particular instance the conclusion says it all, ‘I know it's true, I won't be seeing you.' 

The lovers know that all's lost with no light in the distance. Like Georgia Gibbs, with her 50’s hit, was right when she sobbed, 'Guess it never pays to make your lover blue, Seven lonely days I cried and cried for you.' Lost love indeed.

Loneliness With Hope:

Here the theme takes a turn. 

There could be some hope couldn't there, after a lost love. 

'Maybe tomorrow a new romance, No more sorrow but that's the chance you gotta take,' brought about these lines that most people in break-ups often expressed and where most songs about loneliness derived. Roy Orbison made it huge with, 'Only The Lonely,' and with some clues of a new beginning. So, they might not be, 'gone forever, so far apart.'

Paul Anka is totally devastated as he cries, 'I'm just a lonely boy, Lonely and blue... I'd like to hear somebody say, I'll give you my love, Each night and day.' So it's not a breakup here. He has no partner  to love because what he wants, 'is someone to love.' So there’s hope but with some desperation?

No war here; just an illustrative image to show a soldier boy with a suitable wartime background?

Loneliness As A Soldier:

Two wars [one?] are going on today and many people, including soldiers, have lost their lives. Many of them, who are away from home, experience loneliness on the battlefield.

In a 60s hit, Bobby Vinton lamented, 'I'm so lonely for my own, I'm Mister Lonely, Wish I had somebody to call my own... to call on the phone... Now I'm a soldier, a lonely soldier. I got no letter in the mail. I wish I could go back home.' 

His experience as a soldier boy in the 60s rang true as the Vietnam War loomed in the distance. And our wars? Could we afford some more? Because war goes beyond loneliness...

Loneliness When Old:

'Ah look at all the lonely people, Picks up the rice in the church where the wedding has been, Lives in a dream... Then there's Father McKenzie, writing the words of a sermon that no one would hear.' How observant were Lennon and McCartney when they sang, 'Eleanor Rigby.’ 

'All the lonely people, where do they all come from?'

Most seniors who read this post know what loneliness mean. Health problems; spousal death; non-visiting children; friendlessness, etc. would lead to a nasty list. And like a friend mentioned, "Even Mother Earth rejects you!"

"Are you lonesome tonight?" No, not only tonight... it's, "Are you lonesome always?"

Hey, but what about Michael Jackson's, 'You Are Not Alone.'

General comments are welcome. 

A 1926 song, Elvis recorded it in 1960 after his

army release. 2,000,000 copies sold by 1992.

Recorded in 1962, Vinton wrote it in the late 50s 

during his army days as the Vietnam War escalates.

Written in 1958 and released in 1959 with Don Costa,

after 'Diana' hit. It was featured in his movie, 'Girls Town'.

'Eleanor Rigby' [lyrics]: The Beatles. YouTube Video from BTA MUSIC.

The Beatles - Eleanor Rigby (Lyrics)

“There goes my baby, There goes my heart, They are gone forever, So far apart, But only the lonely, Know why I cry.”

“Don't know that I will, But until I can find me, The girl who'll stay, And won't play games behind me, I'll be what I am, A solitary man, solitary man”

“Seven lonely days make one lonely week, Seven lonely nights make one lonely me, Ever since the time you told me we were true, Seven lonely days I cry and cry for you.” 

'My Lonely Heart', a local recording; this vinyl piece was a sell-out in the 60's. One of the classics in Singapore's music history.

#An add on: The lyrics hinges on the fact that distancing oneself from the ordinary may lead to a lonely existence. There is also another interpretation, as explained by Cedric Collars, provided under the Comment Page. Do read it. 

Frank Sinatra sings “I will drink the wine." YouTube video by: Amir.

Frank Sinatra I Will Drink the Wine 1971 HD

[This original article, as most others are, is copyrighted.]

Andy’s Singapore 60s Music Blog HITS 5 MILLION VIEWS IN 2026

THANKS AGAIN VIEWERS, READERS, FRIENDS AND CONTRIBUTING WRITERS. THE BLOG REACHED FIVE [5] MILLION ON 20 JANUARY 2026…

 

FROM VIEWERS ALL OVER THE WORLD, THANKS FOR SUPPORTING THE BLOG! 

GALLOPING INTO THE CHINESE LUNAR YEAR OF THE HORSE.

