Sunday, January 31, 2010

Streets Of Singapore Buskers Are 60s Musicians


OUR MUSIC BUSKERS:

There are more and more buskers on the streets in Singapore. Orchard Road, Thomson Road and even the underpasses and shopping malls have entertainers who provide live music. As blogger listens to them with their rendition of Cliff Richard's, The Young Ones and Chubby Checker's, Let's Twist Again, there are enthusiastic passers-by who shake and jive to the beat.

When blogger spoke to some of them, they proudly announce that they are well-known musicians from the 60's. There is a lady who interpreted Bette Midler's, Wind Beneath My Wings (1982) near Ngee Ann City shopping centre with so much feeling and sincerity that many pedestrians stopped and applauded.

So I was the one with all the glory,/While you were the one with all the strength./A beautiful face without a name for so long./A beautiful smile to hide the pain./Did I ever tell you you're my hero?/You're everything, everything I wish I could be..."

This lady has a beautiful face indeed and the best voice ever. But she has a name too. Go find out tonight! And remember to contribute. "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... Ralph McTell."

Will there come a time when Singapore streets will be like McTell's Streets Of London (1969)? What do you think?

(Four postings about busking by October Cherries' Peter Diaz and The Bunnies' Raymond Pereira. Click 'busking' under 'Labels' below.)

Original article: Andy Lim Collection

2 comments:

Roger said...

Local buskers whose aim is to make ends meet are to be supported. Some see it as a full-time job like this elderly man and a visually-challenged young man in the Yishun MRT underpass.

Being a nanny state par excellence, Singapore will never ever come close to London, let alone rival it.

ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. © said...

Is that good or bad? Being a nanny state? Anyway, I love the songs they sing, and mostly music from the 60s.