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)
In the 60s Pat Boone is one of the biggest names in popular music and his vinyls sell so well that the record shops in North Bridge Road, Singapore will have many copies of his songs.
During the Christmas season everyone buys Pat Boone's yuletide hits because he is the epitome of the religious and loving family man. Blogger bought this second hand Long Play only a few weeks ago for S$2.00 but the songs are definitely worth more than that.
According to the sleeve, "the songs of Christmas have warmly sentimental words and melodies of grace and purity, and they are filled to overflowing with a wonderfully vibrant joy." Some songs in this album have youthful gaeity, quiet reverence and while others are ages old, some are from recent times. But "they share one magical quality; they reveal our affection for friends and neighbours who surround us."
Pat Boone sings them in his usual gentle, sincere and outgoing way. On Dot Record DLP 3222 Side One are: White Christmas, Jingle Bells, Adeste Fideles, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, O Little Town of Bethlehem, Silver Bells and Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town.
Side Two has: Silent Night, Oh Holy Night, Hark The Herald Angels Sing, The First Noel, I'll Be Home For Christmas, Joy To The World, and a special one, It Came Upon A Midnight Clear. The Orchestra and chorus is Mort Lindsey's.
Check February 25th, 2009 posting on this blog. Or just click PaulAnka/PatBoone below.
Blogger has been listening to her for 40 years so again it's a personal choice but this album is one of Franklin's best because it has her first hit, an Atlantic single, I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You), a 67 blues ballad that introduces us to her gospel style. It reached the Top 10 on the Hot 100, holding the #1 spot for seven weeks on Billboard's R&B Singles chart.
Then came, Respect, written and originally recorded by Otis Redding it firmly launched her to superstardom. It reached #1 on both the R&B and the Pop charts. It's supposed to be the greatest hit of the 60s.
The other songs are all hits and include, Do Right Woman - Do Right Man, Dr. Feelgood, Baby, I Love You, A Natural Woman and a personal favourite, Chain Of Fools. Side Two carries: Since You've Been Gone, Aint No Way, Think, You Send Me (a Sam Cooke hit), The House That Jack Built and the 60s Bacharach hit, I Say A Little Prayer and See Saw. It's on Atlantic Records/SD 8227 (image).
She needs no introduction and has been ranked by Rolling Stone magazine as the greatest singer of all time. And she's done them all, jazz, blues, rock, R&B, gospel and of course soul, as she's also been dubbed the 'lady of soul music'. She has won so many awards and recorded so many songs that it's best to read about her on Wikipedia.
Franklin was the only featured singer at the 2009 Presidential Inauguration ceremony for Barack Obama and released a digital single of My Country 'Tis of Thee, the song she performed in front of the world at the historic ceremony.
In a press release in New York, NY on November 5, 2009, The Queen of Soul will release Aretha, A Woman Falling Out Of Love on Aretha’s Records in January 2010.
*There are 36 images of this similar cover under Google's Images, the first time blogger has encountered for any singer.
Christmas songs are popular internationally and likewise in Asia, especially in *Singapore in the 60s, the number of Christmas albums that floods the market during the season is innumerable. Many of these melodies are recorded by Asian singers but most are just covers of yuletide songs.
.The vinyl by Agnes Chan (image) is a good example. But it is a little different since the songs were pressed when she was singing in her teens. The child-like rendition of the four Christmas goodies on this EP is like the baubles on the tree, tinkling and cheerful.
.This parcel - LIFE/EP 2124 - has the title song, All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth, Mr Mistletoe, Rocking Around The Christmas Tree and The Little Drummer Boy. All songs were arranged by Wallace Chow, designed by LRIL and printed by KMIL, PJ.
Rocking Around The Xmas Tree (sidebar) was written by Johnny Marks and originally recorded by Brenda Lee in 1958.
.*Large majority of English Language speakers.
Image from YouTube by: justiniong 1120/December 22nd 2008. Vinyl & article: Andy Lim Collection.
The original song has two verses, the first sung by a female and the reply by a male. In this instance, it is sung by Uji Rashid. The other version has only one verse and, in this instance by the Ohello Sisters. It is a livelier one, with hip-shaking gyrations by the two lovely sisters.
I sing it time and again with The Silver Strings. We shall be performing it again on the 18th September (Sunday 3 - 4 pm), at the National Library Ground Floor (Hans Coffee House), at North Bridge Road.
Impian Semalam The Dream Last Night
Written/Composed By Oei Yok Siang (Indonesia) Translation by Andy Lim LA (Singapore) You Tube video from: Siaran Radio Malaya
(1)
Waktu semalam bung, aku bermimpi
Last night dear/brother/lover, I had a dream
Bertemu ular bung, besar sekali Was confronted by a snake, a very large one Ular mengiggit bung, jari-kaki ku The snake dear, bit my toe Sudah mengiggit bung, ular berlalu After doing so, the snake moved away Ku picit picit bung darah keluar As I pressed and pressed (the wound), it bled
Aku menjerit "Aduh!" hingga tersadar I screamed, "Ouch," as I woke up Apa kah itu bung, erti maksud nya? What does it mean dear?
Impian semalam, sangat seram-nya? This dream last night, a most frightful dream?
