Vlietzicht Rijswijk - 16 Aug 2013: 'The Jumping Jewels Revival Band'. The song "Ajoen Ajoen" was played as a tribute to Willy Wissink (Willy and his Giants) who died on July 9, 2013 in his home in The Hague.
With Paul Selier on bass guitar, Peter de Vos on rhythm guitar, Pete Korving on lead guitar, and for this special occasion; Will Wissink Jr behind the drums. Thank you Hans (van Eijk) for this beautiful memory!!
Will
The late Willy Wissink [9/7/2013] started in 1959 with a group called, The Real Rhythm Rockers from The Hague in Holland. Then in early 1962, he recorded his first instrumentals for Artone Records with his new band The Giants. Willy Wissink's rock version of the Indonesian/Dutch folk song, Ajoen, Ajoen was released and became successful in many countries. Huckleberry Beat was the vinyl's flipside.
Japan was overwhelmed with this group and Ajoen, Ajoen sold more than 100,000 copies. Accompanying the success together were other popular Indonesian songs that were already hits on their own, namely, *Terang Boelan and Sarina. The country had a pressing of its own to sell to the group's fans in Japan recorded by Teichiku Records in 1963 [image below].
Personally, while going through the collection of vinyl, the chance discovery showed a singles pressing of Ajoen, Ajoen (DR25163), a traditional folk song, with its flipside, Sarina (DR25177A), composed by Bill Buysman. It is produced by Life Record (4-003), with permission from the original by Artone Gramophone in Holland. Willy (solo guitar) and His Giants have also recorded covers like, Baby Love, Great Pretender, One Night and High Noon.
Their selection is different from The Jumping Jewels and they are not as popular in Singapore, but like the Blue Diamonds and Anneke Gronloh, they have certainly made some impact with their Indo/Dutch influence. They are as active as ever and, according to the website, have been doing revivals. Indo-pop is also known as Neder-pop (Netherlands).
*The tune, Terang Boelan [the bright moonlight], is now the National Anthem of Malaysia with different lyrics.
Images from: Willy & His Giants/Ajoen Ajoen Website which is in Dutch.
Information from: Dutch Instro Rockin'/Electric Guitars by Piet Muys.
Original article: Andy Lim Collection.
2 comments:
Not very popular but a remarkable group indeed.
Ajoen, Ajoen means 'Swing' in Bahasia Indonesia. Ajoen, ajoenan! Sitting on the swing and swinging on it.
Andy
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