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).
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.
ReplyDeleteEven 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.
ReplyDeleteSome 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.
ReplyDeleteThere must a lot of them in Singapore. They will probably be sprouting all over the island these few years, more and more.
ReplyDeleteI 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?