(2)
Jangan bimbang 'dek, jangan risaukan,
Don't worry dear, don't be too concerned
Itu hanya mimpi, cuma khayalan, It's only a dream, just an illusion
Bila malam datang, bulan pun terang, When night comes, the moon shines bright
Bintang pun bersinar, kelip-kelipan, The stars too shine with twinkling lights
Kuntum yang di taman, sedang berkembang, One flower in the garden, is in bloom now
Harum baunya aduh, sungguh menawan Fragrant smelling, oh, it is most attractive
Dicium dipetik, bunga di taman Kissed, then plucked, this flower in the garden
Itulah ertinya, impian semalam. That's the meaning of your dream last night.
Version sung by: Uji Rashid.
You Tube video from: Siaran Radio Malaya
by Uji Rashid.
The symbolism is obvious. The song depicts the experience of a pretty young maiden within the confines of flora and fauna. In her dream, the snake appears, bites her and disappears. As she relates her dream to her mother or friend, depending whether it's "bu" ("ibu" - mother), "bung" (brother), the interpretation is clear.
The interpretation is only one of many. Others believe it is just a song about a girl who had a nightmare that turned out to be a pleasant experience when she woke up in the morning.
This song is still very popular among the Indonesians, Malaysians and Singaporeans too, a classic which needs revival for its kampong and traditional beliefs and folklore.
My other interpretation is obvious, that it discusses the Garden of Eden and Adam and Eve. Let me know if I am too far-fetched because there are Christians among the Chinese in Indonesia. Some folks say the song is also symbolic of a girl's innocence and her first sin. Sin I am not sure but definitely, she's innocent no more. And the presence of the snake biting the girl, she felt it, as the blood oozed a little and she yelled, ''Aduh,'' [Oh]... I leave the rest to the listener's imagination.
Great composer Mr. Oei.
Out of a list of about 77 Indonesian composers found on its *website, one name stands prominent because Oei Yok Siang wrote three of the Indonesian songs I am familiar with. They are Impian Semalam, Aksi Kucing and the very well-known Gambang Semarang. The other two are Idaman Gadis Teruna and Djaka Lodang. Comment anyone?
Silver Strings with Nick, Andy, Audie, Rickie, John and Mike
the group that accompanies Andy singing 'Impian Semalam'.
*Reference: Pt. Penerbit Karya Musik Pertiwi - Katalog Komposer. It is a music publisher at Jalan Kebon Jeruk No. XV. 13, Kelurahan Maphar, Kecamatan Tamansari, Jakarta Barat 11160.
[Composer - Oei Yok Siang - Indonesian Chinese]
LADY SINGER:
Waktu semalam bung, aku bermimpi
Last night dear, I had a dream Bertemu ular bung, besar sekali
Was confronted by a snake, a very large one Ularmenggigit bung, jari kaki ku The snake bit my toe Suda mengiggit bung, ular berlalu
After doing so, the snake moved away Ku picit, picit, darah keluar
As I pressed (the wound), it bled Aku menjerit, "Adu!" hingga tersedar
I screamed, "Ouch," as I woke up Apa kah itu bung, erti maksud-nya?
What is the meaning dear? Impian semalam, sangat seramnya?
This dream last night, this most frightful dream?
REPLY:
Jangan khuatir dik, jangan berduka
Don't worry dear, don't be alarmed Impian semalam, alam kuasa
The dream last night, nature controls Bila malam datang, Bulan-nya terang
When night falls, the moon is bright Bintang pun bersinar, Kelip-kelipan
Stars shine bright, twinking right
Bunga di taman dik, Sedang berkembang
Flower in the garden, and in bloom
Tak lama lagi aduh, Di-petik orang
Is soon plucked by someone Itulah itu dik, Erti maksudnya
That's the meaning dear Impian semalam, Impian bahagia.
Of your dream, a delightful dream.
Impian Semalam - Ohello Sisters -
YouTUBE Video by gundulero.
The fun version - The ladies are sexy.
Who cares about the lyrics 😆
A few months ago, while looking for my favourite Indonesian pop song Impian Semalam, I chanced upon the You Tube version on the right, was mesmerized by the sex appeal of the singers and their interpretation of the song.
These singers are the Ohello Sisters, as in 'Oh hello!' not 'Othello' (Shakespeare's Moor). The accompaniment uses modern and traditional instruments and is in Indonesian Malay, so if you understand the language it's a plus, otherwise just enjoy the music and the ladies! They are fabulous!
It is a well-known fact that some songs in the Indonesian Malay language were penned by the Chinese in Indonesia. Impian Semalam was written by Indonesian Chinese composer, Oei Yok Siang who lived in the 1930s. More about this great man in another posting. I know there's a Chinese version of this song too. Anyone?
The original song has two verses, the first sung by a female and the reply by a male. The other version has only one verse and, in this instance by the Ohello Sisters. It is a livelier one, with hip-shaking gyrations by the two lovely sisters.
Seriously, this particular song discusses the loss of innocence. The lady walks in the garden, gets bitten by a snake, and spills a little blood. The lyrics remind me of the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve [just my own interpretation]. I feel the male singer, in another version, is unnecessary. Let the listener decide what the song means. A little learning is a dangerous thing. How many folks are familiar with symbolism... It's all there.
I managed to sing the song at a few concerts we had recently in 2015 and 2016 in Singapore and never tried to explain the meaning. Perhaps I should.
In the 60s Pat Boone is one of the biggest names in popular music and his vinyls sell so well that the record shops in North Bridge Road, Singapore will have many copies of his songs. 
