A Singapore busker at Bedok South Wet Market entertains in the early morning. He sings songs like, Chin Chiah Hor and selections from 50s music.
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He seems to be doing fine with his clean clothes, an electronic keyboard and a microphone to boot. Let's hope he earns some money every time he appears. Thanks Peter.
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Image/Original article: Peter Chan Collection.
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Streets Of London
Streets Of London
Have you seen the old man /In the closed-down market /Kicking up the paper, with his worn out shoes? /In his eyes you see no pride /And held loosely at his side /Yesterday's paper telling yesterday's news /
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So how can you tell me you're lonely, /And say for you that the sun don't shine? /Let me take you by the hand and lead you through the streets of London /I'll show you something to make you change your mind.
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Have you seen the old girl /Who walks the streets of London /Dirt in her hair and her clothes in rags? /She's no time for talking, /She just keeps right on walking/ Carrying her home in two carrier bags.
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In the all night cafe/At a quarter past eleven, /Same old man is sitting there on his own /Looking at the world /Over the rim of his tea-cup, /Each tea last an hour /Then he wanders home alone.
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And have you seen the old man /Outside the seaman's mission/ Memory fading with the medal ribbons that he wears./ In our winter city, The rain cries a little pity /For one more forgotten hero /And a world that doesn't care.
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Composed/Sung by: Ralph McTell (selling 90,000 copies in a day in 1969 - Wiki).
4 comments:
More buskers appearing on the streets could possibly mean that it is getting harder to make a living in Singapore, especially for people who are "past their prime" or have some sort of disability.
Even in busking, competition is tough. I find that disabled people usually fare better in collections regardless of how well they perform in busking.
Thanks Victor. I can agree with your view but I have seen younger people busking, although not all of them are musicians. One busker I spoke to says he can earn $50.00 or more in a good evening.
Some have no disabilities at all. Again this Chinese acrobatic team in front of Ngee Ann Shopping Mall are definitely more agile and able-bodied than you and I.
But I like music buskers when they sing and play 60s music as it takes me back to the good ole carefree days. One chap at the Lido Cinema/Wheelock Place underpass sings Cliff Richard and Elvis too, accompanied with his guitar.
At the same place I spotted another busker, an elderly, wiry Chinese guy entertaining the crowd at the food centre near the bus interchange.
There must a lot of them in Singapore. They will probably be sprouting all over the island these few years, more and more.
I am wondering if our 60s music people are really in bad shape? I know at least some of them are.
Anyone with figures/statistics to prove?
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