DAVID BOWIE AND MICK JAGGER: ‘DANCING IN THE STREET’ OFFICIAL YOUTUBE VIDEO BY DAVID BOWIE.

BORING!

SHE KNOWS NOTHING ABOUT MUSIC AND SHE SLEEPS ALL DAY. DON’T LISTEN TO HER…

Andy 60s Music: A Tribute To The Late Malcolm Hyder By Danny Koh

The late MALCOLM HYDER who passed away on 11 JANUARY 2026 in Singapore; reported by good friend DANNY KOH.

“Malcolm Hyder, the driving force behind our band, FLYING FEATHERS, has passed away. During our formative years, we would gather at his Joo Chiat Road home to rehearse and hone our skills. Malcolm's dynamic personality and inventive ideas not only shaped our music but also inspired our band's name. 

The members in the band were Roger Prior, Harvey Klass, Patrick Nathan and Myself.  All of us were in our 20’s. Played at the RAF Officers Club in Changi.

As I reflect on these memories, I'm reminded of his remarkable life, which included his tenure as a teacher at Siglap. He will be deeply missed.

Rest In Peace, Malcolm. Condolences to his Family.”

Written by Professional Musician/Pianist DANNY KOH. Thanks Danny. Copyrights Reserved. Click below to read about Danny.

https://singapore60smusic.blogspot.com/2010/03/danny-koh-tinkling-through-years-part-i.html

[NB: MALCOLM HYDER (left) with AUBREY MILES and THOMAS PAUL were also well known as members of a vocal group called the BAMBINOS. They were adept with favourite jazz pieces where the group would use scat and do-wop to brighten their songs.] IMAGE courtesy of JUDE GERARD PAUL.

Do write in if you remember Malcolm.

CLICK TO READ ABOUT ANOTHER OF ‘THE BAMBINOS’ 

https://singapore60smusic.blogspot.com/2017/05/aubrey-miles-from-bambinos-rip.html

Malcom HYDER left) with RICHARD ANG (on guitar) who sent the picture. Copyrights Reserved.

A NEW YEAR message 2024 from MALCOLM. Picture sent by RICHARD ANG. Thank you so much RICHARD for the photographs. Precious indeed, such images🙏

CHI BABA, CHI BABA (MY BAMBINO GO TO SLEEP.) YouTube video from PERRY COMO. A song sometimes sung by MALCOM HYDER with his group the BAMBINOS.

This posting was done on an iPad.]

Andy 60s Music Blog Tributes The Late Xie Jinshi [谢金石] Hokkien Song King

David Xie Jinshi (谢金石), a veteran Chinese singer known as the "Hokkien Song King" in Singapore and Malaysia, passed away at the age of 73 on 8th January 2026, while he was on a cruise.

He rose to fame in 1972 after winning a singing competition and released his first Hokkien album in 1979. The "Hokkien Song King" was well known in the 80s and 90s for his powerful voice and for providing singing classes at various community centers.

His greatest professional regret was never having the opportunity to perform in a Hokkien opera (Gezi Opera), despite his mastery of the dialect. He was scheduled to perform at the Esplanade with a live orchestra soon. 

His family, friends and colleagues described him as a dedicated teacher, a kind-hearted man and definitely a pop star. According to those who were close to him, his determination and singing talent made him what he was.

Rest In Peace David Xie. We shall all miss you. Condolences to his family.

Comments are welcome...

This article is a short summary adapted from newspaper reports. Thanks to Danny Koh, David's good friend, for sending me the news of his death, without which I would not be aware. 

David Chia [谢金石] 谢金石福建风专辑 YouTube Video by: 谢金石 David Chia

Danny Koh and David Xie. They did 10 live streaming during Covid with lady singer Tandy Lim.

(1) Danny Koh with singer Tandy Lim and David Xie Jinshi. (2) With Frederick Phua, owner of British Hainan Restaurant and Godfather to David who was of the Christian faith. 3) Fred with Portrait of David. Photographs are Copyrights Reserved.

谢金石 ~ 燒肉粽组曲 (福建歌曲) @ 歌台欢乐夜 第5集 Xie Jinshi ~ 'Roasted Pork Dumplings Medley' (Hokkien songs). YouTube Video By: RedTaurus

[Roasted Meat Zongzi Suite (Fujian Song) @ Joyful Night at the Music Stage Episode 5].