Thursday, May 21, 2009

Poon Sow Keng/Pan Xiu Qiong Chinese Pop 60s 潘秀瓊


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But for all her popularity, Xiu Qiong never had singing lessons and what "talent she has is God-given (Dave Dexter Jr, US record producer)." 

She was particularly successful in Singapore and Malaysia and up till today, her songs are still sold in CD shops all over S.E. Asia.Pan Xiu Qiong's - Poon Sow Keng song, "Lover's Tears," is another Chinese melody known among the English educated. 

The first is also a tear-jerker called, "Love Without End." Both are theme songs and "Lover's Tears" (there is love in every teardrop) is no different, coming from the Shaw Brothers' film, "The Lark" (1965).

She was born in Macau and moved to Malaysia with her mother when she was sixteen but had been singing since twelve.


When she was 17 she recorded for the first time and within weeks the Asian populace fell in love with her. Pan took up Singapore citizenship in the 1980s and with her signature (guess what) she became very popular in the 1960s and 70s. She has been known affectionately as Queen of Alto because of her fantastic voice.

                              Poon Sow Keng/Pan Xiu Qiong: Qing Ren Te Yen Lei

Her songs have English titles, "The Foggy Night," (a dense, thick, unmoving fog in the harbour provides natural cover for two lovers), "Little Darling," (the girl pleads with her lover not to give her the cold shoulders but to tell her he loves her) and "Book Of Life," (a philosophical statement about family life).

"A Caged Bird," "A White Handkerchief," and "On The Elephant's Back," are but a few translated titles from her Capitol Hi-Fi Recording on T10326 with an explanation in English for the uninitiated.

Quote “I have always led a simple life, and I feel that anyone can be happy if they keep things simple. Even so, I hope to be remembered. Please forget me not. I wish that the songs of Poon Sow Keng would be a part of everyone forever.”

Connect below to read another post about her:

http://singapore60smusic.blogspot.sg/2009/06/pan-xiu-qiong-straits-times-press-today.html

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11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Lovers tears still playing today at coffee shops, beauty saloons, on the radio and hdb shops

Anonymous said...

A lady who is well respected in the 60's and 70's.

Anonymous said...

like original Lovers tears love
Pan Xiu Qiong

ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. © said...

Thank you Anonymous. Many of my readers love her singing voice. An unforgettable pop great.

Please visit again.

Anonymous said...

I believe this son sung before 1964.Am I correct?
Thanks

STEPHEN HAN said...

S L Poon used to move around with the late Foo Suyin.She is still alive and walks around a block in Toa Payoh.She appeared in a Ke Mei movie called 'The Swallow'.

FACEBOOK ANDY said...

thank you facebook friends for LIKING this post
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wee eng seow said...

Yes one of the best rare

wee eng seow said...

S.k.poon n Foo Suyin good friend.Foo died as single

PERRY KOH [SINGER] said...

Great write up and tribute to another unsung talent in our music industry. Wish I had met with him and better still jammed with him.

Thanks Andy, for remembering our local musicians.

Jet Lim said...

I need to listen to her songs whenever I want to sleep. She is one of the best vocalist